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Cheap Train stuff off E-bay, Am I doing that bad? Video

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  • Member since
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  • From: Pacific Northwest
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Posted by Don Gibson on Thursday, October 5, 2006 8:08 PM
quote user="cudaken"

 "Someone here keeps blowing me caboose about the cheap stuff I bought of E-bay. I will not mention Mr Gibson name so he will not get nasty with me.-  C-Ken":

 Kenny: Well lets see now:

Wasn't your first post expressing disappointment in the hobby - something to the effect "I'm done" (quit), 'derailments', 'cars coming apart', even "throwing things against the wall'. That was 'how many months ago'??

A more recent post (Oct 01) stated you couln't get 4 loops out of 45 cars your RR without derailing. True?

In between: you had (1) some engine combinations pulling 2 amps? 4 amps?, (2)burning out one power pack, (3) use of inadequate wiring, (4) buying - then sending a messed-up purchase to someone else (Darth Santa Fe) to fix?

You recived help and guidance on all of them. Some said you had bought junk. You used the word "cheap"if I remember correctly'. My word was "drek", so you are not quoting me.

Anyone curious enough to pull up my Oct 04 post to you is welcome, and to repost same.

Never have so many, spent so much time, on so many posts, advising any single person, in my 2 years on this forum. Maybe you have set a new record? Maybe not. (Not important) - still you are Derailing and Complaining. Perhaps you should consider a name change to 'D&C-Ken', or at least 'Circular'-Ken. Forget I said that - I want to keep it nice.

It seems to me when people keep making the same mistakes. and making the same complaints, something is very wrong (Opinion). However I too have learned & shall not repeat the error of my ways.

 "Yes, I made mistaked buying  ...  But yet I still have someone that blows me caboose about the cheap stuff I run?  ...    So folks, have I learend and got better or just wasted my money?? - Cuda Ken 
  

Or all 3. Might make an interesting POLL?

So 'Sayonara'!

Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Thursday, October 5, 2006 8:20 PM

Cudaken,

Might I make a suggestion?  Now that you have enough trains to keep you busy playing, you might want to take a break from buying.  Take a break until you have a better idea of what you're trying to do.  Most satisfying model railroads have a theme.  I don't mean you have to do what I do (I model a specific month, year, division, railroad - i.e., July 1956 Middle Division, Pennsylvania Railroad), but some sort of theme will help you focus your purchases and efforts.

Think about an era (present day, 1960s, whatever) and/or and area (desert southwest, northeast, your hometown, etc.) you want to represent.  Then, using the Internet or books, you can do a little research (trust me, this is WAY MORE FUN than it sounds) to get an idea of what railroads and their surroundings look(ed) like when and/or where you're thinking of modeling.

I know that sounds limiting, but quite the opposite is true.  You'll find you're looking for specific cars and locomotives rather than waiting for some random engine that shows up an eBay.  That way you can control your hobby dollar a bit better and focus your efforts.  That's really where you make the breakout from "newbie" to old hat.

Just a kind suggestion!

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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  • From: Bettendorf Iowa
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Posted by Driline on Thursday, October 5, 2006 8:47 PM
 Don Gibson wrote:
quote user="cudaken"

 Never have so many, spent so much time, on so many posts, advising any single person, in my 2 years on this forum. Maybe you have set a new record? Maybe not. (Not important) - still you are Derailing and Complaining. Perhaps you should consider a name change to 'D&C-Ken', or at least 'Circular'-Ken. Forget I said that - (I want to keep it nice).

  

LOL...You guys are killing me .....stop itBow [bow]

"Never in the field of model railroading was so much owed by so many to so few" Winston Churchill

(or something like that)

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
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Posted by Don Gibson on Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:07 PM

IF I steal , why not steal from the best?

Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:24 PM

Sounds to me like you're doing pretty well.Big Smile [:D] I think you had more cars running in those videos then I even own, and they're all staying on the track! Some of my cars will derail just from pulling too many more behind them (probably the ones with talgo couplers).

By the way, have you got the DASH running yet? If so, is it much better than when you bought it?

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by cudaken on Friday, October 6, 2006 1:04 AM

 Darth, I have not messed with it yet, will be in a few days. Main thing I have been working on is beefing up the POS board I have as now. It is much better now but still will be repalced.

  Mr Gibson, I am about ready to sell my Less Paul and buy a Stratacaster. You seem to have a slective memory. My first posting was not "Wasn't your first post expressing disappointment in the hobby" No was where newbies weclomed on this site? Guess you did not answer that posting.Smile [:)]

 " (Oct 01) stated you couln't get 4 loops out of 45 cars your RR without derailing. True? Yes it was, that was found and fixed. Tonight around 100, or what ever thay made in 4 hours.

 " In between: you had (1) some engine combinations pulling 2 amps? 4 amps?, (2)burning out one power pack, (3) use of inadequate wiring, (4) buying - then sending a messed-up purchase to someone else (Darth Santa Fe) to fix?"

 MRC 6200 was bad NIB (selective menory again) K-10 train where it came from had it shut down while runing a Kato and a 40 car load. He tested it before he sent it back. MRC 9500 with no changes to the board working great and no over loads.

 2 amp load was with 4 Blue Box and a 60 car train.

 Wiring, well I am new got to start some where. That is past but seems you like to dewell on the past.

 As far as the Dash 8, in some regaurd it was a great buy. Club that listed it gave me 100 % of the money back. With it being over my head Darth took it on and said "he injoyed working on it", plus from what he found wrong and told me about I was able tofixed yet another engine. Darth has yet to send me his address again so I can pay the shipping back to me but total will be less than $12.00. A good dummy engine is more than that.

 Don, you have helped me a lot, I will give you that. All so thank you for not taking the cheap shoots at my spelling, it blows. I should have never listed your name as well, but the last posting you answered got me p-ssed off so I started this one.

 I know your skills are way better than mine, that is a given. Plus at this point pockets are deeper as well. But you should be able to admit for what I have spent and short time in this hobby I am not doing that bad.

 More than likely you and I will never see eye to eye. That is fine, I do it my way and you do it your way. If you happen to see a posting  I have made and you know the answer feel free to answer. More than likely next big question will be in the up coming bench.

 I will not get in a fight on this board, if I want to fight I will tell my wife what I have spent today on the train's. Bottom line I am having fun, no brass and not that much class but having fun, that is the bottom line.

        Cuda Ken, your friend but you don't know it.

 "A smart man knows what he can do and what he cannot do".

I hate Rust

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Posted by Agamemnon on Friday, October 6, 2006 1:17 AM

After all that drama, I'm afraid to comment, but here's my two cents.

There's something to be said for quantity, especially in cars. Personally, if I had my druthers, I'd have 50 Lima boxcars than 15 Fleischmann. That's what weathering is for, after all, and since I also build model tanks and wargaming stuff, I have all the paints, knives, sheet styrene and gubbinz required.

As for "questionable" purchases, we all make a few on occasion. I just placed a bid for a Fleischmann set with a dodgy loco that the seller estimates is around 20 years old. If I can get it to run reliably, great, if not, no big loss.

Hey, and at least you didn't buy a Bachmann DD-40X...

Gott ist Tot. "Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus clothe my naked villainy With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ; And seem a saint when most I play the devil."
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, October 6, 2006 5:58 AM

As I read this thread and others on the forum, I keep in mind some words of wisdom from an old wise man.

The fool chatters while the wise man listens.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Friday, October 6, 2006 12:07 PM

cudaken,

Whoops! Sorry, I forgot all about sending you my address again.Oops [oops] I'll try and get to that soon.

 Agamemnon wrote:

Hey, and at least you didn't buy a Bachmann DD-40X...

I did. It's definately not a great runner, but it was only $5. If you know me, I can't pass up an offer like that. And the guy threw in 2 free boxcars to go with it!Big Smile [:D]

I've since painted a better UP gray over the old light gray, added grab irons, added weight, strengthened the motor a little, changed it to front wheel drive, added a front pilot, put in a new rear light bulb, cleaned and oiled it, cut the fuel tank off the shell and put it on the frame, and added knuckle couplers.Big Smile [:D]

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, October 6, 2006 3:59 PM

Laugh [(-D]

I've since painted a better UP gray over the old light gray, added grab irons, added weight, strengthened the motor a little, changed it to front wheel drive, added a front pilot, put in a new rear light bulb, cleaned and oiled it, cut the fuel tank off the shell and put it on the frame, and added knuckle couplers.
Laugh [(-D]

Why didn't you just rebuild it while you were at it! Wow!! [wow]

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: Espoo, Finland
  • 121 posts
Posted by Agamemnon on Saturday, October 7, 2006 2:23 AM
 Darth Santa Fe wrote:
I did. It's definately not a great runner, but it was only $5. If you know me, I can't pass up an offer like that. And the guy threw in 2 free boxcars to go with it!Big Smile [:D]

I've since painted a better UP gray over the old light gray, added grab irons, added weight, strengthened the motor a little, changed it to front wheel drive, added a front pilot, put in a new rear light bulb, cleaned and oiled it, cut the fuel tank off the shell and put it on the frame, and added knuckle couplers.Big Smile [:D]

If I recall correctly, I paid 50 Marks for mine, which would have equalled about 10 dollars back then. And this was new, straight out of the shop. I guess they had trouble shifting them.

It actually runs sort-of-well, but I have the dual problems of not having any cars that have the old American couplings (I'm a Euro, so all my cars are fitted with those ancient Märklin loop couplings or Fleischmann hooks), nor having the 30 inch curve radius it apparently requires. Still, it does look impressive. :-)
Gott ist Tot. "Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus clothe my naked villainy With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ; And seem a saint when most I play the devil."
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Posted by Milwhiawatha on Saturday, October 7, 2006 8:55 AM

Cudaken,
   you know what I dotn think your doing bad at all.  These locomotives run great andpull nicely and will run as long as they can if you keep them  mantained. I think its great to see someone in the hobby to keep it going and I personally dont care what you can and cant afford cause that is what this great hobby is about. Does buying lifelike and bachmann standard make you less of a modeler?

What seperates you from the modelers who buy expensive locomotives, but buys Model power and Bachmann buildsings nothing should we say aha your cheap or something on that line? No so I wish people woulfd stop saying you buy junk and that cause atleast your supporting the hobby and dang it you enjoy it.

I see keep buying the stuff off of ebay atleast if it accidently hits the floor or does fry out like many of mine have done you dont say a few curse words and be out of 100 or so dollars for one locomotive.

Welcome To The Hobby, hope you stay awhile, keep up the good work.

Nice videos by the way.

Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
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Posted by cudaken on Saturday, October 7, 2006 10:41 PM

"Nice videos by the way"? Milwhiawatha are you making fun of meBig Smile [:D] Man they blow chunks.

 Having a ball, getting ready to add a big spur so I can start parking some of the stuff. Have around 87 rolling stock up and running.

 http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/cudaken/?action=view&current=good-1.flv

 That is a old video I made for my self. Hump that is in the video is gone. Still have a few to go, but board did start as a slot car board. They did not care I was not Bob Villa. Hum, This Old Train Bench, I bet someone would watch it!Wink [;)]

                 Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Milwhiawatha on Saturday, October 7, 2006 11:35 PM
 cudaken wrote:

"Nice videos by the way"? Milwhiawatha are you making fun of meBig Smile [:D] Man they blow chunks.

 Having a ball, getting ready to add a big spur so I can start parking some of the stuff. Have around 87 rolling stock up and running.

 http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/cudaken/?action=view&current=good-1.flv

 That is a old video I made for my self. Hump that is in the video is gone. Still have a few to go, but board did start as a slot car board. They did not care I was not Bob Villa. Hum, This Old Train Bench, I bet someone would watch it!Wink [;)]

                 Cuda Ken

Cuda Ken,
   I would never make fun of anybody thats not who I, am. They prove the people who say you buy junk wrong and to me that smakes your videos Nice lol.

Adding a spur thats great I havent done much on the layout been reworking a building I screwed up on in other words painted badly cleaned them (acrylic paints thank the model gods). I primed it grey and repainted it white. if you guess White Castle by Walthers your right. Now I hope I can find the roof, then cut the glass out of clear plastic.

Owner & Operator of Midwest & Northern RR and Midwest Intermodal (freelanced HO)
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Posted by cudaken on Sunday, October 8, 2006 2:18 AM

 I am sure you know I was kidding. New spur is in places, right around 13 feet that should hold some cars. It is on the B line, but a turn out will let me take cars to the A line.

              Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by sledgehammer on Sunday, October 8, 2006 1:11 PM

ken

  I have bought alot of stuff of ebay and enjoy it very much.  I have got the od piece of junk, but I have learned to repaire then and make them work.  Alot of my cars are tyco and bachmann and they stay on the track just fine.  I have bought some athern ready to roll cars and have hade a couple that would not stay on the track because the wheels were to far apart and the couplers where not the proper height. 

Anothe thing you said you where looking for was an old dutch car.  post a picture of it   If it is the one I'm thinking I have a freind who hade one and Ill see if he still has it.

   Ill post a few pictures of my colection

  Now I just need to design something to hold them all.

 

My train of thought gets interupted by the whistle http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/sledgehammer33/ Derrick Jones

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