Sunday November 26, 2006 6:30 am Lethbridge Sunrise 8:00 Sunset 16:38 Hours of daylight: 8:38
A. Morning Musings
6:30 am It is -22 C at the moment with a high of -19 C forecast.
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From rear window |
South patio |
Both images taken at 11:40 am |
B. Plan
| Immediate |
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| Health |
Walk & exercise |
1 hr |
| Model Trains |
View NMRA web site; review materials for Achievement Program |
2 hr |
| Mathematics |
Read "Fearless Symmetry" chap 9: Elliptic Curves |
1 hr |
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Make notes on the beginnings of number theory |
1 hr |
| History |
Continue reading & making notes for "Citizens" |
1 hr |
| GO |
Begin reading "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go" |
1 hr |
| Literature |
Continue reading "The Southern Gates of Arabia " by Freya Stark |
1 hr |
| Later |
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| Chores |
Investigate water softeners for home |
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| Technology |
Read manual for cell phone |
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Make notes for chap. 4 of "Switching to the Mac" |
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Begin reading "iPhoto" |
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digital photography - learn about using the various manual settings |
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| Philosophy |
Read "The Art of Living" by Epictetus |
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| Mathematics |
Larson "Calculus" |
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Read "Symmetry" by Hermann Weyl |
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Read "The Computational Beauty of Nature" Chap
3 |
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Gardner "The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles" |
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| History |
Watson "Ideas" |
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| Model Trains |
Build oil refinery diorama: add ground cover |
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Assemble second oil platform kit |
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Assembly of CN 5930, an SD40-2 with a NAFTA logo |
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| Puzzles |
The Orange Puzzle Cube: puzzle #9 |
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C. Actual/Notes
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Model Trains 59
November 26
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Model Trains Chronology |
8:35 am I have printed the descriptions for the first 8 (of 11) categories for the NMRA Achievement Program.
http://www.nmra.org/achievement/welcome.html
I have had a skim of much of the material for the Achievement Program. The descriptions are very clear and carefully structured. They provide an excellent model for any educational enterprise.
There is no doubt that the Program has a very high standard (which is good) and that it will require me to pay much more attention to detail than I have so far. I view that as the primary appeal. Joining the Lethbridge branch will be an important step to meeting individuals who know much more about this hobby than I do. The weather forecast for the next few days is grim: very cold temperatures with some snow and blowing snow. I am not sure I will want to venture out Tuesday evening to meet the club. But I am still seriously considering it.
The first Achievement Program award is called the Golden Spike. "It is designed to demonstrate familiarity with different areas of the hobby, rather than expertise in a particular area." This is a fair description of my present situation. Let's see where I stand.
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Golden Spike Award
1. Rolling Stock
Display 6 units of rolling stock (scratchbuilt, craftsman, or detailed commercial kits).
I have not yet tried to scratchbuild a car but that has a definite challenge appeal. I am not sure what a craftsman kit is but I have built the following detailed commercial kits:
- Intermountain cylindrical grain car CN 382682 (grey, red CN noodle)
- Intermountain cylindrical grain car ALNX 396422 (blue, Heritage Fund)
- Intermountain cylindrical grain car CNWX 395538 (Canadian Wheat Board, single wheat head)
- Intermountain cylindrical grain car CGLX 1367 (Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan)
- Gould #4021 40' 50 ton flat car CN 665489 (CN decals, weathered painting of platform)
- Gould #4020 36' tank car UTLX 8715 (UTLX decals)
I have met this requirement. |
2. Model Railroad Setting
Construct a minimum of 8 square feet of layout.
My present layout is about 11' x 20'. I have built the underlying table structure as well as adding a basic ground cover sheets in different styles for the coal mine, farming, townsite and classification yard.
I have met this requirement. |
Construct 5 structures (scratchbuilt, craftsman, or detailed commercial kits) (buildings, bridges, etc.).
I have built a number of structures, the following being the most detailed:
- Walthers Cornerstone #933-3017 New River Mining Company (weathered painting)
- Walthers Cornerstone #933-3012 Double Track Truss Bridge (2)
- Hillside Lumber & Millwork Company (weathered painting)
- Walthers Cornerstone #933-3219 North Island Refinery
- Walthers Loading Platform
- Walthers Wide Oil Tank (2)
- berms scratchbuilt
- piping kit added
- I still need to add groundcover to this module.
- Grain Elevator (plastic, scratchbuilt from plans for wooden Kanamodel Products kit 114A Prairie Skyscaper Grain Elevator, painted for Alberta Wheat Pool colors.)
I have met this requirement. |
3. Engineering (Civil & Electrical)
Three types of trackage (turnout, crossing, etc.) All must be properly ballasted and installed on proper roadbed.
I have numerous turnouts (more than 20), plus one change in elevation (coal yard platform). All track in on a foam roadbed.
The track has not yet been ballasted. |
All installed trackage must be properly wired so that two trains can operate simultaneously.
Track is currently wired for DC. One reversing loop is wired.
At the moment two trains cannot operate simultaneously. I need to wire two sidings so I can cut the power. This would allow me to run one train, park it on a siding while I run another, then park it and run the first again. |
Provide one additional electrical feature such as powered turnouts, signaling, turnout indication, lighted buildings, etc.
I currently do not meet this requirement. The simplest approach would be to wire one turnout.
All of the missing requirements could be easily met with only a few hours effort.
This checklist is sobering as it really indicates that I have barely met a minimum criteria. I am not even close to the level required for any of these categories from a quality perspective. |
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D. Reflection |
