It has been a while since we’ve received anything of note, but the UPS guy was busy this week:
First up is Atlas O’s new Ice House kit
Then I went up to Sommerfeld’s Trains and picked up the K-Lionel City Traction trolley car (along with more SuperStreets track)
And since I was already at Sommerfeld’s, I drove a bit further Northeast and visited Walthers, where I picked up a two-pack of HO smokestacks - which coming in at about 10 inches, work nicely for O gauge (see the O gauge figure I placed at the base). The stacks are made by Walthers, and are already assembled as a single piece.
Bob, Cool.
Can you post a review of the Atlas kit(s) after they are assembled? Ease of construction, fit…blah, blah…I have been eyeing both of those for some time. At about 37" it’s quite a chunk of real estate, but it looks like it’s worth it.
Oh, ya, and maybe a review of ‘Thee Machine’ as well.
Thanks,
Kurt
Me thinks we hear the sound of four horses galloping closer…
The two kist will take a bit of real estate just to assemble (our workshop is pretty congested with both CTT and MR building layouts simultaneously) but they look straight-forward.
As for the machine - just pick your cup size (small or medium - no large), and select between the house blend, decaf, or hot chocolate. It grinds and brews. Not especially fast, though … the line can get pretty long!
Guess they made the machine to resemble the shops… does it play aweful music while you wait too?
Ok, Bob, stop it, you’re making me crazy…(and jealous!!![swg])
And a FiveBucks automatic coffee barrista? At least you know where your raise went…but then again, you get paid for playing with and writing about toy trains…such a gig!!!
Seriously, I’d like to hear or read about your impression of SuperStreets. My train store just got some in and HE’S anxious to get it set up (ok, so am I). If and when I went that way, I’m wondering how my Atlas PS Trolley would work on that set up.
I think the SuperStreets are great - BUT - from my perspective, the hang up seems to be a shortage of the curve transition sections. I’ve checked the expansion track sets at three stores and all have regular short fitter sections in the bubble pack - not the transition sections to accompany the curves.
When I was at Sommerfeld’s yesterday - he didn’t have any expansion packs, but he did have the three-rail/SuperStreets crossover sections, which bodes well that some of the planned accessories are starting to move.
I don’t know how well it would last if you were continually setting it up, and taking it apart, but I think it should last pretty well if you bolted it down.
We reviewed it in the December 05 issue.
Hope our subsciption prices don’t go up now?[;)]
laz57
What? No Doughnuts???
Bob, why don’t you send one of your personal assistants over to get the coffee? Just make sure they have your normal brew down to a T. While they are at it, the second personal assistant could run for the baggetts and fresh fruit.[swg]
Dennis
Bob… my personal assistants not only get me my coffee, baggetts and fresh fruit they also wash, wax and gas my limo after they dust the train layout. I still love to run the John Deere, so I’m still doing that chore of life. If you need help thinking of things for your assistants to do, I think you have found the right place here on the forum. [(-D]
Have you ever noticed how innoucuous postings, such as this drift rapidly off subject, especially when one of the wheels at CTT are involved?
Dennis,
My personal assistants have to wait for the caviar cart to come by - so being the kind of a guy who’s never afraid to get his hands dirty, I handle the button pushing for the coffee.
Here are the Walthers smokestacks with a coat of paint - the gray one will be for the Hudepohl brewery I built, the brown for another building I’m working on. Of course, got one coat of paint and discovered the other bottle was empty.
Perhaps you could use the Industrial Rail ore car to haul the used coffee grounds out to the garden…I smell a “Real loads you can model” article coming…