Large Scale Central

Build Challenge 2014?

General Discussion
#101

Dave, if you want to run this year’s challenge, go for it! I’m running out of ideas anyway.

Mik has been kind of busy with 1:1 scale projects this summer;

My eldest daughter got married in June.

Kim and I tried to completely rehabilitate the exhibit building at the antique machinery club showgrounds - we’re about 1/3 done. They just authorized me a budget to finish it… a whole $25 yay!

We keep having to put my friend Martha back together (emotionally) every time her jagoff hubby gets drunk and dumps all over her, or her car blows up, or… (a really sweet lady, but her life is a train wreck!),

and fixing all the stuff in her house hubby can’t be bothered to (front steps, doors, etc) before she gets hurt on it.

Spent a couple weeks fixing Kim’s car, brakes, exhaust, body, lines

put a new floor down in the kitchen & built a small pantry

We’ve been the middleman for getting a small steam forge hammer donated to the club. (10 feet tall, and about 4 tons)

We’re in the middle repainting my grandfather’s engine.

And I need to make a new smokebox for the big 20th Century engine (should take 2-3 days, which means it will take at least a week)… going to start it this weekend

I’ve actually toyed with the idea of incorporating as FlybyNight Contracting…

#102

And I’m ready to help all I can, Dave. Backchannel me if you want a co-conspirator.

#103

I’m like John, I can help if you need it.

#104

FlyBye,Knight and Salvage RR Co.

is the Name of my Rail Road.

#105

I was going to take a look at your railroad but I didn’t find a website.

Welcome aboard.

#106

Bill Wright said:

FlyBye,Knight and Salvage RR Co.

is the Name of my Rail Road.

Why is this post in the thread about the 2014 build challenge? (http://www.floridashootersnetwork.com/images/smilies/eusa_naughty.gif)

#107

Joe Zullo said:

Bill Wright said:

FlyBye,Knight and Salvage RR Co.

is the Name of my Rail Road.

Why is this post in the thread about the 2014 build challenge? (http://www.floridashootersnetwork.com/images/smilies/eusa_naughty.gif)

Because he can. Are you now a moderator?

#108

Kiss my grits.

#109

Bill Wright said:

FlyBye,Knight and Salvage RR Co.

is the Name of my Rail Road.

Welcome aboard, Bill. I think that you will find this a generally friendly place. Most of the folks here aren’t so rigid as some. Tell us about yourself and your railroad.

#110

Joe Zullo said:

Kiss my grits.

OOOOOOHHHHHHH!!! Hulled between wind and water!

#111

Let’s get it back on track, shall we?

First, we need to patch up a couple of bruised friendships.

The Build Challenge has become a highlight of the year here at LSC, so we all expect to learn about it when we open up an email with
that subject line.
Joe’s question was perfectly justified. It peeves me too; I open such an email and I want to know about the Challenge.

But that poisonous and confusing little word ‘why’, is something we’re all stuck with.
It is a little beast we all need to work hard at avoiding. Thankfully there are many alternatives.

‘Why’ is ambiguous and confusing with a great number of possible focuses. “How come” may be fuzzy but it almost always is more focussed.
There are many ways of making the focus of one’s inquiry crystal clear.

Let’s all agree that Bill’s tort was very minor and let it go at that. Maybe his finger slipped. Whatever the cause, it’s forgiveable.

Steve interrupted with sarcasm and also used another poisonous little word, ‘you’.

Interruption: Strike one. Sarcasm: Strike two. “You”: Strike three. Who likes to be on the receiving end of any of these?

That last puppy, “You” always puts folk on the defensive. Thank goodness there are many workarounds, but they do require some creative writing.

Steve and I communicate very well off list. So I figure he may have been having an off day.
All that is forgivable too.

Joe gave back as good as he got. That’s a fine old expression that I hadn’t heard for awhile.

Let’s all agree: Interruptions, sarcasm, “You” and “Why” are all different ways we can get into trouble.
We CAN avoid all of them.

Let’s also agree that while each of these guys was a little careless, nobody meant any harm.
Each made a mistake or two. Now it’s time to apologize, to agree not to bear grudges, to try to improve, and to move on as friends.

So what’s up with the challenge?

#112

Here’s what’s up, as it looks from where I sit.

If I understand things correctly, Mik started the Challenge several years ago, and he’s a bit tired of it.
He actually expressed this last year, but we urged him on and he agreed to keep it up.

At that point I suggested that challenge winners might take it on from year to year, and that having two
or three guys to pass the torch and share the load might work out better.

By opening this thread Dave Taylor raised the subject for this year. Dave is a past winner;
last year he also provided raw material, plans, and an amazing prize, a beautiful print of a K-27 at Durango at night
which was displayed at the American Invasion of friends in Ottawa this past July. He’s something of a prize himself.

Mik seems quite ready to pass the torch on to someone else.

I have offered to help Dave. I have prizes to offer as well. So far I haven’t heard back from Dave; I hope he’s ok.

Doug Arnold has also offered to help. I am glad to read that. All three of us play well together.

I’d like Mik to stick around this year, close enough to consult with, but without his having to take on any responsibility,
if that’s the way he’d prefer it.

That’s all for now.

#113

I’ll start by day with a comment on both of John’s notes.

I actually would have moved Bill’s post to a new topic because I think it was accidentally put under the Challenge. I think we have all done ut, I know I have.

I was really sorry to see it become an issue. Is Bill out there? I have a feeling he doesn’t even know where his note went!

I think Dave, John and I can have a lot of fun with this. I know Dave is getting ready for the Challenge.

#114

OK at this point it’s a given that there will be a Build Challenge in 2014.
The three of us will work together offlist to get the Challenge organized. No point is laboring the details here.
Mik should expect that we may ask him for a little advice here and there.
We’ll report back to everybody as things develop.

#115

Thanks John Doug and Dave. :wink:

#116

Slight change of plans, Joe and everybody.
Seems that all this time our Conspirator-In-Chief Dave has been conspiring with Co-Conspirator Doug and with the Original Originator of the Whole Conspiracy Mik.
They’ve been keeping us all in the dark!

Last night I found this from Dave in my inbox:
John, Thanks for your support, there are three things that I would like from you in the new challenge.

1st: You set the bar really high for others to reach last year, and I really want you to defend your title, and If I let you in on the challenge it would give you an unfair advantage. So I will try to keep you in the dark.

2nd: Promote the whole Kit N Kabuto.

3rd: I might need you to be my (the) Canadian go to point man, we’ll see what fall down.

I have been in “discussion” with several key people (MIK included) on what the challenge will be, and getting it all in place ahead of time. Doug is sworn to keep it under his tweed hat… - Dave

Ok guys, thanks for that.
I’m in the dark all right.

Cheers, everyone.

#117

So, we really have a Kit and Kabuki Challenge, then? :slight_smile:

#118

not “tired” so much, just running out of good ideas.

If it had been me this year, youse guys would have been stuck with “Build anything, but spend less than $10 doing it…” It was the LAST rabbit in the hat.

#119

Steve, maybe it should be the Kick in the Butt Challenge to get us moving in the winter!

MAYBE I can get mine done in 2014 before the deadline! That will be my goal!

#120

Or how about something starting now…that must be done by Dec 31? Mebbe an unfinished project project?