Stress lives in Maple Valley, and the onset of the holidays kicks it into high gear. What would Thanksgiving be without worrying whether the turkey is big enough? Or if there's enough stuffing? Or potatoes? Or antacid? As if worrying about food isn't enough, there is always the possibility of uncomfortable situations. Every Maple Valley …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 41: Dear Doctor
My wife and I love watching HGTV network. I am amazed by the vision of the designers featured on the shows. Without exception, they exhibit an incredible ability to see what a space can be and share it with hopeful homeowners, long before the first board is nailed in place. Vision gives life to imagination. …
Continue reading Before and After on The Maple Valley Model Railroad
One of the great things about HO scale model railroading is that the modeling never ends. I suppose that can be true of any scale, but for me, HO scale is a perfect example of a modelers dream. I started building the Maple Valley Short Line model railroad four years ago. My train room is …
Continue reading HO Scale Model Railroading: Learning Through Mistakes
One of the great things about HO scale model railroading is that the modeling never ends. I suppose that can be true of any scale, but for me, HO scale is a perfect example of a modelers dream. I started building the Maple Valley Short Line model railroad four years ago. My train room is …
Continue reading Mistakes I Made on my HO Scale Model Railroad: The Maple Valley Short Line
So much has happened in Maple Valley it’s difficult to know where to start. Here we are in the dog days of summer, and Maple Valley School is already preparing for the first day of the new year. Students can’t wait to get back in the class room. We are obviously well into the tourist …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 27: The Pancake Fiasco
So much has happened in Maple Valley it’s difficult to know where to start. Here we are in the dog days of summer, and Maple Valley School is already preparing for the first day of the new year. Students can’t wait to get back in the class room. We are obviously well into the tourist …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 27: The Pancake-Off Fiasco
Poor Sylvia Meisner. Sylvia disappeared from Maple Valley almost a year ago. Poor Sylvia Meisner. She has missed so much in her little home town. Folks still talk about her. There are a few who believe they know what happened to her. Most don't pay any attention to them, which makes the believers even more …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 22: Quintin and Vee
My Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad is looking really good, if I do say so myself. In previous posts I wrote about making printed buildings with cardstock and balsa. I have many of them. I decided to try scratch building. The first thing required is a dedicated work space. Mine is a lap-desk and …
Continue reading Scratch Building Balsa Cabins for Model Railroads
My Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad is looking really good, if I do say so myself. In previous posts I wrote about making printed buildings with cardstock and balsa. I have many of them. I decided to try scratch building. The first thing required is a dedicated work space. Mine is a lap-desk and …
Continue reading Using Balsa Wood to Scratch Build Structures for Model Railroads
I started working on my backdrop factory two years ago. I don't have enough space on my layout to use the factory as a free-standing kit. I started by cutting the pieces down so they could be glued together side-by-side. I have four inches of space between the wall and the rail siding. I was …
A Coffee State of Mind 