We'll miss Randy Rinker sorely as he was very active and helpful. But, as much as we must bear that loss, I know you guys out there who pop in and lend a hand. I'm happy that you're here. Please consider paying a bit closer attention to this sub-forum for a little while. We'll need some hand-holding.
Agreed, Crandell. Randy's unexpected departure is a huge loss - especially to this particular sub-forum. And I don't see any ONE person filling his shoes.
But...we'll all chip in and help one another and newbies as much as possible. And maybe...may-be...we'll realize just how much we actually learned from Randy's presence and helpfulness over time.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Lucky for us/me the void will be filled. The appreciation I have for Randy's help over the past 15 years comes home to roost when cut off from it. I read almost everything he wrote just to learn, whether or not it applied to what I was doing. There are many others in addition to Randy that have also helped me and I appreciate them as well, giving me water when I am wandering in the electronic desert.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANThere are many others in addition to Randy that have also helped me and I appreciate them as well, giving me water when I am wandering in the electronic desert.
One of Randy's great attributes was that he gave you a few sips of water to spare you from passing out but, more importantly, he took the time to show you how to find water for yourself so you could better survive the intimidating world of electrons and DCC packets.
An admirable quality.
Cheers, Ed
Having spent my entire 50+ year working career in electronics Randy was still my DCC mentor! He was the DCC gurus guru.He helped me overcome a BEMF problem, I was about to give up on DCC when Randy stepped in and gave me the proper BEMF settings, he made it so simple that I couldn’t believe that was my problem.He was also the ultimate Arduino guru helping me with servo control.RIP Randy!!!! Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
gmpullmanOne of Randy's great attributes was that he gave you a few sips of water to spare you from passing out but, more importantly, he took the time to show you how to find water for yourself so you could better survive the intimidating world of electrons and DCC packets. An admirable quality. Cheers, Ed
Well put, Ed, and so true. And that's the heart of a good teacher...
I don't use DCC, and I never will.
This is what was so amazing about Randy. I read all his posts. Even though he was an expert in a part of the hobby I have no interest in, his knowledge and the way he shared it was always interesting for me.
That was a rare quality and a real loss.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I certainly of all people here know very little about DCC and anything that goes with it. I also am one of the people that will wire my layout old school in DC blocks. I know how to wire a house in its entirety to code and I know how to wire a layout in simple DC.
I have no interest in DCC, maybe that'll change someday, I don't know. I still read all of Randy's posts when I came across them though. I always liked Randy, he was a great guy.
I went back tonight and read through one of my favorite threads from 2017. "Why still nickel silver rail". I had a bad plumbing day in that thread and Randy told me how he hated plumbing and he hated SharkBite fittings because one was leaking on his washer connection ever since it was installed. Later he was talking about soldering I remember I found interesting because I never was very good at soldering. He had been soldering since he was 12 and never used heat sinks and never melted the ties. I got a little better at it since then from his help and others here too.
I will certainly miss Randy around here as I know others will.
TF
Whenever I posted a reply to a question about Electronics and DCC, convinced that my reply was correct, I cautiously waited for Randy's reply to confirm my own advice.
Now that Randy is no longer with us, I won't have that confirmation, and it makes me hesitant and humble to post a reply because I feel that I have no right to post without Randy's confirmation.
I honestly cannot imagine someone stepping in to replace Randy. The fact that he so often posted solutons, and was always correct, makes it difficult to imagine anyone stepping in to fill his shoes. There are some guys who are knowledgeable on this forum, but Randy's contributions make it impossible for anyone to duplicate his efforts. No one can replace Randy.
Rich
Alton Junction