Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: WoundedBear on March 26, 2007, 05:27:31 PM

Title: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: WoundedBear on March 26, 2007, 05:27:31 PM
...........as I sit here putting a fresh band-aid on my thumb.....

1: .016" drill bits love the taste of human flesh....thumbs especially.

2: If you have the track nail jar open, you should have a large magnet handy as well. (That would be band-aid #2....lol)

3: A mountain made from Hydrocal and Sculptamold is no better than one made from Plaster-of-Paris and Poly-Filla......it just costs three times more.

Anyone else?

Sid
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: SteamGene on March 26, 2007, 06:23:59 PM
The C-clamp is always set either too open or too closed.   This is especially true if the to be clamped items are in a difficult position.
Derailments occur in the worst places, or the worst times, or both.
Gene
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Atlantic Central on March 26, 2007, 06:29:46 PM
The probably that the train will jump the track is increased by the square of the number of people watching.



Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: tiny on March 26, 2007, 06:37:38 PM
Anymore just seeing it. :(  And that's wye i went to ON30!!!!.. :) AND BACHMANN MAKES REAL NEET STUFF!!! That dont cost an arm & leg!!!
  tiny.
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Jim Banner on March 26, 2007, 06:44:21 PM
Kadee coupler springs can jump into the fifth dimension.  I've lost enough over the years that I should  be knee deep in them.  But once they jump away, they NEVER EVER show up again.
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: jayl1 on March 26, 2007, 06:49:49 PM
...and as Jim says - small screws join the coupler springs in never land.
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: SteamGene on March 26, 2007, 06:52:31 PM
Wait a second.  When I'm looking for the lost screw I always find a coupler spring.  When looking for the coupler spring, I find a screw.  Never look for what you want.
Gene
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: WoundedBear on March 26, 2007, 07:28:20 PM
Quote from: atlanticcentral on March 26, 2007, 06:29:46 PM
The probably that the train will jump the track is increased by the square of the number of people watching.

Also by the value of the locomotive and cars. ::)
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: brad on March 26, 2007, 07:45:30 PM
Trains will run FLAWLESSLY until a visiter comes.

Dull blades will aways cut you the deepest and hurt the most.

Things put away for safe keeping will remain that way... FOREVER.

There will be a day you open a box and it will be like Christmas all over (see last rule)

The amount of trouble, headaches, heartaches and just plain old greif a turnout will give you is directly affected by how hard it is to reach and how much it is used.

There will always be someone who knows more than you and some that think they do.

Dragging a double deck autorack  behind your 10 wheeler will always raise a rivet counters blood pressure by 10 points.

Having a Thomas engine pulling a freight train will make him pass out, but the kids will love it

You'll always find that slight kink in the track.. after you've ballasted.

Kids will ALWAYS ask "How fast does it go?"

The best thing a model railroader will ever hear is "That looks so real"

cheers
brad
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Seasaltchap on March 26, 2007, 11:59:12 PM


Checking to see if some glue has held - is probably too soon!
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Hunt on March 27, 2007, 12:50:56 AM
Have yet to see a scale I did not like!
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Stephen D. Richards on March 27, 2007, 07:58:38 AM
Ya never buy just one!  lol     Stephen
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Atlantic Central on March 27, 2007, 08:34:55 AM
Stephen,

Definately, steam locos in particular must be bought in pairs and diesels in set of three or more!

Sheldon
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: David(UK) on March 27, 2007, 10:36:08 AM
The cost of what you buy for your Railroad is inversely proportional to what your financial controller allows you.
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Stephen D. Richards on March 27, 2007, 01:10:52 PM
Sheldon, and I thought I was the only one!  lol    Stephen
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Atlantic Central on March 27, 2007, 02:18:41 PM
Model Railroading is on the list of things subject to More's Law

"If some is good, more is better, and too much is still not enough"

Stephen, in our local round robin group, "locos must be bought in pairs" is the standing "rule".

Sheldon
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: IandOFan71 on March 27, 2007, 04:55:03 PM
Always pick up that track nail that you just dropped, or you will find it later.......most likely in your foot.
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Matthew Ginkel on March 27, 2007, 06:30:23 PM
"Dragging a double deck autorack  behind your 10 wheeler will always raise a rivet counters blood pressure by 10 points."- Been there done that  ;D , although it was a 2-8-0 and double stack cars  :)


"Trains will run FLAWLESSLY until a visiter comes" , same goes for video camers  ;D


Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: LD303 on March 27, 2007, 07:41:52 PM
no matter how much time you spend on your layout....it never gets finished!!  as soon as you think youre finished,  you decide to rip something up and re-do it!!  lol   
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: lanny on March 28, 2007, 12:05:42 AM
Brad mentioned, among other things: "Kids will ALWAYS ask "How fast does it go?"

This is kind of the same thing.  My 'kids' (grand kids) 'spin' on that is to always ask one of two questions: "How fast CAN it go?" or "Is THAT all the faster it goes?"  (Thanks, slot car hobby! :-)

Regarding Jim B's comment about Kadee springs. I've found this personally to be something that 'always' happens to me. (I count on it with the same regularity that I can count on receiving our real estate tax forms twice a year.) Exactly ONE very important, tiny, detail part from the craftsman kit or kit bash project I am working on WILL always dissappear. Where these parts go I have not the slightest idea. Maybe into Cyberspace. It will happen. Especially if that particular part is an obviously visible part of the finished model (such as one of the 20+ grab irons that are needed, or one of the four car corner step/stirrups needed.

One other: At the end of any given 'work session', after I have turned off my special, flexible arm, modeling light that is attached to the area above my work space, and pushed it back, out of the way; when I stand up I will always hit my head on the sharp ended corner of that light.

lanny nicolet
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: SteamGene on March 28, 2007, 10:53:51 AM
Reference Kadee springs.  I THINK I learned this trick on the Bachmann board, but:
Thread a needle with a long thread.  Leave it with your Kadee couplers.  When you need to replace a spring, run the needle through the spring lengthwise, then pull so you have only one piece of thread going through the spring.  Then attach the spring and pull the thread completely out.  If the spring springs, the thread: (a) stops its flight (b) leads you right to it. 
If you are like me, ask your wife to thread the needle.
Gene
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: Stephen Warrington on March 28, 2007, 05:20:27 PM
You start to clean out your closet and find two complete TYCO train sets and you wonder how did you ever survive the hobby long enough to discover the true scale models, always keep to hobby knives handy because someone will always want to borrow the good one to open the tough tape on packages.

Stephen
Title: Re: Things I know about model railroading................
Post by: kevin2083 on March 28, 2007, 06:03:17 PM
I'll be sitting there working on something or soldering , then I set something down for just a second to do something else-without moving anything more than my hands-and that thing I just set down dissappears. I usually find it several days later or right after I make a part to replace it.

Another thing that happens is I can't get something out of my way because I don't need it, but when I do need it, it has hidden itself very well. Same thing when working on engines...

Athearn coupler pockets join the Kadee coupler springs in the forrest of no return (thick carpet floor). >:(