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The Lighter Side of Steampunk
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#41
Off Topic / Re: Bird Box
Last post by The Bullet - June 03, 2025, 06:10:12 AMUPDATE!!!
The cold spell in March stopped them from finishing the nest.
I cleaned the box in April.
Now, new birds have moved in and are building a nest.
https://www.ipcamlive.com/65dc65a9b6422
The cold spell in March stopped them from finishing the nest.
I cleaned the box in April.
Now, new birds have moved in and are building a nest.
https://www.ipcamlive.com/65dc65a9b6422
#42
Architecture / Re: That 'big project' I've be...
Last post by James Harrison - June 01, 2025, 02:59:53 PMAt the top end of the paddock for the last few years I've had something like a small tree growing. Right up against my fence and with roots going under the upper patio and, more concerningly, under the council footpath on the other side. It's also been growing on the other side of the fence - onto the footpath - generally making a bit of a nuisance of itself. Basically it started off as one stem which then split into two, one side growing on my side of the fence and the other bit growing outside on the path.
The council aren't about to do anything about it (they rarely bother themselves about making sure the footpath is neat and tidy), so last weekend when I finally decided to do something about the part growing in my garden, I also took down the bit growing through the fence and onto the path.
That got rid of the greenery but the main trunk/ stem was left for another time. That time came today when I got around to breaking up the patio locally around the stem, and digging it out. Including digging out and breaking up the two main roots. Hopefully that's job done.
The council aren't about to do anything about it (they rarely bother themselves about making sure the footpath is neat and tidy), so last weekend when I finally decided to do something about the part growing in my garden, I also took down the bit growing through the fence and onto the path.
That got rid of the greenery but the main trunk/ stem was left for another time. That time came today when I got around to breaking up the patio locally around the stem, and digging it out. Including digging out and breaking up the two main roots. Hopefully that's job done.
#43
Off Topic / Re: The Brassgoggles Model Mak...
Last post by James Harrison - June 01, 2025, 02:46:41 PMOne of the models going off on a Summer holiday is - it goes without saying - Cremorne & Pittance, the station diorama I built several years ago. Unfortunately sitting in a corner of a room for five years hasn't been kind to it;
1) It's accrued a healthy layer of dust
2) The balsawood framing has started to break part
3) The paper/ cardboard/ balsawood edging has started to crack
4) Ballast and scatter has started to come adrift
So the first thing I've done having decided it is off to the show is to build a sturdier external frame around it. Unfortunately the timber from the local DIY store is apt to warp... it will suffice for my purposes for this, but it's something useful to learn now because I don't want my permanent layout to start twisting and warping. Lesson learnt: I'm going to buy some laser-cut plywood baseboard kits when I make a start on Red Lion Square.
Another issue I've run into is that getting Cremorne safely downstairs was a fraught affair. The diorama is only 3' x 15" but even that is, I think, a bit on the large side for moving around in an Edwardian terrace. Especially with the very narrow, very steep staircase. Lesson learnt: RLS is going to be built of smaller 'jigsaw pieces' that pin down into/ onto larger main boards.
Last weekend, and again today, I've been cleaning off the dust. Last weekend with a saturated paintbrush and a lot of water, today with my airbrush. A respectable quantity of dust was released... and also ballast and scatter came adrift and went AWOL. So there are now a few bald patches that need addressing. Lesson learnt: my idea of staining the underlying plaster a dirt/ soil colour was a good one, the bald patches look somehow natural.
1) It's accrued a healthy layer of dust
2) The balsawood framing has started to break part
3) The paper/ cardboard/ balsawood edging has started to crack
4) Ballast and scatter has started to come adrift
So the first thing I've done having decided it is off to the show is to build a sturdier external frame around it. Unfortunately the timber from the local DIY store is apt to warp... it will suffice for my purposes for this, but it's something useful to learn now because I don't want my permanent layout to start twisting and warping. Lesson learnt: I'm going to buy some laser-cut plywood baseboard kits when I make a start on Red Lion Square.
Another issue I've run into is that getting Cremorne safely downstairs was a fraught affair. The diorama is only 3' x 15" but even that is, I think, a bit on the large side for moving around in an Edwardian terrace. Especially with the very narrow, very steep staircase. Lesson learnt: RLS is going to be built of smaller 'jigsaw pieces' that pin down into/ onto larger main boards.
Last weekend, and again today, I've been cleaning off the dust. Last weekend with a saturated paintbrush and a lot of water, today with my airbrush. A respectable quantity of dust was released... and also ballast and scatter came adrift and went AWOL. So there are now a few bald patches that need addressing. Lesson learnt: my idea of staining the underlying plaster a dirt/ soil colour was a good one, the bald patches look somehow natural.
#44
Off Topic / Re: GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Re...
Last post by rovingjack - May 31, 2025, 05:59:52 AMbeen trying for vitamin d from sun, and to walk off this recent health problem, going for a half mile each morning. I manage the walks with no sweat or windedness. not sore or anything even the day after when I should. But when I come in and sit down, I start sweating like a glass of ice water in Florida humidity and need to lay down.
a few hours later my body just crashes. and I can't muster the strength to sit. let alone walk or stand. it's the hardest thing just to use the bathroom or heat up leftovers to eat something.
still not sore, and don't think I'm tired, just so weak it's difficult to get food or drink to my mouth and chew. I get a second wind after midnight, try to do chores, go to bed, get 7 hours, wake unable to sleep anymore. repeat the day before.
today was bad. cut a 8 inches from my hair (now just to my collar) because I can't brush it and wash it right now, haven't been really up to it for a while but today was the nail in the coffin. I've one more meal to eat before bed, might skip walking tomorrow for a hospital visit.
I'm just above bedridden today and no idea why. blood pressure seems normal (though this cuff has been difficult lately) blood sugar is between 89 and 104 at 1 hour and 6 hours after meals, 124 after 3 hours. temp is 97.5 every time I check. there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with me. I just get waves of weakness and inability to move under my own power each day.
a few hours later my body just crashes. and I can't muster the strength to sit. let alone walk or stand. it's the hardest thing just to use the bathroom or heat up leftovers to eat something.
still not sore, and don't think I'm tired, just so weak it's difficult to get food or drink to my mouth and chew. I get a second wind after midnight, try to do chores, go to bed, get 7 hours, wake unable to sleep anymore. repeat the day before.
today was bad. cut a 8 inches from my hair (now just to my collar) because I can't brush it and wash it right now, haven't been really up to it for a while but today was the nail in the coffin. I've one more meal to eat before bed, might skip walking tomorrow for a hospital visit.
I'm just above bedridden today and no idea why. blood pressure seems normal (though this cuff has been difficult lately) blood sugar is between 89 and 104 at 1 hour and 6 hours after meals, 124 after 3 hours. temp is 97.5 every time I check. there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with me. I just get waves of weakness and inability to move under my own power each day.
#45
Off Topic / Re: GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Re...
Last post by LukeHogbin - May 30, 2025, 10:49:20 PMHad the worst case of upset stomach this week that put me in bed for the whole week and all I could manage was water.
And my bp dropped to *beep* and I almost crashed into the living room cabinet when I tried to get off the sofa.
Feeling better now, but it'll take a couple of days still to recover fully.
And my bp dropped to *beep* and I almost crashed into the living room cabinet when I tried to get off the sofa.
Feeling better now, but it'll take a couple of days still to recover fully.
#46
Off Topic / Re: GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Re...
Last post by Xenos - May 30, 2025, 06:09:12 PMBeen diagnosed with Hashimoto's. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, just another annoyance on the rapidly growing bill of health.
Kidneys are also still on the fritz.
Couple all of the above with just... the worst migraine today, and I just want to crawl back into bed.
...
May actually do. Dunno.
Kidneys are also still on the fritz.
Couple all of the above with just... the worst migraine today, and I just want to crawl back into bed.
...
May actually do. Dunno.
#47
Off Topic / Re: YET *EVEN* MORE things tha...
Last post by von Corax - May 28, 2025, 06:40:14 PMI just had a truly exceptional (for modern times) Telephone Customer Service experience with Indigo Books. About a month ago I thought I had ordered a couple of books because I had a Birthday discount code, but I must have missed a step because I could find no trace of the order. I called Customer Service and went through the menu "Press 1 for English," and then the call went directly to a human! The human was friendly and helpful, and sent me a new discount code which I used to place a new order. (I know it worked this time because I got a confirmation email.)
#48
Off Topic / Re: Hilarious pictures you've ...
Last post by Sir Henry - May 28, 2025, 10:41:33 AMQuote from: Ceir on May 27, 2025, 09:09:01 PMA repository of pictures, mayhaps. I know we have architecture-appreciators around here: Stairs That Can Kill You.I would advise that you are seated before looking at this page and do not do what I did - scroll through the whole page first thing in the morning, before having a cup of tea. Too many of them look like optical illusions or perspective distortions and most of the rest are just a nightmare. A few have the look of 'I can see why that might have sounded like a good idea at the time...'
But glass stairs on a thin metal framework in a very narrow stairwell lined entirely with mirrors?
And I thought I had daft ideas
#49
Off Topic / Re: GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Re...
Last post by rovingjack - May 28, 2025, 03:41:44 AMdoc messaged today, said everything x-rayed looks fine, if I get some age related arthritis in my neck, use Tylenol.
note that is not what the x-ray results say. I contacted ortho and told them to get a copy of the x-ray. I find myself second guessing every test I've had done by this doc.
note that is not what the x-ray results say. I contacted ortho and told them to get a copy of the x-ray. I find myself second guessing every test I've had done by this doc.
#50
Off Topic / Re: Hilarious pictures you've ...
Last post by Ceir - May 27, 2025, 09:09:01 PMA repository of pictures, mayhaps. I know we have architecture-appreciators around here: Stairs That Can Kill You.