OK, after FINALLY catching up on 5 pages of posts because I was away for a bit more than a week, I thought I'd post some pictures from my adventure yesterday to see Jason Shron of Rapido Trains show off the latest samples of his HO Canadian and FP9's.  Yesterday, he was at Fun Time Hobby and Cycle in Red Deer, AB, so I thought I'd rent a car and make the 6 hour drive from Saskatoon and check it out.

 I had initially planned to do this to submit as an article for MRH, but it didn't quite work out.  However, so much effort was put in to it and I'm so happy with the results, I just had to do a blog about it to hopefully encourage others to just try something, even when you don't have a clue.  Again, I'll keep this opening short so it won't be long to scroll through if it gets to multiple pages.

I was reading a bit of a commentary in Jason Schron's Rapido Bulletin from last month or the month before about riding the train.  Its not something we often do, but I enjoy it when I get the chance.  As part of VIA Rail's summer "kids ride free" program, my wife and I decided to take our kids on the train.  We drive out to visit my family in Alberta and then one of us rides the train back with one of the kids while the other drives.  Last year, my wife and daughter went home on the train, but this year it was me and the boy's turn.

This will now become the official blog of my first chainsaw layout (actually 3rd, but first one I'm actually going to scenic and have for operating).  I changed the plan a bit from the last blog, but I'm going to alter when its on the table some more to not have such strict curves (I haven't figured out the flex track tool in XtrkCad, or even if there is one).  I'll post the plan at a later time, but thought I would get this post going.

 I've been pretty busy at work and traveling and haven't had a lot of time for updating the blog, or actually doing a lot TO update the blog, more aptly.  But I'll give it a go as I'm "getting there."

Well, I knew it had been a while since my last blog, but its been almost 3 months!!  I guess its mostly because I haven't had much to report.  Summer has been busy and refreshing, but now its time to get back to business with the kids in school.

 I haven't had much time this week to do what I really wanted due to some unforeseen things I won't bother describing here.  I did, however, take time today to finally build a turnout with my new FastTracks jig.  I have to say, I'm surprised at how well it turned out for the first try.  It still needs a little work, but I didn't buy the flexible file Tim talks about in his videos and I think it would be well worth the investment.  

 Well, I was hoping for a GPS for my birthday yesterday and got a ski jacket instead.  Very nice jacket and I will really appreciate it come winter time, but I was prepped for the GPS so I was admittedly a little disappointed, but I hope I didn't show it.  I wanted the GPS so I didn't have to use my train money to buy one, and now I'm thinking I maybe don't need the GPS as much as I thought!

 Well, I go back to work tomorrow, and its six more days until my daughter shows off her diorama at school.  We're pretty close to finished.  Not everything worked out exactly, but she is much, MUCH happier with the current state.  We took a few pictures tonight to give you a sneak preview.  There are a couple more things to do yet, in fact, we just finished adding some fishermen and bears to the scene, plus poured some more "water."  Yes, the water colouring didn't turn out quite like we had hoped, but she is still OK with it.

 Well, we're down to crunch time.  I have one more week at home before my daughter has to show her diorama at the school arts fair.  She's really been down and discouraged and hard to motivate this last couple weeks.  I forced her to keep at it, but we still have a lot to do.  I'm now doing all the prep and cleanup, which I guess is OK - she's still doing the work (although admittedly, I've done a little touchup on occasion).  She doesn't think it looks realistic at all, but she has lots more to do before she's done.