NYC Journal

[Nokton48]

Morning Devil Cal,

Set this up today. Got all the bulk chems.

New 8x10 Kodak 3F 15 liter Basket Line Dev Fix Wash Filled with H20 works good by Nokton48, on FlickrInstalled today the olde 8x10 Kodak 3F 15 liter Processing Tanks, one for dev, fixer, and Special Wash Tank. Only takes up half the sink! The other half right now has my Combiplan LF Sheet Film Tanks, one dev and one fix, and special wash tanks. Going to start with 15 liters of straight D23, will the D23 Replenisher too. I can run a lot of sheet film 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 in hangers. Also made some special hangers for Jane Lane 6.5x9cm Dry Plates. Need to make some additional of those. This is great and I think I'll just leave it set up. There is extra bracing which I figure I need supporting heavy deep tanks. Good use of a very small space. Fits like it was made for it, by Delta. Only $50 at a yard sale

 

[Calzone]

If I won the lottery I’d buy this quarter acre Island and 0.85 acre land with a 1400 square foot Amish barn in northern Duchess County. Pine Plains is a valley created by multiple glaciers. Twin Island lake is on of a series of 3 lakes, one of them a preserve.

The Island has access by canoe or kayak. There is a 20x20 docking area, so basically three different parcels of land. The barn would have to be built out. On the Island is a small cottage and gazebo. Kinda perfect for a studio.

Pine Plains is a community of slightly more than 2K.

Not so far from my city home in Peekskill.

I guess my fantasy is to have nature and seclusion.

Found an 1850 schoolhouse available in my budget. Well if I had the money… The good is 5 acres and in Catskill Park, but the bad is no plumbing, an outhouse.

Then there was this 10 acre site that has a tree house, also in Catskill Park.

I see that I would want acreage. BTW 10 acres is about two city blocks and the street running in between the two of them. I know this from a nearby park from when I lived in Greenpoint.

I’m also looking into if I had to move from Peekskill what I would get further north with my dollars. The trade down of course would be no sewers, likely no natural gas hookup, and a colder climate. Cleaner living though, but rural can get rough.

I guess the moral of my retirement is to play it loose. Things can go south, and you really can’t stop development. We are in a good spot though for appreciation and building equity. We could basically defer to a small modest home in Woodstock (population around 6K). Basically we are not priced out yet, and likely will be able to remain ahead of the curve.

So you can tell I’m a dreamer thinking like in a game of chess three-four moves ahead.

I see more and more how owning and having a pickup truck is of great utility. The Audi A4 with all-wheel drive is well suited for snow and mountains.

The thing with retirement is thinking long-term and keeping everything sustainable.

Some of my thinking is a bit crazy, but then again I’ll be prepared for a future that surely is crazy. I feel the need to be flexible and to also have an escape plan. No victim mentality for me. I will move and dodge the punches thrown at me. I don’t want to be caught flat footed.

Anyways my analysis is showing that we are not boxed in yet.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Devil Dan,

That is a really-really serious setup. Know that I have those hard rubber tanks, floating lid and covers.

My film holders though are limited to 4x5 and 2x3. I have a big stockpile of 2x3 because I bought an entire lot.

You are reminding me of how much medium format film holders and 120 magazines I have, as well as medium format cameras. Seems like this would be my center of interest.

Good to see that it does not require vast space. This inspires me.

I can see me being known for carrying around a Baby-Linhof and having a book bag loaded with 10 Grafmatics. BTW the camera and film holders weigh a lot and are like a free gym membership.

Cal

 

[Nokton48]

Hmmm I need some Kodak 8x10 Rubber Covers. For now I'll use Saran Wrap. I'm glad to see my design hold the weight easily. I did install extra bracing with the eventual adding of the deep tanks. Big tanks are the best way to develop the 25 cent each sheets of Fuji HRU XRAY. And I have 500 sheets in house.

 

[Calzone]

Do a search for 71 Lake Shore Drive, Pine Plains, N.Y., 12567.

My dream summer home. Too bad I’m not so rich.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Devil Dan,

I was wise to buy my tanks with lids, except the last one I believe. These weigh a lot, so it is very wise to reinforce the sink. Water weighs about 8 pounds a gallon and if you do the math things get heavy fast.

One tank even came with the floating lid. I still need another 5th tank if I want to do Diafine (Slacker’s Brew). Two part developer, you know.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Wow, of all the luck I got picked as a Nielsen participant.

They sent me two brand new dollar bills and if I do a survey they will send me a $5.00 gift card.

Normally I do not partake in any surveys. Too much data mining and invasion of privacy. Remember in 2007-2008 I got mistakenly profile as being UBER wealthy and got A-listed. Pretty much I feared being kidnapped and having no one to pay the ransom.

Also I don’t believe in slavery which I define as working for free. Pay me…

So far I made $2.00 tax free with the possibility of earning $5.00 more for a supposed 3-5 minutes of my time.

They don’t know that I don’t watch TV unless I’m admitted to a hospital, and basically the only radio stations I listen to are basically WBGO or WNYC which are public radio (NPR).

Only Net Flick show I watched was this series on the Hudson Valley going small town.

Anyways, I’m not a typical consumer, most nights I mostly play guitar, read, or write on this forum.

I am curious if their will be further surveys where I will get a fee or rewards.

“I was just minding my own business,” I say.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I have that single pickup Cabronita that I put together. It has a short scale neck, and I think it would be a better guitar for me with a longer scale neck like my other Tele style guitars.

Now I see the ideal gift for my grandson who is obsessed with guitars. The shorter scale suits him well, and today building or recreating another one is more costly and it was not too long ago that I ordered the parts and put it together.

I speculated that it was an opportunity and perhaps a last chance to “load up the truck” and I’m glad I did. I ordered another body from this guy who paints with nitrocellulose lacquer and distress the finish back then. His prices have increased and he seems to now buy his raw bodies from a cheaper supplier.

There still remains an envelope to get a strat body made by the old supplier still, but I highly suspect that after the one body that I like is gone it will be done. Oh-well.

I have a two-pickup Cabronita and all the hardware on-hand stockpiled already to build out when I get a chance.

I’m thinking of ordering a one-piece swamp ash strat body or a custom ordered one-piece swamp ash Tele body routed for Humbuckers and with Les Paul style control layout.

It will likely cost me more to have a custom body made, and then I’ll have my friend Cris do a see through white. A dual humbucking Tele I would have bound top binding. Pretty much if I have Cris finish and assemble the guitar it will rival a Fender Custom Shop guitar but at about half the cost.

Pretty much I already have a nice spare Tele neck on hand so the two humbucker Tele is strongly favored. The two pickup Cabronita can just be a loaded spare body. You never know…

Pretty much I’m thinking of downsizing one guitar to justify yet another. I’m diseased.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Nielsen could be or might be a one time thing. Oh-well…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Today we are thinking of getting a Mercedes Sprinter camper van instead of a summer “camp” of sorts as a getaway.

Seems like a good way to travel to the Carolinas to visit the grandkids and also our local explorations further north. Seems more practical and less of a liability.

Since our travels will be mostly highways and long distances we favor diesel over gas.

Doing research currently…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

“Maggie” thinks many people during the Pandemic bought RV’s to avoid flying. The follow through to this is an abundance of used luxury RV’s.

I’m only interested in Mercedes diesels with UBER low miles that are almost newish. Pretty much I don’t want to pay for depreciation on a brand new vehicle.

The class “B” vehicles I’m interested in are basically Sprinter cargo vans that are made into RV’s. Pretty much a huge aftermarket of custom builds to select from that others already built out.

I can see a somewhat flooded market with many used vehicles available. In fact my neighbor the “Monster” bought a 37 foot RV and due to health issues it did not work out for them.

I also figure a smaller vehicle will promote more usage. The GVW of a Mercedes Sprinter van RV can approach 10K pounds. Pretty much the RV interior can add almost a ton to an 8000 pound cargo van.

To be practical batteries and solar panels to run AC and heat.

The local Sunoco station sells diesel for $3.99 a gallon. I figure the 1500 round trip to the southern end of North Carolina will cost about $300.00 in fuel costs.

BTW a properly maintained Diesel engine is good for 300K miles, but the trannies (automatic 9-speed) seem to only last around 150K miles and cost about $3.5K alone for a new tranny.

My friend AJ has a new Mercedes Sprinter cargo van. Of course he has the diesel. Recently he got a dealer oil change, it set him back $600.00, and if I remember correctly it involved 22 quarts of oil.

Of course likely a turbo is involved, and as like my Audi A4 (turbo) specific oils are required. An oil change at my Audi dealer costs about $150.00.

So pretty much it is a good time to be looking at Mercedes Sprinter RV’s.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My custom Santa Cruze Model “F” modeled to 1934 spec surprisingly opened up and got mucho loud last night. It must of broke through some tipping point of some sorts. The sound and tone is rich, and I’m so pleased.

There seems to be some intense pattern recognition that connects my practice to insights in music theory. Last night I learned about “voice-leading” and how is involved with a 2-5 chord progression that is the most common way to modulate (change key) in Jazz.

I always say, “The money has to come from somewhere,” and I think I will sell some of my treasures to raise the cash to buy the Mercedes camper van. I might sell the 1966 C-10.

Looking into the good, the bad, and the ugly of diesel. One problem prone area is the emission controls: bad NOX sensors, oxygen sensors, and DEF pumps.

Seems like if you do a good amount of long haul driving though, you have less problems with emission controls.

“Maggie’s” binoculars will be delivered today. This will be a 71st birthday gift.

We talked last night about using the camper/van to travel around over the next 10-12 years. The idea would be to use it a lot.

Will try to get to AJ’s shop to pick his brain. He owns a Sprinter diesel.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Don't discount the Dodge and Ford options. Having come from over a decade of Mercedes diesel ownership and learning, I'd say that the weakest aspects of owning a Mercedes are very proprietary, possibly difficult to source parts, and they always have electrical/electronic gremlins. This is a baseline expectation. The most reliable Mercedes diesel is either the one that is expected to not work at all, or one that has ZERO electronics, just simple electrical components.
A good diesel engine should last well beyond 300,000 miles as well, half a million is not unheard of amongst Mercedes and Volvo engines. My first Benz had almost 400,000 on the 5cyl naturally aspirated engine and was going very strong when I sold it. When I gave away "Trudy" last year, the engine had about 147,000 miles on it, so it was just barely broken in.
If I ever build a camper, I'm going to use a Ford turbodiesel powered box truck ambulance.
Phil

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

A recycled/repurposed box truck ambulance is a mucho cool idea. That would be a mighty cool camper.

Understood that the simple mechanical diesels were the true workhorses.

Besides the diesel aspect they say the Mercedes has a better ride than the Ford Transit.

AJ’s Van is the smaller 144, and he recommends getting that size for parking convenience. Separately “Maggie” and I favor the smaller shorter wheelbase. AJ’s is a 2020 with the now discontinued V-6. AJ mentioned the particulate filter needing 15 minutes of running time to complete the 1800 degree burn off of accumulated soot.

I stand corrected: the oil capacity is 13 quarts, and it is some expensive highly refined oil with a low carbon content according to AJ.

The thing with an RV for us is that a smaller vehicle will likely lead to mucho use.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Severe thunderstorm watch till midnight tonight. I watered the garden anyways… Oh-well.

AJ gave me this 24 inch Arrow Racing tire that is a mud tire. Very aggressive thread, wire bead, and weighs a ton. Will be good for a trials tire. The knobs are like studs for snow.

When I brought the tire into the house the grandson’s interest was grown.

Pretty much “Maggie” and I are training him in our ways, and he is a hippy-baby. His guitar obsession continues. Where this is going I don’t know, but he is only 22 months old.

Friday is a graduation party.

Cal

 

[Bolo Kukus]

Don't discount the Dodge and Ford options. Having come from over a decade of Mercedes diesel ownership and learning, I'd say that the weakest aspects of owning a Mercedes are very proprietary, possibly difficult to source parts, and they always have electrical/electronic gremlins. This is a baseline expectation. The most reliable Mercedes diesel is either the one that is expected to not work at all, or one that has ZERO electronics, just simple electrical components.
A good diesel engine should last well beyond 300,000 miles as well, half a million is not unheard of amongst Mercedes and Volvo engines. My first Benz had almost 400,000 on the 5cyl naturally aspirated engine and was going very strong when I sold it. When I gave away "Trudy" last year, the engine had about 147,000 miles on it, so it was just barely broken in.
If I ever build a camper, I'm going to use a Ford turbodiesel powered box truck ambulance.
Phil

Agree to all this. Wise advice indeed.

Used cars can be like a loaded gun held up to your temple. You hope for the best as you pull the trigger. Inevitably you get the bullet.

It's not a good place to love a car. The costs are too high. Yet they can so easily take over your mind, and your life, if you let them. As seems to have happened with you and your quest for a rolling home away from home.

So many of us mostly hate them darn things but we can't get on without them. Especially out here in country Australia, where a 200 kilometer ride to go shopping in the nearest town with a mall and a supermarket is a common weekly thing for many rural folk. With gas at AUD $2+ a liter, this can be an expensive journey, not even considering the environmental/ecological damage cars do.

As an Audi owner, I've (we've) been 98% happy with one I bought in 1990. Two years old, little used, in fact just broken in, from a deceased estate. Like Cal, I was the only bidder saved all the hidden costs of depreciation, taxes, out of warranty (just) servicing, in all it was the best AUD $10K I spent in the '90s. Now 30+ years later it still purrs along like a kitten, but we take good care of it, and happily our Melbourne dealer still has all the required basic parts to keep it on the road and performing well for the four wheel antique that it is. In fact it's still in such good order internally and externally, I regularly find notes tucked under a wiper from would-be buyers keen to get their hot little hands on it. No thanks.

Mercedes are overrated. As a German friend says, why bother? Grandmothers and taxi drivers have them in Germany. Too much plastic in the innards. Volvo still uses (or uses) mostly metal in its cars, at least they did a few years ago. My friends who own them say they last forever and servicing is still still easy as the parent company has more or less guaranteed an availability of stock parts.

As for you, Phil_NM, buying an ex-ambo (ambulance) is a good option. With luck it will come already equipped with beds, and the flashers and siren will be useful in heavy commuter traffic...

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I once talked with a guy who lived out of a converted ambulance, I think it was an F-450 turbodiesel. They have ready-to-go electrical service which is required to be reliable, TWO 24v alternators, and can usually go just about anywhere. If the diesel engine or transmission needs work, it can be done at virtually any truck stop in this hemisphere.
Phil

 

[Bolo Kukus]

I once talked with a guy who lived out of a converted ambulance, I think it was an F-450 turbodiesel. They have ready-to-go electrical service which is required to be reliable, TWO 24v alternators, and can usually go just about anywhere. If the diesel engine or transmission needs work, it can be done at virtually any truck stop in this hemisphere.
Phil

This is in fact quite a good idea. Even an excellent idea. Given the level of homelessness we are currently experiencing in Australia, I predict a shortage in the near future of old ambulances being offered on the used market.

 

[Calzone]

The new Mercedes diesels are not what they once were.

A F-450 though is not a Ford Transit van. On one hand pretty much an ultimate build is to build out a reclaimed ambulance.

On the other hand from my research the Mercedes Sprinter with proper maintenance can be expected to have its engine last 300K or more depending on usage. The bad is that the tranny is likely only good for 150K-200K if you are lucky. Again depending on usage and how well maintained.

A Ford Transit though, even though a diesel also is kinda chatted at being good for about 200k.

Some of the pollution controls like sensors and the FDP are readily available online. These seem to be the pollution controls that often go south. The sensors are not so costly, but the FDP is $600.00.

I don’t discount that Mercedes have higher costs to maintain and that is part of ownership.

There is a huge difference between consumer diesels verses commercial diesels. Not a fair fight at all.

Also fitting out a camper gets costly fast. I don’t need a living room on wheels. On one hand I want some comfort, but on the other I want practicality.

The homeless and drug problems here and abroad was mentioned by AJ. In today’s world you have to be careful where you go. Where you park, and how you handle yourself to remain safe. I was reminded how going on a hike to enjoy peace could invite a break-in and loss.

Point is there is a growing element in our society and the world where many people have nothing to loose, and any form of camper means and expresses privilege with an exclamation point.

I don’t think camper vans are a long term solution to our social problems. Seems to be a viable alternative lifestyle for some though, but of course that requires a good deal of money.

In my case I’m being thoughtful and thinking of the long-long term where the Mercedes and its likely extended longevity makes sense. For us it makes more traveling more affordable, more frequent, and opens up mucho possibilities.

What I’m indirectly saying is I want a decade or more of being mobile and free. Our tiny/modest home in Peekskill allows us to kinda go a little crazy. Don’t forget I’ now old and retired…

I am dedicated to getting a 144 model with the short wheelbase. I don’t need to tow around extra weight and don’t need mucho space. I’d like to get a fresh used one to save mucho on the initial depreciation. Seems to have many available due to the pandemic. Pretty much an oversupply. There are even leftover 2023’s…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The couple at AJ’s shop yesterday have a 28 foot camper/trailer. They mentioned that because of it’s size that it is often difficult to book campsites. They mentioned that they want to get something smaller that is a camper van.

Life is not so simple…

Cal