Other Hobbies / Interests

[TunnanXWD]

This is perhaps the most difficult time of year for me. After a medical issue my ski days were done and that was indeed the main part of my life or as they say "it defined my heart and soul" and The snow chase started in November and did not end till "May and then for my son with his racing, it was off to Austria to Tux or Hood or Whistler.

Best was working with some folks who were hitting mid-age and thought they couldn't till you show them that skiing is a game of subtle finesse and not brawn. The average good skier gets by with a quite body and gentle changes to the edges. The minute I saw the College Lacrosse team heading my way I wanted to hide.

There were the canoes, and shooting along with some fishing.

And then it was gone. I'll work on "another me" but I kind of liked the old way.

[max]

I really need to get back into beer brewing. Only really brewed a few kits, but it's fun.

[SwedeSport]

With the collective knowledge on the forum, we can put our minds together and build one hell of a still. The rally car can be converted to run on our own brand of "alternative fuel". We can chill and serve any remaining fuel at the awards banquet.

As a kid I would sneak into my grandfathers workshop to see what he was building. Usually RC boats, or train layouts and such. A big part of my interests came from my fascination with his projects. It was heartbreaking to watch him try to pick up his tools after a stroke left him paralyzed in a wheelchair. Things can change quickly, so do what you do while you still can.

[SwedeSport]

Heres some shots of my H.O. slot car collection. I think I have somewhere north of 100 cars in my pit box, but I only shot a sampling of some of the cooler cars. Some of them are "works in progress" and some are "race quality". Most are just done as motorized model cars and are just for fun. Its been a while since I have been actively racing, but there was a scale 1/4 mile dragstrip that I ran several different classes at. I also raced a dirt (not really) oval track in the PA Tyco Dirt Modified series.

I would eventually like to build a layout with a road course, and maybe a scale model of the Duryea Hillclimb course. Limited space, time, and money have pushed that to the back burner.

Enjoy!

[SwedeSport]

More slot cars

[SwedeSport]

More still

[SwedeSport]

One of my tee shirt customers runs a program called "Bike Pottstown". Between the river trail project, and the recently added bicycle lanes around town, he is trying to promote bicycling. The Bike Pottstown program consists of several local businesses that host a bike rack out front. You can walk into the biz and with some I.D. you can borrow one of the towns bikes. Tom, the promoter of the program asked me to ride one of my bikes in the 4th of July parade with the group. I pulled the 79 Sting-Ray out and spruced it up a bit.

It needs a few components changed, a smaller crank/sprocket assy., and the 3 spd coaster hub and associated hardware. The springer fork is a reproduction and does not fit as well as I would like, so Ill have to source an original. I need a repro blackwall brick pattern front tire, and a repro whitewall knobby for the back. The only non original Schwinn part will be the seat post which was fabricated from a length of the original post, and a curved "climbing bar". The seat is off an earlier Schwinn, and the handlebars are off a childs size 20" Hollywood. It can then come apart to get repainted and the chrome will get stripped off in favor of a custom finish.

All in all it rides pretty well. It's kinda like an old Flat Track motorcycle.

[Crazyswede]

next time I am at my parents house maybe I'll snap a picture of my matchbox car collection

[Geoff]

next time I am at my parents house maybe I'll snap a picture of my matchbox car collection

[hutch]

To bump this thread...

I've been brewing a whole lot more beer lately and stepped up my equipment to what is called "all grain" meaning I use, surprisingly, all grains instead of malt extract like I used to. I also picked up a part time job working at a beer and wine making store so the hobby has become essentially free

Grains for a delicious red IPA I made about two weeks back:

Some of my new equipment, the red cooler is where you "mash" the beer and convert the grains into delicious beer:



Specialized thermometer for brewing:

Turkey fryer that works amazingly well at boiling:

Also got a fridge and kegs to dispense what I make:


Hopefully I can come out and support the SaabRally crew at an event this year with what I can contribute

[Jordan]

Awesome!

[SwedeSport]

I won't begin to think I know anything about how to make adult beverages, but after watching "Moonshiners" I kinda think I want to try and build a still out in the backyard.

[hutch]

I pretty much love that show. As staged as it is it is still highly entertaining, I hope it gets renewed. There was a pretty cool show with the guy from Dogfish Head on Discovery about making beer but I don't think many non beer enthusiasts liked it. Making liquor is a whole different game which is why it's a little trickier and illegal but the basic idea is the same.

[99Super]

We have a super cool Distillery-pub here in Boise. They make their own Gin/Vodka/Rum on site.
Fun process to watch!

john

[SwedeSport]

I picked up a 1/43 scale slot car set at a yard sale. I got an idea to make a layout for my nephew. It will be his first slot car track so I figured I would make it cool. It's just a kids type entry level set. It runs off 4 D batteries, but I am gonna substitute a 6v transformer from a pnone. I'm using luan plywood for the roadway,and 1x4 to create some elevation change. Once the framework is complete Ill staple some polyester fabric over the frame and brush fiberglas resin onto the fabric. To finish Ill paint the surface grass green and sprinke train set grass onto the surface. The track gets screwed to the top with the guardrails from the set.

Should be as much fun for the kid, as well as other adult kids.

Same yardsale netted a bunch of 1/43 cars. I just happened to have some Saab die cast cars in the same scale. I happen to have a small vacuum former and resin casting stuff,... So you can all guess where I am going with this.