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You know it's going to be a bad day when....

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  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, July 28, 2017 5:17 AM

Well, bust my britches!

At the very moment this thread started I had just finished shooting some Scalecoat I Brunswick Green (DGLE) on a brass PRR 0-6-0 B6sb. Then I remembered I had a "Coast-To-Coast" tender that was going to need a coat of DGLE, too.

This tender is intended to be put into auxiliary water service, which PRR did, and I got the inkling to cover the coal bunker with plating, assuming the PRR would have utilised this space for additional water storage. Not real sure on that note, but... why not. Plus, if I was going to run it with the coal bunker empty, there wasn't a stoker screw at the bottom of the slope sheets so I thought the added water space would cover for that.

So I formed a brass sheet covering for the coal bunker and ultimately, didn't care for the looks of it. Then I spotted some styrene material with just a little texture and welding ribs on it. Yes I even had a couple of water hatches to put in the top.

Well, after I shot the paint I automatically got the oven ready to "bake" the enamel as Scalecoat suggests... I even took a second look at the just-painted parts and tried to recall if there was anything here that will not take the heat! A lot of good THAT did.

 

Can you guess the rest of the scenario???

 

 IMG_3218b_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Yep, there it is... all warped and twisted (the tender— not ME, I hope)

Sure, while the whole tray was in the oven I sat down and got up-to-date on the goings-on here. Even read this thread! You should have seen my expression when I pulled the rack out of the 180°F oven about a half-hour later! Even scared the cats, I did. Super Angry

All I could do was chuckle and shrug my shoulders... I'm debating weather or not to keep it like this. It will make for good conversation when visitors are present. I can probably rescue the slightly warped bulkheads, or cover them with planking or something?

As far as a near-death model railroading OOPS, it involves a Roto-Zip tool at 25,000 RPM, me trying to widen an opening for a Tortoise throw rod from the underside of the sub-roadbed—and suddenly dropping the tool while in my scooter-chair under the layout.

The rotating bit landed mere millimeters from my jugular vein! 

I was SURE careful when trying to reach for the off switch!

Human nature... mistakes will happen. I like to watch documentaries on air disasters. Now there's an area where you have to scratch your head and say "What were they thinking???" when you read about the human error factor.

Yep, Model Railroading sure is FUN!

Regards, Ed

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 28, 2017 4:48 AM

hon30critter
Did he sit on the iron or drop it in your face?

He sat on it and the hot tip left an interesting mark on his backside! Later on, he talked about a scar he got in combat....

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 28, 2017 4:15 AM

Sir Madog
I had put it on a stool standing right next to the facia of the layout´s section I was working on. A buddy of mine thought he could use a rest, gently pulled the stool away from the facia and took a seat...

Ouch! Did he sit on the iron or drop it in your face?

Our club's layout design committee has made the decision to solder all feeders to the bus wires. I was thinking of using my back as an excuse to not have to get involved in the dripping solder and misplaced soldering irons, but I'm pretty good at soldering so I will do my share.

Cheers Ulrich!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Friday, July 28, 2017 3:30 AM

Sir Madog

You know it´s a bad day ...

... when your old soldering iron, which you just heated up, is falling from the workbench and you catch it in mid air - at the hot end!

 

Ouch! I can feel that pain. DJ

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 28, 2017 2:47 AM

hon30critter

 

 
Sir Madog
when your old soldering iron, which you just heated up, is falling from the workbench and you catch it in mid air - at the hot end!

 

Hey Ulrich! Look at the bright side! Apparently your reflexes are just fine! In fact, they are faster than your brain function!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaugh

Sorry friend, I couldn't resist!

Cheers!!

Dave

 

Dave,

I stand to correct you - that happened a long time ago, when my wits were not as sharp as they are today. Struck by Parkinson´s Disease, I am not longer able to catch anything inflight!

My reflexes are now shot, but my wits are still razor sharp Laugh

I just love soldering irons! While working underneath our club layout at some time in the 1980´s, I had put it on a stool standing right next to the facia of the layout´s section I was working on. A buddy of mine thought he could use a rest, gently pulled the stool away from the facia and took a seat...

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 28, 2017 1:24 AM

BATMAN
That's why I always take a dog into the modeling office, need someone to blame!

LaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh

Now we know why you love dogs!

On the same topic, my wife came home the other day with a little spray bottle labelled 'POO Pouree" (spelling may not be quite right). You are supposed to spray a couple of shots of this stuff into the toilet BEFORE doing your thing. It does seem to work. I don't seem to hear her complaints about my ........ as often.LaughLaughLaughLaugh

Smelling like Roses - Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 28, 2017 1:14 AM

Sir Madog
when your old soldering iron, which you just heated up, is falling from the workbench and you catch it in mid air - at the hot end!

Hey Ulrich! Look at the bright side! Apparently your reflexes are just fine! In fact, they are faster than your brain function!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaugh

Sorry friend, I couldn't resist!

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 28, 2017 1:10 AM

ROBERT PETRICK
Any votes for CA-ing thumb and forefinger together?

Been there, done that, actually more than a few times.DunceLaughLaugh

I knew I was having a bad day a couple of weeks ago when my wife who had just arrived home from work woke me from a blissful afternoon nap to tell me that there was water pouring from the basement ceiling. Our plumbing had sprung a leak (which was my fault but let's not go there). Fortunately the floor drain was conveniently located right under the leak so the damage was contained to a fairly small area. Unfortunately, my workbench was in between the leak and the drain. It was flooded. When I picked up my NCE Power Cab the water poured out of it Crying. Everything that could possibly hold water did exactly thatGrumpy

I dissassembled the Power Cab and put the various pieces into a bag of rice. They are still there. I'm afraid to put it back together and apply powerGrumpy.

Thanks for letting me rant!

Cheers everybody!!

Dave

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 28, 2017 12:40 AM

You know it´s a bad day ...

... when your old soldering iron, which you just heated up, is falling from the workbench and you catch it in mid air - at the hot end!

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Thursday, July 27, 2017 11:44 PM

Any votes for CA-ing thumb and forefinger together?

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, July 27, 2017 10:27 PM

OldSchoolScratchbuilder

 

 
ricktrains4824

You run live coal loads, and promptly run said coal train the wrong way through a closed turnout....

 

 

 

I run live coal loads too. Not looking forward to the day I do that - and I will! LOL

 

Yep.. No fun. 

Worst part was that the train crew blamed the dispatcher, and the dispatcher blamed the train crew... And, due to no in-cab camera, there was zero evidence on who was at fault. So they both got reprimanded.

(In case you were wondering... Both were me...)

The really fun part? Having a derailed hopper not only spill said live coal load, everywhere, but also slide (fall) into (against) the one and only expensive Genesis railcar on the layout, damaging it... 

Yes, I was growling at that fact...

And I spent the next week cleaning up HO Scale coal pieces from everything....

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 BATMAN on Thursday, July 27, 2017 9:56 PM

BigDaddy
I need a LARGE vice grip, a grunt and the sound of gas leaking from somewhere behind me.

LaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh

YOU TOO!????

That's why I always take a dog into the modeling office, need someone to blame!Pirate

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 27, 2017 9:32 PM

Doughless

You're trying to drill a hole in a board, but no matter how hard you press, the bit refuses to dig in.  Convinced you finally wore out the old bit, you run to the store, buy a new bit, install it, but even that bit doesn't work.  

Only then you realize the drill was set to counterclockwise the entire time.

 

Oh man you're killing me.  I remember one day I was pushing real hard trying to drill through the board with the drill on backwards like you said.  I switched the direction on the drill. 

It was one of those moments when things weren't going so well.  I didn't move my hand from the back of the board.  The drill poped through the board and went right into my palm.

I don't think I laughed that time but I'm laughing now.

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Thursday, July 27, 2017 9:20 PM

You know ... when after carefully cutting out all the freight door openings in the freight house to the exact size of the drawing - you remember the drawing is O scale and you're building in HO.

Sad

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Doughless on Thursday, July 27, 2017 9:13 PM

You're trying to drill a hole in a board, but no matter how hard you press, the bit refuses to dig in.  Convinced you finally wore out the old bit, you run to the store, buy a new bit, install it, but even that bit doesn't work.  

Only then you realize the drill was set to counterclockwise the entire time.

- Douglas

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:59 PM

OldSchoolScratchbuilder

 

 

 

 

Oh I laughed ... The first time! And I'm laughing now. :)

 

You laughed the first time and you're laughing now but I bet you didn't laugh the second time.

I remember 35 years ago pushing the little track connectors on my n scale track.  It usually worked cuz my fingers were so calloused working with my hands all the time.  A few times those little track connectors busted through my calluses into my finger,  oh man it hurt.  Yup, a little wider slice.

Had to laugh..............  Then I found my Moms sewing thimble.

 

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Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:51 PM

ricktrains4824

You run live coal loads, and promptly run said coal train the wrong way through a closed turnout....

 

I run live coal loads too. Not looking forward to the day I do that - and I will! LOL

  • Member since
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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:44 PM

You run live coal loads, and promptly run said coal train the wrong way through a closed turnout....

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
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:40 PM

Track fiddler

But you got to laugh though.

PS   Put your visor on when you're dealing with those little nails.

Oh I laughed ... The first time! And I'm laughing now. :)

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:33 PM

OldSchoolScratchbuilder

 

 
 
 

 

 

Yep. Sucks to get old.

 

Yeah it does.   Little puncture wound pain lingers on for a while and takes awhile to heal at our age.

But you got to laugh though.

PS   Put your visor on when you're dealing with those little nails.

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Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:23 PM

Track fiddler

Yup.  After that concept.  I would like to rephrase my quote from don't feel bad guys if you do something bass ackwards to you got to laugh when you do something bass ackwards.  

Sometimes Up Is Down.

 

Yep. Sucks to get old.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:07 PM

Yup.  After that concept.  I would like to rephrase my quote from don't feel bad guys if you do something bass ackwards to you got to laugh when you do something bass ackwards.  

Sometimes Up Is Down.

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Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Thursday, July 27, 2017 8:03 PM

Today was a good day on the layout construction until I tried to push a rail nail in backwards - twice! Since I am on blood thinners the two holes took some time to stop bleeding - may have blood stains on a couple of boxcars but I'll check in the morning. So much for playing my ukulele this evening! DJ

P.S. Maybe I should get one of those sewing thimbles. Hmmm.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, July 27, 2017 7:28 PM

Dilbert creator, Scott Adams, who is a professional humorist, says 1/3 of people don't get humor just like the way some people (like Adams) can't tell the difference between rot gut wine and good wine.  My wife is like that.  If I looked her in the eye and said dinner was terrible and I'm going to a strip joint, she would believe it,... at least for a moment. 

I suppose in the ideal forum there would be 100% information (signal) and no nonsense (noise)    In the real world most of us, or at least those of us with a sense of humor, don't live in a all business all the time mode.  Humor is a part of our life and that kind of attitude spills over in these forums. 

The one thing I don't understand is this:

BRAKIE
When small vice grip is needed to open a bottle of paint.

I need a LARGE vice grip, a grunt and the sound of gas leaking from somewhere behind me.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, July 27, 2017 7:08 PM

Don't feel bad guys when you do something bass ackwards. That happens to me quite frequently.  I gotta say it usually happens the later part of the day than in the morning when I'm fresh. It happens when I'm tired and that dyslexia sort of thing sets in.

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Posted by SouthPenn on Thursday, July 27, 2017 6:30 PM

A terrible day model railroading is better than the best day at work...unless you work in the model railroading industry.  Big Smile

South Penn
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, July 27, 2017 6:20 PM

BRAKIE
These topics are fun and needed far more then the baited topics that leads to disagreements.

.

Please allow me to ruin this thread then... I am going to disagree with all of you!

.

I had a terrible drive to work this morning, we had an unusually stressful day in the office. It is 7:15 PM and I am still in my Tampa office. And, HR just dropped another "to do" onto my inbox, and I am not yet prepared for the safety meeting tomorrow morning. THIS is a terrible day my friends.

.

Any "terrible" day model railroading is better than any day like today.

.

At this point, spilling super glue everywhere seems like a great day! Want to trade?Sad

.

Seriously... keep the responses coming... I have enjoyed this thread.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, July 27, 2017 1:01 PM

riogrande5761
There is yet another of umpteen whimsical, only nominally train related topics started on MR forums.

Jim,These topics are fun and needed far more then the baited topics that leads to disagreements even though there are as many ways to do things in this hobby as there is modeling styles..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, July 27, 2017 12:00 PM

You know it's going to be a bad day when....


There is yet another of umpteen whimsical, only nominally train related topics started on MR forums.  Pirate

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Thursday, July 27, 2017 11:20 AM

BRAKIE

When a 00-80 screw hits the big catch never to be seen again and then you realize you're out of 00-80 screws.

Days can get ruined even when you don't drop and/or lose screws:

You have a project that requires 8 special size screws. You place an online order for 10 screws (because you're extra careful and want to make sure you have enough). You wait a week and they finally show up. You cheerfully take up the project. You immediately discover that you somehow miscounted and that you need 12 screws. Dang!

Robert 

LINK to SNSR Blog


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