Forums of PlanetChristmas - Blogs http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php This is a PlanetChristmas discussion forum. en Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:18:26 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.planetchristmas.com/fusion/misc/rss.jpg Forums of PlanetChristmas - Blogs http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php Nothing http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=161 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:03:28 GMT This post contains useless text. (Please do not feel bad for the waisted words in this post) This post contains useless text.




(Please do not feel bad for the waisted words in this post) ]]> Daniel http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=161 My new Website http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=160 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:01:15 GMT I'm just posting this for the bloggers to see... I'll unveil it on the forums in a week or two.

http://crazychristmas.co.nr/ ]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=160 <![CDATA[Today's Train Work 3]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=159 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:37:23 GMT I've finally gotten it to follow a track.

Instead of using caster wheels to guide the train along the rail, I am using dowels. Stationary dowels, they don't turn. Since they are smooth, they guide the train just fine. I even got it to navigate a 4' radius turn.
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]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=159 Nutcracker / LOR torture test http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=158 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:33:26 GMT Yesterday we had a SEVERE thunderstorm alert predicting "Gusts up to 65 MPH and hail".

We got nothing.

Today, we had no alert but did have SEVERE thuderstorms with up to 65 MPH gusts and hail - lots of it - along with about 3" of rain.

Fortunately, I lowered the unbrellas on the patio yesterday so they are still there but I left the Nutcracker legs/LOR assembly where it was.

It's still standing perfectly upright and not a drop of water go into the LOR units. (These are the plastic cases.)

I won't worry about these at all come December. I don't think they're going anywhere! :) ]]> ChuckHutchings http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=158 I bought a animated toy solider wireframe http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=157 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:57:06 GMT I bought a wireframe from a Army nay store for $13. It has a controller of some sort. It is about 4 ft tall and outlined in rope light. His hand... I bought a wireframe from a Army nay store for $13. It has a controller of some sort. It is about 4 ft tall and outlined in rope light. His hand waves up and down. One small section of rope light is out. I will have to see if I can get it going. Any suggestions on this are welcome.

If not I may clip minis on it after taking off the rope light. I would like to keep the rope light on. We'll see. ]]> Michael B http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=157 Another great idea of mine to entertain your viewers... http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=156 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:25:45 GMT OK, someone might have already thought of this - sometimes I'm not sure if I just thought of something or if it's just a suppressed memory - but here it is anyway...

Picture this scene:

No lights are illuminated. No audio. It's just pitch black and silent. Then...

Over the radio we hear Santa's voice (it could be The Demented Elf's) saying "Ho! Ho! HOOOOOO! Santa has a contest for all of you. See if you can guess how many lights are in the display. If you guess correctly, you'll win a new Hummer*! Ready? Go!"

ALL OF THE LIGHTS in the display come on. In the background, the Jeopardy theme song plays. As the music ends, all of the lights go off and then you fire off a hundred or so strobe lights.

HAHAHAHAHAH!

The beauty of this is that NOBODY will be able to count the lights and even if they get lucky, with the price of gas the way it is, they'll never accept the prize! :p

Honestly. Why do I have to think up these things.

*IMPORTANT: DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, offer a "cash equivalent" substitute prize!!! ]]> ChuckHutchings http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=156 What are you doing on the Fourth? http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=155 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:14 GMT So, What are you doing on 4th of July? Me: Shoot off some fire works. Oh, yeah! :cool: And visit with Family members. So, What are you doing on 4th of July?


Me: Shoot off some fire works. Oh, yeah! :cool: And visit with Family members. ]]> Christmas Delight http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=155 <![CDATA[Today's Train Work 2]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=154 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:49:51 GMT I built the base of the train today. As soon as I can scrape enough money together to get some 1/2" threaded rod, this will be finished.

I'm now wondering how to make it look like a train. I think coro would work nicely, but I don't have any.
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]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=154 <![CDATA[Today's Train Work]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=153 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:51:13 GMT I remove the whole electric harness. I have mounted the motors to a piece of plywood. This will be mounted to the train itself, and will be easily... I remove the whole electric harness. I have mounted the motors to a piece of plywood. This will be mounted to the train itself, and will be easily removable in case I want it for other projects.

As soon as I get some money, I'm going to go browse Lowes for a track solution. I'm thinking something with casters following a center rail.

I am not sure, though, if the casters need to be on some sort of turntable that spins independently from the rest of the train car. A turntable would add a level of complexity that I don't really want. ]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=153 New Christmas-Related Project http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=152 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:07:09 GMT I'm starting construction of a Power-Wheel motor powered Train for my display.

As far as I know, nobody around my area has something like this. It should be unique.

I'll post updates on my blog. ]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=152 <![CDATA[I'm going Camping!]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=151 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:39:08 GMT Well... I'm sort of cheating. I'm camping in a tent. In the backyard.

We have company over, and the kids are sleeping outside. We made smore's in the microwave. They weren't burnt at all! ]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=151 Another scorcher http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=150 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:30:12 GMT Over 90 today. Too darn hot to work outside so I finished my latest How-To: http://www.christmasinkent.com/howto/howto.htm Over 90 today. Too darn hot to work outside so I finished my latest How-To:
http://www.christmasinkent.com/howto/howto.htm ]]> wirekat http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=150 <![CDATA[The "Instinct" arrives tomorrow!]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=149 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:42:26 GMT The UPS tracking site shows that my new phone arrived in Miami yesterday. (I HATE it when that happens!) It will be delivered tomorrow! :) Of... The UPS tracking site shows that my new phone arrived in Miami yesterday. (I HATE it when that happens!)

It will be delivered tomorrow! :)

Of course, that's means I'm going to have to stay in the office until 4:30 or 5:00 when the UPS guy makes the delivery. :(

I hate it when THAT happens, too! ]]> ChuckHutchings http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=149 Clippy Must Die! http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=148 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:52:04 GMT For those of you that don't listen to NPR, there's a comedy/news show on every Saturday called "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell me".

They have a panel of 3 celebrities/comedians that answer questions based on the week's news.

Today, there was a bit where one of the questions was about Bill Gates. It was one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time.

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35

Play the SECOND “Who’s Carl This Time” bit entitled “A disgruntled Windows user; Guess who's back on Capitol Hill?; Ebert would give this 10 fingers down.”

The hilarity starts around 2:20.

Try not to have a mouth full of milk while listening.



NOTE: That link probably will only work until next Saturday. ]]> ChuckHutchings http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=148 <![CDATA[Today's Yard Sale Finds]]> http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=147 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:29:12 GMT Well... I didn't get anything Christmas related. I did, however get a pair of decent webcams. $1 each.

I also got a old-ish Barbie Power Wheels car for $10. It came with brand new batteries!

I'm not sure what to do with the Barbie Car. I's going to open up the gearboxes attached to the motors at some point, and see if the gears can be rearranged for more speed (but less torque). I might even make it into a train for this year's display.

You'll see, you'll all see! Bwahahahaha! ]]> Alec http://forums.planetchristmas.com/blog.php?b=147