Quote from: Terry Toenges on October 02, 2018, 12:40:19 PM
When I looked at that one, it reminded me of all the folks on here who complain about people trying to run big locos on tight curves and the overhang it creates.

And with that picture of the 1218, they'll never heed the accusation of "not prototypical" ever again.

Quote from: dutchbuilder on February 07, 2017, 05:36:53 AM
I use a rubber sanding block used for sued shoos.
Works fine.

Ton

I just gotta ask, dutchroadbuilder:

So, the sanding block used for wooden shoes is not recommended?

Sorry, couldn't help myself!

Go Speed Racer, go-oooo!!!

Quote from: jbrock27 on February 11, 2016, 12:13:03 PM
Thank you Len I appreciate your response and the information  Particularly as it concerns Windows 10 and computer gaming.

A PS-BTW, I've had no complaints about 8.1, but I consider myself flexible and adaptable .  

I only convey the gaming aspect, as it is the sole area that has Windows 10 weaknesses in my usage world, which is probably not that uncommon. Everything else, e-mail, spreadsheets, tax returns, writing, whatever - has no issues.

And I'm as flexible as a bronze casting, thank you.

Quote from: jbrock27 on February 11, 2016, 06:00:07 AM
How do you like Windows 10 compared to Windows 8?

Although I can't contribute much on the crossover matter, I can offer my thoughts on your Windows 10 vs. Windows 8 question, although for me it is inherently a Windows 7 vs. 8 vs. 10 question:

About 15 years ago, I heard a computer expert on his radio help call-in show characterize Windows Me (Millenium Edition) as "It's the worst. It's like a sharp stick in the eye." And he was right. I would say that Windows 8 is like a sharp stick up the...(ummm, well, I guess there are any number of places we wouldn't want a sharp stick up or in. Pick one that offends neither your mental imagery nor your sensibilities.)

I've been a Windows 7 guy, and my wife has purchased two Windows 8 laptops in the last 8 months, and I have detested them both. Hate the things. Don't WANT my Windows Desktop to behave like my mobile screen.

About 3 weeks ago, I bit on the free offer to upgrade my home desktop from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The installation took a couple of hours (using a standard hard drive), but it pretty much drove itself; I didn't have to ride the machine the entire time - I had coffee, breakfast, watched TV, talked with the family. When it was done, I could immediately see that the interface had less of the Windows 8 EVIL to it, and I could deal with it better. Even at that, I downloaded a program called "Classic Shell" that makes the Start Button menu and other areas work alot more like Windows 7. And I've been happy.

Windows 10 uses slightly less machine resources (memory, disk space, runs slightly faster, etc.) than windows 8 or 7. And, if you've done the upgrade and selected the right options, all your files remain, and you can roll back to Windows 8 or 7 if you choose.

Happy I was, except for my hardware. I realized it was time to upgrade the whole machine (I build my own), and now I have. I made it natively Windows 10. (Along with the Classic Shell program). A very fast solid state drive was part of the upgrade, and Windows 10 was on and running in only 20 minutes from intitial motherboard powerup.

My old computer had the occasional lockup (in only one program - iRacing) after the upgrade to Windows 10, whereas it didn't before. The clean installation on the new machine doesn't suffer the lockups.

In short for most folks, if you like Windows 7 and don't want an alien computing experience, skip 8 and migrate to 10, and consider downloading "Classic Shell". If you like Windows 8, you can move on to Windows 10 without culture shock issues. Windows 10 will be easier on system resources than 7 or 8. If you're on old hardware, a clean installation of Windows 10 is likely to perform better than the upgrade (The free upgrade offer from Microsoft does support both both the clean install and upgrade approaches).

If any among you are into computer programs (mainly games) where DirectX9, 10 and 11 implementation affect performance, look into those issues before moving on to Windows 10...it may be better for you to wait until programmers get caught up to DirectX 11.

If any of you out there build your own systems , be aware that more motherboards are coming out now lack "built in" driver support for installing Windows 7; you can get the necessary drivers from the manufacturers' websites, but it makes getting a new build up and running, an extended process.

Quote from: jbrock27 on January 05, 2016, 07:08:45 PM
I think you got your cats mixed up and mean TIGERS, as in Clemson Tigers!  The LIONS did not make the playoffs.

Maybe he didn't mean playoffs at all. Maybe he simply wants them to go...and as he said, not come back.

Quote from: jbrock27 on December 18, 2015, 02:46:32 PM
It's ok for you to dislike a team I like, no offense taken.  I find that STEELERS fans are alot like YANKEE fans, front runners...

Quote from: Mdaskalos on December 18, 2015, 02:40:11 PM
...the only thing people would remember about Shea Stadium was that the the Beatles played there.

Not so. The '69 METS, the '86 METS

The "butt fumble" never bothered me frankly, that could happen to anyone, just happened to happen to Sanchez who I have no beef with.  He was the QB in those 2 recent AFC Championship Games in Steel Town.  If in Jersey, maybe a different outcome(s)...

Oh, I don't dislike the jets. It's not like they're the Raiders or the Cowboys. Frontrunners??? Hey, I' ben'-a fan through  The Desert: Neil O'Donnell, Kordell Stewart, Mark Malone, Huey Richardson, Bubby Brister, Scott Campbell, Todd Blackledge, Cliff Stoudt, Tommy Maddox, Walter Abercrombie, Greg Hawthorne, etc.

But, back on topic; Sound, smoke, DCC, all have their place...it dpends upon usage and the target audience.

If the layout/loco are to impress small children, then sound and smoke take the cake. Hands down. If cleanup is an issue, scratch the smoke.

I went to a model railroad club open house back at thanksgiving. While I was there, one of the club members broke out the Winahhh and Undisputed Champion!!!: His one-day old Allegheny. From Somebody's Train House. Hadn't even broken it in at home yet. Put it on the rails, filled the smoke oil chamber, coupled it to a coal train and sent it on its maiden cruise... Authoritative articulated steam sound, better smoke than one might expect, and BAM!!! INSTANT STAR OF THE SHOW.

I built a layout and selected the train for my in-laws. I knew it was going to be under a desktop Christmas tree in the same room they watch TV in. So, a quiet operator - no sound, and being under the tree in a fashionable room - no smoke.

Sometimes DCC might even be the ideal control mode for small layouts. Have only one siding? You can control two trains, park one on a siding and switch 'em around without having to remove and replace, or set up power blocks.

What's best? Consider the audience and environment for the answer.

Now, now! If we're to compare ignominious plays/games, a complete rundown would damage our friendship...Errrr: Dan Marino's "Fake Spike", the "Butt Fumble"...need I say more? I'll take ignominious victory over ignominious defeat any day.

If it weren't for Namath's one championship season, the only thing people would remember about Shea Stadium was that the the Beatles played there.

Quote from: Mdaskalos on December 18, 2015, 02:12:53 PM

Quote from: jbrock27 on December 17, 2015, 08:15:23 PM
And oh, BTW,   J  -  E -  T -  S!   JETS!!   JETS!!   JETS!!

December swooners!! Might as well get ready - It's happening.

And (cueing up the cheesy trumpet, just like at Heinz Field): "Here we go, Steelers, Here we go!

*The last Steeler game I went to was actually at Three Rivers Stadium. One Charles Henry Noll was still the coach. They may have modernized their Steeler fight ditty since then. They were in fact trying to introduce a heavy metal fight song at the time; all of the Steeler fans in their right mind hated it and lit up the lines on the post game call-in show. You would have thought "Rock The House" was the name of a guy who threw six interceptions for the Steelers. Even Myron Cope threw some rocks at the idea.

And no, Brock, I'm referring to the long, sad history of the Jets, a fate unbroken since Namath played.

Quote from: jbrock27 on December 17, 2015, 08:15:23 PM
And oh, BTW,   J  -  E -  T -  S!   JETS!!   JETS!!   JETS!!

December swooners!! Might as well get ready - It's happening.

And (cueing up the cheesy trumpet, just like at Heinz Field): "Here we go, Steelers, Here we go!

Quote from: Trainman203 on November 30, 2015, 06:44:01 PMPF says:  We have a restored operational T&NO 2-8-2 right here in town, I can hear its 6 chime from my house.  I don't see everyone falling all over each other to offer a model of it.

Yesssss, but is the T&NO 2-8-2 a national railroading icon, with interest spanning into the general public?

One (speaking in terms of interest) would be akin to a Beatles reunion, the other, akin to Jake & Elwood putting the band back together.

Manuel

Wayne,

I gotta tell you, the water in that last picture in the series of them, of the train crossing the river, is probably the most impressive water I've seen in a model railroad. The rippling on the surface is great in and of itself, but the clear/muddy transition is a tremendous touch of authenticity for me: In my hometown, where the Elk River runs into the Kanawha River, it looks just like that, with the Elk continuously dumping its murk into the Kanawha.

Manuel

Quote from: electrical whiz kid on October 11, 2015, 08:54:13 PM
M. Daskalos:  Yep-that is the one; right in Stockton (Searsport) Maine.  Have you ever been to that shop?  My God; what a place to see!!!  And you will never meet nicer people.

Rich C. 

Haven't been. Hadn't thought about it until I revisited their website last week, saw they offered some ship modeling classes. (by skillset and disposition I'm a better ship modeler than I am a model railroader). Looked up the place on Google Earth and saw it is in a pretty nice setting. It might be worth my while sometime to go on a combined vacation/class/boondoggle.

Manuel

Quote from: electrical whiz kid on October 05, 2015, 01:08:26 PM
Jonathan;
You can get 50LPI from (I believe)Micro-Mark and "Bluejacket Models".
Hope you have good eyes, my boy.

Rich C.

Would that be "Bluejacket Shipcrafters" (bluejacketinc.com) of Searsport, Maine?

I would have to think this is by design, and would be related to polarity. If you rotate the turntable 180° with turntable track power maintained, then you have opposite poles connect, kind of like you've made a reverse loop short "on the fly".

And depending on how many tracks the turntable serves, and their polarity, you could make a short at far less rotation than 180°

So, I would think that for this reason, that turntable tracks would of necessity be powered by the tracks with which they are presently aligned, and not be wired for power directly.