riogrande5761 Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now. I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.
Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now. I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.
Rich
Alton Junction
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.
Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule.
That said, your layout is suffering from gigantism. That's another form of MR disease.
richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL Rich, it will not be real hoarding untill I get to 2500 freight cars and 300 locos, because the layout is designed for about 1200 freight cars and requires the 140 locos to protect the schedule. Sheldon, I agree. What you describe for your layout is not hoarding. That said, your layout is suffering from gigantism. That's another form of MR disease. Rich
Sheldon, I agree. What you describe for your layout is not hoarding.
Well, maybe so, but it will be smaller than the layouts of a number of my modeling friends and acquaintances in this region of country.......
And while it will be big, it is not very complex. Remember, a double ended yard with 8 tracks, 20 feet long, is no more complex than one with 8 tracks only 12 feet long. 36" and larger curves use up real estate fast, and so does scenic depth. Many scenes with only the double track mainline will be 2-3 feet deep. The "city" scene will be 5 feet deep, but all the track will be in the front 3 feet. Parts of the city will lift out for access.
The thing that requires the rolling stock is the number of staged trains, about 30 total.
Sheldon
Other things I hoard:
Kadee sprung trucks
Intermoutain wheel sets
Specific CalScale detail parts
American Limited diaphragm
Kadee couplers
Specific undecorated freight cars when they show up at the right price
No longer produced Roundhouse Commonwealth 4 wheel passenger trucks
No longer produced Central Valley passenger truck brake beam kits
Replacement gears and wheelsets for Proto2000 diesels.
Sheldon, I am not without sin, so I should not cast the first stone (John 8:7). My new layout is guilty of gigantism as well. As soon as I finish it, I plan to dismantle it, sell all of my locos and rolling stock, and keep only a couple of Santa Fe passenger trains. I yearn for a smaller layout and simplicity.
When my father died, I was the closest in location of the four sons, so it fell to me to clean out the house and garage.
I was amazed at some of the things my father kept.
He had some things in his dresser drawer from WWII -- not mementos or artifacts, but just various odd things. They obviously meant something to him since he kept them, but they meant nothing to me and got thrown away.
That experience has made me look at things I have kept. It's important to me or I wouldn't keep it, but when I die, it won't mean anything to my daughters and will get thrown. Kind of makes you get sentimental about important things in life.
York1 John
ATLANTIC CENTRALOther things I hoard:
Rich, It seems your therapy is working, Sheldon is beginning to open up..
Mike.
My You Tube
riogrande5761The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now. I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.
That's exactly why I get upset at forum members who complain about the moderators or the rules.
I can feel for the company that provides something valuable for free and gets criticized for it.
mbinsewi ATLANTIC CENTRAL Other things I hoard: Rich, It seems your therapy is working, Sheldon is beginning to open up.. Mike.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Other things I hoard:
But here is the list of things purged when or before we moved:
Aprox 400 VHS movies, and 200 DVD movies
Three rooms of antique and reproduction Victorian furniture
A small lumber yard of wood moldings, many custom milled
A dozen or so older power tools, spare air compressor, etc.
Several specific collections of Victorian knickknack's
Several spare beds and bed frames
Several collections of magazines, not train related.......
About 25% of the books in the house....
Still to find a new home:
Upright piano
1927 Victrola
We started clearing out rooms years before the move (kids and their stuff, as well as our own)
ATLANTIC CENTRALBut here is the list of things purged when or before we moved:
Actually, we are in that process of purging.
riogrande5761 Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.
Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now.
Truer words have never been spoken, Jim...
I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time.
Someone recently commented to me that, should that happen, someone could start an "MR Rescue Forum" like they did over at the Atlas website. That way some folks won't suffer from delirium tremens of not having the forum around.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I strongly believe that Sheldon is on the road to recovery. Ahh, the power of prayer.
I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of.
I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few.
I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash.
And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling.
So what would you have us talk about Jim?
If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep.
riogrande5761become a sort of "coffee clutch"
Klatch! Klatch! Cars and trucks have "clutch". Coffee has "klatch".
tstagesomeone could start an "MR Rescue Forum" like they did over at the Atlas website.
That could be interesting. Not a site for the perpetually offended.
maxman riogrande5761 become a sort of "coffee clutch" Klatch! Klatch! Cars and trucks have "clutch". Coffee has "klatch".
riogrande5761 become a sort of "coffee clutch"
Klatsch. (No repetition, no exclamation points)
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of. I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few. I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash. And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling. So what would you have us talk about Jim? If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep. Sheldon
I'm interested in seeing your track plan, and I'm perfectly okay with a hand-drawn version. In fact I'd really like to see a well-drawn-by-hand image. I started my career back in the Stone Age (70s) as a pen-and-ink draftsman, and I know many who were (are) very talented in that regard.
I'm also interested in the "close enough from three feet" idea. I think it was Tony Koester who wrote about the concept of "layout quality structures" vs "contest quality structures".
ATLANTIC CENTRAL riogrande5761 Sometimes I wonder if this forum is a kind of "therapy" for some of the members. The general section has largely become a sort of "coffee clutch" for some time now. I wonder how some will deal if/when MR closes the forum down, which I expect will be coming; it seems like a matter of time. I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of. I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few. I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash. And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling. So what would you have us talk about Jim? If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep. Sheldon
Sheldon,
I think Jim's comment is more directed towards threads that are merely conversational/social in nature vs ones that are more geared towards "informative discussion" - like the examples you have given. And it doesn't take long before you notice that complaining/negative threads will garner far more views and comments than those that are positive in nature. I can't tell you how many good "How to" threads I've seen posted that quickly descend to pg. 2 and beyond because few find them interesting or beneficial or even bother to look at them. Sad but true.
That said though, don't let that stop you from posting something that you feel might be a benefit to others - even if it's only one or two people. And if you're secure in what you are doing, who cares what the naysayers think.
Tom
That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views.
ROBERT PETRICK ATLANTIC CENTRAL I agree, but I am between layouts and without time to set up my work bench, so no current modeling to discuss or show pictures of. I have posted at some length about my design concept, and hope to finish and publish the track plan soon, but that seems to be of interest only to a few. I'm not particularly interested in which sound decoder is best, or how much someone likes their latest high end RTR loco or rolling stock purchase that they will not weather or kit bash. And I full well accept that those guys are not interested in my budget kit bash projects or "close enough from three feet" modeling. So what would you have us talk about Jim? If I start talking about signaling, or advanced cab control, or freelancing, or selective compression, one group says I'm behind the times, the other group falls asleep. Sheldon I'm interested in seeing your track plan, and I'm perfectly okay with a hand-drawn version. In fact I'd really like to see a well-drawn-by-hand image. I started my career back in the Stone Age (70s) as a pen-and-ink draftsman, and I know many who were (are) very talented in that regard. I'm also interested in the "close enough from three feet" idea. I think it was Tony Koester who wrote about the concept of "layout quality structures" vs "contest quality structures". Robert
Robert, trust me it will be hand drawn. and it pains me that it has taken so long, but family and work have been a real challenge this last year.
But it is coming along, it will show up.
As for "close enough" modeling, I am a "big picture" kind of guy when it comes to model trains.
Don't get me wrong, I like a well detailed accurate model as much as the next guy. At 15 I was installing complete brake system rigging and piping under my freight cars.
But I like big scenes and long trains, and not every freight car needs to be museum quality, they just have to look the part. Like these:
Are they ubber accurate? No. Do they have reasonably good proportions and convey the feel of early piggyback cars? YES.
I have about 100 early piggyback cars. Many are these early Athearn cars, with a number of simple upgrades to make them more correct, without going crazy.
There will be three 35 car trains of these making their way around the layout, getting sorted in the yard, etc.
Guess what? Not one of the current "high end" brands makes a good model of this type of early piggyback car. And while I have the skills, I don't have the time or desire to scratch build, or major kit bash 100 flat cars.
So I employ "minimum effort modeling", taking something close, and doing just enough to eliminate the obvious flaws, making it a much better version of "close enough".
It's fun, its easy, and it meets the goal which is that 35 car train rounding that 40" radius curve, lead by an ABBA set of F units.....
What do I do to that original Athearn car?
Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's).
Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue them on the flat car (or sometimes I make rub rails from scratch). I use a left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit.
The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels, and there you have it, a budget 1950's piggyback, or 75 of them.......
In many cases the trucks represent a bigger investment than the rest of the car....
Just one example of "close enough".
One note, none of the cars pictured had yet made it to the paint shop for some light weathering.
Maybe the next installment will be passenger cars.........
PS - Rich, 75 Athearn piggyback kit bashes requires first hoarding 75 trailer hitch/bridge plate parts sets from Athearn 85' flat cars.........
ATLANTIC CENTRALWhat do I do to that original Athearn car? Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's). Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue the on the flat car. I use the left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit. The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels
This is the kind of information that I wouldn't know to do. I am a few years older than Sheldon, but I don't remember that sort of detail from the 50's. I suppose there are Kalmbach or other books I could study and figure it out, but I'm not inclined to buy a bunch more reference books.
Thanks for the simple explanation. I hope you start your own thread, like Randy, when you are further along in your design.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy ATLANTIC CENTRAL What do I do to that original Athearn car? Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's). Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue the on the flat car. I use the left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit. The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels This is the kind of information that I wouldn't know to do. I am a few years older than Sheldon, but I don't remember that sort of detail from the 50's. I suppose there are Kalmbach or other books I could study and figure it out, but I'm not inclined to buy a bunch more reference books. Thanks for the simple explanation. I hope you start your own thread, like Randy, when you are further along in your design.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL What do I do to that original Athearn car? Remove the tandom axles on the trailers, relocate the landing gear on the trailers, paint the rims, paint the tail lights, and use some of the extra tires I removed to add spare tires to the trailers (common in the 50's). Then I cut apart the "trailer cradle" leaving only the prototypical rub rails, and I glue the on the flat car. I use the left over wheel/axle piece from the trailer wheels as a 5th wheel jack (not exactly prototypical, but back then several designs floated around), and I add bridge plates and the tall stakes that typically held the chain that kept the bridge plates up in transit. The Athearn trucks get replaced with my signature Kadee sprung trucks with Intermountain wheels
Thanks Henry,
I did start a thread on the layout design concept in 2018 when we first moved to the new house, it has come back to the front page from time to time.
The past year and a half has not gone exactly as we had hoped..........
And I will update it or start new threads as I progress on the new layout.
I'm only 62, but I model 1954, and have done considerable research into that era, with piggyback being a particular special interest.
Shedon
richhotrain That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views. Rich
Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001. I think this forum is more like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum..
The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at.
Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Southgate I'd have stocked up on those switches that you did, and other commodity items.
I bought the DPDT toggles at Skycraft in Orlando. One day they had boxes of 50 of them for $100.00, so only a couple of bucks each. You cannot say no to that price.
richhotrainHoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them.
Well, that is not me, hardly anything in that description sounded like me. I love throwing things away. My wife says I look at an empty garbage can the way an artist looks at a blank canvas.
ATLANTIC CENTRALBut if you need a wire nut, or screw or other mechanical wigget, there is a good a chance I will have one........
Same here. Virtually anything that goes wrong in the house can be fixed with supplies on hand and with tools that are here. I even have supplies to patch back together after a hurricane.
That is all just being a respsonsible homeowner.
Only six days until my roll-off dumpster gets delivered, and oh-boy-golly will there be a purge then.
Here is a partial list:
About 600 DVD movies
2 Desks
2 End Tables
1 Train Layout Segment
All kinds of damaged wargames terrain
1 Set of Patio Furniture
1 Set if Bedroom Furniture
3 Bookcases
Plus everything that has to be demolished from the house for the bedroom remodel.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Three Things I keep in abundance. Drywall screws, LED's and 1K resistors. I literally have bought all three by the thousands. I have red, green, yellow, orange, warm white cool white, and blue LED's that I always have around. The warm white ones are surface mount (0603 and 1204) and cool white is 0603. The cool whites one I use for industrial lighting. For example I have installed well over 200 LED's throughout the refinery. I really need to get them all hooked up and get a night shot. The red, green, yellow and orange are used for control panels.
As for drywall screws, practically the entire layout is built from them and 1x4's
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
BRAKIE richhotrain That is really true, Tom. Technical threads draw a small audience of truly dedicated forum members. Post a whimsical thread with a clever title and you will draw hundreds, if not thousands, of views. Rich Rich, Was this forum ever that serious? I reall the flame wars over just about everything when I join back in 2001. I think this forum is more like a club then anything technical other then the DCC forum.. The only "serious" forum I know is the Atlas Rescue Forum and there is a lot of complaining there about models some times even a member that has a different view gets yelled at. Be that has it may I am a member there because I can get the detailed reviews of new releases including any minor or major flaws. I simply judge what is being said about a certain model to see if it fits my guide lines.. My IM GP10 was such a locomotive as was my Scale Trains "Operator" SD40-2.
Back in 2004 when I joined the forum, it seemed a lot more serious than it is now. Maybe it is because so many serious modelers have left this forum for other forums and so now the whimsical threads are more prevalent.
I can say this. When old, dormant threads are resurrected, I always notice how many screen names appear that are now long gone. In any event, in my opinion, this forum definitely is not what it used to be.
richhotrainthis forum definitely is not what it used to be.
So is the world! Things are changing, whether you like it or not. Joining the ranks of Waldorf and Statler doesn´t help.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Tinplate Toddler richhotrain this forum definitely is not what it used to be. So is the world! Things are changing, whether you like it or not. Joining the ranks of Waldorf and Statler doesn´t help.
richhotrain this forum definitely is not what it used to be.
richhotrainNot sure I get your point. Rich
I think the point is, this forum is like a flowing river. There are similarities from day-to-day but the current is forever changing and the water you see flowing by today is not the water that was there yesterday.
I'll get off my philosophical soap box now.
I rather embrace change and new ideas. We are here to discuss those ideas. I believe Ulrich's reference to Waldorf & Statler is that you can get stuck in a rut and pine for the "way it used to be" but the current will continue to flow, participants here will fade away and others will soon arrive.
The only constant is change.
2 ¢ — Cheers, Ed