EMPIRE II LINE wrote:[ user="hoofe116"] While on the subject of eBay, I've read the complaints of several posters here who've gotten a bad deal. I didn't see one of them that paid for insurance. If one pops for insurance, one has a totally different--and very effective--lever to use against the occasional unethical dealer. Also, before spending money with someone on eBay, go look at their negatives. It may take some paging with a high-volume dealer, but read the negatives to see how they answer the complaint: is it a smartmouthed cheapshot, or is it a reasoned, mature reply? If the first, skip that dude, he's bad news.Les UPS doesn't have a rep for particularly fast response. Also, they are more expensive than USPO except for heavier items. The 'free' insurance they offer comes with the price of delay.Les Say Les,I,ve found the best way to deal on the bay is pay for items through pay-pal only..... that way you just file a complaint with them and they pay ya back, but to collect on an insured item that gets damaged you gott'a deal with the seller who paid for the coverage to ship it.Been there done it...... and it ain't no fun.....I purchased a USA Hudson from a person and was asked to send a Cashier check as a favor to them, to save them the pay-pal charges, since I was the only bidder on the item.Took over 6 months to collect on the damage claim and what a hassle UPS did put me through, on the deal. But let me say this though, I sure am glad that Phoenix 2K2 sound boards are re-programable.........Byron C.
[ user="hoofe116"] While on the subject of eBay, I've read the complaints of several posters here who've gotten a bad deal. I didn't see one of them that paid for insurance. If one pops for insurance, one has a totally different--and very effective--lever to use against the occasional unethical dealer. Also, before spending money with someone on eBay, go look at their negatives. It may take some paging with a high-volume dealer, but read the negatives to see how they answer the complaint: is it a smartmouthed cheapshot, or is it a reasoned, mature reply? If the first, skip that dude, he's bad news.Les
While on the subject of eBay, I've read the complaints of several posters here who've gotten a bad deal. I didn't see one of them that paid for insurance. If one pops for insurance, one has a totally different--and very effective--lever to use against the occasional unethical dealer.
Also, before spending money with someone on eBay, go look at their negatives. It may take some paging with a high-volume dealer, but read the negatives to see how they answer the complaint: is it a smartmouthed cheapshot, or is it a reasoned, mature reply? If the first, skip that dude, he's bad news.
Les
UPS doesn't have a rep for particularly fast response. Also, they are more expensive than USPO except for heavier items. The 'free' insurance they offer comes with the price of delay.
Say Les,
I,ve found the best way to deal on the bay is pay for items through pay-pal only..... that way you just file a complaint with them and they pay ya back, but to collect on an insured item that gets damaged you gott'a deal with the seller who paid for the coverage to ship it.
Been there done it...... and it ain't no fun.....
I purchased a USA Hudson from a person and was asked to send a Cashier check as a favor to them, to save them the pay-pal charges, since I was the only bidder on the item.
Took over 6 months to collect on the damage claim and what a hassle UPS did put me through, on the deal.
But let me say this though, I sure am glad that Phoenix 2K2 sound boards are re-programable.........
Byron C.
Hard to say how much space I'll have since I don't own a house right now. I haven't even made up my mind about indoors or outdoors but I,m looking at a looooooong dark Russian winter and I thought it might be a time to start some scratch building. I was thinking about some log cars just in case I get a Bachman Shay for Christmas. My Russian friend in the carpenter shop has some nice dry oak I could cut up for the frames, anybody got or know where I can get some plans?
Happy modeling
Steve
I'm still hoping one day to get (or make) a large scale P-36
Steve, how big an area are you planning to utilize? I'm indoors in a 10' x 20' area. I'm also narrow gauge though my working scale is 1/22.5, most new offerings in 1/20.3 are just too big for me.
Have fun with your trains
Toad,
Yeah, but I don't care. ALL Texans are pains in the butt. The reason they're so tall is so they can see over the BS.
Les,
But I am a pain in da butt to. You know that!
Toad
ToadFrog and WhiteLightn wrote: Helping out others ain't that part of the hobby?????Toad
Helping out others ain't that part of the hobby?????
Froggo,
About a year ago I won the bidding on eBay for 3 sets of LGB spoked wheels & axles. Paid ~ $6 + s/h/I. I got a post from the second-highest bidder asking me if I'd sell him one axle (with the wheels). He went to great lengths to explain why, and offered me the entire selling price. (That would leave me with two axles & four wheels). Said he'd meant to bid more, etc, etc.
I posted back and said, "Send me your Smail addr and a buck for shipping, and you can HAVE the axle."
Never heard from him again. DUH??
Hello from the SW corner pocket of the Missouri & Mississippi!
I don't have much in the way of suggestions of what scale you might model, but I can give you a short list of reasons why I chose what I'm planning:
1) G gauge (45mm) because it's large and my eyesight isn't so hot anymore. My thumbs and fingers have gotten larger and stiffer, while other parts have gone another route.
2) 1:20.3 scale (F scale) because it's the largest of the scales offered in G gauge.
3) Ca 1875 time era. (1845-99). I want to scratchbuild everything possible, including the wooden rails mentioned by anther poster. Also, the challenges are more intriguing. (To me).
4) Indoor. It's miserably hot and humid here in the summertime, and can be miserably cold and damp in the winter. While passing from one extreme to the other, the ground turns to muck. Mosquitoes are 7/8ths inch scale buzzard-sized and the squirrels and rabbits thrive on plastic, wood and soft metals.
5) All kinds of parts can be used to fabricate stuff from other hobbies. Or from real life.
6) I like NG logging, mining SLs & harbor a hidden lust for light rail. More room for imagination.
7) It's fun.
Les W.
Well if we have to send you something make sure we get a US Embassy Bag to put it in. Shipping would be like $0.00 right?
I have to say after helping a Aussie out on a LGB Cog Rail Motive I am abit not sure of people now. All I got was a card of Perth my money back but no pictures of it working.
Steve, I am still here to help! I still don't understand why people in this hobby don't try harder to help one another and if you need plans just ask and I will see what I have on hand.
That is another gripe about is why people don't send plans to others. Helping out others ain't that part of the hobby?????
Sorry, vented and did not want to make a gripe box but I did....
I am quite happy with the 1/20.5 scale. There are a lot of things available for that scale, especialy in the steam/ narrow guage arena. I purchased Buddy L freight cars at blowout prices (4 for $40 I think it was) and upgraded the couplers, repainted them and they are indistinquishable from more expensive brands. Heartland Locomotive Works makes a good small 4 wheel tank cars and flats for about $7 a kit, as well as some very nice locomotives (their Shay is something to behold, and I wish I could afford to be holding it)- all made in the USA.
I do a lot of scratchbuilding, it's very easy in the larger scale and with B'mann parts readily available I don't have to worry about turning my own wheels etc. Non standard building supplies can be used, go to the local hardware/ building supply store and look around. Thin wood from apple crates can be used to build box cars and flats, PVC pipe can be used to build a tank car, and any kind of thin wire can be used for hand rails or brake lines and such. Be creative. Link and pin couplers can be constructed from thin sheet steel or made from wood if you like. No limitations like in HO scale.
Guess what? Yeah, you can build your own track too. Cut ties from cedar wood on a band saw, rail can be made from small angle or T aluminum. For the ultimate in realism, and one that simply cannot be done in HO, is to make wood rails. Yup, wood. Early railroads used wood rails topped with a band of iron, this can be duplicated in G without too much difficulty by band cutting cedar into long strips, topping with thin sheet aluminum. I say cedar wood because it does not rot and will last much, much longer than anything else, but you can also use the modern composite woods, or reguar pine after a liberal coating of preservative.
Steve, I think you will have fun over this long, long, loooonnnnggg Russian winter.....
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Tangerine-jack
Have you been happy with your choice of the scale? As I said I am drawn to the small narow gauge lines and the old equipment so it seems a good choice for me. Do you do much scratch building and if so are there parts available for it? I don't have a place to build a layout but I could start building some equipment.
Vic is the resident expert on micro layouts. Many use Gn15 - G scale on HO track (15 inch ng)
http://gn15.info/
http://carendt.com/
One of my favorite run down 7/8's garden railways - http://home.cogeco.ca/~daisybeach/
-Brian
Welcome Steve!
Just ask and see if we can help.
I guess I should explain, I'm an American working at the Embassy here in Moscow. I can mailorder from the states anything I want by APO so that isn't a problem. I haven't seen any large scale models here in Russia but I haven't been to many hobby shops. I do know the things have changed a lot in the past few years though as far as what is available here. We have seen a big change in what is in the stores in the three years we have been here.
I have always liked modeling small rundown railroads and narrow gauge logging but couldn't afford it when I was modeling in HO. We have about one more year here so I will probably just collect for now but I don't want to invest a lot in something just to find out it won't meet my needs.
I don't know any Russian modelers but let me tell you, railroading is HUGE here and in Europe also. There rail system makes the US look sick. I can ride the express train to St Pete for about $150. round trip and it ony takes about 5 hours.
Welcome Steve. Since you mentioned small narrow guage lines take a look at 7/8's (1:13.7 scale), the biggest of 45mm large scales. Its where 45 mm ("G gauge") track represents two foot or 600 mm narrow gauge. Mostly small industrial, mining and logging operations. A mix of prototype and freelance modelers.
More info at - http://www.7-8ths.info/
I ran across some Russian 600 mm lines on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/210373
добро пожаловать, Welcome (I think)
I'm doing indoor G, be glad to help, any additional info is always good, how big an area are you using, what kind of trains do you like, standard gauge? narrow gauge? Russian prototypes? American? European? All helps us to better answer any questions you might have.
PS if you know if anyone making a large scale Class P36, I'd be very interested to hear about it.
to the forum Steve! I look forward to your perspective of modeling from that part of the world. I knew several modelers from the former Soviet Union back in the 80's. They were quite creative and produced excellent work. One fellow had to carve his own propellers for his RC airplane, it worked and he made great models! I like the MPM model kits, they are surprisingly well executed. I have a few other Russian made kits, I think they are made by a company that looks like "OROHEK", but it is in cyrillic and I cannot translate.
So, with that said, I think that our new friend Steve will not have the over the counter options that we have in the West, but I am confident he will produce excellent work with a little encouragement and guidance from us.
I mostly stay with the 1:20.5 scale because of it's availability and the fact that Bachmann and several other manufacturers make low price, but good quality equipment. The advantage or disadvantage is based on a large part by what you want to achieve, how much you are willing to spend, and how much scratchbuilding you want to do. Many have indoor G scale, no reason you can't do that if it's what you want, it's very much like indoor HO scale only larger. The big advantage to indoor G is the fact that it lends itself so well to super detailing, bigger models mean more details can be built in such as working brakes, rail joint plates, etc.
Welcome aboard!
Ah, Moscow.
Highly interesting.
What large-scale can you buy in Moscow?
Hi all
I am getting back into model railroading again and because of, shall we say, being more mature (old) I have been thinking about G-guage. To that end I would like to ask some questions of you so I get off on the right foot. First and formost is scale. I have modeled in HO and still still have some equipment in storage but looking at G-guage is a little overwhelming with all the choices of scale. I started with a Bachman set and frankly I am drawn to narrow guage and small railroads. What are the advantages of the different scales? Also, any of you model G-guage indoors. I like scale modeling and while outdoors has it's advantages I think I might want to have a little more detail on my road. I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone.
Thanks
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