Friday, September 21, 2012

Endevour In Houston TX Sept 2012

 
Hard to see, short video of Shuttle out 40th floor of Training Room

Chase Plane - Ellington Field, TX

Shuttle Wing

Signage

Endeavour Cockpit


Shuttle RV


Shuttle from 40th Floor Chevron Building Downtown Houston


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Texas TBird Ride

Had a GREAT Sunday today!!
Started with a beautiful breakfast made by my loving wife.
Ran the TBird, watched the Texans and the 49ers win .... man, if only I could have won the lottery!
Here's a short video of the run in the bird via GoPro.
 
 
You Tube Version:  http://youtu.be/4S8ZEjrpXOw

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Good Ideas For Modeling

A few photos from our trip.  The military vehicles are from Yermo/Dagget.  The helicopter was near the Tehachapi Loop.  I'll add more over the weekend.






Sunday, July 29, 2012

Stand by for Train Pictures!

Were Home! 3 weeks, 5003 miles, 7 states, over 2000 pictures and 55 videos to sort and publish. No major mechanical issues ... well, one door puncture, reattachment of a vent cover and air shock wifi problems ... but nothing to slow us down! Plus - We single handly helped the economy with our gas purchases and the associated taxes paid!

Keep an eye on our two blogs for upcoming photos and videos!
http://rustysrvadventures.blogspot.com/

http://rustystrbirdandtrains.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Lone Ranger Set

Hey All You Railroad Fans!  Today we had an encounter with part of the props from the new Lone Ranger movie which will star Johnnie Dep.  We are on our 3 week trip from Houston to California.  The set was north of Moab and about a 1/2 mile from the entrance of Arches National Park.

They used small utility engines to make these run







Saturday, June 23, 2012

Kansas City Rail Fanning

A little rain didn't keep me from taking the opportunity on the way to the airport to rail fan the Santa Fe Junction in Kansas City.  This junction can see up to 150 Trains per day - in a short period I saw at least 15 trains come through.  This area is one of the best areas to view trains I've seen to date ... almost replicating a model railroad in the number of trains.  It includes a fly over where you can watch 3 levels of trains.







Monday, May 28, 2012

1966 Ford Thunderbird - The Story

We picked up the T-Bird about three years ago from my uncle in Arizona.  He was going to rebuild her however his back was gone and wasn't able to continue. 

A Little History

My grandfather owned a Ford dealership in Tucson, Az.  A reverend with 5 children bought the car from him.  After a week the T-Bird was Returned (too small interior of course).  So - legend tells that my grandfather purchased it for my grandmother (Ethel).  She didn't like the original colors (Cinnamon and White) as she thought they would be too hot for the Arizona sun.  The white paint on her is the paint from 45 years ago.  As a kid, I remember being told by my grandfather to go out and start the air conditioning - as a pre teen this was quite a memorable task and I always remember the T controls for the windshield wipers and floor vents.  Over the years, even when she could no longer drive, my grandmother loved to be taken for rides and insisted that my uncles or cousins take her in the T-Bird.  After the passing of my grandmother, the car ended up in El Cajon, Ca hauling hay and working my uncle's ranch.  She was kept running by the students at my uncles high school and explains why there were a lot of by-passes to the electrical and vacuum systems.  After awhile the car sat in unused for 10 years until my uncle from Arizona picked it up and moved it to his place. 

Why me?!

My wife and I were talking one day and I mentioned that it I really wanted to have something to hand down to the kids that mattered to our family.  Since I didn't know of any realestate that would be handed down, the T-Bird came to mind.  After checking with all the Aunts and Uncles plus the nephews, nieces and my brothers and sister; I found that no one wanted her. 

How'd we get her home?

I talked to a buddy of mine from New Jersey and he flew down to Houston.  I bought a trailer capable of hauling the old girl back and we hooked up and started our journey to Arizona.  This included a stop at the Grand Canyon as he had never been there.  Our trip home with Ethel was grand and even resolved an issue he was having  ...  by the way F-16's can target you and head out before you hear them - New Mexico on route 60 let us know how good our men and women in uniform really are.  Over the last 3 years, with the help of a great friend and automotive guru here in Magnolia, Tx she is up and running and safe to drive.
428 EF prior to rebuild
A little work
Ethel and Belle on a Sunday Roadtrip


T-Birds and Blue Bonnets - Nothing better



Transmission - 46 Years of grease



Interior