I've not visited the Model Railroader forum much over the last few years but now that my modeling interests have changed, I thought I might poke my head in. Without a reliable photo hosting site I haven't figured out how I plan to share pictures yet...for what it's worth all of my modeling projects have their own Facebook pages to which I can "hot link," but those links are temporary and will typically disappear in a few weeks' time.
You may be surprised to know that I've sold my N scale PRR layout (GMR 2014) to a fellow N scale Pennsy modeler who lives out of state. For now it's in my basement until he can come out here to Colorado (I've been living in Colorado Springs for over 4 years now...and I don't know how to change the location info for my profile, LOL). I've been slowly selling off my N scale Pennsy and Conrail stuff.
My most recent N scale excursion has been a little 2.5 by 5 foot layout based on the Colorado Midland circa 1905. It has a little loop and a branch line...sort of based on the HO scale Laurel Highland trackplan from way back when.
Back around 1989 to about 1994 or so (so late high school/early college) I was dabbling in HOn3 inspired by two family trips to Colorado. At the time I had neither the skill nor the money to do any justice to it so I eventually moved on. Living in Colorado (and likely retiring from the Air Force here very soon) I could no longer fight the narrow gauge bug. With Blackstone's amazing locomotives and cars and the ConCor Galloping Goose, I felt it was finally time to return to an old passion...the Rio Grande Southern. So, my newest project will be a roughly 12 x 14 foot around-the-walls vignette of the Rio Grande Southern First District in HOn3.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear some ideas about photo hosting and about how to change my location from Navarre, FL to Colorado Springs.
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
The prodigal son returns! The fatted calf dinner is being served even as we speak. Good to see you back, but sorry to hear about that beautiful PRR layout.
Photo hosting is becoming a real Achilles heal for this Forum. Many wonderful threads of the past that you would recall well or contributed to are no longer useful because the pics are gone.
Dave Nelson
I'll post a few pics of the N scale Colorado Midland from my Facebook page but with the caveat that they won't last long:
And here's an overall shot of it at the Fall Train Expo Colorado show the weekend before last:
Dave,
I saw your profile name listed earlier under the Users Online heading and was wondering if you were just lurking or would post something. Good to have you with us! You've been missed. And beautiful work, as usual, on your newest layout.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Welcome back!
I've had my model railroad photos on Trainboard for a long time.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Lots of familiar names still here! Of course I remember when Jeffrey passed... I never did meet him but I was very familiar with his hometown of Leesville, LA. My very first assignment was to the 21st Air Support Operations Squadron at nearby Ft Polk. There's a good chance we frequented the same hobby stores in Alexandra, LA.
Please don't worry too much about the N scale Juniata Division layout. The gentleman who bought it is himself a devout SPF and will take good care of it. It's 11 years old now and is beginning to show its age. I've been burned out on it for many years now but have been reluctant to do anything about it. In the end I decided a whole new direction would be required to reinvigorate my enjoyment of the hobby. In the intervening time I've dabbled in G scale as well, but we moved to a brand new neighborhood this past spring and the HOA is pretty strict. Once we have a proper fence and can "hide" the G scale it may make a comeback!
Nice to see you post here once more, Dave. Believe it or not, I thought about you just a day or two back and wondered how you were doing. It seems your're still no slouch in the modeling department. Nice layout. I think you'll find your new direction very rewarding. I look forward to seeing it develop.
I dropped photobucket and have begun to post my images to railimages.com, a part of trainboard. I don't really notice a difference, but I don't miss the ads either. I have been donating to trainboard since about 2009 or so.
Anyway, it's good to see you still active, motivated, and learning.
-Crandell
It's been a little rough over the last year... Last summer I was diagnosed with something called Trigeminal Neuralgia. I invite the not-so-squeemish to Google it. Within a few months of the diagnosis I had to have brain surgery. Recovery has been mostly okay but I have other neurological challenges that affect my ability to do very fine work...thus also inspiring me to "upsize" my scale. My forthcoming military retirement is driven in part by my compromized neurological state. That said I have more than enough railroading projects to keep me busy until the end of time!
Welcome back. Sorry to hear about your medical condition but it sounds like you've had plenty to do to keep yourself occupied.
I use Imageshack and have been very happy with it. Upgraded to the lowest paid level after using the free side of things. Well worth the few dollars a month that costs IMO.
As a HOn3 operator myself, cool to see you into HOn3 and looking forward to seeing what develops.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Hi Dave,
Good to see you post again! It has been quite some time.
Nice to see you're still modeling. I hope we'll get to see more of your work soon.
Meanwhile, care to share a link to your Facebook page? I'm going to go check and see if I can find you, but it's amazing sometimes how many people have the same name.
Edit: Yeah, there's a ton of David or Dave Vollmers out there.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Hi Dave! Welcome back! Good luck with your narrow gauge. Every time I watch C&TS web cameras the old narrow gauge bug hits.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I guess I am new here since you have been away, but still... welcome back!
.
Your N scale layout is gorgeous. Truly fine work.
I hope you do not stay a stranger.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I switched to Flickr for photo host. Just need to learn which sharing link (BBCode) to use. And my name appears below my posts and I can't recall how to edit the link to post the photo alone.
IMG_5145 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
The only way to be SURE on photo hosting is to register your own domain and getting a web host account with some provider. My provider starts at $@.50 a month to host with more than enough space for me to do my layout progress web site and post whatever pictures I do post (it's NOT a way to store all the high res, large file size RAW images from your camera). Registering a domain is arounf $10 a year depending on the 'type' you get.
What happens when the provider you used goes belly up, you might ask? That's why you register a domain name. Need to switch proverds for any reason, the domain name, which is what the photo URL is linked to, goes with you. So as long as you upload the photos witht he same file name to the new provider, all the ones you previously posted in forum threads will still work.
It's not hard to do - you do NOT need to create a web site - any pictures I've linked that are NOT also on my web site are simply uploaded to the provider and linked and would still work if I got rid of the rest of the web site. Even the ones that are part of the site would still work as long as I deleted only the HTML content and left the pictures on the disk.
That last overall shot of the layout was a surprise after the previous photos - the layout looks MUCH larger than it actually is. Testament to excellent scenery work.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Brunton Hi Dave, Good to see you post again! It has been quite some time. Nice to see you're still modeling. I hope we'll get to see more of your work soon. Meanwhile, care to share a link to your Facebook page? I'm going to go check and see if I can find you, but it's amazing sometimes how many people have the same name. Edit: Yeah, there's a ton of David or Dave Vollmers out there.
I'm not using my personal page. I have public pages for all my model railroad projects.
The Pennsy: https://www.facebook.com/N-Scale-Juniata-Division-Model-Railroad-102014813202441/
The Colorado Midland: https://www.facebook.com/N-Scale-Colorado-Midland-Model-Railroad-962404053798467/
...and the Rio Grande Southern: https://www.facebook.com/HOn3RGS/
I am sorry to see that you have this disorder/disease. It can't be any fun, and like any ideopathic disease, they unnerve us and grate away at our confidence, ease, and enjoyment. I hope you manage to stabilize and to enjoy your life and model-making.
I developed atrial fibrillation over the summer, the paroxysmal type (brought on by stress or exercise, and short-lasting/self-restricting). I went from a somewhat smug and fit 65 year-old to a pill-popping and less secure old man inside of two months.
I don't know how you feel about having to give up a promising military career at this point, but it couldn't have been a great day when you got the news that they were releasing you medically. In my business in the Canadian military, I was part of the assessment chain and sometimes had to recommend that a person be released because he/she was not suitable for any other type of uniformed service. I took my work very seriously because of the ramifications, particularly to those with young families.
That trigeminal nerve...it's also where the herpes simplex virus dwells, hidden, waiting to get on top of us when we're short on sleep, exposed to sun newly in the spring, or when we get under some protracted stress.
Please, don't ask..............
Hello Dave ! .... Welcome back ! .... First of all, I am sorry to learn of your disease and wish you the best....
Regarding photo hosting, I am now using Flickr and I am happy with it. There was a long thread in this forum a few montha ago as MR Forum memebrs were leaving PhotoBucket when they made their big changes. I Learned how to post from FLickr in that thread.
Regardng your current layout based on Colorado Midland,..... Wow! ... You certainly do good work. I think the CM is a great choice for a prototype, and you can have a lot of fun with that.
I hope you continue posting in the forum. You may wish to change your location from FL to CO in your settings.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Dave, glad to see that you are back on the forum. Many leave the forum and few are missed, but you have been missed.
Try imgbb for photo posting. It even is easier than Photobucket.
https://imgbb.com/
Rich
Alton Junction
Dave Vollmer It's been a little rough over the last year... Last summer I was diagnosed with something called Trigeminal Neuralgia. I invite the not-so-squeemish to Google it. Within a few months of the diagnosis I had to have brain surgery. Recovery has been mostly okay but I have other neurological challenges that affect my ability to do very fine work...thus also inspiring me to "upsize" my scale. My forthcoming military retirement is driven in part by my compromized neurological state. That said I have more than enough railroading projects to keep me busy until the end of time!
rrebell
Yes, I had brain surgery in November of last year to decompress the trigeminal nerve. It's not 100% better but much more tolerable.
welcome back!
Nice modeling.
To change your location click " change avatar" and that opens your profile. On the far right side of the page is your location.
Welcome back David,
I looked up your PRR Juanita layout over the years. Yes it did made me sad when you sold your Conrail equipment and the Enola Yard.
I don't know you also sold pennsy stuff or the layout. I looked up your layout and inspired me.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
angelob6660 Welcome back David, I looked up your PRR Juanita layout over the years. Yes it did made me sad when you sold your Conrail equipment and the Enola Yard. I don't know you also sold pennsy stuff or the layout. I looked up your layout and inspired me.
I appreciate the kind words! It dawned on me, though, that I was holding on to the Juniata Division layout not for me but for others. I decided in the end that I'm a more effective modeler when I follow my passion versus trying to meet the expectations of others.
selector I am sorry to see that you have this disorder/disease. It can't be any fun, and like any ideopathic disease, they unnerve us and grate away at our confidence, ease, and enjoyment. I hope you manage to stabilize and to enjoy your life and model-making. I developed atrial fibrillation over the summer, the paroxysmal type (brought on by stress or exercise, and short-lasting/self-restricting). I went from a somewhat smug and fit 65 year-old to a pill-popping and less secure old man inside of two months. I don't know how you feel about having to give up a promising military career at this point, but it couldn't have been a great day when you got the news that they were releasing you medically. In my business in the Canadian military, I was part of the assessment chain and sometimes had to recommend that a person be released because he/she was not suitable for any other type of uniformed service. I took my work very seriously because of the ramifications, particularly to those with young families. That trigeminal nerve...it's also where the herpes simplex virus dwells, hidden, waiting to get on top of us when we're short on sleep, exposed to sun newly in the spring, or when we get under some protracted stress. Please, don't ask..............
In my case it was anatomical, not viral...
As for losing a career, they haven't made the call yet. But I've been in almost 22 years and I've essentially done everything I care to in the military. Veterans' day is always a reminder of what I've done but care not to do ever again... Currently I'm tenured faculty at the Air Force Academy but I have leads on research science post-Air Force so I suspect I'll land on my feet.
Good to see you back Dave.
Count me in for getting a medical heave-ho from the Government. I was just short of retirement but made full pension as I had over two years sick time in the bank. I did convince them to let me stay another year after I got the bad news as I really loved what I did.
Use to love the videos you would put music to. I have a real interest in movie music and discuss it often with a couple of friends in the biz.
Always liked to see what you were up to in both trains and career. I went for three interviews with the Canadian military around 1980 as I was seriously thinking of trying to get into the Airforce as a pilot. They called me for about two years after to see if I was still interested. I had too many interests for the commitment required.
Looking forward to more videos.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
It's good to see you back, Dave! Too many leave, and never return.
Wayne
Good to see you back, wish you well on your long term prognosis.
herrinchoker
selectorI developed atrial fibrillation over the summer, the paroxysmal type (brought on by stress or exercise, and short-lasting/self-restricting). I went from a somewhat smug and fit 65 year-old to a pill-popping and less secure old man inside of two months.
We seem to have that in common. I developed the same thing a few years ago, in 2014. I take three medications, which generally keep me in normal sinus rhythm, prevent blood clots from the fibrillation, and reduce heart rate during the infrequent bouts of it I still experience. No real impairment, but certainly unease during the abnormal rhythm.
The key thing is that I DO NOT allow this to turn me into an old man, and you shouldn't either! I take the pills, and make a point of getting exercize (walking, mostly) to improve my general health. The last few months have been focused on losing weight to put me into the best possible shape to deal with this condition (and enjoy my retirement, which starts in about 4 1/2 months).
Atrial fibrillation is certainly discombobulating, but it's a generally benign condition that is not indicative of, nor a precursor to, more serious conditions (unless my doctors all lied to me!). So live life securely, and let's see some photos of your latest modeling efforts!!
Sorry for the diversion, folks...
And now back to our regularly scheduled "Welcome Back, Dave" topic.
Mark, thanks for the encouragement. I don't want to co-opt Dave's return thread, but the disorder was firmly characterized as 'progressive' in both the literature and in the seminar I attended. I took it to mean it evolves over time into something somewhat more serious.
http://www.stopafib.org/progresses.cfm
I'm going to a sleep lab this weekend to see if I need some improvement in that department.
Like you, I am on mild doses of thinner (apixaban), beta blocker (metoprolol), and Lipitor because my numbers have skirted the realm of hyperlipidemia for too long. I guess I should feel lucky I can run and cycle, and that my blood assays show I tolerate these three medications quite well. Whew!!
Back to Dave's pleasing return...
And the Pennsy's still alive...