Ice

[LtDoc]

Anyone need any ice? More than enough to go around! Any portable generators for sale? Know where you can get rid of them for a totally ridiculous price. 'They' say power back by this Wednesday... I'm taking bets on that.
- 'Doc

[green-boat]

I feel for you Doc. The ice missed my house this time but 20 miles north of me got hit pretty good. They say that about 150,000 are without power in the area. I ended up with the inlaws staying with me last night. Oh, so much funnnnnnnn. Hope their power comes back on soon.

[tim slocum]

Guys,it didnt miss us.Town looks kinda like a war zone.Sat night I stood on my porch and listened to the trees snap and fall.It sounded like hundreds of people with shotguns at different distances shooting about every two seconds. :eek: Ive NEVER heard anything like it.Tansformer behind our house was shorting(?) and every few min. a blinding white light would make night into day for a few seconds,then power would go off for a few seconds.The light was so bright,it would light up the whole neighborhood.Another transformer down the street caught fire and the Fire Dept. put it out.I went to the store for some food that you dont need to cook,and it was full of people doing the same.They were almost out of the basics like milk,bread,batteries.We are lucky though,my brother,who lives outside town hasnt had power since this started.He does have a very large fireplace though. :) This reminds me of how we take the simple things for granted and how hard they had it 100years ago.Its suppossed to be windy today :( I hope the trees hold up.

[Tug Guy]

Wish I could help you Doc. I know what you are going through. It is a surprising winter that we don't get hit by a crippling ice storm. Hang in there Spring will be here soon.

Don

[smart_racer]

We are also getting the deep freeze, snow, high-high winds, on the Westcoast of Canada (Victoria) I should be cutting my lawn, not shoveling snow and melting ice!

[patmat2350]

Just a little ice in Michigan... woke up at 4am to the momentary beeping of my sump pump's backup system, then a green flash outside as the transformer down the street went, but I'm alright. Still got my generator from the great Northeast blackout of 2003, haven't had to use it but once since!

Pat M

[Kmot]

I hope you guys do okay. Ignorant as I am, I was surprised when I watched the news last night (I almost never watch anymore) and saw that MO and OK was having such severe winter weather. I just seemed to think those states were warmer.

We got down to 31*F the other night here in the San Fernando Valley and that is very cold for this region. So Cal is having a freeze condition and the local farmers are losing their citrus and avocado crops. A billion dollars worth so far.

[420TEE]

And many of us in the Southeast have unusually warm weather. 60's and 70's last week. Coming to an end tonight. Crazy.

[keith S]

Like Smart racer said, still staying ugly here in the NW. Expecting snow and more cold temps for the next 5 days. We have been rocked by storm after storm for the past 2 months. Normal temps in the 40s. This year, 20-30 where I am at.

[der kapitan]

Just a little ice in Michigan... woke up at 4am to the momentary beeping of my sump pump's backup system, then a green flash outside as the transformer down the street went, but I'm alright. Still got my generator from the great Northeast blackout of 2003, haven't had to use it but once since!

Pat M

Hi Pat,

That picture of the frozen birdfeeder could just as well be in my yard. We have ice on everything here, and I'm surprised that none of my trees have snapped any branches yet. The ones on the silver maple in front are almost touching the ground. No power outages yet though.

I keep saying "yet"---.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

All the ponds are frozen around here, but Indoor Sailing is the answer!

:D

[Aerominded]

My bird bath has been frozen solid, for days! very unusual for where I live-

[der kapitan]

My bird bath has been frozen solid, for days! very unusual for where I live-

Aerominded, I can't believe this winter. California ices up, and New York has no snow. Right now, there's ice covering everything around here, and I've heard that a few areas are out of power. Strangely, my pond is ice-free, as is the waterfall.

[Aerominded]

Certainly an odd winter! We're all looking forward to spring! :)

[jeepers1940]

Last night a group of us went out for supper. It was literally short sleeve weather - we had the car air conditioner on. Today's somewhat cooler, though. Best of luck to you icy folks; hope you come through all right.

[smart_racer]

Like Smart racer said, still staying ugly here in the NW. Expecting snow and more cold temps for the next 5 days. We have been rocked by storm after storm for the past 2 months. Normal temps in the 40s. This year, 20-30 where I am at.
I just heard on the news, more snow tonight! better start building those r/c snow-moblies, or snow-plows!

[bluesy]

Here are a couple of pix of our "normally" ice free pond.

Photos by fellow Victoria Model Shipbuilding Society member Mike
Woodley.

[tim slocum]

I called the cable TV company today....maybe no TV...for several DAYS!!! :eek: :censored: :(

[Kmot]

bluesy: you need a scale ice breaker ship model! :D

[Kmot]

better start building those r/c snow-moblies, or snow-plows!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQSDVhANHGc

:D :D :D

[smart_racer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQSDVhANHGc

:D :D :D
Kmot....thanks, I needed a good laugh today, and that did it. I also build 2.2 Rock Crawlers, time to fab a plow...LOL...that video is funny!

[der kapitan]

Kmot....thanks, I needed a good laugh today, and that did it. I also build 2.2 Rock Crawlers, time to fab a plow...LOL...that video is funny!

---wet SNEW---?

To his credit, the announcer didn't miss a beat after flubbing that line. :D

[rlboats2003]

Hey Tim:
Did those trees breaking sound like small arms fire like it did here in Amherst in October. Ton of Ice on the Trees but all the weak stuff is gone.
Hope you got enough power so you can light the shop and work on the Bismark. I am cleaning up some boats for a mall show that our club is having this week end. Then I will go back to working on a lackawanna, a harbor tug and I hope to have a new Vac tug that will drive you to doing some upgrades on yours.

Joking aside hope you and yours are weathering the winter and are staying warm. Having limited telli is one thing but not having heat is another. Hope for the best for all you guys who are suffering from some very different weather. I have just finished charging all the boat batteries and put a couple of search lights on the Kitchen table just in case.

Hoping for the best for all our fellow modelers with weather,
Rich

[der kapitan]

Hi Rich,

We have had the ice clinging to the trees (and everything else) for over two days now, and last night we got another thin coating. I can understand why you're getting all of your emergency gear out again. So far though, only a few small power outages.

My car doors were frozen shut, and I had to pry them open with a wooden spoon this morning. Driving wasn't bad, but I couldn't see out my iced-over side mirrors, making it a little dicey during lane changes.

[smart_racer]

I saw on the morning news, New Hampshire is getting hammered

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

You can check out our snowfall today on the traffic cams. :D

http://167.131.0.179/Pages/RCMap.asp?curRegion=14&mainNav=RoadConditions

[LtDoc]

First thing I plan to do after winning the lottery is to buy a large generator and a gas station on the highway. Then wait for the next ice storm! Three stations open now, lines at least a block long at all of them. Waiting time down to something like an hour, maybe. Now I just have to talk myself into buying that first lottery ticket. Cheap, you know...
- 'Doc

[der kapitan]

We still haven't had much snow up here, but the ice is still all over the trees and power lines. It doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon, either. RL boats lives about six miles south of me, and has about the same conditions.

Can't do much outside, so it's downstairs to the shop and find something to tinker with---.

[keith S]

We still haven't had much snow up here, but the ice is still all over the trees and power lines. It doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon, either. RL boats lives about six miles south of me, and has about the same conditions.

Can't do much outside, so it's downstairs to the shop and find something to tinker with---.

got to agree with you on that one Der Kaptain!! Too the shop shopboy and prepare to battle the weather with another boat prodject insides!!

[Soar Master]

I saw on the news last night that somewhere in the midwest a water main broke and was spraying water out at an angle all over a bunch of cars in an apartment parking lot. The water was freezing the cars into an ever increasing block of ice. They say that some of the cars won't be able to be moved until the weather warms and it thaws the ice. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[tim slocum]

rlboats2003,

Yes the trees breaking DID sound like small arms fire!!!Im 40yrs old and I've never heard anything quite like that. :eek: Amazing.Powers back,but still no TV.Im not complaining though,with so many without power.I do feel a little cut off with out the nightly news/weather/sports.

Im saving my $$ for a Vantec esc for the Bismarck,I tired of messing around with cheapo esc's!!I've been adding a few details to the Vac u tug also.Thats about it.Ive been working on the model RR lately.

Getting ready for a show is fun,isnt it? I only get to go to one a year in Sept.The Lackawanna tug is a favorite of mine,I cant wait to see yours.I mights have to try one of those out.I ran across a reference to a tug that looked exactly like the Lackawanna thats name was the General Slocum.It helped with the fires after the San Franisco earthquake.Its interesting that there was a firefighting tug named General Slocum when there was a excursion steamer with the same name that burned,killing over a thousand people in NYC.

[rlboats2003]

Tim

What and where do you find vantec esc. I have seen this identifed in many of the threads. I have a few MCD for some of the better models and an array of other esc for the more run of the mill models. Does vantec make speed controllers with a wide speed range.

Do you have a televison that has never been hooked up to cable and still have the rabbit ears. In October when we didn't have power (amherst is a suburab of buffalo) I hooked up 12" color TV that was never hooked up to cable (only had to run a limited setup) to gel boat house battery with an ac/dc converter. Had Local stations only to watch but could get news and other stuff. Played DVD on my Laptop using my 7amp hour 12v batteries model boat batteries. We had water and gas (gas fireplace, stove, and hotwater heater) Had solar array from sailboat to charge batteries during the day. My basement doesn't flood have battery back-up bilge pump above electric pump. Power goes off bilge pumps out sump.

When power came back - put everthing in one plastic contianer on shelf in basement. Still have allot of ice on trees and wires getting light snow. Everything ready.

Going to go, have fun working on the Bismark.
Rich

[tim slocum]

Vantec speed controllers are highly thought of by many in our model boat club.Thats were I first found out about them.I googled www.vantec.com and checked out their site.The guys in the club said that the best way to get one was to call them and discuss my application with them and we would arrive at a particular model to purchase.They(Vantec) supplies esc's for robots,submersibles etc.,they seemed to know what there doing,so Im getting one for the Bismarck.Worst case senerio should cost about $100.00

Funny you should mention rigging up a TV with an antenna.,I tried that by disconnecting the cable from the wall and touching it to metal.This high tech method got me one fuzzy channel.That was enough to watch the news last night.Sounds like you are pretty self sufficient and ingenuitive(sp).I have a gas furnace also.I wonder if it got cold enough if I could have used a battery to run the blower?Probably would need some serious amp/hr rating to keep it going.See ya.

[jeepers1940]

Hello Tim,
Wish we could help you somehow. Hang in there; this too shall pass. In a few months, we'll be sweating bullets - again.
Bill

[rlboats2003]

Tim
Thanks for the vantec info will but in my list of Http to visit.

TV - Radio shack sells a power amplified rabbit ears set up - you will have to re-setup the tv for the channels you receive with the deluxe rabbit ears. Now the bad- the power amp requires a plug in converter. What I use is one of my 12v 7 amp hour gel cells. Walmart sells those cigirette (don't smoke misspelled) lighter plug in ac/dc converters for cars for $15-$30 depending in watts and if you then go to there auto area they have additional cigirette lighter sockets with wire leads. some come with plug on terminels that match the terminal that are on the 12 volt gels. (or just by sone conectors and crimp them on the wire) That is the way I run my laptop to play dvd's (or I can send it to the little telvision that I power with the 12v inverter. Once you have a method to get the 12v batteries working with the sockets you will find that in the RV stores you can get popcorn, coffee makers and a bunch of other things. Buying this stuff is OK if you camp or have a boat where there is another purpose other than emergency.

Heat - I would never try to do the furnace and blower unless I had a generator. we have a heat-and-glow gas fire place. It seams that they use a 9 volt battery to turn on the optional thermosat system. We could not run was the blower motors so we need to depend on natural convection which maintained the first floor of the house at 70 degrees easily. The unit also has an optional second head duct that I patched into a heat pipe that goes to the second floor bedroom. (which i couldn't run the blower) If I changed this motor to a 12 volt motor I could also have pushed heated air to chamber that all the hot air pipe come to. (keep this one pipe closed off so the furnace does not force hot air into the fireplace) I am thinking on this one, because we lived OK until the electricty came back on, and would cost a couple of dollars to do this conversion, besides the biggest problem was listening to the noise of eveyone generators running.

Light - the company i worked for just redid one of the buildings and put in all new emergancy light and through out the old 12v. emergancy lighting. Well I collected alot of it and made up lights that you just plugged onto those 7amp hour gel cells. (better than walking aroud the house with candles) This idea came in handy when going to the bathroom (didn't want any open flame near gas)

Just some ideas - on how to stay sane and warm - like I said when the power came back on - every thing got charged and put into a plastic box under the basement steps - The batteries are in a vented area on a different shelf. 4 trips to the basement under flash lite power and were off to the races.

Happy Modeling
Rich

[der kapitan]

Hi Rich,

I hope that we won't need any emergency lights, etc., this time around, but we're ready if the need arises. I keep it simple with candles, and a free-standing Danish fireplace burning wood in the family room. My house isn't nearly as big as yours, so I have less to heat. The sump is right next to the laundry tub if I have to bail it, but I might invest in a hand-operated bilge pump.

It's supposed to warm up into the upper 30's or low 40's today, which should melt the ice off the trees, wires and everthing else, bringing the area into the safe zone again. :)

I can't recall ever seeing ice hanging on trees more than a day or so. Four days is a bit much---.

[Kmot]

There is a guy in our club who can't get the Vantec in his boat to work right. It buzzes, and overheats at anything over 1/4 throttle on a Johnson 900 motor.

Maybe he wants to sell it cheap? :p

[Tug Guy]

Maybe he should contact Vantec and ask them why it doesn't work? They are very good on customer service.

Don




There is a guy in our club who can't get the Vantec in his boat to work right. It buzzes, and overheats at anything over 1/4 throttle on a Johnson 900 motor.

Maybe he wants to sell it cheap? :p

[Kmot]

I'll ask him if he has. But I think he was going to get an electronic esc instead anyway. So it might still be for sale. I think the Vantec esc's are very old technology?

[Tug Guy]

To my knowledge Vantecs are electronic escs. The only mechanical esc I know of is Dumas's

Don



I'll ask him if he has. But I think he was going to get an electronic esc instead anyway. So it might still be for sale. I think the Vantec esc's are very old technology?

[der kapitan]

Vantec has been around for a very long time, and I've never heard anything bad about their products. ESC technology has changed a bit over the last 25 years, but not so much that it can be referred to as a quantum leap.

Perhaps the modeler has something binding up in his drive line, or isn't geared properly.
That could cause overheating too.

[Shaun Hendricks]

Traxxas also makes mechanical speed controls. They were used in the early versions of the Stampede prior to the inclusion of the XL-1. They are nothing more than a servo connected to a multipoint relay style switch.

[Tug Guy]

Shaun what is a Stampede?

Don

[Kmot]

This is a Stampede! :D

[Tug Guy]

Funny looking boat! :D

Don



This is a Stampede! :D

[Kmot]

I think the tires would float it! :D

[der kapitan]

Funny looking boat! :D

Don

Don, believe it or not, I have a few of those sitting in my basement too. :o Haven't run them in years. In fact, the Tamiya "Wild Willy" is so old that it has a 72 mhz Cox/Sanwa radio in it. :D

[Tug Guy]

Hi Karl,
Nope I wouldn't have believed it unless I heard it from you personally. I admit I was tempted over the years to buy one. But like most things time never allowed for more than one hobby at a time. Boats have taken precedence with me since the late 70's.

Don

Don, believe it or not, I have a few of those sitting in my basement too. :o Haven't run them in years. In fact, the Tamiya "Wild Willy" is so old that it has a 72 mhz Cox/Sanwa radio in it. :D

[boatman]

It wasnt the ice that i was worried about it was the flash flooding we were having here . The ice missed me by about 10 miles luckly :rolleyes:
Thought i need the boat to get to town :p

[green-boat]

Yesterday I got to check out the damage at the in-laws. It looks like a war zone with all the tree limbs down. Saturday I get the privledge of sawing all those limbs up and hauling them off before the next storm rolls in that evening. Lucky me.

[Kmot]

Firewood?

[tim slocum]

Good news,my cable TV is back!!I was late getting home from work,but when I turned on the TV the static was gone!Real moving pictures :D Too bad I needed to help the daughter with a school project so there was no time to watch the TV. :( Hey, some of my limited r/c knowledge came in handy tonight.The daughter needed to record a radio commercial for school.but the only recorder we had ran off of 5 D batteries.Well, with the ice storm there was any D sized batteries for sale in town!!No joke.. I went everywhere.The projects due tomorrow,so I knew the recorder took 5 D's so I knew that was approx. 6volts,so I rigged up the recorder to one of my 6volt 10amp/hr batteries for the Bismarck and volla we were in business!! :) Now the bad news.I heard that another storm is comming Sat or Sunday. :censored:

[green-boat]

Firewood?
I wish I had a fireplace or even a wood stove because besides the in-laws there is a sheetload of it to be had around here, free for the taking.

[Kmot]

If you could cut it, split, it, and somehow haul it to So Cal you could make a ton of money!

http://www.sepulveda.com/store/view_firewood.php

[MILLERTIME]

we've had a cold snap in central CA. had ice on the pond.
Ran out of propane and had to fire up my old cook stove, mom made fried taters.

Don M.

[Kmot]

Ah, the good old days! :)

[green-boat]

mom made fried taters.

Don M.
Fried taters.......YUM! Nothing beats mom's cookin.

[der kapitan]

we've had a cold snap in central CA. had ice on the pond.
Ran out of propane and had to fire up my old cook stove, mom made fried taters.

Don M.

Hi Don,

Oh, man! What a stove! That's got to be 100 years old--- :)

I just got off the phone with a friend from Germany, and I guess that they're getting pounded by the same kind of weather we're having, high winds, sleet, cold, etc. :eek:

Up by us, most of the ice is off the trees now, but I have a row of arbor vitaes that look kinda bent over. These are tall and slim evergreens that were planted as a privacy screen, and I hope that they can straighten themselves.

[Shaun Hendricks]

we've had a cold snap in central CA. had ice on the pond.
Ran out of propane and had to fire up my old cook stove, mom made fried taters.

Don M.

It's definitely freezing here in Central CA... brrrrr! I'm out scraping ice off my windshield thinking "Man, I thought I lived in California... not Colorado!"

If you want a cheap RC 'monster truck' that can take more abuse than your kids can dish out, the Stampede is it. Too bad Traxxas has stopped production on it. It's one of those that was designed to be abused. Everything else is very breakable. Took mine down a 20' cliff... no damage and it kept rolling. Ran it back up the trail and did it again. Great truck. Definitely needs the ESC upgraded though, I'm not a fan of the XL-1. :( :p

[smart_racer]

I just heard on the news, I think it was Germany - 200 km/hr winds and England was getting hammered too

[smart_racer]

It's definitely freezing here in Central CA... brrrrr! I'm out scraping ice off my windshield thinking "Man, I thought I lived in California... not Colorado!"

If you want a cheap RC 'monster truck' that can take more abuse than your kids can dish out, the Stampede is it. Too bad Traxxas has stopped production on it. It's one of those that was designed to be abused. Everything else is very breakable. Took mine down a 20' cliff... no damage and it kept rolling. Ran it back up the trail and did it again. Great truck. Definitely needs the ESC upgraded though, I'm not a fan of the XL-1. :( :p
Yes, the Stampede is a great truck, also the Rustler. Traxxas still produces the Stampede, just new style, lots of new old style around,Traxxas has done their homework concerning R/C

[MILLERTIME]

“Oh, man! What a stove! That's got to be 100 years old”

At lease I’ve had it about 40 years. Back when I was younger I drove trucks.
One day I was in Kingsburg CA. I Was waiting for my truck to be loaded with grapes at an old farm house. Well I had to drain the lizard, and went behind this old barn.
I saw this old cook stove with about 1 inch of dust on it. I went up to the owner of the farm, and said do you want to sale that old stove behind the barn? He said what stove?
I showed him the stove, and he said yes it’s for sale. I said I will give you $50.00 for it, he said I can’t sale it for $50.00. He said I have to have $60.00 for it. I gave him the money and picked it up that night. I like cooking beans and cornbread on it. Taters are best cooked in a old cast iron skillet.

Don M.

P.S.
For Umi.
Stay away from Portland Or.......unless u like bumper cars..
http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/makeASX.php?title=www.king5.com/kiraw_011607portlandhomevid.wmv

[Boatfox]

http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/makeASX.php?title=www.king5.com/kiraw_011607portlandhomevid.wmv[/url]

^ and that is why you RENT a car with full insurance...LOL That is insane. What are they doing wrong besides trying to drive on ice? (having never driven ice/snow before) :confused: :eek:

[bluesy]

Hi Capitan........

I think that is in Seattle. KING 5 is a local Seattle TV station. It can be tough enough to drive in Seattle on a dry day. Some what like San Francisco with all the hilly streets. I can't imagine amyone foolish enough to think they could navigate those hills without loosing it.

That SUV driver seemed to have panicked and kept the pedal to the metal and take out all those other cars.

doug in victoria.

[bluesy]

boatfox.......

what they are doing wrong is being on the streets in those conditions in the first place. When you have a combination of extremely icy streets and extreme hills, that is a definate clue to stay the hell away!!! I've driven in ice and snow most of my 63 years and I wouldn't even attempt driving there. When your vehicle slides sideways off the road when you have no power applied it's time to park/abandon it and head for the pub!!

doug in victoria

[der kapitan]

^ and that is why you RENT a car with full insurance...LOL That is insane. What are they doing wrong besides trying to drive on ice? (having never driven ice/snow before) :confused: :eek:

We saw that clip on the news the other night, and I think they ran parts of it at least three times. Some guy taped it from his apartment window. ;)

I have been forced to drive in conditions like that, and even 4WD won't help you to stay in a straight line. :eek:

[Tug Guy]

Last night's late night news said England was getting hit with 100 mph winds. It showed people hanging onto a lamp post with all their might to keep from being blown away. I wonder what the seas were like?
The weathermen here were trying to scare the population into thinking we were actually going to get bombarded with a snowstorm. All we got were a few falling flakes and a tiny bit of rain.

Don



I just heard on the news, I think it was Germany - 200 km/hr winds and England was getting hammered too

[Kmot]

Shaun: Traxxas has not discontined the Stampede. They have improved it. And it has a new esc that handles down to 12 turn motors. There are actually three version available. The only one discontinued was the "build it youself kit". :)

http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/stampede2006/trx_stampede_intro.htm

[Kmot]

“Stay away from Portland Or.......unless u like bumper cars..
http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/makeASX.php?title=www.king5.com/kiraw_011607portlandhomevid.wmv
Oh my God, that must have been terrifying to everyone there. So that was on a hilly area? That SUV driver was nuts.

[keith S]

The morons with SUV,s in this area and Seattle, always have a tendencie to think they are invincible in the ice. :eek: Ice is a comon equalizer. 4 wheel or 2 it will take you for a ride if you are not carefull. Besides, most of the people driving those things that end up on the news are "California transplants" that comment "we are going back to where there is no ice, ecept in a drink!". :p ;)
Lots of hills that do not get deiced or sanded as they have their hands full keeping main roads cleared. We donot have that many sanding trucks as it does not snow around here that often ( except for this year).
To all the Californian reading the term "California Transplant" is not ment to offend the fine people still living there. It pertains ONLY to those who have moved here and complain about the weather and not being sunny enough( duhhaa Wet-stern Washington). :p :D ;)

[flufy]

Last night's late night news said England was getting hit with 100 mph winds. It showed people hanging onto a lamp post with all their might to keep from being blown away. I wonder what the seas were like?
The weathermen here were trying to scare the population into thinking we were actually going to get bombarded with a snowstorm. All we got were a few falling flakes and a tiny bit of rain.

Don

Must have missed it (nightshift)

[der kapitan]

Last night's late night news said England was getting hit with 100 mph winds. It showed people hanging onto a lamp post with all their might to keep from being blown away.
Don

Hi Don,

I was on the phone with a friend in Germany this morning, and he mentioned that they were getting 100 mph wind gusts there. :eek: I thought he might have meant 100 kph, which is more like 62 mph. :confused: Guess I was wrong---. :o

[smart_racer]

I have owned 4+4's, SUV's, and with our snow and ice conditions my '85 VW Jetta w/ new front tires, no problem, ( I left my Explorer's in the driveway) alot of it is, common-sense

[Shaun Hendricks]

Shaun: Traxxas has not discontined the Stampede. They have improved it. And it has a new esc that handles down to 12 turn motors. There are actually three version available. The only one discontinued was the "build it youself kit". :)

http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/stampede2006/trx_stampede_intro.htm

That's cool. I last left the Stampede arena when there was discussion of stopping production on all of them... They had just killed the DIY kit and mechanical speed control version. Nice to see it's still got legs on it. It's a hard truck to beat for toughness. I was doing things with mine that was breaking Monster GT's and REVO's. Evenone would just shake their heads. Tough little buggers. I was fearless with the thing. Worst I broke was an A-arm in a cartwheel after jumping down a 15 foot embankment into a river channel. Highly recommended 1st monster truck for the youngsters or those just wanting to play with one. I've even had it on ice... a blast and a half!

[Kmot]

Agreed. The Stampede and its cousin the Rustler are two of the most durable r/c cars/trucks ever made.

[tim slocum]

Well just as the ice was disappearing and the power was restored to most of us Missourians,here comes another winter storm :eek: North of hwy 44 (me) gets 4-8in of snow..south of 44 gets a combo of snow and ice.The snow I can deal with, but I feel sorry for those people south of here,there getting ice again.My daughters school,for some unknown reason :censored: ,decided that it would be safe to let the kids go to a basketball tourney an hour and a half away tonight.Well,I went to pick up my daughter from school and ...well I didnt make it.I parked the truck on the side of the road and walked back home.My daughters boyfriends dad has a 4wheel drive truck and he is going to try and get them home.As I look out the window right now,Id guess theres about 3-4in. of snow on the ground and its snowing really hard.I'll report back later with how it turns out...if I have power. :(

[green-boat]

Well I made it thru cutting up all of the fallen tree limbs at mother in-laws and sister-inlaws. Oh what fun in 35 degree weather just before the snow and ice storm bearing down on us, like Tim has described. Being south of 44, we are getting the ice and snow. Currently it is sleeting and there is about 2" on the ground with a predicted total of 3 to 4" of the stuff.

Tim..... I hope it wasn't too far of a walk for you and I hope that your daughter and the others make it home safely.

[tim slocum]

It's 2:20am and the daughters home OK.Looking out the window,its stopped snowing and I'd say we got around 8in.of wet snow.Time to get some sleep.Good night...er..morning.

[der kapitan]

Hi Tim, Green-boat,

This winter has had its share of unpredictable weather so far, with places that usually have little to no snow getting bombarded, freezing temps in California, and near-summer conditions in New York.

I woke up this morning to 7 degrees, and about an inch of snow. My pond was frozen over completely, including the spillway on the waterfall. Uh, ohh---. Went out to fill the bird feeder, and I could hear water running. Sure enough, the waterfall was still going under a shield of ice, and the pool at the top was clear. At the other end, the floating heater was doing its job, and leaving a vent hole for the fish.

Here's hoping that all of you guys are staying warm and dry---.

[smart_racer]

Well, almost all our snow has melted (Victoria) and almost back to normal temps, yes it has been very unpredictable weather

[green-boat]

Well I awoke this morning expecting to see more snow than what I saw. All we got was about 1" of the white stuff with it melting off of the roof.

[jeepers1940]

Der kapitan, I see on the news that you're getting more of the white stuff; hope you and yours are okay.
Um, our high today was in the 60's, tomorrow's gonna be the same. Wish we could send you some of our temps. Hang in there -
Bill

[green-boat]

We managed to get above the freezing mark to day, made it to 44 degrees. A heat wave compared to the past 2 weeks where the temp barely made it into the 20's. Tomorrow though the high will be 22 degrees.

Too bad I don't have a Titanic model, the rivers are littered with chunks of ice. Plenty of icebergs.

[toesup]

I spoke to my Mother back in Great Britain earlier today.. and the weather there is 6 below (degrees C) and the weather 'persons' are forecasting 5 - 6 inches of snow in the next few days...

Soooooooo....

Expect Great Britain to come to a grinding halt!....

They are like Southern Californians when it comes to snow... :o

By the way, it was 82 degrees F here today (Redlands Ca)... :cool:

[der kapitan]

Der kapitan, I see on the news that you're getting more of the white stuff; hope you and yours are okay.
Um, our high today was in the 60's, tomorrow's gonna be the same. Wish we could send you some of our temps. Hang in there -
Bill

Hi Jeeps, We came home from down south on Saturday, and were welcomed by a flash snowstorm. Right now, it's just a shade above zero, and my yard is a patchwork of snowdrifts, ranging up to about 5' high. The wind chill is such that we venture outside as little as possible.

I'll have to go out this afternoon to bring in more firewood, and check on the pond heater. Our dog, who is a nordic breed, simply loves it outside, and has been rolling and snurfling in the snow. He wonders why daddy won't come out and play with him---.

[der kapitan]

I spoke to my Mother back in Great Britain earlier today.. and the weather there is 6 below (degrees C) and the weather 'persons' are forecasting 5 - 6 inches of snow in the next few days...

Soooooooo....

Expect Great Britain to come to a grinding halt!....

They are like Southern Californians when it comes to snow... :o

By the way, it was 82 degrees F here today (Redlands Ca)... :cool:

Toesup, that's pretty harsh weather for Great Britain, where it rarely goes below freezing, except up in Scotland. 22 degrees must really bite---.

I just got off the phone with my friend in Germany, and he said it was beginning to warm up, having gone from snow this morning, to rain in the afternoon.

[toesup]

Soooooooo....

Expect Great Britain to come to a grinding halt!....

They are like Southern Californians when it comes to snow... :o

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6345231.stm

:D :D :D I told you so!!!!

Birmingham City Centre gridlocked and people abandoning their cars!

[der kapitan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6345231.stm

:D :D :D I told you so!!!!

Birmingham City Centre gridlocked and people abandoning their cars!

Here's hoping that nobody dies---.

[remondo]

here in britain we don't come to a 'griding halt'-we can handle it haha. Although I did have a delay coming back from Amsterdam last week, we eventually had to land on a sheet of snow

Oh and it does go below freezing quite often in the winter lol, don't know what you're on about?!

[tim slocum]

Whew, that was a close call.Im here in mid-Missouri and a major winter storm just passed by.The snow is tapering off now,we got about 3 in. and a little ice,but people just north of here got 8-12 inches of snow with blizard conditions.If the temps would have dropped here sooner,we would have gotten the same.The kids got off school here and I decided to take a day off.

[der kapitan]

Whew, that was a close call.Im here in mid-Missouri and a major winter storm just passed by.The snow is tapering off now,we got about 3 in. and a little ice,but people just north of here got 8-12 inches of snow with blizard conditions.If the temps would have dropped here sooner,we would have gotten the same.The kids got off school here and I decided to take a day off.

Hi Tim,

We're bracing for some snow here this evening, in the frozen tundra along the Canadian border. It's about 8 degrees out at the moment. :)

I did some grocery shopping about 8:30 this morning, and the store was packed with people stocking up. They're calling for a foot or more all over the area, but we'll see what REALLY comes down. ;)

Lately, the weather people have been predicting some really grim storms that never did happen. I think they're gripped in their own hysteria---. :rolleyes:

[green-boat]

The kids got off school here and I decided to take a day off.
Tim,

You bum, I had to got to work. My first call was in Highland, Ill., about an hour east. Going there was mostly rain with some sleet. By the time I left there was about 2" on the ground and it took me about 3 hours to get back. The worst part about it was the wipers freezing up and having to stop numerous times to bang the ice off of them. Yes, the defroster was going full blast but anything over 20 MPH the window would freeze back up.

[jeepers1940]

And we were in the low 70's today; I'm embarrassed.
Bill

[Tug Guy]

We had an ice storm last night that took limbs from 3 of my trees and flooded my carport. We got off lucky, now the ice is all ready starting to melt off.

Don

[LtDoc]

Bill,
Don't be embarrassed. Yesterday afternoon it was in the 50's. If it hadn't been for the rain, it felt like you could lay out and get some 'rays'. Wouldn't have for very long though. Had the second earthquake here in my living memory, a '2.8', small one (no such thing as 'small' if you ain't been there before!). This morning, 22 degrees, no rain, beautiful 'gleam' on my truck/porch/lawn...
- 'Doc

I get the feeling that Someone isn't happy with us/me?

[der kapitan]

Hi Tim,

We're bracing for some snow here this evening, in the frozen tundra along the Canadian border. It's about 8 degrees out at the moment. :)

I did some grocery shopping about 8:30 this morning, and the store was packed with people stocking up. They're calling for a foot or more all over the area, but we'll see what REALLY comes down. ;)

Lately, the weather people have been predicting some really grim storms that never did happen. I think they're gripped in their own hysteria---. :rolleyes:

Hi all,

So much for the dreaded storm---. We got maybe six inches of light powder,
which didn't slow down anybody going to work. Schools remain open.

Big fat hairy deal---. :rolleyes:

[jeepers1940]

Glad it was no worse than that.

[tim slocum]

Sorry so long for reply...my computer belongs in the Smithsonian or maybe a trash can at the Smithsonian!Internet/email is sporatic...bugs in the system....maybe my last transmission for quite a whi.................shshshshshshshshshsshshshshshh shshs.Seriously,Im having computer trouble and might suddenly disappear from the forums for a while.

der kapitan, you guys in New York dont get excited about snow until it covers your house!HaHa.Take care everyone. P.S Greenboat, who you callin a bum! A guy needs a day off once in a while.Line from Risky Business,"Sometimes you gotta say,what the f#@#!"

[der kapitan]

Glad it was no worse than that.

Hi Jeeps,

I finally got the snowblower running this morning, and marched forth to find the driveway. I'd put it off as long as possible, and was hoping that as it was sunny outside, it'd be a little bit warmer. :)

Yeah, right, 15 below wind chill---. :eek:

Why is it that no matter what direction you point the discharge chute, the wind suddenly changes, and you get a faceful of powdery snow? :rolleyes:

In just over an hour after I got finished, it was drifting in again---. :censored:

[Kmot]

What do the guys from Greenland and Iceland have to say? :p