KB5JCX Alas, I have big problem. I don't get much of a stipend for retirement. I lost two of my favorite engines, but neither is DCC. I cannot afford to switch to DCC. Do I just let my heart break? Live with it? Get over it? Is there a place I can get a 44T or DS-1? Can I scratch build these? Where and how do I choose the right can engine? Do I just trash it all and find another hobby? Has the hobby evolved into a hobby only for the rich? I appreciate any advice. Perhaps my quote is appropriate. Thanks.
Alas, I have big problem. I don't get much of a stipend for retirement. I lost two of my favorite engines, but neither is DCC. I cannot afford to switch to DCC. Do I just let my heart break? Live with it? Get over it? Is there a place I can get a 44T or DS-1? Can I scratch build these? Where and how do I choose the right can engine? Do I just trash it all and find another hobby? Has the hobby evolved into a hobby only for the rich? I appreciate any advice. Perhaps my quote is appropriate. Thanks.
From what I have seen of today's teachers they make a pretty good retirement compared to what I make on social security and a small state retirement for 12 years of service. I run a 14 x14 around the room DC layout with mostly ebay purchases but some new equipment and don't feel I am breaking the bank doing it. Just add a little bit each month and year and in 4-5 years you will be amazed at what you have accumulated. Yes, you can spend a lot but you don't have to if you budget and look for bargins.
KB5JCXAt this time, I am still painting white-tied flex-track. Waiting for next month for the lumber for the benchwork.
I've seen flex-track with white ties. Are they suppose to simulate concrete ties?
Mike.
EDIT: Never mind, I just search and found some at Walthers. Yup, concrete ties.
My You Tube
I believe rhe OP mentioned locating a sourse for Homasote?
In my area (Michigan) Home Depot sells the "real" Homasote brand, about $30 bucks per sheer.
Lowes does not, they have imitation homasote.
Mike
I guess you dont know all. I get $800 per month for retirement and $1200 per month SS due to my military service and a job I had for a few years afterward. Texas teachers do not pay into SS - just retirement. Not a lot to live on. My wife taught 30 years and only gets about $600 per month more. Try to live on that on today's economy and upgrade things as the house is falling apart.
KB5JCX I guess you dont know all. I get $800 per month for retirement and $1200 per month SS due to my military service and a job I had for a few years afterward. Texas teachers do not pay into SS - just retirement. Not a lot to live on. My wife taught 30 years and only gets about $600 per month more. Try to live on that on today's economy and upgrade things as the house is falling apart.
My copays and all dental come out of my pocket - to the tune of the first $5,000 in meds per year and all tests and two thirds of the office visits. All dental is cash up front - no copays.
Didn't fiqure in that high of meds cost. Guess we are lucky as for the most part, we don't do meds, not that the doctors didn't try. Thought you were getting things like meds thru the VA.
I finally saved up enough money to build the benchwork in detachable segments for moving and making changes. Smallest turn will be 28"radius and largest 36" radius. Using 2" by 2" legs and cross bracing with supports for detachable table top at about 16" (or less) and 3" overhang. Using "1/2 inch" plywood for table and homasote atop that with 2 outer mainlines on cork roadbed with switch yard and depot. Using T-nuts and carriage bolts for levelers. Benchwork should be done in about a week. Will order table-top plywood and homasote (cut with a metal straight edge and a carpet knife) in late June. Will send pictues of items when done.
rrebell
good for you
I did not know Homosote could be cut with a carpet knife. Does it snap like styrene?
Years ago I used a jig saw that had a toothless knife blade.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy I did not know Homosote could be cut with a carpet knife. Does it snap like styrene?
No, it just flexes and tears.
NittanyLion BigDaddy I did not know Homosote could be cut with a carpet knife. Does it snap like styrene? You can snap the last cut if you are almost through but I don't. I just keep until it is a clean cut. No dust. No, it just flexes and tears. All of us in the Denton Area Model Railroad Club use it on our sectional track, which was 1800 feet when I was a member, and our private tracks. I use clamps to fasten a straight metal yardstick on a straight line, then take about 40 or 50 strokes and get a nice clean cut with a carpet knife.
BigDaddy I did not know Homosote could be cut with a carpet knife. Does it snap like styrene? You can snap the last cut if you are almost through but I don't. I just keep until it is a clean cut. No dust.
You can snap the last cut if you are almost through but I don't. I just keep until it is a clean cut. No dust.
All of us in the Denton Area Model Railroad Club use it on our sectional track, which was 1800 feet when I was a member, and our private tracks. I use clamps to fasten a straight metal yardstick on a straight line, then take about 40 or 50 strokes and get a nice clean cut with a carpet knife.
OK! I have my benchwork built, stained, and polyeurothaned! I have the plywood likewise on top and the Homasote cut and screwed to the plywood. Next is to level and fasten the benchwork together so it wont move but together and put up a four inch rail on each side as I complete the main and secondary tracks. Pictures coming soon.
Welcome back! Looking forward to your pictures!
KB5JCXPictures coming soon.
.
Please post pictures.
I have been on quite a benchwork project myself.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I could snap mine if cut to within 1/16 in. through. But, I cut mine all the way through with a carpet knife. About seven healthy cuts, 14 is better.
Ok- I put the smartswitch app on both phone and computer and can't seem to get the pics to come off the phone. Samsung Gallaxy 9 really is a bummer! I will have to stop my project for a couple months to save up for a camera!
Maybe go read the "sticky note" by Steve Otte, at the top of the General Discussion forum, on how to post pictures.
You can't do it right from the phone to here, you have to put your photos in a photo hosting site, like Flickr, or Imgur, or Photobucket, just to name a couple.
Iphone here. I email myself pictures, usually, then upload them from the computer to Imgur. Too lazy to take the cable from the charger and connect it to phone and computer.