I'm really getting old as I can no longer effectivey place 3-4 point decal numbers on headlights. For years I would cut out each number, soak, and place on my index finger....then slide off with sharp tweezers and put in place. Then I printed out 3 point numbers...white on black, cut out and glued in place. This is not great as it is just passable, and certainly not professional.
Any ideas, techiniques, or thoughts? This also applies to diesels, but numbers are usually much larger....being an easier chore.
I'm not a fan of magnifier hoods as they conflict with my glasses, but doable just the same.
Many thanks,
HZ
Are you able to use an Optivisor without glasses? I do and I have to use glasses at nearly 78.It has flip down lenses.
I also have a device with a glass three inch magnifier lens that mounts on the bench that swings on a arm. Picked that up at a tag sale maybe twenty years ago. You might find one online.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Hi Howard
Is it a vision problem or a steadiness problem, or both?
I use an optivisor and it has to fit over the near vision part of my glasses. If your glasses are too tall, that could be a problem. In which case I would suggest a pair of cheaters from the drug store, if you don't have astigmatism on a prescription pair from Costco if you do.
The other downside of the optivisor is that as you go up in power, the focal length decreases, meaning you have to get closer, and bend your neck, not great for old guys. Here's a review of one of those lighted magnifiers. I think about those when I see them at Timonium, but have used one to see where you head needs to be, relative to the object you are working on.
As for steadiness, I have had a tremor since I was a kid. On a bad day, I use an extra helping hands to steady the soldering iron to solder decoders. I think the same technique could work using whatever tool you use to position the decals. I use a toothpick.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
The trick that I use when working with really small decals is to slide them on to a small damp paintbrush and then slide them off in place. I then use a straight pin to get them positioned.
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
I have two of the magnifying desk lamps and an Optivisor. I find the Optivisor to be much easier to work with. With the desk lamps, I have to keep both my head and the object I want to focus on at certain distances from the lens. Everytime I move something goes out of focus. With the Optivisor the distance between my eyes and the lens stays constant.
As was mentioned by another poster, I do have to lean over a bit to use it if I am trying to steady my hands on the workbench, but that could easily be solved by building a higher, removable hand rest.
I added a light from a standard LED headband to the top of the visor. It works much better than the (useless) illuminated frame that Optivisor sells as an option. It is both brighter and more focused.
I can wear my glasses under the Optivisor but I don't because I am near sighted.
My wife gets a kick out of me with my Optivisor on. I wear it so often that I will sometimes forget to take it off when I go to do something elsewhere in the house.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
No difficulties with this so far...
...but it might help to have something on which you can rest your hand, rather than have it simply hovering over the model. This will not only steady your hand, but also make the operation less tiring.
While I wear glasses, I make good use of my optivisor (while wearing the glasses) and also, for some tasks, use a loupe (without the glasses, of course).
I am continually amazed by the number of modellers with poor eyesight who refuse to get proper glasses (it's not restricted to modellers, of course) but go with drugstore cheapies. They're alright if they work for you, but from what I've seen of people I know, they're not doing the job. Yes, prescription eyeglasses can be expensive, but if I'm spending big bucks on trains, I'd forego a few and direct the dough to good glasses that will let me enjoy, to the fullest, the trains that I have.
Trembling hands seem to be another common symptom among folks my age, but I'm not yet bothered by that (knocks soundly on side of head). That's probably part of the reason I get stuff to do for my friends.
Howard Zane...I'm not a fan of magnifier hoods as they conflict with my glasses, but doable just the same....
I don't understand what you mean, Howard... do the glasses not fit between your eyes and the Optivisor when the latter is in front of your eyes, or is the magnification of the Optivisor at odds with your prescription glasses. I'd guess that your optometrist might be able to improve the compatability of the two.
Wayne