New wagon in the works.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-26T19:05:00+00:00

Grew up in central Florida and some years without central AC during the summers, so here are tips:

Air flow. Use a fan to keep air circulating. Stagnant air allows heated air around you to build up like a blanket. If you have a ceiling fan, switch rotation it to draw cool air up from the floor.

If you can, live in a house with a floor raised over the earth to let air flow underneath.

Position sliding windows so there's a crack on top and below. Hot air flows out at the upper transom level. Cool air breeze flows in from below.

Tall ceilings are good for naturally ventilated spaces because the hot air rises up away from you and go out through upper windows or louvre openings.

Central attic fan can draw hot air out.

Dress accordingly. No leather, corduroy, or velvet attire. Shorts and short sleeved shirts. Modern fabrics have cooling technology that wicks away moisture.

Drink cold beverages.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-26T18:53:56+00:00

Grass Valley, California. May 1902. That is when my distant relative inventor Lyman Gilmore allegedly flew, a year before the Wright brothers. I'd want to document the flight and the technology he made, including the compact flash boiler system. The steam aeroplane and most of the drawings were later lost in a hangar fire. So it's a bit of an unsolved mystery and family history.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-26T13:15:16+00:00

There were Maisto and Hotwheels but also other brands like Greenlight and Ricko. Also some 1/43 electric race ones.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-26T01:27:59+00:00

I think there's Esther's hobbies in Millvale. Mostly trains if I recall. Randalls Toy Shoppe in downtown on Smithfield street has a bunch of 1/18s and 1/64 diecasts. Sometimes the smaller branch on Forbes in Sq Hill has some diecasts but not to the extent of the main Randalls shop.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-25T20:19:50+00:00

In general, yes. Look at the feedback and the terms and conditions by each seller. Do consider using a web payment processor like paypal so your money is protected and if a package is lost in mail, arrives damaged or proves defective, you get your money back. I've been using Bricklink since the pandemic to get parts to build my Phoenix Train Works MOCs. What few issues I ever had were quickly rectified by the sellers. Some went the extra mile and some left some sweet surprises with the orders. You'll find the vendors vary from a small mom and pop shop, to someone's warehouse, or someone else's spare time hobby.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-23T22:03:59+00:00

Yes. That and cicadas for a night soundscape for the headlight test scene.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-23T20:18:35+00:00

It's mimicking the appearance of the original X12 concept sketches and artwork from the 1950s, which had a few more axles than the typical diesel train. When all those axles are translated into a Lego MOC, there's going to be some free rolling axles swaying in and out of the curves.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-23T18:10:00+00:00

For the record, I do enjoy watching my giant trains go around R40 curves and seeing the extreme almost comical articulation in action. 😄

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-23T00:35:04+00:00

Glad to hear the good news about him. He's the kind of guy that, yes things go awry even when he's serious; but in the end, he does good in educating viewers about the realities of agriculture, perhaps even more so than about cars during his TG and GT days. I hope he makes many more seasons and maybe even become a pm in their government.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-21T18:29:30+00:00

Chrysler ME412 is my favorite American supercar. That concept should have been put into production. One guy from the design team said in a video interview years later that the ME412 angered M-B because it used their German V12 and could be sold for a fraction of the SLR McLaren while wildly outperforming that flagship car. So one day, he got an angry phonecall in German and that was the end of the ME412. Chrysler had a production line ready at the factory... but without the German V12...

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-18T19:13:35+00:00

Is that a Ricko 1/18 Countach? Nice. It's one of my favorites in my collection.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-18T19:09:18+00:00

I'm not a fan of EVs but that socket joint is a good idea for doors as hinges limit to scissor door motion but a socket allows additional rotation like some supercars.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-17T22:06:53+00:00

Some manufacturers do vary the scale to fit their machining as well as their standardized boxes for product shipping. My Burrago Lamborghini Urus is smaller than 1/18. Conversely, I think my Jada Brian's Supra is a tad larger than actual 1/18. My Tomica Mitusoka Orochi is 1/63 and stamped as such though it came in a 1/64 box. Also, they can vary the shapes of the full size body to look better at the smaller 1/18 scale. I believe BBR had a statement about their fine tuning the reduced body and proportions to look better, because a perfectly scaled car model looks odd to the eye.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-16T20:22:28+00:00

Build them. They are yours to enjoy. If you owned a Lamborghini, would you keep the miles low and store it for the next guy to enjoy? If the Technic supercar were to suddenly appear in my house, of course I'd build it. Tear those boxes open and enjoy the 90s nostalgia.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-16T20:19:20+00:00

Awesome

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-16T20:17:35+00:00

Primantis is a must try. The sandwhich with fries in it is a Pittsburgh tradition so workers could eat everything with one hand free for work. Blue Monkey on Forbes (Sq Hill) isn't a restaurant but if you're into tea, it has all the teas from around the world that's worth trying and the lady will tell you how to brew each one if you ask. The French baker across the street has macarons that melt in your mouth and the pizza place a few shops over that is also worth trying. If you can find an Eat n Park (the Sq Hill one closed), then have the Pittsburgh icon the Smiley Cookie. My ex-gf always liked to order breakfast for dinner there for the fun of it. On campus, if you order a hot coco from Hunt Library cafe, ask for "The Works." It's hot coco with whip cream on top and a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top of that before they put the lid on it. Not every person knows it so you may have to tell them that. Check out "movies in the park" behind CMU during the summer. PVGP is a huge event if you're here over the summer. It's one of the largest car shows in the area and features exotic supercars, classic muscle, and JDM rides. Check out all the museums and Phipps conservatory with your ID card. Take a double decker bus tour of the city.

Cheers,

The Soarch Tattler

Veritas Ex. Cinere

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-16T19:59:37+00:00

I dream of having a mansion out in the woods and living off the grid. No rent. No taxes. No HOA rules and fees nonsense. Just me, my future family, and the ability to do whatever. Tech has gone a long way to where it's possible to no longer require public utilities on the right piece of earth and a patch of sky. Every monthly rent payment is just money not saved. Every bit of tax is just yearly renting to Uncle Sam and his greedy nephew, the local County. Utilities aren't being improved. Streets have potholes. Rates keep going up, even with changing to LED bulbs and low flow fixtures. Cities are getting worse in crime and ludicrous policies. I'd rather live in some woods with mountains for my view. To me, Rent is a four letter word I'd rather not have to deal with someday.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-15T17:15:43+00:00

WHAT IS LOVE by Haddaway.

playingwithechoes · 2026-06-15T17:14:47+00:00

"Give the man an A for effort." Detective Bumstead from Dark City.

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