Don't Tell the Wife I Cut a Hole in the Wall - Snow Shed going up!

  But.... save that piece!

Dave

I did! I knew there was no going back. But just in case I taped it to the stud on the other side.

Then the Wife asked me yesterday why I was cleaning the kitchen and bathroom floors... "Oh I just figured I would help out a bit before Thanksgiving"  was my reply.

Little does she know...

And cut the groves out for the track

Oh Good !! about 3 more years, then all those walls in the basement can come right out of there

Clem 

SDIV Tim posted:

And cut the groves out for the track

That's another good idea......camouflage !

Dave

Look out. You don't want to end up in the Dog House!

Paint a piece of removable material that matches the existing  wall and cover up the hole when not in use.

Or, put an engine shed in front of it. People will be amazed at how long of a train will fit in that building!

Dave

Honey, you need to come down here more often, it's always been like that!

Why not!

Ah the classic but battle tested "I just need to make just a small hole in the wall"...

Obviously you are both an experienced modeler and have been married a long time.  I know this because a young husband would have started  out saying he was takng the whole wall down resulting in an absolute and an irrevocable never to be brought up again NO from the Big Chief and CFO.  No maneuvering room left.

FYI for all you young guys - next steps are as follows, a 2nd portal following up by an upper set of dual portals, followed up by......  You can see where this is going?

Great plan,

Ed

Great idea John,  your secret is safe with me  

happy hoidays to you an the family!!!!!!

Dave S.

Detroit Three Railers 

Dtrainmaster posted:

  But.... save that piece!

Dave

Because he may be sleeping with it outside?

Way to take the initiative!? (Without considering the possibly severe repercussions)

Cutting a hole in the wall can be good.  My cousin took out a piece of malformed drywall behind the kitchen table in the house he bought from his aunt.  He remembered she usually had the toaster in that spot to hide the "blemish" on the wall.  After he removed the drywall he found a box of old stock certificates.

Get a helmet, and make it a very good one! Trust me on this.

I wear mine every time I bring a new train item into the house.

Asking for forgiveness after, works better than asking permission beforehand.

I have plans to do the same thing. The wife has already given her OK. She says it's better than removing the whole wall. Start big and "settle" for "just a little hole".

George

Hope she doesn't read the forum

So, what your saying is, is that youre thinking about shopping for jewelry this Christmas

J Daddy posted:

.........  Then the Wife asked me yesterday why I was cleaning the kitchen and bathroom floors... "Oh I just figured I would help out a bit before Thanksgiving"  was my reply. ........

Well, yes, but you've overlooked two things:

1.  With women each Mistake resets the Make-it-Up clock to zero -- you can't "stockpile" Good.   I believe research studies, some no doubt funded by male tax dollars,  have proven this.

2.  By doing something Good instead of the usual male condition [ = doing Nothing  ( at best !! ) ] you have immediately put her guard up;  she has now gone to WifeCon 2, and will be on at least a lower-level Alert status for Whatever-He-Did. This means that the Retaliation Strike can be even more damaging than if you'd not done something Good.  So be warned......

SZ

Steinzeit posted:

J Daddy posted:

.........  Then the Wife asked me yesterday why I was cleaning the kitchen and bathroom floors... "Oh I just figured I would help out a bit before Thanksgiving"  was my reply. ........

Well, yes, but you've overlooked two things:

1.  With women each Mistake resets the Make-it-Up clock to zero -- you can't "stockpile" Good.   I believe research studies, some no doubt funded by male tax dollars,  have proven this.

2.  By doing something Good instead of the usual male condition [ = doing Nothing  ( at best !! ) ] you have immediately put her guard up;  she has now gone to WifeCon 2, and will be on at least a lower-level Alert status for Whatever-He-Did. This means that the Retaliation Strike can be even more damaging than if you'd not done something Good.  So be warned......

SZ

This is dis concerning.  So what if I work up a diversion plan... so the hole is never noticed? Has to be a project that she deemed needed to be done and would accredit praise?

Fellow modeler you are in my prayers.

I might have your solution...

Bruce

J Daddy posted :   .......Has to be a project that she deemed needed to be done and would accredit praise?......

A.  Reread my Para 2 above.  By actually initiating this project she would go to [ at least ] WifeCon 3 Alert Status..

B.  I think the decision on what do to has to be based on "What's on the other side of the wall ?";  that is, is it Her Territory or Our Territory.  [ I trust you've been married long enough to discover there is no Your Territory.]   If it it Her Territory, I would immediately remove all traces of your folly.  If it is Joint Territory, I would quickly*  take her down to the cellar, show her what you're doing, and ask if she has any objection.  That will give you your answer.

 * Well, "quickly" in a relative sense;  don't interrupt her fav TV show....]

Best, SZ

Note:  I realize responses like mine usually draw a "Who is the boss in  your house ?"  My response to that is "You both are." And besides, you want to save your "Victories", few as they will be, for when it really counts -- like,  "No, I don't want to build a pond and waterfall in the back yard" ........

SZ

Wow! I am in the presence of genius.  I don't mean to hijack the thread but I am looking for a reason to build a double track mainline 13ft long bridge across the middle of our media room, about 8ft above the floor.  It will connect 8" wide shelving w/crown moulding underneath.  I cannot resist enlisting the advice of some really creative people on this thread.  I must list a couple of conditions:

1. I cannot hide a 13ft long bridge, my wife notices little things like that.  

2. Each action creates a not always equal reaction.  I must be able to afford the payback (Honey-do project) when it comes.

3. I have been married to my wife over 34 years, I am not actively looking to deceive my bride, just looking for good reasons to put a bridge across the room.

Unleash the replies, however comical they might be.

Chris Sheldon

J Daddy, did the same thing in our first house which was split level.

I did some measuring on the opposite side of the wall which was a closet that really never got used.

Figured I could get an 042 curve in the closet with just enough room for passenger cars to clear the back wall.

Like you I saved the cut out.

My wife came home and the  boys which were younger then could not wait to tell mom what dad did.

The tunnel was there until the time we sold that house and moved into our current home.

Took the board down in the closet the track was laid on put the cut out back in place, a bit of dry wall caulking and some paint and no one ever knew the difference.

FIREONE,

Two basics:

1.  Make it EASILY removable.  Assuming the end sections are curved and about 36 - 40 inch radius, that suggests three sections, two 4' curved and the center 5' straight span, with two intermediate piers.

2.  Since you've been married for 34+ years, and she's put up with you to date, just tell her before you do anything  "in concrete" that "This is something I'd LIKE to do"-- and show her your sketch, followed by a mockup.  If you get the basic yes, I'd ask for her inputs at the design stage, especially as far as "trim" goes.

SZ

MarkStrittmatter posted:

a closet that really never got used.

I'm a little dense sometimes:  could you explain this concept to me?  I have no idea what such a critter might be.  I mean, I get the closet part, but "not used" throws me for a loop.

Thank you Steinzeit, entire structure except for curved ends will hang from ceiling.  Thinking of using Trainworx TrussRail R31.  I will take your advice and ask my bride what she would prefer for the bridge structure.  I want to keep it simple so I don't overpower the room.  I will show her a few options and let her pick.  My wife has waited 34 years for me to grow up, she can wait a little longer.

CS

Just curious....what's on the other side of the wall you cut into?

-Greg 

I'll put this guy right here. ...

Relax guys! We have to remember whose wall it is anyway. John, it isn't as if you are running the new tracks over the washer and dryer. Are you???

Elliot,

That my friend is why you should always buy front load washer and driers 

"You already have trains all over the house", "HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT" !!!???

maybe, two little holes ?

Well that's how the discussion started and ended! Roo.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Relax guys! We have to remember whose wall it is anyway. John, it isn't as if you are running the new tracks over the washer and dryer. Are you???

Well if this was an older house this would be true... right over the washer and dryer. However, since they put these on the main floor these days, I lucked out and the space I am invading will only be the furnace / utility room.

What is nice is ever since my wife came down one day and there was a Garter  Snake in the basement I have had FREE REIGN. Well within reason.   Like my previous post, I suggest everyone invest in a nice rubber snake for just such an occasion.

This eliminates any Def con to war elements as the space is considered unusable by the wife.

Fake snake, thats funny. My ex actually would have tried to catch it.

......but a cricket on the floor? ... Now we're talking ear shrieking screams of panic.

Buy her a BIG diamond and every thing will be fine!

Fake Snake !!   That has got to be the Holy Grail of defensive moves.  It's cheap, no maintenance, flexible and guaranteed a dramatic response. PRICELESS!

Ed

FireOne posted:

Wow! I am in the presence of genius.  I don't mean to hijack the thread but I am looking for a reason to build a double track mainline 13ft long bridge across the middle of our media room, about 8ft above the floor.  It will connect 8" wide shelving w/crown moulding underneath.  I cannot resist enlisting the advice of some really creative people on this thread.  I must list a couple of conditions:

1. I cannot hide a 13ft long bridge, my wife notices little things like that.  

2. Each action creates a not always equal reaction.  I must be able to afford the payback (Honey-do project) when it comes.

3. I have been married to my wife over 34 years, I am not actively looking to deceive my bride, just looking for good reasons to put a bridge across the room.

Unleash the replies, however comical they might be.

Chris Sheldon

Like the Cubs, you may be placing a most fantastic streak in Jeopardy of ending!! Good luck and we want pictures

1. I cannot hide a 13ft long bridge, my wife notices little things like that.  

3. I have been married to my wife over 34 years, I am not actively looking to deceive my bride