Hobby Thread - January 4, 2025 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread.

We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it reminded us that we previewed a gingerbread theme last week. Maybe we need to feed the wheel more often...

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For this hobby thread, we speak of gingerbread. It both edible and a flexible building block. We will let the Food Thread take the lead on matters of recipes and taste. The Hobby Thread will focus on making things with gingerbread. Houses are the most frequent subject but we shall not be limited to houses. Anything you build out of gingerbread is in scope.

Do you have holiday gingerbread traditions? What do you build? What past builds are you proud of? Do you have memories of decorating gingerbread houses as a child? Do you build anything other than houses? Do you have epic success or failure stories? Do you have secrets of clever uses of food ingredients? Did you make ornaments out of macaroni? Think of the pastabilities!

What are you hobbying these days? As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Your participation does not need to limited to the theme. All hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Even though it is arguably religion, college football is fair game. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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Gingerbread history and trivia:

Did the story of Hansel and Gretel inspire gingerbread houses or did gingerbread houses inspire the fable? Which came first? Gingerbread houses likely existed before the story but the story made them more popular. They were not originally associated with Christmas. In the 1600s, only professional baker were allowed to make gingerbread except for Christmas and Easter which is why gingerbread became associated with special occasions.

Some English villages had a tradition of young women eating gingerbread men to improve their marriage prospects. Towns having fairs on the day of their patron saint would produce gingerbread cookies would have the saints image stamped into the cookie.

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Five different ways to make windows for gingerbread houses:

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99 submissions from readers and viewers of This Old House. As you might imagine, they are detailed, extensive, over the top, and totally unreasonable for most humans. Many hours, much material, and many use tools like Dremel cutters in their builds. Click to see them all.

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Click on the link for full instructions: This Mid Century Modern Gingerbread House Is the Winter Baking Project We All Need Now

Making trees from stackable sugar cones:

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Family Piper made several gingerbread houses over the holidays:

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Details matter. Notice the snowman with the yellow stain from a neighborhood dog and the dismembered snowman corpse stuffed behind the house. Note to self: do not mess with Family Piper.

Well done and thank you!

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Lurker and occasional commenter HappyFun sent a batch of photos from their recent family gingerbread house building party. Not enough space here for all the creations, but here are a few.

Excellent gumdrop usage:

Chex mix and donuts along with artful landscaping:

Award for the use of gingerbread to create a Cybertruck instead of a house:

Well done!

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This site has several creative gingerbread house ideas. The barn and church are my favorite but click for more:

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The gingberbread Miller High Life Dive Bar was an actual thing in 2021. It cost $50.

It includes a gingerbread bar; barstools made from peppermint sticks, with starlight mint seats; an edible jukebox; and a frosted gingerbread pool table, with tiny candy billiard balls and cues made from pretzel sticks.
The kit also comes with a mustachioed bartender and gingerbread “regulars” that, according to the beer maker, have been “infused with Miller High Life,” which is probably what plenty of people will be while they’re building this thing.
And it has seriously thought of everything — including the sticky floors.
The kits come with Vermont maple syrup for you to pour over the bar’s floor when you’re done building it, for that finishing tacky-floor touch.

Yes, the interweb has other less family friendly gingerbread projects. The Miller High Life Drive Bar is as close the Hobby Thread content is going to get to more "creative" gingerbread hobbying.

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Not gingerbread, but squarely in the realm of the Hobby Thread: A 4,500 piece Hot Wheels collection is up for sale. It was assembled by a single person over 30 years. Sadly, most are in the original packaging which means they were acquired for the collection rather than played with as God intended. The online auction ends January 8. No reserve.

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This also has nothing to do with gingerbread but this is an enormous piece of wood being turned on a lathe. The first few passes look like quite a rodeo ride.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week with a theme of hobbying in review and looking ahead? The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

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Notable comments from last week:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different theme next time. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. I told my gingerbread man a joke and he crumbled with laughter!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:30 PM (fwDg9)

2 Award for the use of gingerbread to create a Cybertruck instead of a house

Not square enough?

Posted by: mikeski at January 04, 2025 05:32 PM (DgGvY)

3 Did Weasel send in that Gingerbread house recipe?

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:33 PM (fwDg9)

4 Haha best thread ever of course!

Posted by: HappyFun at January 04, 2025 05:33 PM (r+QM9)

5 tinyurl.com/3c3cyn62
To catch up on my last couple Hobby thread project
My 18mm 4th Bavarian Chevaulegers

Working on 1st of 2 British batteries now

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:36 PM (fwDg9)

6 The "ginger bread house" with a shaker of seasonings and a half dozen slices of bread... LMFAO

That rulez.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 04, 2025 05:37 PM (Q4IgG)

7 I've done a fair bit of woodturning in my day but I am NOT brave enough to try to turn a log in my lathe.

Wood machinery is always trying to kill you. In these case, your material is also.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 04, 2025 05:38 PM (WXNFJ)

8 4 Haha best thread ever of course!

Posted by: HappyFun at January 04, 2025 05:33 PM
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Name corrected. Sorry about that! Thanks for playing.

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 05:39 PM (IQ6Gq)

9 Did Weasel send in that Gingerbread house recipe?
Posted by: Skip

It definitely meets his recipe time requirements.

Posted by: mikeski at January 04, 2025 05:40 PM (DgGvY)

10 I used to work at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. Every year they had a gingerbread house competition. Some of the entries were really amazing.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at January 04, 2025 05:40 PM (CHHv1)

11 Our family never made a gingerbread house for several reasons: lack of time, lack of creative spark, but mostly because my dad and I would probably have eaten the confection before assembly began. (Gingerbread goes so well with coffee.) We would have made the Trex in the photos look like sheep grazing.

Posted by: JTB at January 04, 2025 05:41 PM (yTvNw)

12 That Pizza Hut one made me LOL.

Posted by: sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 04, 2025 05:42 PM (t/2Uw)

13 Good job on the gingerbread houses, Piper and family and I liked your comic commentary too, TRex

And the church and the barn are lovely. The people who made those must have a degree in gingerbread architecture.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 04, 2025 05:43 PM (szkx2)

14 Never did gbread when I was a kid. Bought one or two for my kids, but not lately. A lot of the kits you find are broken.

Gbread is ok, but not as good as sugar cookies.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 04, 2025 05:45 PM (0eaVi)

15 10 I used to work at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. Every year they had a gingerbread house competition. Some of the entries were really amazing.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at January 04, 2025 05:40 PM
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Really? Apparently the contest is quite well known as the National Gingerbread House Competition. Last year would have been the 32nd annual but they cancelled in light of the storm carnage.

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 05:45 PM (IQ6Gq)

16 Making gingerbread houses was never a part of our Christmas traditions, although I do enjoy looking at the creations others make. Gingerbread, or Lebkuchen as we know it, is for eating!!!! Although I did see an advent wreath fully made from Lebkuchen - I wondered how that worked out with the candle wax....

Posted by: Grateful - the range bag lady at January 04, 2025 05:47 PM (IQ6Gq)

17 I made a gingerbread house as a kid and kept it for several years.

Just kidding. I ate it.

Posted by: fd at January 04, 2025 05:47 PM (vFG9F)

18 They should make gingerbread Legos.

Posted by: fd at January 04, 2025 05:49 PM (vFG9F)

19 Afternoon, hobby folken,

This week I submitted two short stories to a site OrangeEnt and the A Literary Horde group dug up called "Black Cat Weekly." They accept both SF/fantasy and mystery and pay in actual money without charging a submission fee, so why not try.

Aside from that, I dealt with getting back to work, but am mulling over a new fantasy short story.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 04, 2025 05:52 PM (omVj0)

20 If I would have ever mad rd on it would last as long as taking a picture

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:59 PM (fwDg9)

21 That little mini-me dinosaur has really long arms for a T Rex.

Posted by: tankdemon at January 04, 2025 05:59 PM (FVLcK)

22 Aside from that, I dealt with getting back to work, but am mulling over a new fantasy short story.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 04, 2025 05:52 PM (omVj0)

Black Cat Weekly seems to only choose one or two stories. But, pay is pay.

Just knocked out a new SF short yesterday. Posted it at ALH. Got some feedback and have some rewriting to do....

Anyway, prolly miss the rest of the thread.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 04, 2025 06:00 PM (0eaVi)

23 This thread is really triggering me.

Posted by: Hansel at January 04, 2025 06:01 PM (FVLcK)

24 Aurora and Revell didn't make gingerbread kits. And I never saw a gingerbread model of King Kong, a '64 T-Bird, a whaling ship from days of sail, or a U-Boat, so I guess gingerbread construction never interested me as a boy.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 04, 2025 06:02 PM (omVj0)

25 >>>>tinyurl.com/3c3cyn62
To catch up on my last couple Hobby thread project
My 18mm 4th Bavarian Chevaulegers

Working on 1st of 2 British batteries now
Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:36 PM (fwDg9)
******
Thanks for posting that Skip. I’m amazed at your attention to detail and your ability to paint such small figures. I couldn’t do that.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at January 04, 2025 06:02 PM (tlC9C)

26 No gingerbread house projects for me. I did spend some more time playing with my satellite antenna. I downloaded a couple more images from the ISS, but the quality was pretty bad. I need to do some tinkering before trying any more person to person contacts.

Reminder for fellow radio nerds that Winter Field Day is next weekend. I doubt I'll have time to participate, but maybe you will.

Posted by: PabloD at January 04, 2025 06:02 PM (fxynf)

27 Love the Piper family gingerbread houses. They look like a fun project to do with kids and grandkids. I especially like all those 'little touches' such as the yellow stain on the snowman. It's easy to imagine the smiles when including those features.

Posted by: JTB at January 04, 2025 06:02 PM (yTvNw)

28 That little mini-me dinosaur has really long arms for a T Rex.
Posted by: tankdemon at January 04, 2025

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Obviously a mutation that didn't have time to breed before the asteroid hit!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 04, 2025 06:03 PM (omVj0)

29 I promised Cybersmythe's Lady that I would do something with ham radio this year. It's only fair since I spent all that money on radios and such. One of these weekends, I'm going to work a contest, I think.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 04, 2025 06:04 PM (iZEhM)

30 Details matter. Notice the snowman with the yellow stain from a neighborhood dog and the dismembered snowman corpse stuffed behind the house. Note to self: do not mess with Family Piper.

LOL. Nice job, Family Piper!

Did you bake the gingerbread yourself, or did you start with a kit?

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at January 04, 2025 06:08 PM (OX9vb)

31 18 They should make gingerbread Legos.
Posted by: fd at January 04, 2025 05:49 PM (vFG9F)

Hmm....I'll bet you can buy silicon lego-shaped baking/candy molds. Would be labor intensive, but kinda cool to make the lego shaped gingerbreads.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at January 04, 2025 06:11 PM (OX9vb)

32 My mom likes getting gingerbread houses for all the grandkids (my nieces and nephews). I'm usually wrangled in to help some of the younger ones. Which is okay, because it gives me a chance to grab some of the candy decorations. This past Christmas we had a gingerbread tree-house, a gb Donough shop, a gb truck and Christmas-tree, and a gb tornado-damaged barn. (the roof panel broke while still in the packaging) With multiple kids, she needs to find crazy boxes so that all the kids aren't making the same thing...

Posted by: Castle Guy at January 04, 2025 06:19 PM (Lhaco)

33 I am sure at one time here there was molds to make a gingerbread house but never tried to do it

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:20 PM (fwDg9)

34 I would love to do the Lego Barad-dur, but I already have more sets than I have room to display... In fact, I need to figure out a way to squeeze my most recent Christmas set (a ski lodge) in with the rest of my Christmas builds. (A Christmas-decorated Firehouse, a toy shop, and Santa's House.)

Posted by: Castle Guy at January 04, 2025 06:21 PM (Lhaco)

35 Many years ago, I turned our gingerbread house into a WW II diorama, having troops sheltering within the ruined walls.

I've gone through two laptops since then, but they're probably backed up somewhere...

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:22 PM (ZOv7s)

36 MOOOOM, have you seen my Hot Wheels?
I gave them away.
YOU DID WHAT!!
You're 17, too old to be playing Hot Wheels.

...Dark days of youth.

Awesome Hobby thread, TRex!

Posted by: scampydog at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM (41CYW)

37 I like sugar cookies in the shape of gingerbread men. I am
Only so so on the topic of gingerbread itself.

Posted by: blaster at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM (QfvaV)

38 Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 05:36 PM (fwDg9)

Great job, Skip!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM (pIv1O)

39 29 I promised Cybersmythe's Lady that I would do something with ham radio this year.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 04, 2025 06:04 PM
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Good to see you. Hope you're doing well and fully operational.

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM (IQ6Gq)

40 Watched the wood turning video. All I ca say is wow what skill that guy has.

Posted by: Tuna at January 04, 2025 06:24 PM (oaGWv)

41 36 Awesome Hobby thread, TRex!

Posted by: scampydog at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM
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Thank you!

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 06:24 PM (IQ6Gq)

42 I bought a ham radio, planned to study and take the test. Might send it to my stepson although he didn't seem interested. The problem for me is that I've never heard one in use and am having problems motivating myself to take that test.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 04, 2025 06:25 PM (NQtI0)

43 Posted by: Hansel at January 04, 2025 06:01 PM (FVLcK)

So hot now.

Posted by: blaster at January 04, 2025 06:25 PM (QfvaV)

44 My new N-scale model railroad hobby is slowly moving forward. I'm doing the preliminary sorting between what I can feasibly use (and store) and what will be sold off.

It is somewhat demoralizing because it illustrates the First Rule of Collectibles: Demand is King. It doesn't matter how old or rare it is, the only factor in determining price is what someone else will pay for it.

Just about everything is in the original package, so I can see their mid-1970s price tags, and I'd have at least hoped they kept up with inflation. Not so much.

I'm glad my old man didn't think of them as an investment.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:25 PM (ZOv7s)

45 I am only to blame for lost toys from my childhood, every few years I would throw out toys and games I hadn't played with in a couple years. Did it often.

Goes away 😢

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:26 PM (fwDg9)

46 Good to see you. Hope you're doing well and fully operational.
Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 06:23 PM

Not entirely. I see the doctor on Tuesday and see what he says.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 04, 2025 06:27 PM (iZEhM)

47 45 I am only to blame for lost toys from my childhood, every few years I would throw out toys and games I hadn't played with in a couple years. Did it often.

Goes away 😢
Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:26 PM (fwDg9)

By the time five kids were done with them, all of our toys were trash.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at January 04, 2025 06:27 PM (OX9vb)

48 FWIW, local gingerbread competition:
t.ly/yDeZI

Better than FEMA housing

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:27 PM (XeU6L)

49 I would love to do the Lego Barad-dur, but I already have more sets than I have room to display... In fact, I need to figure out a way to squeeze my most recent Christmas set (a ski lodge) in with the rest of my Christmas builds. (A Christmas-decorated Firehouse, a toy shop, and Santa's House.)
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 04, 2025 06:21 PM (Lhaco)
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This is the classic trap, and my father walked right into it. From going through his stuff it's clear he was totally geeked about his hobby, and just dumped money on the project, which was derailed (so to speak) but events beyond his control. He went in big, and the amount of track is impressive. I think he was thinking of a dedicated room, because the "mountain layout" he bought would not have needed this quantity of track.

There's a local swap meet from time to time, and long before then I'll have this stuff sorted. I hope.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:30 PM (ZOv7s)

50 I feel like the dive bar belongs in the same neighborhood as one of our gingerbread houses!

Thanks, TRex!

Posted by: Piper at January 04, 2025 06:30 PM (QzINz)

51 I am only to blame for lost toys from my childhood, every few years I would throw out toys and games I hadn't played with in a couple years. Did it often.

Goes away 😢
Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:26 PM (fwDg9)
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My mother is squarely to blame, and while it is water under the bridge, I can see that her desire for a clutter-less place and my father's love of books and hobbies were probably a factor in their breakup.

Oddly, the queen of clearing clutter urged me to keep the trains when she heard about it. Getting soft in her old age.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:31 PM (ZOv7s)

52 I bought a ham radio, planned to study and take the test. Might send it to my stepson although he didn't seem interested. The problem for me is that I've never heard one in use and am having problems motivating myself to take that test.
Posted by: Notsothoreau
------

I recommend an Elmer. Contact closest amateur radio club and explain. They will likely be enthusiasticly happy to be helpful. It aint magic, and it's not difficult. Don't be intimidated.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:32 PM (XeU6L)

53 30 Details matter. Notice the snowman with the yellow stain from a neighborhood dog and the dismembered snowman corpse stuffed behind the house. Note to self: do not mess with Family Piper.

LOL. Nice job, Family Piper!

Did you bake the gingerbread yourself, or did you start with a kit?

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at January

These were kits, but I do have molds and we have baked them. I just didn’t have time this year. This is what happens when I don’t supervise the building. 😂

Posted by: Piper at January 04, 2025 06:33 PM (QzINz)

54 I feel like the dive bar belongs in the same neighborhood as one of our gingerbread houses!

Thanks, TRex!
Posted by: Piper at January 04, 2025

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The dive bar needs a Chrysler 300 in black and a Dodge Challenger in orange outside, with gangbangers leaning out the windows and leveling twin 9mm Glocks at each other. Modern urban America, you know.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 04, 2025 06:34 PM (omVj0)

55 What an absolutely fun thread. I have nothing to add but am enjoying the creativity of others.

Posted by: Ben Had at January 04, 2025 06:34 PM (XTmTf)

56 I had an elderly friend whose N guage setup gradually shrank. In the end it was just a very nice engine shed (landscaped, of course) with about two feet of track that ran outside of the shed. Housed in the shed was a Union Pacific Big Boy, which would pull out of the shed just to be viewed.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:37 PM (XeU6L)

57 I have to say, TRex is doing a splendid job. I'm not usually online at this time, so it's kind of serendipitous that I not only come into some stuff and this thread is right there.

AoSHQ Platinum membership is worth every penny!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:37 PM (ZOv7s)

58 I'd like to see a biker bar. Not certain how one makes an edible chopped Harley.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:40 PM (XeU6L)

59 57 I have to say, TRex is doing a splendid job. I'm not usually online at this time, so it's kind of serendipitous that I not only come into some stuff and this thread is right there.

AoSHQ Platinum membership is worth every penny!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:37 PM
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{{blushes}} Thank you! Glad you're here. But this thread doesn't work without the Horde! Thanks to all of you!

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 06:40 PM (IQ6Gq)

60 I had an elderly friend whose N guage setup gradually shrank. In the end it was just a very nice engine shed (landscaped, of course) with about two feet of track that ran outside of the shed. Housed in the shed was a Union Pacific Big Boy, which would pull out of the shed just to be viewed.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:37 PM (XeU6L)
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I told my father yesterday that I was already working out how I could convert his bare-bones layout into something more interesting. Me being me, I'm looking at adding some Cold War N-scale tanks and APCs, and some shell holes. He found it amusing.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:41 PM (ZOv7s)

61 Love the dinosaur Christmas scene. Reminds me of one of the most exciting - and scariest - dreams I ever had.

Posted by: Paco at January 04, 2025 06:41 PM (mADJX)

62 I bought a Baofeng BF-F8HP. Still in the box. I did see something for a ham club in a nearby county.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 04, 2025 06:41 PM (NQtI0)

63 I'd like to see a biker bar. Not certain how one makes an edible chopped Harley.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:40 PM (XeU6L)
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LOL! So as I was digging out the trains, I had to move a box and it was a motorcycle's taillight assembly. I looked at my father and said: "Uh, you can keep this one."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:42 PM (ZOv7s)

64 Looking at the Dive Bar kit, you could go old school, and put a white Cadillac with horns, a couple cop cars, a white jeep, a couple pickups, and an orange Dodge Challenger, and make the Boar's Nest. I'm sure someone has an idea on how to make Daisy Duke fit in.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at January 04, 2025 06:43 PM (VNX3d)

65 hey, PabloD, thx for the heads-up on WFD!

sort of sensed it coming up Real Soon Now, but didn't think it was that close

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 04, 2025 06:45 PM (cY18j)

66 For Wolfus other pipe smokers and those of taste and discernment.

You probably know that the Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) bought out Sutliff and Mac Baren. STG released a list of the blends that will be continued and it isn't long. St Bruno flake, Capstan Blue and a very few others. The Mac Baren HH series wasn't mentioned nor were the Sutliff "match" blends. Major bummer!

Sutliff was also a distributor of tobacco to other companies like Country Squire Boswell and no word how they will be effected.

Continued ...

Posted by: JTB at January 04, 2025 06:45 PM (yTvNw)

67 Got to get back to reading more of post but must object to cyber truck.
Appears to be all graham cracker based, no gingerbread. Foul !

Posted by: From about That Time at January 04, 2025 06:48 PM (4780s)

68 Love the Gingerbread theme! Family Iris has made them with a family friend for years. Pre-kids we made the house ourselves - no mold though just rolling out and cutting the dough with a pattern.

Like the kits but they are getting smaller and smaller which limits decorating creativity. My gingerbread house this year was definately not the best.

It always amazed me how people wanted to eat the candy (And tbh sometimes we used m&m trimmming just for that). For years we kept our stache of candy - do you know old candy canes melt? so eating our candy was not recommended. However we have consolidated to one box.

Posted by: Iris at January 04, 2025 06:49 PM (bOJ2I)

69 A.H. Lloyd I have some cattle you might be able to use. They are printed and I got them not knowing scale differences between trains and military miniatures. I have turned a couple into pigs cutting off horns but don't need a few. I have 50 of them

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:49 PM (fwDg9)

70 My card-playing/game design ambitions got a boost yesterday when I bought a used baccarat shoe. I had an acrylic one years ago but left it as a parting give to my squadron.

Now Amazon doesn't carry then. So I found a vintage one on ebay. They're nice for when you want multiple decks in play without having them fall over.

Plus you can say "Pass the shoe" in a Scottish accent.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:50 PM (ZOv7s)

71 I had to move a box and it was a motorcycle's taillight assembly. I looked at my father and said: "Uh, you can keep this one."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
---
Any idea what it is for?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:51 PM (XeU6L)

72 Continued from comment 66 ...

I managed to get a couple of pounds of Mac Baren HH Burley, several tins of the HH Latakia Flake, and 8 oz of Sutliff Virginia Flake. The usual sources for these blends are out of stock and aren't likely to get more.

I'm hoping that Cornell and Diehl and Stokkebye can take up some of the void STG (spits) is leaving. If the basic tobaccos can be had, it would be nice if some smaller operation started some of the discontinued blends. The HH blends and Match blends were good sellers. I think there would be a market.

Posted by: JTB at January 04, 2025 06:52 PM (yTvNw)

73 A.H. Lloyd I have some cattle you might be able to use. They are printed and I got them not knowing scale differences between trains and military miniatures. I have turned a couple into pigs cutting off horns but don't need a few. I have 50 of them
Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 06:49 PM (fwDg9)
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I appreciate the offer, but I can't possibly add stuff before I go through everything and see what I have. So far I've basically skimmed through it, did some price checks, etc.

And while I may joke about adding tanks, that is waaay in the future. In terms of the layout, it can't be very cluttered, which is why fighting positions and berms would work. It will have to be able to go sideways and be put up because right now it is on my gaming table and it will NOT be staying there much longer. My Chaos Marines would not have it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:53 PM (ZOv7s)

74 And while I may joke about adding tanks, that is waaay in the future. In terms of the layout, it can't be very cluttered, which is why fighting positions and berms would work. It will have to be able to go sideways and be put up because right now it is on my gaming table and it will NOT be staying there much longer. My Chaos Marines would not have it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:53 PM (ZOv7s)

Do you think they'll hijack the trains for supplies?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at January 04, 2025 06:55 PM (VNX3d)

75 Any idea what it is for?
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 04, 2025 06:51 PM (XeU6L)
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My father is a world-class collector, verging on a hoarder. He's got so much stuff squirreled away that it isn't funny. The trains were part of a larger effort to clear out some space in his house. He can't throw anything away, but he can give it to me. So I'll be making more trips when the weather is clear to "steal his stuff." I tried to make off with a couple of books but literally could not reach the bookshelf. I told him this was not acceptable, and he agreed.

So who knows what other hobbies I will have to acquire?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:56 PM (ZOv7s)

76 Piper - where did you get your molds? and what size is the house? (I have a history of not understanding dimensions when shopping on the internet)

Posted by: Iris at January 04, 2025 06:56 PM (bOJ2I)

77 Do you think they'll hijack the trains for supplies?
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at January 04, 2025 06:55 PM (VNX3d)
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My father's collection is generally centered in the 1970s, so I thought it would be fun to have a Soviet and American force fighting over the train yard. These would not be tacked down, but I'd use them for miniatures wargaming, which is my passion.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 06:58 PM (ZOv7s)

78 When kids were little we did gingerbread houses every year.
None were eaten. Or even parts of them.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at January 04, 2025 06:58 PM (/lPRQ)

79 I bought a . Still in the box. I did see something for a ham club in a nearby county.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 04, 2025 06:41 PM (NQtI0)

I have been eyeing that model and wondering if it was a good buy. I would say do the test, you can always do it again if you don't pass.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 04, 2025 06:59 PM (D7oie)

80 A.H. Lloyd keep me in mind, they been here a few years and not going anywhere. I would rather someone get use from them.

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 07:01 PM (fwDg9)

81 PabloD, a correction: WFD is the 25th & 26th

(whew!)

I usually operate from the car with my regular QRP pack at a POTA site, in whatever time I may have available

https://is.gd/qTexl4

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 04, 2025 07:02 PM (cY18j)

82 My hobbies include masturbating, golf and strangling animals, while cosplaying as a gingerbread man.

Posted by: That Guy at January 04, 2025 06:48 PM

I was stalked by the ginger bread man at the Kitchen Kettle Village in Lancaster, PA once.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 04, 2025 07:03 PM (Rcnd3)

83 I bought a Baofeng BF-F8HP. Still in the box. I did see something for a ham club in a nearby county.
Posted by: Notsothoreau

If you're serious, hamstudy.org might be of some help.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at January 04, 2025 07:03 PM (lUFok)

84 Bobby Fingers has built another diorama, this one is about how the Black Keys forgot his name on the Joe Rogan podcast so he didn't get a boost on his You Tube stats. He also got a mild oxycodone addiction but that was not technically part of the build

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4VJJKTjy8

Posted by: Kindltot at January 04, 2025 07:05 PM (D7oie)

85 So I don't have a Barad Dur of Legos, but I do posses every rule book from Warhammer 40k 2nd ed. and a representative sample of the armies of that edition (except Necrons, who were an early release for 3rd.).

*pauses to open spreadsheet*

2,330 models spread across 40k, fantasy, historical medieval and Star Wars. That's just 25/28mm. I've got other scales tucked away somewhere. It takes up some room.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:05 PM (ZOv7s)

86 I signed up for an online practice test service. There's also a part where they walk you through setting up a Baofeng, which is why I went withthis one.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 04, 2025 07:05 PM (NQtI0)

87 A.H. Lloyd keep me in mind, they been here a few years and not going anywhere. I would rather someone get use from them.
Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 07:01 PM (fwDg9)
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I know the feeling. I will.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:06 PM (ZOv7s)

88 So I don't have a Barad Dur of Legos, but I do posses every rule book from Warhammer 40k 2nd ed. and a representative sample of the armies of that edition (except Necrons, who were an early release for 3rd.).

*pauses to open spreadsheet*

2,330 models spread across 40k, fantasy, historical medieval and Star Wars. That's just 25/28mm. I've got other scales tucked away somewhere. It takes up some room.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:05 PM

I have no clue how many historical miniatures I own. From 15mm to 28mm I probably have thousands from multiple rules systems. Flames of War, Team Yankee, Bolt Action, Saga and tons of other stuff that I own and have played at some point in the past.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 04, 2025 07:07 PM (Rcnd3)

89 My son and his fiancee built a gingerbread barn, complete with animals, for Christmas. The other day they got home just in time to see their dog licking his chops. The only survivor was an inedible plastic cow.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at January 04, 2025 07:09 PM (QyT5w)

90 86 *pauses to open spreadsheet*

2,330 models spread across 40k, fantasy, historical medieval and Star Wars. That's just 25/28mm. I've got other scales tucked away somewhere.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:05 PM
***
Oh my. A mini horde!

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 07:09 PM (IQ6Gq)

91 62 ... "I bought a Baofeng BF-F8HP. Still in the box. I did see something for a ham club in a nearby county."

Just so you know, that radio is 2 meters and 440 only, intended for local coverage not world wide communication. It should also be able to hear the local ham-related Skywatch weather alerts, which can be helpful.

And remember, you can listen to the signals without a license. You just can't legally transmit. Could be a way to learn the radio and local coverage without worrying about the exam.

Posted by: JTB at January 04, 2025 07:09 PM (yTvNw)

92 I think that's the big difference between RR and what I do - I'm not making a fixed thing, but a dynamic one, so everything needs to be mobile, modular, portable.

I have a 'greenfield' of terrain for fighting in open country, rocks and hills and trees, but also an urban nightmare of ruined buildings and improvised barricades, all of which can be arranged as needed. It takes up a LOT of room, though, and I'm reluctant to add to it, being pretty happy with how things are. The RR table should be okay, but it has to be something I can flip and set on its side when not in use, so perfect for low hills and ruined walls.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:09 PM (ZOv7s)

93 Notsothoreau, forget tests and licenses, that stuff is for chumps.

Set up a pirate radio station!

You can spin def jams royalty free, offer up witty and or obscene commentary, steal AOS posts and read them on the air, sell merch and be our go-to ear worm!

Posted by: My Pimp Shot My Dealer at January 04, 2025 07:08 PM (e6MOU)

Notsothoreau spinning def jams should be Anna Puma's next Tensor prompt.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at January 04, 2025 07:09 PM (OX9vb)

94 Well, we have the photo up top, there's talk of bird flu, and gaming is my hobby. I've been playing Jurassic Park: Evolution II lately. It's an economics game in which you manage a dinosaur zoo. Avian flu hit my park and killed some of my favorite dinosaurs before I could get it under control. Of course, it's hard to get dinosaurs to wear masks.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 04, 2025 07:11 PM (L/fGl)

95 so, today I took my repaired chainsaw out to the woods and we cut enough fire wood to over fill an X-Terra, with a bit over. It poured rain the entire time, and the saw started acting up, I suspect there is something amis with either the bearing, or the centripetal clutch is in worse condition than I thought.

Good heavens I am bushed, three hours of sawing and slinging wood used to be "a light afternoon" and the signal that we needed to make coffee to prep us for the next couple of hours.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 04, 2025 07:11 PM (D7oie)

96 These days I do WFD, or summer Field Day, as an exercise, with no advance prep ... just grab the radio pack and the other field gear pack and head out an hour or so before it begins.
(filling the vacuum bottles with coffee and Brawndo is allowed)
do I really have everything I need to go on the air? we'll see!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 04, 2025 07:11 PM (cY18j)

97 I have no clue how many historical miniatures I own. From 15mm to 28mm I probably have thousands from multiple rules systems. Flames of War, Team Yankee, Bolt Action, Saga and tons of other stuff that I own and have played at some point in the past.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 04, 2025 07:07 PM (Rcnd3)
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Part of my drive to get organized is to do inventories. I've got Bolt Action stuff as well, and many of my figures do double-duty: historical infantry also work in a fantasy game and some of my 40k troops are historicals who switch-hit for Bolt Action.

I've also got some micro-armor kicking around somewhere.

An then there are the board games...the RPGs...

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:14 PM (ZOv7s)

98 I did hamradioprep.com, which covers all the licenses and a couple of classes on use.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 04, 2025 07:15 PM (NQtI0)

99 Well, I've got to move on, but great job TRex! Keep it going!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 04, 2025 07:16 PM (ZOv7s)

100 This hobby is gaining in popularity lately.

New York Post@nypost
Knife-wielding maniac on the loose in NYC after two subway stabbings, cops say
. . . .
A knife-wielding maniac with a history of mental illness and 53 prior arrests is wanted in connection with at least two stabbings in the subway this week

-
I guess it's like pin the rail on the donkey.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 04, 2025 07:19 PM (L/fGl)

101 I remember building houses using Lincoln Logs. Perhaps a mix between the gingerbread house and that would be to build a house using Ho-Hos - or their equivalent.

A chocolate log house, anyone?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at January 04, 2025 07:21 PM (VNX3d)

102 Also at the NY Post right now:

"Forget crime — NYC remains the world’s greatest tourist town"

Posted by: fd at January 04, 2025 07:23 PM (vFG9F)

103 Time to say good night and thank you before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. As always, thanks for participating. If you're a lurker, thanks for reading. The Hobby Thread mailbox is always open. New theme next week!

Posted by: TRex at January 04, 2025 07:24 PM (IQ6Gq)

104 I've got all the ham study books. I've signed up for free classes. I have a ham radio. I couldn't tell you which one, it was so long ago. Yasu?

I open the books and hear the topic and my eyes simply glaze over. I cannot bring myself to do it.
It simply does not engage me.

I've been a user of 5watt radios for volunteer fire and search and rescue. Enjoy the actual comms and protocol. But I just can't go to the real deal.

I guess I'll forever be a user.

Posted by: Derak at January 04, 2025 07:27 PM (Oq3mj)

105 Notsothoreau - I shot you an email just in case you wanted to ask any ham radio questions outside of the blog. There are others here who know a lot more than I do, but wanted to throw that out there.

Posted by: PabloD at January 04, 2025 07:28 PM (fxynf)

106 I do inventory every few years buy haven't in awhile.
I do have a log book for all.my miniature units, it's keeping it up is the problem

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 07:29 PM (fwDg9)

107 Mom helped us kids make gingerbread houses a couple of times. What a mess! LOL

If there are any pictures, likely are on 35mm slides. If Dad didn't toss them...

Posted by: JQ at January 04, 2025 07:34 PM (YoCnN)

108 Is there a pic of Lego Barad Dur?

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 04, 2025 07:35 PM (2Jptx)

109 MOVIE MARQUE IS UP

Posted by: Skip at January 04, 2025 07:41 PM (fwDg9)

110 so, today I took my repaired chainsaw out to the woods and we cut enough fire wood to over fill an X-Terra,

Huh, there's my hobby. Chainsaws, cutting, and splitting firewood. Never realized how much fun it could be.

Posted by: t-bird at January 04, 2025 07:56 PM (L3CGb)

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wrote the e-book in it or something. I believe that you just can do with some
% to pressure the message house a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog.
A great read. I will definitely be back.

Posted by: Grace moving company at January 06, 2025 12:30 PM (sZiQE)

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