THE V.I.P JOURNAL

PRRMP54 posted:

Nice. So what is happening with the naval/port/pirate episode?

After defeating the pirates, the members of MUK Pack have been engaged in rebuilding. They took a financial setback when Bruce Wayne withdrew from the alliance and started working with V.I.P. instead. And with no danger in the area, Israel and Poland have withdrawn their naval forces to the tops of my kitchen cabinets.

However, they are mining the extensive underwater mineral wealth of MUK, and the overall picture is good.

LOL

My Coca Cola bottle cap manufacturing and repair facility is having problems: Coke stopped using cardboard cartons here, and I need one to build on to.

However, yesterday I found a $6 battery-powered HO set with two gondolas, so we now have rail freight.

There is always an alternative!!

"Coke a Coal a" Railroad Opens for Business!

With four steam-powered locomotives (one of them themed for Christmas), one coal car, three gondolas and one hopper, V.I.P.'s newest rail line opened today. The railroad will haul material to and from the Coca-Cola Bottle Cap Manufacturing and Repair Center, which is not yet built.

Asked why there is only one coal car for four steam locomotives, a V.I.P. spokesman explained that the train doesn't go anywhere. 

Vincent, where did you find all the pop bottle caps??  They could be a collectors item nowadays!!  Looks great!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Vincent, where did you find all the pop bottle caps??  They could be a collectors item nowadays!!  Looks great!!

Lying in the streets. I walk my dog 3.16 miles to the lake every morning, and over the last four years I have acquired some amazing finds.

Excellent!

Love your approach to trains. May not suit many of us but you seem to be having too much fun.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON "CIRCUIT CITY"!

Workers finished an elevated platform at V.I.P. today, and construction began immediately on "Circuit City." Not literally a city, the restricted area will deal with high-level circuitry improvements for V.I.P.  To protect industrial secrets, access to and from the area will be provided only by helicopter and hot air balloon. An anti-aircraft gun will ward off intruders.

The industrialized section will continue to grow as more circuitry is acquired.

Circuit City!!  I love it!  Our older daughter used to grab any bad circuit boards I came across and called the components 'houses'.  Great minds think alike as they say!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Circuit City!!  I love it!  Our older daughter used to grab any bad circuit boards I came across and called the components 'houses'.  Great minds think alike as they say!!

Thank you, Mark. My cheap camera can't get a good photo, but for $16 I got five HO sale construction workers who are working among the circuitry.

TIME TRAVEL EXPERIMENT FAILS!

Captain America Blamed For Massive Time Line Disaster!

Prestigious Law Firm Files Suit Against V.I.P.! Divorce Firm of Cheater, Runne, and Hyde Files Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of Clients They Don't Represent!

V.I.P. Claims Problem Corrected Within a Short Time!

Business Outsider--A failed experiment created multiple timelines within V.I.P. today, but timely intervention by technicians solved the problem within a short time. Billionaire Bruce Wayne, however, called the experiment a success that will "enable us to access the minds of some of history's greatest thinkers." Wayne dismissed threats from lawsuits, saying that they were not filed on time, in a timely manner, or at the right time.

That’s a fine mess you’ve gotten me into, Stanley!  It is all about Time!!!  I’m glad Mr. Wayne got the skinny on it all and whipped them all into shape!! 

PRESTIGIOUS LAW FIRM WILL REPRESENT V.I.P.!

In an unexpected public announcement, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne announced that Wayne Industries has purchased the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe. Mr. Wayne explained that V.I.P.'s time travel experiments had enabled Wayne Industries to acquire a trio of representatives whose thinking processes have been a legend for over eight decades. These three men will handle all future lawsuits against V.I.P.

Eight decades of excellent service!

MASSIVE LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST V.I.P!

A coalition of law firms, representing clients without their permission, has filed a class-action lawsuit against V.I.P. The plaintiffs are represented by:

Schiester & Schiester

Bicker, Back & Forth

Wangle, Finagle & Settle

Bickers & Bickers

Shadee & Smarte

Anna Turney

Celia Faite

V.I.P. is being sued for unauthorized time travel, creating alternate timelines, and posting copyrighted photos that don't hurt anybody.

A spokesman for Bruce Wayne assured reporters that V.I.P. is adequately represented and will prevail in court.

V.I.P. WINS MAJOR LAWSUIT!

Declaring that he has never encountered three lawyers with thinking processes on the level of the team of Howard, Fine, and Howard, Judge Roy Bean threw all complaints against V.I.P. out of court. He also threw Howard, Fine, and Howard out of court.

The judge then barred all future lawsuits, declaring that if he ever sees any of the contestants again, he will hang them.

I'm glad The Honorable Judge Bean had the good sense of justice to throw the complaints and the incompetents out of court!!  Let the projects continue as planned!!!

V.I.P. PURCHASES FACTORY CRANE AND ACCESSORIES!

Coca-Cola Bottle Cap Manufacturing and Repair Center is Ready to Go! (If it ever gets built).

COCA-COLA BOTTLE CAP MANUFACTURING AND REPAIR FACILITY OPENS! (Finally)

Months of frustrating delays had caused emotions to bubble to the top, but problems fizzed away late this evening as construction on the facility was completed. The highly-complex facility has amazed corporate spies who can't figure out what's going on, and V.I.P. executives refused to give away their industrial secrets.                                  Press secretary Clark Kent promised better pictures tomorrow when they have better light.

SCIENTISTS BAFFLED BY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF BOTTLECAP FACILITY!

"It Works, But We Can't Figure Out Why!"

Get Clark Kent to use that 'special vision' to 'look into it' to figure out how it works. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Get Clark Kent to use that 'special vision' to 'look into it' to figure out how it works. 

Actually, there have been a few accusations that they are using Kryptonian science, but no one takes that seriously.

One never knows!  It could be in an episode of 'The Outer Limits'.  Showing my age on that one!!  

V.I.P.SIGNS MAJOR CONTRACT WITH SODOR ISLAND!

Just one day after beginning construction of the Baldwin Iron Works, V.I.P. scrapped the project and entered a joint contract with Sodor Island to build a massive railroad construction facility. The project calls for the demolition of V.I.P.'s elevated switchyard, along with several minor structures, to make room for the new facility.

The new structure will handle manufacture and repair of locomotives and railcars, as well as handling switching, storage, and other railyard duties. Construction is expected to begin tomorrow.

Fast moving for such a large enterprise!  I'm looking forward to seeing the progress!

VINCENT "IRON HORSE" MASSI BLAMED FOR MASSIVE POWER FAILURE!

A major power failure struck the city of Chapala last night while Vince was dismantling V.I.P.'s elevated switchyard and running various locomotives. A 12-block area lost electricity for fourteen hours when a power box near Vince's house exploded last night.

Claiming innocence, Vince had almost convinced the court when he acknowledged that he had been running a Bachman HO locomotive when the black-out struck.

But a lawyer for Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe convinced the judge of Vince's innocence. Attorney "Curley" Howard explained that Vince can barely assemble a Lego building, and could not possibly  have the knowledge required to blow out a major portion of the city.

I have been known to cause a power outage or two myself while working for the power company.  Maybe that is why they offered me a severance package back in ‘95!  

Great job Curley Howard Esq.

V.I.P. RACKED IN CHAOS!

Company moves ahead with another controversial Decision!

With four of its five trains dismantled, V.I.P. is undergoing massive and time-consuming improvements. The addition of a three-story elevated rail-switching yard has made major renovations necessary. And a long-overdue cleaning has required that everything be moved.

Critics received another unwelcome shock today when the company decided to purchase the new controversial Disney Lego train set. Released just yesterday (September 1, 2019), the controversial set is already selling well. Powered by a motor in its tender, the steam locomotive has difficulty turning its wheels properly when pushed by the tender. Lego's very unpopular decision to use plastic axles guarantees that the  train will have problems farther down the line.

But Vince "Iron Horse" Massi explained that it is exactly when he wants for his 2019 "Disney Christmas" lay-out. The tracks are compatible with the tracks for his other two Lego trains. And assembling nearly 3,000 Lego pieces ought to keep Vince out of trouble for much of September.

There’s a critic for every decision! I think VIP Vince is going to have a grand old time!!

Fun with LEGOs.

BALDWIN IRON WORKS COMPLETED!

It Don't Go Nowhere, But It Works!

Often frustrated but always enthused, V.I.P. workers completed a massive clean-up operation before successfully building the Baldwin Iron Works. Towering 41" over the lay-out, the three-level structure includes the former Coca Cola Bottle Cap Manufacturing and Repair Facility, the former elevated switchyard, and the former Coca Cola Railroad. Complete with four cranes, the structure is such a scientific marvel that scientists can't explain how it works.

V.I.P. RESUMES PARTIAL OPERATIONS!

Baldwin Iron Works Begins Manufacturing Bottle Caps!

With the entire eastern half of V.I.P. shut down for cleaning (The two sheets I have under my lay-out were really filthy), V.I.P. currently has no working rail systems in operation. But supporters were encouraged that after absorbing the Coca Cola Bottle Cap Manufacturing and Repair Facility, Baldwin Iron Works is operating at  full capacity.

So the bottle cap works will have to stockpile bottle caps until the railroad comes to town??  Looks like the workers are going to town!!  

MASSIVE CLEAN-UP COMPLETED!

V.I.P. Begins Restoring Services!

Working late into the night, V.I.P. employees resumed some operations. The Santa Fe Railroad freight line was re-opened, giving V.I.P. one operating train. The newly-upgraded Archie Harrison Super-Computer is operating at full capacity. Circuit City has returned to full capacity.

The newly-purchased Disney Lego train arrived last evening and workers are holding off most other re-construction until they see where things are going to be placed.

Has the VIP management considered upgrading electric power production?  I can see why decisions need made about prime placement of the Disney unit

Mark Boyce posted:

Has the VIP management considered upgrading electric power production?  I can see why decisions need made about prime placement of the Disney unit

Mark, V.I.P. doesn't have an electric power plant.

That might explain some of our problems.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON DISNEY RAILROAD!

Locomotive Completed after only 6 1/2 hours of work!

It was a good day with lots of coffee, Christian music, an ice cream soda, and a (mostly) pleasant time assembling the unpowered locomotive to the Disney Lego train set. There was some alarm when a large rodent showed up, but construction was a success.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   My smart, intelligent wife (She married me, you know) applied all the decals, and the locomotive actually looks very nice.

No power plant!  We don’t need no stinking power plant...we got rodent power!!

Mrs. M did a great job!

Mark Boyce posted:

No power plant!  We don’t need no stinking power plant...we got rodent power!!

Mrs. M did a great job!

If I set it up like this promotional picture, I'll call this room "The Rat's Nest," because it's where all the rodents hang out.