2017 A Brand New Adventure!

 
   Curiously, little did I imagine that I would decide to put away work on the Township of Christmas for the entirety of 2017! Karen, on her own path through our joint pursuit of Christmas all year around, had been approached by her sister, asking for A Celebration of Christmas Model.

   The outcome of that? 2017 would become the year of "The English Chocolate Box Christmas."  I think the poster I have included makes our new adventure in trains, track, Christmas (and chocolate) only too clear!
   But that's another story . . . RWR

                                                             

From THE TOWNSHIP OF CHRISTMAS 2016 …

. . . here's hoping your Happy New Year 2017 is a good one!

*Note: Transformer Version 3.0

  *Note: There were so many wiring variations and configurations, I actually might rightly call this one Version 6.0 or even 12.0. Who knows?

  

  

  
Front
  
Rear End Work!                                                        And Done!

JANUARY 2016 By The Way . . .

 
. . . entering January 2017, I could not help but savor the moment (and the work done) . . . a bit.

   Mind clearing of goals now fulfilled and completed in a 3-D family treasure sort of way, I saw forming in my mind outlines of intriguing possibilities, plans, and configurations for the future. To me, this mental assessment experience was much like the walk-out a runner performs after a good, hard sprint—a time of recovery and sense of accomplishment; and, certainly in my case here, of success and satisfaction.

   As I reviewed my new situation, I determined I would need to make a new transformer cabinet, an idea I found very inviting, of course. Upgrades are always fun because when finished they are different than before.

   One thing at a time, though.

   After all, The Township was done for the year of 2016 . . . . and it needed take down to shelve on display in the studio until next Christmas.
 
   First things first! And so I began, one piece at a time.


    

Note: 

Platform goes under bed. Tables go in front hall closet. All else in studio!

DECEMBER 25th, 2016 Kathleen and Christmas!

Pictures really do say a thousand words!

Those are elves (from Kathleen) for The Township of Christmas, 

and there beside me is my beautiful wife, looking quite content with herself, as she should . . . 

for having made a perfect Christmas for us all !

That's an authentic "Parritch" stirrer below—gift Kathleen acquired for me in Scotland summer 2016!

    

Yes! It is that silver box you see above in the lead picture you see I'm opening below! And, yes, inside there is a Lionel. In fact, it's the Lionel Canadian Pacific Locomotive I have in my hand! That makes three Lionel locomotives, now, to my name, and I with plenty of track on which to run them all (and together). After family and faith, nothing could make me a happier man!

So true, it was a Merry Christmas 2016, indeed!

DECEMBER 2016 Celebrating 2nd Year of Christmas!

Karen commissions me to make Father Christmas for the Township!

And Light It Up!

 

 

Finally for October . . . Finishing Touches!

Enlarge the Glacier and Illuminate it.

    

And behold the tree!

The Rest of October and The Manual!

I began and spent the rest of October compiling and publishing a How To Assemble Instruction Manual for setting up the platform and all its buildings and wiring by photographing each step as I did it . . . as I assembled it, that is. Manual is a separate publication,

 Here is an example (of one of the photographs/steps in the manual) of the complexity of assembling The Township of Christmas at Christmastime:

OCTOBER 2016 Christmas Preparations

   Work preparations, I find, take scheduling; therefore, I plan the celebrations first! It acts like a carrot in front of the nose!

   My workplan for The Township this year (such workplans always exist solely in my head) was to separate it from the tree this year and table it at waist level. 

Since I would need to fabricate many new assemblies and pieces for this, and did not want to rush it, I needed to start early — October early!

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   Karen loves Christmas all year around (and me too). It's a good environment and is more of a year-round theme for our life together rather than a once-a-year high season.

   We both like to have all gifts bought early and start shopping in January, taking our time and getting special things. We update and improve our home over the year, too.

   Besides, it takes months to set up, include ongoing relaxation, and savor the celebrating of Christmas; and then another month to turn around and take decorations down, pack them up and put them away. So we do all in stages from early October to late January.

   I  call this pictured series of preparations stage one of an infinite (or so it seems) number of Christmas Preparations 2016. Pictures include from top to bottom: 

2

   one,
assembling the stage for the Township foundation using two folding tables;

   two,
assembling the foundation by interlocking five separate white-finished platform segments on top of 2x4 joists on top of the tables (3 of 5 segments shown at this photo … All this just to fit and fabricate the skirt!);

   and three, removing the platform and joists, then stitching up the drape and attaching fastenings.

        

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SEPTEMBER 2016 Command Panel Upgrades . . . Again!

Needed precise labeling and fabrication to wire in the new electrical enhancements in and on the new Toy Factory and Plaza. Boosted the lighting with spots at various locations and more blue light for the wild, night areas.  Expanding the tracks, glaciers, tunnels and falls made some great new lighting opportunities. As things get complicated, though,  it's a struggle to make the electrical panel look (and be) simple! And yes, it is possible . . . and a great satisfaction, too.