7hr 23min and about 10 sec away from needing a lithium with a thorazine chaser. It ain't pretty. 

Isaac Asimov once had a chemistry student tell him that they had repeated an experiment five times and each time it resulted in a failure to produce the desired results.  Asimov's response was, 'did you follow the same sequence each time," the student said, "yes," to which he replied "Why?"

Thanks to all the soldering advice and great tips, and that's what I need, a better tip, well smaller.  I have this old radio shack station and the only place to get replacement tips is through a similar tip at Sears, three weeks and and still waiting, if it ever gets here I can improve my clumsiness.  I was using water soluble tinning flux paste, so the tip was tinned well, but the flux paste was not conducive to clean joints.  The next day I picked up liquid flux.

Day two:

Fast Tracks N code 55 #6 Double Slip Switch kit, #6 Double Crose and extra bits, not nearly enough but plastic is forever.  Yeah right, I'll start with the slip switch, don't think those quick sticks will be unwrapped anytime soon.

Long night of solder theater, nothing like coffee with milk, nickel and lead.

Day one: