This is not a complete list.
1. Having something - a freight car kit, tool, decal sheet, detail part, whatever - on my swap meet "Want List," finding it at the swap meet and buying it, but forgetting to cross it off the list. So at the next swap meet ..... you guessed it. This is how I ended up with three NYC boxcars all with the same number. (sigh).
2. Related to #1 above, gathering the large capacity fabric bags I take to swap meets, only to sense that one feels a tad heavier than it should. Oops, forgot to empty the bag after that swap meet and the stuff I bought is still in there. HOPEFULLY I didn't go out and buy it later at the LHS thinking I still needed it. HOPEFULLY I hadn't bought a carton of milk to drink and put it in the bag .... But there are flyers for other events I intended to get to but forgot about.
3. Pushing the wrong button at operating sessions at someone else's house (meaning the throttle is not familiar to me) and bringing the whole system to an abrupt halt. This is embarassing. Especially the fifth time it happens in the same evening.
4. I have not installed Kadee couplers upside down, at least not that I know of (do I need to open every box to make sure?). But one evening after a nice dinner that was washed down with a more than decent red wine, I decided that I shouldn't tackle anything more ambitious than one of the remaining shake the box kits on my shelves. I followed the instructions such as they were to the letter - which means I installed the supplied horn hook couplers. Doh! At least I didn't weather them first.
Dave Nelson
BRAKIE While I have a very tidy work desk things can still go missing for several days-----
While I have a very tidy work desk things can still go missing for several days-----
I dropped ATSF F7s into the ground (2 out of 4). They still work, with scratching paint.
I dropped numberboards into the carpet. Also lost details, couplers, springs. Etc. Yes carpet gets parts lost. Can't see black parts within brown.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
BigDaddy Installing KD couplers that are missing the knuckle spring
Installing KD couplers that are missing the knuckle spring
Been there, done that with KDs fresh from the package.
While I have a very tidy work desk things can still go missing for several days and is usually found where this old man placed it out of the way----meaning in a desk drawer or in a parts holding box.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
rrinkerCouplers upside down -
It can happen to the best of 'em!
I recently opened my brand-new Genesis SDP40Fs and went to couple them up for a trial run:
IMG_0300_W by Edmund, on Flickr
Aint' gonna happen. Fortunately, those squishy plastic couplers were headed for the scrap pile anyway, no big deal.
Things happen! Ed
4, 5, & 10 are in my book for sure! The best one is when I was installing my O scale around the room track and supports. I wanted to see the clearance of the first section of wood along with the track and O scale passenger car. I put up the wood, laid down a piece of track and put the passenger car on the track. However, I forgot the piece of wood was not secured to the wall supports, nor was the track and the passenger car was free-wheeling. The car rolled off the end as the wood tipped down and did a swan dive to the hardwood floor and crashed into many, many pieces. Car headed to the scrap yard and I headed to the LHS for a replacement car. Lesson learned…
Neal
Thinking about actual operations:
1) pushing on the turnout button thinking that the car had cleared the turnout - but did'nt!
2) pushing on the wrong turnout button!
3) having two locos couple to the same set of cars during a switching operation
..and oh yes, forgetting a tool on the track happens a lot here too!!
Simon
Couplers upside down - the very first time I went along on an exhibition of the club modular layout, I was switching in the coal yard and I noticed one of the Athearn hoppers lost its coupler. One of the other members asked if he should take care of it but I said no, I got it, turned the car over, and proceeded to install the coupler upside down. Note at this point I was not actually some newbie model railroader, this was only about 8-9 years ago, and I had been installing kadees in my own trains for at least 20 years by that point. I don't think I've EVER put one in upside down at my own workbench.
ANother one, I learned long ago to mark the scrap side of a cut so you cut to the right side of the line. Nothing like carefully lining up the saw blade, making the cut and then - oops, even though the big X was right there and visible, you cut to the wrong side. Try again, this time pay attention to which side has the X, dummy!
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BNSF UP and others modeler5. Loosing that pin sized detail to the abyss below the work area.
Ha! I just did that only moments ago! Removing the handcar pump handle from the sprue of the Tichy hand car kit. Didn't know part of the molding was cracked and it flew off to... somewhere.
My cure for that is one of the newer versions of the Dustbuster type cordless vacuum with the easily-removable dust container. I vacuum the area where I dropped the part, then shake out the bits into a large white pan and play "Where's Elmo". My success rate is about 85%.
BNSF UP and others modeler9. Purchasing something that you think is a splendid deal, but then find out you bought junk.
Or you bring your "fantastic deal" home only to find the identical item already on your shelf. Happens more often that I'd like.
#11. Forgetting to re-align switch points after a switching move and running the main-line passenger train into the turntable pit! (Just did that the other day !)
Cheers, Ed
I once dropped the tender of my Pennsy T-1 from about chest height (I'm 6' 2") onto the floor at one of my clubs, they have tile floors so you can imagine the impending horror, luckily only a step broke off and I was able to locate it, it's in a box awaiting to be reattached.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I was curious, do people make and hate the same model railroading mistakes that I do? Here are ten among my many:
1. Installing a coupler upside down.
2. Being oblivious and leaving a metal tool on the rails while track power is on.
3. Buying the wrong size/scale of things like ballast, figures from China, etc.
4. Dropping that mint brass 4-8-8-4 (haven't done that yet, but I dread it).
5. Loosing that pin sized detail to the abyss below the work area.
6. Getting mad at your locomotive, then you realize you are programming the wrong CV.
7. Drop your throttle and rip years off of its life.
8. Buying something after meticulous bargian hunting, and then find it cheaper.
9. Purchasing something that you think is a splendid deal, but then find out you bought junk.
10. Buying a part, decoder, peice of hardware, etc and finding out it is the wrong one.
Also feel free to share other funny stories/disasters!
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.