hey all, had a long day reworking an athearn rtr rs3 with power pick-up issues .I now need a better set of eyes .Iv got one of those little cheap multi holders w/ a small magnifier on it ,but I need a bit more size ......Iv seen the flip down hood type they interest me but are there any draw backs ? what do others like or dislike and where to get,em thanks J.W.
I have a couple of the el cheapo "flip down hood type" and luv'em. I use them for almost everything including painting in very small places. You really can't (unless you have SUPER eyesight) do a good job on things you can't see very well. I'm now considering the more expensive Optivisor.
BTW, like you and many others, I had power pickup issues with my Athearn RS-3 and sent it back to Athearn. I haven't received it back yet but if it still has the same problem I think it'll make a really good track weight on a back siding somewhere.
Jarrell
Jerry,
I have a Mascot 2.5X magnification visor. It comes with a soft imitation leather head band, is adjustable, fits over my glasses, and can be flipped up when not in use. Cost: $16-18.
Some visors come with a built-in LED light attachment. I just use mine with a good, strong incandescent task light and have been very happy with it.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
jacon12 I have a couple of the el cheapo "flip down hood type" and luv'em. I use them for almost everything including painting in very small places. You really can't (unless you have SUPER eyesight) do a good job on things you can't see very well. I'm now considering the more expensive Optivisor. BTW, like you and many others, I had power pickup issues with my Athearn RS-3 and sent it back to Athearn. I haven't received it back yet but if it still has the same problem I think it'll make a really good track weight on a back siding somewhere. Jarrell
I use an Optivisor with flip down lenses, plus an eye loop that swings in for the right eye. It has a fixed lens, a flip down second lens, and the eye loop mounted on the right side. Mine is at least ten years old.
Search Google for lighted optivisor. You will get aout 160,000 results.
You can find them with high intensity LED lightning which I strongly suggest. Do not get one with a light bulb lighting. The LED is a much brighter light source.
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.
What I did is go to Walgreen's and pick up one of those cheap-o pair of reading glasses. The least powerful one they had is still stronger than the reading part of my bifocals are, so in effect work as magnifiers. I think they sell for $15-20 or so, as it happens I was able to use my "Benny" card for glasses so actually they didn't cost me anything.
I use lots of light....no, I do mean LOTS of light, and also the 2.5X Opti-Visor. It is pretty much a must- have in the hobby for anyone over the age of 45, along with an NMRA gauge for anyone who owns a scale locomotive and the rails to run it on.
-Crandell
Hi!
It was about 15 years ago (I was 50) that I got my Optivisor (with 2 lens, no light). To me it was a kick in the head that said, "hey, you are getting old"! Anyway, I soon got over that and use the Optivisor quite frequently. It may take a bit to get used to, but it will soon be unnoticed and it sure does make a difference. I did not order the light attachment as I have two desk lamps at the workbench, so that is not an issue.
I just went over to DCC last January, and have a good 50 locos that need decoders installed. I am confident that the Optivisor will be a terrific help in this venture.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I'm 62 and on my second pair of bifocals at this point. Still, I keep telling myself, "I am NOT getting old." A few months back, I was at a local electronics place, and I spotted a small tabletop magnifier lamp, about a foot tall with a head about 5 inches in diameter. I'd thought about one of these, but the $16 price tag and small footprint convinced me to try it.
I now love this cheap thing. It's out of the way when I don't want it, and right there on the workbench when I do. I can leave it plugged in, and there are no batteries to replace. The thing I've noticed is that my paint jobs on models, particularly Jordan vehicles, is much more precise, and I've brought older kits back downstairs for touch-up, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Magnification isn't really just an "age" thing. One of my early jobs when I was in my mid 20's was to repair circuit boards. Optivisors were supplied and it was so much easier to see small details that I decided to "borrow" a pair to use at home on my modelling. Boy, what an improvement in my work, I've been using them ever since, that's almost 40 years now.
BTW, the acyrlic lenses hold up just fine as long as you don't throw them around. They clean easy with a soft cloth or soft paper towel and alcohol or glass cleaner. (I use Bounty Select-A=Size, they're soft and because of the smaller size sheet you don't waste as many trees.
Also, I switched to soft white CFL's (100 watt equivalent replacing 75w bulbs), I get more light, less power consumption and almost no heat, no more burnt appendages or melted plastic.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Hmmmm..... no, well maybe. I know Micro Mark sells the Optivisor for over $30. The one's I have came from a local tool place, like Harbor Freight, and sell for under $10. They're ok for the price. Having never owned the higher priced ones, like Optivisor, I can't really say how much better they are.
I mentioned earlier that I'd use my Athearn RS-3 for a track weight if it didn't perform well but, like you, I'll probably tear the sucker apart and try adding wires. I agree, the Atlas model runs sooooo much better!
i tried a pair of magnifying lense eye glasses and they worked ok as long as i kept the work at the proper distance. otherwise, things seemed to get out of focus. i bought a magnifying light gadget that mounts to the edge of my work desk and has a spring loaded swing arm mechanism so i can move it to any position and have been much happier with that arrangement.
grizlump
BIG JERR hey all, had a long day reworking an athearn rtr rs3 with power pick-up issues .I now need a better set of eyes .Iv got one of those little cheap multi holders w/ a small magnifier on it ,but I need a bit more size ......Iv seen the flip down hood type they interest me but are there any draw backs ? what do others like or dislike and where to get,em thanks J.W.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
thanks to all ,very helpfull. J.W.
I have three of these things and they are fantastic. I didn't pay any where near what the list price is as I bought them from my former employer when they went belly up. As they say though you only have one pair of eyes.
http://www.electrixtask.com/model_7426.htm
This is one of the lighted visors Micro-Mark sells. I bought the same visor NIB off EB for 16.99...So no MM is not cheapest when it comes to magnifiers but they do have many hard to find tools, etc. With this visor you can aim the light right where you need it.