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I am aiming for the early morning / I have to be back at my desk by 11am for a conference call.
I am going to be bringing stuff for the Harry Potter World, and for my area that k signed up. I can also bring some extra stuff to fill in where needed.
I’ll probably be there about 7-10.
See everyone tomorrow.
I don’t know that I’ll be there right at open, but aiming for early. I’ll have to head back up North by about 1 though. I’m going to bring stuff for my claimed space and some filler for other areas. The filler I may just keep in reserve under the tables till Friday to allow others the opportunity to add their stuff first. I work the first shift so I can place filler stuff out as needed then.
I had to modify some things in terms of my availability due to things outside of my control. That said I will not be available for initial drive in tomorrow like I had hoped. I also had to drop out for Saturday due to an event that I had no idea required my presence. That said I am still coming for Install Wednesday and staffing the first friday and both Sundays. Just to verify, do we need to be out of there by 1pm on install days? That is all that is listed on the sign ups for set up and I just want to verify to plan accordingly. In addition there appears to be no install time for Thursday. I don’t know for sure that will be needed, but it might offer some flexibility.
As of right now I plan on bringing my apartment fire scene as well as my other MILS’ed buildings, as well as some fire trucks and my forest fire scene. I can bring other things if needed but for right now thats all I planned on. I also have 2 of the LUG branded table covers and black table cloths that I will bring with me to set up.
You’re welcome to try to push the boundary, but 1p was what was communicated. I can ask again in person tomorrow, if I remember.
The “install as needed” shift was set up for Wed through Thursday, but it only shows as Wednesday since that is the start…a flaw in the system….
I also took some time to reduce the mega tables from 88lbs a piece to 64lbs. I forgot that I need to get more 2” pvc couplers for the legs though. If anyone wants to swing by Home Depot on the way at 6am, feel free. I might if I remember. I assume no one has any at home to bring. I have my drill and screws to attach them if we get them.
Your friend has shared a link to a Home Depot product they think you would be interested in seeing.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlotte-Pipe-2-in-PVC-DWV-Coupling-PVC001001000HD/203390796
We’d need 8-10. I’m not sure how many we have extra that I packed. Maybe 2. It’s just a connector for the legs to attach to. Legs are 2” pvc pipe.
A couple things about setup, this will be the 17th Home Show setting up my trains for me and we have always been able to stay till 4pm when they close the dock. Wednesday and Thursday are also 7am to 4 pm BUT you will not be able to drive into the hall on Thursday as they are setting up the final set of vendors and stages. Wednesday you can drive in but will have to park along the wall at the end of the hall. Hope this helps.
Set-up went pretty well this morning. Most of us were out of there by 1:30 pm or so. Thanks to everyone who helped out.
Here’s some pics of how things looked when I left. We have a few holes still in the Castle area (I’ll be bringing some LOTR Trolls, Orcs and other mini-figs to help fill some of that out when I come in Friday afternoon) but most of the rest of it is pretty well filled out except for the spaces where people are bringing stuff tomorrow or Thursday.
For those coming in on Wednesday or Thursday to set up, we confirmed that you can be there until 4 pm, but you won’t be able to use the loading dock or drive up on the floor. One of the normal convention center entrances (by the escalators) will be open and just tell security who you’re with. We’re in booth #4 on the mezzanine (top of the escalators) by the windows facing the Allegheny River.
@willmcdine, here’s the space we left you (2 baseplates) for your apartment fire. There’s an extension cord under the table for you to plug into.
For the lights on your apartment fire, is there a switch to turn on and off, or do we just unplug it? I’m working on a set of instructions for whoever’s there to turn stuff on and off each day.
Not sure that we have a good spot for your forest fire this year, unless it’s on the back side of the Train area behind the LEGOLAND sign around the end of the rail yard. Take a look when you get there.
The other space for your and Nick’s fire trucks in the Display area is ready for you as well. We left 36″ between the white column and the tables for Nick’s wheelchair to get thru in that corner.
@octankragle14 if you are still coming with your big castle, we are having the good guys against the bad guys. If you can’t fit it in the space in the first image, move the Kings Castle to where the second image is and you should be able to fit.
Thanks for making today go so smoothly! It shows how much planning ahead of time can really open us up to enjoying our time together. The display is just about public ready and it only took a few hours to get us there with everyone pitching in.
make sure your shifts are accurate if you do end up going in for set up on wednesday or tuesday.
Still a few shifts that could use a few people to cover too. if you’re available, come and hang out. It should be easy to staff, especially with so many people who are displaying items.
To rehash the procedure for entrance when the event opens, there will be a ‘vendor booth’ that will have a Steel City LUG folder with a bunch of tickets for us. They’ll pull out a ticket and give you a stamp that you can use for the rest of your time. If you can minimize the number of tickets you use, by flashing your stamped hand, especially at the beginning days of the event, that would be appreciated.
I went in today as expected and set up all of mine and @nkurta0505 stuff. I ended up not putting out as many trucks as I thought I would over in the stand alone MOCs section, so we have some extra space over there if anyone needs it. We can also condense a bit more if needed.
@rcgrier3406 no switch to turn on my lights. Just need to plug in the USB box. Both the plug for the box and the extension cord are underneath the building fire on top of one of the road plate boxes.I’ve updated the Operating Guidelines and Nightly Shut-down Checklist to reflect what we have powered there this year. I’ll bring a hard copy of this with me when I come to staff Friday afternoon, and it will be in one of the sheet protectors by the power strips in the Trains Area. For those of you staffing who like to do a little homework ahead of time I’ve attached a copy.
I’ve already left a copy of the updated Incline Instructions by the power strips in the Trains Area. A copy of that is also attached.
@playingwithechoes is generating an updated set of instructions for operating and changing batteries on his RC trains and is creating a new one for the Behemoth Bridge. These will also be in sheet protectors by the power strips in the Trains Area.One thing you’ll find missing from these are any instructions on operating or changing batteries on Gabe’s Big Crane. Because of the complexities of balancing the position of the counterweights with the load being lifted, Gabe prefers to do this himself on shifts that he is staffing. So PLEASE DON’T TRY TO OPERATE GABE’S BIG CRANE!! Thanks!
no pressure, just curious, did the timelapse footage work out?
Yep! I’m premiering it tonight and will upload to the LUG YouTube channel this weekend.
Only issue is the exposure setting didn’t adjust to the increasing sun so the windows slowly wash out but you still see most everything.
@rcgrier3406 so it is OK to charge batteries overnight? If so, I would think we would want to charge available batteries overnight so they are ready to go for the next day.
@rcgrier3406 so it is OK to charge batteries overnight? If so, I would think we would want to charge available batteries overnight so they are ready to go for the next day.
@timf, as far as I know it’s OK, and we’ve certainly done it in the past. Although we’re technically not an Exhibitor (we’re considered a “Show Feature” since we’ve been “invited” to display by H&G), I took a look at the Exhibitor contract that’s on the website and there’s nothing in there prohibiting it. I think it comes down to whether we want to do it or not since the battery chargers we’re using belong to individual members.Couple of other variables to keep in mind. Batteries for the RC trains usually only last about 2 hours, while batteries for the Incline last 6-8 hours, and we don’t really know yet how long they’ll last on the bridge. It also will depend on how many spare sets of batteries we have. I have one spare rechargeable set there for the Incline, I know Michael’s bringing a bunch but I don’t know how many, and we also have several sets of LUG rechargeables there also.
I’d say as a general rule we should try to make sure there’s a spare set of fully charged batteries available for the next day for 2 of Michael’s RC trains, the Incline and the bridge. If not, then we should leave stuff charging overnight.
One other thing we could do is ask whoever’s there at the end of each day to log when the last battery change was made on each device so that the people coming in the next day know if they already have fresh batteries installed or not. We’ve done this in the past with mixed results, but it’s worth asking people to try to do that. I’m staffing on Friday night so I’ll bring a pad and start that practice.
That is looking fantastic. Great job. Love the skyscrapers. Missed them last year so happy to see them return. XD
I have sheets prepared for the trains and the bridge. As a heads up, if you feel uncomfortable operating the bridge, you can crawl under it. Just watch out for the Spiderman minifigure hiding there. LOL
As for the batteries, I am using three Power Owl UFO chargers which do have a stated feature to “stop charging a battery when it’s fully charged”. So it’s okay to leave those overnight, especially for logistics of keeping the trains running the next day. @rcgrier3406 @joshhall @gabevistica @amplef0rth They won’t bake overnight. Just pluck out the batteries that are green lit and put in more to charge in the morning.
I’d say always have at least 2 rounds of batteries for each train so 24 AAAs total at the ready because they last up to 2hrs but can take twice as long to charge and may need to cool a bit before putting them back in use. I have 64 powerowl batteries and now three UFO shaped chargers capable of charging 16 AAAs each. I also have a bag of Duracell non-rechargeable AAAs for back up in case. Basically, just keep charging anything spent to avoid a mounting battery deficit on the trains.
Be sure to stop trains and let them rest when crowds are gone, same for anything else motorized. If trains overheat, turn off and cool down for a bit. Run fewer cars if needed.
The bridge is hardwired to the 9v speed regulators so no need for batteries. But it can run off a hidden battery box if the Convention power goes out (in the control cabin).
Also, I’m on Channel 4 on the Power Function controller, blue and red for the trains. So heads up if anyone else is using power function controls to avoid interference. Bridge is not wirelessly controlled, for safety reasons.
I’ve got an Uber lined up for tomorrow and I’ll be there around 9am early to account for getting through check in and setting up the bridge and trains. Can’t wait to help start off the HG show. Thank you everyone for all that amazing set up work and for letting me roll trains with you all. 🙂
I have three 4-battery chargers there as well that can do AA or AAA and stop when charged, plus I think there’s a couple LUG chargers, and I have spare Eneloop AAAs if needed. I’m not sure how often I’ll have to change crane batteries yet, but the three Powered Up/Pybricks/Bluetooth hubs (6xAA each) powering it definitely will not have equal usage.
Josie and I will be there sometime between 9:00 and 9:30. Other than bridge setup and getting trains rolling, the biggest thing I think still needs done before the show starts (but I’m sure I forgot something!) is the I Spy list, and Krista is on first shift Friday and knows how to do that.
Love the skyscrapers. Missed them last year so happy to see them return. XD
Thank you! The Keenan Building (Midtown Towers apartment) – the one with the red dome – is new for this year. I built it over the past 3 weeks. It is the first of several “mid-tier” skyscrapers I plan to build, the others currently being the Benedum-Trees Building at 223 Fourth Avenue and the Arrott Building at 405 Wood Street. I think these scale well with the larger Gulf and K&L Gates buildings.
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