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Things that irritate modelers.

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Posted by gunkhead on Monday, January 18, 2016 2:55 AM

Being told "Oh don't bother making something/customizing/etc, buy the expensive already-made thing". Not everyone in this hobby has a checkbook the size of a real locomotive.

On that note, I despise that the market of new stuff is full of these models that cost a fortune because of being pre-weathered and having some (often fragile) superdetail parts (I think the worst offenders are Intermountain's $80 autoracks and their door hinges that make saltine crackers seem durable by comparison)... and only such models. The manufacturers anymore seem to take the attitude of "Oh, are you someone who's into model trains but has a small budget? Ha ha! Screw you! People without deep pockets aren't real people!" If not for the secondary market and old stock still on hobby shop shelves...

Snobs who sneer at and bash people for freelancing or for era-mixing or for not buying the aforementioned high-price models, etc.

The extent to which Model Railroader magazine's staff tend to be outright shills in their articles.

Paint drying rough

Parts and tools playing hide-and-seek

Discovering that the previous owner of a model has unnecessarily cemented a snap-together passenger car kit with excessive amounts of glue without having so much as fit a rudimentary interior or lights, and the glue joints being obnoxiously hard to separate without breakage even when using a fine, sharp blade.

The ability of shoes to suddenly make your feet clumsy near models that had to be set on (or slipped down to) the floor

The fact that the presence of track on the floor somehow gives normally-not-clumsy parents the foot coordination of someone who's been drinking strong liquor all day.

The fact that O.K. Models decided that their 60' shorty streamlined passenger cars didn't need doors

Krazy Glue drying up in the bottle

The propensity of red and yellow paint to either dry up or turn gummy in the bottle

Steel-alloy-rail track. It's rubbish that takes far too much cleaning and isn't that great a conductor even when fully clean (and of course, DO NOT abrasively clean it because then some of the conductive coating is going to come off).

Walthers' track-cleaner reefer. The only car I have bought and actually regretted.

Interiors and people figures make such a difference. Especially the people.

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Posted by bearman on Friday, January 15, 2016 4:43 PM

Made in China

Bear "It's all about having fun."

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Posted by jecorbett on Friday, January 15, 2016 10:24 AM

CajonTim

No matter how many clamps I have, I always need one more!

Tim

 

Ditto. I have lots of clamps. Never the right sized one. Always too big or too small for what I need at the time.

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Posted by steemtrayn on Friday, January 15, 2016 3:47 AM

steam locomotive models that have the valve gear in neutral. The radius rod doesn't move.

LED headlights. They just don't look right, and they don't brighten when the dynamo starts up.

Sound units without doppler.

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Posted by cats think well of me on Thursday, January 14, 2016 10:16 PM

Wanting lots of Red Caboose PRR REA X29 boxcars and seeing none turn up. Same goes for Intermountain Pfaudler 40' steel milk cars lettered for Sheffield.

Manufacturers/importers announcing a model and then the delivery date gets pushed back months and sometimes years.

Also that manufacturers/importers of certain steam engine models do not offer their models without sound decoders.

 

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, January 14, 2016 8:35 PM

Mosquitos, of course.

Why should modelers be any different than anyone else?

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, January 14, 2016 8:30 AM

measure twice, cut once.

Not here ...it is measure 4 times, cut.....too short/long. SoapBox

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by Metro Red Line on Thursday, January 14, 2016 4:41 AM

Trying to strip some 30awg wire under your layout when your wire stripper will only go as small as 26awg, and using the wire-cutting part of your wire stripper, only shortening your wires with every attempt. AAAAAAARGGGGH!!!

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Posted by stuckinthe50s on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 7:57 PM

People that must touch things. I do appreciate their interest and curiosity. My water feature that they must touch to see if it is real water. But my wife's brother putting a finger through the roof of a station is too much and Super Trees are way too fragile to be felt up.

Cheers, Don
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Posted by steamage on Sunday, January 10, 2016 1:17 PM
Why does a model co. come out with the same model type of diesel as as another Co.? This seems to happen a lot.

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, January 9, 2016 8:52 AM

people who say "Oh, that's not right" when you do a freelanced locomotive for a prototypical company....so what if I want to do a SD70ace in Wheeling and Lake Erie.

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by Bernd on Saturday, January 9, 2016 8:51 AM

Out of focus over size pictures.

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds

protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Friday, January 8, 2016 5:19 PM

I look at it this way: model trains (toys to some) are cheaper than skidoo's, ATV's, and snowmobiles (toys) are.

I will take my "toy" trains over your "toy" vehicles.

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, January 8, 2016 5:17 PM

Big Smilere: Hobby called toys. I think it bothered me years ago. Now I recognize my trains ARE toys. What's the old saying - the main difference between men and boys is the price of there toys. It's true! :-P

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by cats think well of me on Friday, January 8, 2016 4:53 PM

AntonioFP45

Blownout Cylinder,

I concur! Sigh

I'm embarassed to say how many #80 drill bits I've broken in both, the pin vise and Dremel rotary tool! I want to install handrails and grabs on my metalilzed Walthers units and, for me, it's a challenge. 

I tip my hat off to modelers that drill holes with #80 bits and install those hand rails on their varnish without breaking a sweat.

I'm switching over to #79 bits and see if that works out.

 

 
blownout cylinder

#80 bits... that is all I'll say about them.

 

 

 

 

I concur with using #79 bits instead of #80s. I also found them to be a bit sharper and did the job a little quicker. I just made one bit last through doing three different models. I just got a set that are titanium coated, and look forward to seeing how they do when my current #79 breaks. I only use a pin vise myself. 

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Posted by fieryturbo on Thursday, January 7, 2016 1:47 PM

I want to throw these in:

Roadname being so popular it's never on sale, or goes out of stock before you can get it (Union Pacific)

Roadname not being popular enough (I hear this all the time on the boards, I feel for you folks)

Roadname being popular but the proto roadname in question wants so much money for licensing, no one can afford to manufacture it (Chicago Metra)

 

Julian

Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)

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Posted by 5150WS6 on Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:34 PM

I get irritated when I drop my bacon and my dog grabs it before I can get it.

It's also irritating when people call my hobbies "toys"

I used to get irritated with the Kaddee springs but since they are just around the corner they are always more than willing to give me extras.  Awesome people.

 

And since negativity sucks I'm going to end on the top three things I love about the hobby that don't irritate me.

1. Give me huge quality time with my dad that I would never be able to get in any other way.  It's something we both love and I'm revelling in the memories we are making every weekend.

2. DCC and all the features are amazing.  I am so happy with a 7 loco consist!  It brings me nothing but giggling like a little girl when I can get all 7 locos to work in combo at the exact same speed.......

3. Finally.  This hobby knows no age.  I have friends that come over that are 14 and 80.  They all have the same interest and even though there are different knowledge levels, the "old dogs" are always more than welcome to school the youngsters.  It's cool to have a hobby that no matter what your deal in life, if you like trains you're in.  Simple as that.  Not too many things like that in this world that I've found.

CoolBeer

Mr. Positive

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:21 PM

SouthPenn

Mice that chew your scenery, drag it into a tunnel and build a nest.

 

Mice and other pest's period...... Four legged or more......

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by SouthPenn on Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:14 PM

Mice that chew your scenery, drag it into a tunnel and build a nest.

South Penn
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    March 2015
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Posted by SouthPenn on Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:10 PM

hobo9941

Well, this has certainly been an eye opening thread. I thought I was the only one that keeps dropping things. 

I thought I was the only one who could make tools disappear like a magician in seconds.

I thought I was the only one whose trains came out of tunnels with the loco covered in spider webs.

I thought I was the only one who had a chipmunk trapped in the garage, running all over my layout, knocking stuff over and leaving a couple chipmunk nuggets in my scenery.

I thought I was the only one switching from reg glasses, to reading glasses, to no glasses for various distances. 

But I have mastered the Kadee coupler springs pretty well, if I do say so myself. I use a round toothpick to pick up a spring, push it on the tiny pin, and another toothpick to guide the other end on to the other pin. Getting pretty good at it.Whistling

 

Same here. But I have not mastered the coupler spring.

South Penn
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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 7:14 PM

Blownout Cylinder,

I concur! Sigh

I'm embarassed to say how many #80 drill bits I've broken in both, the pin vise and Dremel rotary tool! I want to install handrails and grabs on my metalilzed Walthers units and, for me, it's a challenge. 

I tip my hat off to modelers that drill holes with #80 bits and install those hand rails on their varnish without breaking a sweat.

I'm switching over to #79 bits and see if that works out.

blownout cylinder

#80 bits... that is all I'll say about them.

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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Posted by CajonTim on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 4:37 PM

No matter how many clamps I have, I always need one more!

Tim

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 3:30 PM

#80 bits... that is all I'll say about them.

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 2:21 PM

Recently, I find myself becoming irritated by long posts, usually by newbys, describing the layout they would like to build and asking for suggestions.  I mean the ones that do not include at least a sketch of their proposal.  I might like to help, but usually can not figure out what they want to do.   

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by Steven Otte on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 8:47 AM

Okay, folks, I don't want to see any more thinly veiled posts that boil down to "I'm irritated by certain people on this Forum who I won't name but we all know who I'm talking about." Keep it civil or I'll shut it down.

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by Daywhitemtns on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 11:21 PM

Locomotive sound effects in the layout room drive me up the wall - particularly when I have more than one engine operating. I run DCC but no sound decoders or speakers. Additionally, it saves a lot of money. Sound-equipped models are much more expensive than DCC-ready versions. The normal sounds my trains make running on the layout are fine for me.

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Posted by hobo9941 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 7:53 PM

What does this mean... on freight cars?

Leased from Equitable Life Assurance

Insurance companies invest your premiums in various things like locomotives, freight cars, ships, etc, for additional income. Then they raise your premiums to pay claims!

  • Member since
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Posted by hobo9941 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 7:47 PM

Well, this has certainly been an eye opening thread. I thought I was the only one that keeps dropping things. 

I thought I was the only one who could make tools disappear like a magician in seconds.

I thought I was the only one whose trains came out of tunnels with the loco covered in spider webs.

I thought I was the only one who had a chipmunk trapped in the garage, running all over my layout, knocking stuff over and leaving a couple chipmunk nuggets in my scenery.

I thought I was the only one switching from reg glasses, to reading glasses, to no glasses for various distances. 

But I have mastered the Kadee coupler springs pretty well, if I do say so myself. I use a round toothpick to pick up a spring, push it on the tiny pin, and another toothpick to guide the other end on to the other pin. Getting pretty good at it.Whistling

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Posted by angelob6660 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 7:43 PM

What does this mean... on freight cars?

Leased from Equitable Life Assurance 

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 7:01 PM

What?  Where?

 

dehusman

............... but there are forums that allow posts and threads that are downright racist).

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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