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Layout Visit Etiquette

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  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,500 posts
Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Friday, February 8, 2019 2:42 PM

SeeYou190
ROBERT PETRICK
First rough draft of a Guest Rail Pass. Front and back sides.

Robert, That looks really good.

I found Excel to be the easiest tool to use to get the front and back lined up when they printed. I centered one of the the columns, then centered the images in those cells and printed on both sides.

It was quick and dirty, but it worked!

-Kevin

Hey Kevin-

Thanks.

Lining up the front and back images might be a little tricky, but I think it's doable.

The question is what size should these things be? I have standard 8.5"X11" printer-feed card stock with micro-perf cutouts for business card size (2"X3.5") and 3x5 index card size (3"x5", duh!). Based on the green mat background, your cards appear to be about 4"x2.5". The business cards seem a little small, but the index cards seem a little large, although they will fit easily into shirt pockets. I was thinking along the lines of baseball card size or poker card size (pretty much like yours, with round corners).

If I go with the business card size, the print (especially on the back) will be pretty small. That wouldn't be a problem for me because (1) I'm an N-scaler and (2) I'm nearsighted (I take my glasses off to read). But a lot of guys in the hobby might have some difficulty with the small print, and that would pretty much defeat the whole point. I'm leaning towards 3x5.

One solution would be to cut down on the amount of verbiage on the passes (especially on the back), but I specifically want to have expansive rules that are casual in nature. Short, to-the-point rules such as No Food, No Drink, Don't Smoke, Don't Cuss, Don't Fart, Don't Steal Anything, Don't Place the (Godzilla-size) Throttle on the Layout, etc are crystal clear, but they are a little cold and a little too imperative. I want to make sure the guests understand what is expected of them (in case their Granny did not already teach them), but I don't want to be dictatorial about it.

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Posted by carl425 on Friday, February 8, 2019 2:58 PM

ROBERT PETRICK
First rough draft of a Guest Rail Pass.

Rules would be easier to read if they weren't in all caps.

I'd suggest including a free espresso with the kitten.

I have the right to remain silent.  By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, February 8, 2019 3:04 PM

Rules 1 and 3 are in conflict.  I would be embarrassed to go to the bathroom in front of my grandmother, although she might be pleased that I am at last potty trained.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Friday, February 8, 2019 5:57 PM

carl425

I'd suggest including a free espresso with the kitten.

There are a lot of cat aficionados on this forum, and I'm not sure they'd see the irony of giving away free kittens.

I thought about double-espressos, but then I was afraid I'd be accused of drugging kids.

In the wild world of internet forums, you can't win.  Confused

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Friday, February 8, 2019 6:26 PM

ROBERT PETRICK

 

carl425

I'd suggest including a free espresso with the kitten.

 

 

There are a lot of cat aficionados on this forum, and I'm not sure they'd see the irony of giving away free kittens.

I thought about double-espressos, but then I was afraid I'd be accused of drugging kids.

In the wild world of internet forums, you can't win.  Confused

Robert

 

Good sign for the layout room?

  • Member since
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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Friday, February 8, 2019 7:25 PM

drgwcs

Good sign for the layout room?

Yes, exactly! I knew I'd seen something like that before.

I also saw a club that had a big pickle jar on a shelf, and it was half-filled with Halloween-type severed fingers and thumbs and ears and whatnot. No sign, no explanation, just those creepy fingers swirling ominously in that fetid yellow liquid.

Robert

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Friday, February 8, 2019 8:24 PM

The antique mall over in Greensboro NC has one of these up by the front register (I cant remember but I think theirs said free puppy)  It has been kind of a running joke that our son wants to take them up on their offer............ Just to give right credit the sign was by desperate enterprises - used to order tons of them when I managed a store. Their catalog has lots of great fodder for HO billboards- so protect the trains and get bonus billboards at the same time.......    Jim

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, February 9, 2019 9:14 AM

ROBERT PETRICK
The question is what size should these things be? Based on the green mat background, your cards appear to be about 4"x2.5". The business cards seem a little small, but the index cards seem a little large.

.

Yes, the passes are just slightly smaller than 2.5 by 4. This is larger than a business card. I went through my collection of old passes, and there is a little variety to the sizes. I went with the most common size.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, February 9, 2019 2:50 PM

BNSF UP and others modeler

Mine would be, even if you are a "professional" model railroader, don't get this idea that you are entitled to even the simple things like putting a derailed car back. What you should do is find the owner of the train and kindly inform him of the problem.

 

 This is how I am and I am definitely not a professional model railroader. Even at the club, unless the owner asks me to get it so they don't have to walk over, I don't touch other people's equipment. Mine, and community club property, sure. 

                         --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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  • From: Huron, SD
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Posted by Bayfield Transfer Railway on Sunday, February 10, 2019 4:04 PM

I think the "how much does it cost" thing comes up when people don't know what else to say.

MY answer is, "I don't know.  But I still have the first boxcar kit I bought in 1970 for $1.79.  When you spend little bits of pocket money over 49 years, it adds up, even though you never spend much at once."

Disclaimer:  This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.

Michael Mornard

Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: Huron, SD
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Posted by Bayfield Transfer Railway on Sunday, February 10, 2019 4:06 PM

"Unattended Children will be given a triple espresso and bagpipes."

 

Disclaimer:  This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.

Michael Mornard

Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 10, 2019 4:16 PM

Bayfield Transfer Railway
I think the "how much does it cost" thing comes up when people don't know what else to say.MY answer is, "I don't know. But I still have the first boxcar kit I bought in 1970 for $1.79. When you spend little bits of pocket money over 49 years, it adds up, even though you never spend much at once."

.

I basically say something like this:

.

I know I have spent over $20,000.00 on wargaming in the last ten years, and I am sure I have spent equal to that on my trains in the same time period. Both of these hobbies together do not add up to my neighbor's bass boat. A hobby is a hobby, we spend what we need to get the enjoyment, escape, and pleasure out of it that we seek.

.

I only consider that question rude if it is asked with a "so how much did you waste on this nonsense" undertone.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • 472 posts
Posted by Graham Line on Sunday, February 10, 2019 7:49 PM

Certainly costs far less than golf, flying, or auto racing.

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