Hi Bill!
The tender is from an old North Arkansas acquaintance that was into MSTS for a while. He built it.
The model wouldn't load into the sim, so he sent me a copy to see if I could get it into the sim. This was several years ago. I had forgotten I had it!
Upon rediscovering I had the model w/source files last week, I tried to get it into the sim. I couldn't get it to load in the sim either, so I sent the source files to another MSTS friend and he had it going in no time. However, still needs to have a lot of reworking (too large for starters). All in good time.
What to mate it to? It was intended to go behind 10 Class M&NA Consolidateds. (Baldwin, 1907.) Unfortunately, there isn't a M&NA 10 Class Consolidated built for MSTS, or any TS for that matter.
HOWEVER...
Master Modeler Tim Muir constructed an excellent looking Northern Pacific Consolidated of the same era and almost identical dimensions. Sooo... "one of these days"... that unique North Arkansas Vanderbilt tender will go behind a reskinned Tim Muir NP Consol!
Colorado:
We have NEVER had a "bad" Colorado vacation. They are always events to remember.
ALL:
Revelation Of The Day:
I'm bored laying track.
Yup, you read right. I'm tired of it. I'm always laying track... never doing much of anything else with MSTS. I'm fast at it, I'm good at it... but I am so tired of it I can't make myself do a THING with my new North Arkansas 2 route, or snap more track in place on ANY of my project routes.
Soooo... what to do?
Well.... it's simple really:
I'm not going to lay track until I've really got the fever to do so again. If that's two weeks, or a month... or ???... so be it.
Instead, I'm going to take my MSTS piddlin' in other directions. Example: Couple nights ago I started a running a train from Chester to Talihina on my mega-route Frisco Line... saved the progress at Fort Smith and continued from there the next night. (Train is currently tied up in Poteau, I.T.) That's one thing I'm doing: Putzin' around within the sim some. Shucks, last week I even ran some of my activities on the Ozark Northern! (OMG!!!

)
I'm also kind of interested in creating some engines to use on my Frisco Line monster route. Did that a while last night, too: Created some more black undec texture sheets to work with.
Also thinking about reskinning some rolling stock.
Am also considering toying with the idea of building the Jenson depot... or some other depot.
In fact, I'm even kickin' around the idea of putting in some scenery on my Frisco Line route.
ANYTHING to see some pretty stuff taking shape instead of more track being put down on a bare route. Why, the Mansfield Branch is only 18 miles long... I COULD have a completely sceniced branch if'n I want to! (I already have a sizable library of useable structures, terrtexes, transfers, etc, etc.)
Where will this new free flowing approach lead? How long will it last?
Who truly knows? Least of all ME!
Bwhahahahaa!
So, yes, basically I'm just relaxing and doing whatever I really feel like doing with this silly hobby of MSTS. I've gotta' admit... it would be pretty cool to have a nice sized roster of Frisco steam engines ready to go... and maybe some FINISHED scenes here and there to enjoy.
We shall see!
Later tater!