MODEM BURNER!!! Going on the Tour.....

[dman]

not the PGA tour, but a quick one of my in laws house. I have told you guys before that they do about 30 tours for unprivelliged kids and families. Today they had some children from abusive houses over and Andie, Dylan and I went to help. I took some really quick pics of a few rooms to give you all an idea. Here goes....
We'll start in the Master Bedroom, we all sleep like this don't we?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/master.jpg

and their bathroom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/master3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/master4.jpg

A few of the over 50 decorated trees in their house. Each one has its own theme and is totally different from the others.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/tree2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/tree1.jpg

Santa's bedroom...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/santabed.jpg
The figures are all animated and move, the reindeer is pulling the covers off Santa. Always need an elf around to help out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/lilelf.jpg

The kitchen...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/kitchen1.jpg

how's this for detail? Look at the hardware and cabinets.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/kitchen2.jpg

I said there were trains, over 40 different trackes throughout the house, this is a small one....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/village1.jpg

no replies yet, the tour continues below. :thumbsup:

[dman]

Every train needs a conductor, all aboard!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/conductor1.jpg

The detail here is unreal, my FIL did all the mountains out of styro foam and shaped it by hand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains8.jpg

The shelves in the background of the above pic are all filled with vintage trains, those shelfs sircle the entire room.

More of the layout, with some bridgework....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains2.jpg

The brick above was all carved and made to look like that, all by hand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/train1.jpg

A few things for the kids, all the buttons you see are for the kids to press and move the things around, very cool indeed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trains7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/trainkids.jpg

And that is the tour, the conductor needs a nap, thanks for looking.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/dkman/conductor2.jpg

[Sam]

Holy Crap....that's their house?:eek: Do they start setting that up in August? Where do they store all that stuff in the "off-season". That's amazing!:thumbsup:

OK...I'll never complain to the wife about having to set the Christmas tree up again.:lol:

[Rockrolex]

WOW!!!!
That is absolutely amazing, Daren. I would love to see that layout. Your in-laws must be quite some people to do all that. My hat's off to them. :cheers: :cheers: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[dman]

Thanks guys!! Sam, did you notice that Santas room is in a Texas motif? The lights hanging are actually chili peppers, LOL!!

My MIL starts in late July or early August, takes it all down by Feburary 10, their annual trip to Tahoe. As for storage, two of the three spots for the garage are for that. I only did like four rooms, there are about ten rooms that I missed. :dummy:

It is also really neat that Andie and her Mom make goodie bags for each person that takes the tour. :thumbsup:

[baseballduck]

Holy crap! That is amazing. You have some really talented in-laws. Must be a pretty big house to fit all of that stuff in it too. It's a wonderful thing to do for under-privaliged children though.

Tyler

[Uncle-AJ]

Bloody hell Daren, what's their electricity bill like? :chuckle: :chuckle:

A fantastic display.:thumbsup:

[Sam]

Sam, did you notice that Santas room is in a Texas motif? The lights hanging are actually chili peppers, LOL!!

That's funny! I have some friends who have a cactus they string chili pepper lights up on instead of a tree. Crazy Texans!:chuckle: :chuckle:

[dman]

That's funny! I have some friends who have a cactus they string chili pepper lights up on instead of a tree. Crazy Texans!:chuckle: :chuckle:
LOL!! Crazy is about right. :chuckle:

[dman]

Bloody hell Daren, what's their electricity bill like? :chuckle: :chuckle:

A fantastic display.:thumbsup:
They have three seperate units to run electricity through, it is through the roof high I am sure.

You can see some band-aids on my FIL hand in one pic with Dylan, he had a train catch fire three weeks ago and put it out with his hand, suffered 2nd degree burns over most of his hands. :dummy:

Everytime I think my watch hobby is nuts, I look at his train collection. :chuckle:

[JJ Irani]

That is truly amazing beyond belief, Daren!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What a beautiful set up and how much pain and effort has gone into all this, is something truly to be admierd!! My hats off to your in-laws, Daren. Tell your FIL that I'd love someday to ogle those stunning models and that superb set-up!!

JJ:thumbsup:

[mailman]

Absolutly amazing Daren. My hats off to your in laws for the setup and for doing the tours for the kids. Does your FIL leave the trains set up all year long?

[dman]

Thanks guys!! Yes Paul, the trains stay up, but only the basic layout. He has changed it every single year. This year, all the bottom stuff for the kids underneath is new. It is all plexiglassed in so the can look and play, but not touch. Everything else comes down and goes in the garage.

[JJ Irani]

Thanks guys!! Yes Paul, the trains stay up, but only the basic layout. He has changed it every single year. This year, all the bottom stuff for the kids underneath is new. It is all plexiglassed in so the can look and play, but not touch. Everything else comes down and goes in the garage.
I'll have to give your in-laws one thing....they do have infinitesimal patience!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[dman]

I'll have to give your in-laws one thing....they do have infinitesimal patience!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I was trying to lurk in silence and you post a long word like that JJ, I had to LOL!! They are very patient though, you are right. :thumbsup:

[Atomic]

Daren, I'm speechless. WOW! Just outstanding. Hats off to your in-laws. WOW! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Maybe MOTAT should have consulted with your FIL before they did their train diarama. I'm sure he could have given them some pointers.

Dylan must have a field day at their place! :cheers:

[BruceS]

That's just amazing! I take it they like Chrismas just a little :chuckle:

[dman]

Thanks guys, yes they get into the holiday spirit just a tad. :chuckle:

Poor Dylan has no idea what Christmas is supposed to be like. :chuckle:

[----]

Hey Daren, that is one serious set-up! Personally, I think it would drive me nuts in about 30 seconds, but to each his own.......:chuckle:

Do they have their own co-generation facility nearby? The electrical bills must be astronomical.......:dummy:

[dman]

Thanks Al, yeah the bill is pretty high, would make me cry, but they have plenty of money.