Friday, October 28, 2022

Ringworld a Host of Characters

A Host of Characters

"Louis Wu: human and old, was out celebrating his 200 birthday and is bored, having lived too fully for far too many years. Seeking a challenge, and all to capable of handling it.

Nessus: a trembling coward, a puppeteer with a built in surrvival pattern of non-violence. Except this puppeteer is insane.

Teela Brown: human; a wide-eyed youngster. with no allegiances, experience, or abilities. However with all the luck in the world.

Speaker to Animals: Kzin, large, orenge-furred, and carnivorous. And one of the most savage life-forms known to the galaxy.

Why did these disparate individuals come together? How could they possibly function together?

And where, in the name of anything sane, were they headed?"

Ringworld, Larry Niven, 1970




More to follow:

The Ringworld Series

1970: Ringworld
1980: The Ringworld Engineers
1996: The Ringworld Throne
2004: Ringworld's Children
2012: Fate of Worlds (by Niven and Edward M. Lerner)


Updated at: 2:03 P.M. on 10/29/22; 6:41 P.M. on 10/28/22;

Monday, October 24, 2022

Japanese Model Railroad Prototypes

Here is a page of some gorgeous narrow gauge Japanese prototype model railway models. I remeber being introduced Japanese model railroading while reading Narlow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. If my memory serves me right it was a how to article for an On30 diesel engine.

Photo-etched 009 Kit No 8 Hunslet Bo-Bo

009 Kit No 8 Hunslet Bo-Bo, brass etching

The Hunslet requires a Kato 11-105 chassis, which I have on hand.

I have these items on-hand or have the materials to fabricate them. I am planning on adding the following:

  • Grab irons and rails
  • Bell
  • Horn
  • Fillers
  • Buffer Beam
  • Steps
  • Couplers
  • Exhuast pipe

Sunday, October 23, 2022

"Max Steel" Hot Wheels, Rod Squad for the Gas Lands

New for 2022 "This highboy hot rod is one of a kind. Featuring a low, air cooled flat six engine, the vehicle's body is smooth and riding high. A single-seater speedster, it's truly a unique design."

Max Steel: HCT29

This futuristic one seater is fitted with a manual fired machine gun will make a great addition to my Gas Lands collection.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Ring World

"The gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools."

Ring World, Larry Niven

Friday, October 21, 2022

An International Diesel

This is another image from that trip to Potter County. I found this International Diesel stuck away in another shed away from the main structure.

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Potter County Logging Museum

Between the mill and the loco sheds was much to see at the logging museum.

I should have posted some images from the mill, perhaps another time.

A log disconect sits on a side rail. What's awaiting us in those sheds?

I see something sticking its self out there.

It was a shay locomotive. I haven't seen one of these before.

I knew the Shay was used by logging companies, but I didn't know the particulars for this engine. I am glad the plaque was there.

These photos were taken sometime ago and were taken in Potter County, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This a great place to visit. We drove for miles and didn't encounter one car on the highway. Very remote.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The Famous Thunder Mesa Mining Company Railroad gets Updates

The author adds a graveyard and some "spooky" lighting in parts 9 & 10 to his On30 model railroad and, just in time for halloween.


Boot Hill Graveyard - GGRR Part 9

Spooky Lighting Effects for Gruesome Gulch - GGRR Part 10

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Lost & Found: Raggedy Ann Figure

This gal has seen better days and has made it to my “Lost and found series. Although she was played with heavily, even by the family dog, by the looks of the teeth marks on her torso she did clean-up nicely.

After digging her up, another toy found in my garden, she was given a bath and scrubbed with a tooth brush. Once she was dry she was thoroughly inspected. This woman has got some curves. She stands approximately 65mm tall. I don’t know what type of plastic she is cast, but I am guessing PVC? She feels dense and has some bulk has I grip her in my hand. Don't judge.


Some other posts in this series:

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Reading & Northern Railroad Diesel F Unit

It is another fine autumn day and a great day for pictures. The Reading & Northern Railroad will be treating us to their collection of vintage locomotives over the next month or so. Today, a diesel F unit with a string of passenger cars was sent out to ferry passengers to Jim Thorpe . Where did that guy come from? He wasn't their when I set-up this morning.


Updated on 10/8 at 7:12 PM

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Another Candidate for the Gas Lands

Bone Shaker: HCV43

Here is another vehicle for the Gas Lands. It is part of Hot Wheels Dream Garage collection. Mettel started this series back in 2006 and they are still producing vehicles in this mini collection today.


Updated at 10:28 A.M. on 11/4/22;

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Monday, October 3, 2022

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Materials

I recently attended a party where we made Champagne toasts to our host and to many more worthy persons and endeavors. It was within these series of toasts where I had a quick spirt of inspiration. It came as I watched one of the catering staff uncork another bottle of bubble.

The staff person removed the muselet from the bottle and set it down on the counter where I snatched it up. As I studied the muselet I had no idea as to why, how or what I might need this piece of aluminum and brass. It took me a day or two to put it all together.

Here I wasn’t sure if I had any brass wire on hand.