eBay

crazyd37 · ‎07-19-2004

Just wondering if anyone else in our group is collecting the Microtrains State Cars and what they think of them. Dot

ginzokid · ‎07-29-2004

Lou, Why don't you at least type in the symbols even if you can't seem to get them to work. We will be able to tell what they are. :| Pete

nascarpetlover · ‎07-29-2004

Pete Everything my wife emails' me (a lot with over a hundred to choose from) has some kind of smiling face, around or on it. At this point I just kind of, sort of hate the little ba*****'s. If you know what I mean, so I am trying to boycott them as much as possible. That is the real reason I am trying to stay faceless and be proud of it. Lou remaining faceless (I hope)

untabubba · ‎07-30-2004

My brother and I e-mail constantly as our jobs both afford us the opportunity. We both have desk type jobs, although as a science teacher I actually spend the VAST majority of time on my feet. The computer is, however, "right there" so IF a moment presents itself I'll zip off a line. THE POINT?? About a year or so ago WE discovered emoticons 🙂 and it got SO bad 😮 that we banned them from future communications!! :_| So I can deaf-in-italy relate to what Lou's saying AND I must confess. I felt a little silly :8} when I first started using them HERE!! :p But then I figured, what the H*LL! ]:) So here I am using emoticons again! :^O It can actually become a very bizarre "art form" ?:| if you place them properly B-) Well, that's about it from emoticon central ;) Today's the first day of my summer vacation!! :D 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄

ginzokid · ‎07-30-2004

I have created a Monster!!!!! Untaigor :^O My sincere apologies to the group. Fearless Leader 😛

untabubba · ‎07-30-2004

Back to the thread! I just received my 3 MTL boxcars and they are GORGEOUS! What detail! You can view them by checking my fedback. They came from "modeltrainstuff". I got them at an average price of $10.30 each! Marc

ginzokid · ‎08-03-2004

Confessions of a limited State Car collector. The only other car I want is out this month; Arizona. That makes two I will have. NY and AZ. That's enough for me. Now the real confession. I will not collect them, but run them. Sacrilege!!!! Twenty lashes with a wet noodle from 40 paces out..... Pete, the runner

janesew · ‎08-03-2004

It seems that if you still have the original box, the price on ebay between NIB and previously run (which some improperly call MIB) are pretty darn close. Unless, of course, you plan on weathering them as well. Just wait 'til Micro-trains put out Provincial boxcars. Then you can get the Newfoundland one and weather the heck out of it to get out your frustrations! Fred

janesew · ‎08-03-2004

Dang, I did it again. Just to let you know I actually wrote "d a r n close". But because of the typeface (on my computer display at least) it looks like "d a m close". Sorry, don't mean to offend anyones dang sensibilities, galdernitt! Fred

crazyd37 · ‎08-03-2004

Pete, I think that they should be run too! We run most of our "collectibles." Why not, unless you are saving them for an investment. Even then, I've seen some used, but in mint condition, go for a rather steep price on ebay. The only cars we haven't run yet are these state cars and that is because we just haven't taken them out of the box yet! Been busy building these days. Still waiting for my tower, so I am doing another structure so I can try your ink/alcohol weathering technique! I may even try to paint a couple of little cars that I want to try to put together later today. I also just won a bunch of military pewter stuff for the military base I am putting together. I never worked with that either but I will have to now. (any suggestions?) 18 packs! If only I would win the lottery I wouldn't have to work and could spend more time! What a fantasy! Dot

ginzokid · ‎08-03-2004

Dot, Clean all the flash and mold joint lines with knives, files and sand paper until you have a finished piece. Wash all your metal items in dish soap, pewter too. Let it air dry or use a clean soft cloth, not paper towels. Do not handle the metal with your fingers again (oils) but use a cloth to move them round. Prime all metal with a cheap grey primer from a spray can. On the advice of Art Fahie of Bar Mills Models, I use Walmart's cheapest primer. (Warning! Use this stuff outside or with very strong ventilation! And wear a paint mask! This stuff is nasty smelling and the fumes stay around a while as do most primers.) Let the pieces dry 24 hours, then paint with your acrylics or whatever you will use. I also seal the paint with a coat of dullcote. Pete

ginzokid · ‎08-03-2004

PS: Here's a trick I use for painting small parts. I drill a hole in the bottom of the piece just big enough to accept a long straight pin or toothpick. Using white glue in the hole, insert the pin. Now you have a handle. Paint away and when finished, jab the other end of the pin into a block of styrofoam. The pin just pulls out when the painting is done. Pete

crazyd37 · ‎08-03-2004

Thank you again! I copied this info into my "little internet group of instructions book" that I have been saving all of this useful info that I receive here! Can't wait to try it! I even have some spray can primer. I think my tower kit may have come today. As soon as I finish my work, I will have to go down to the mail and get that box that is sitting there! If I go now, nothing else will get done (work related). It's driving me crazy...ier! Dot

trmwf · ‎08-03-2004

Dot, Pete covered just about all the tips I was going to add about painting the pewter. It is really important to wash them before doing anything else. Mike

trmwf · ‎08-03-2004

One more thing to mention for everybody on the subject of painting. Next time you are at the Dr.'s office and he turns his back, grab a few pair of those nice rubber gloves they use to, well never mind what they use them for. If nothing else they great for holding small things while spray painting to keep from painting your fingers. My wife is a nurse so I have an unlimited supply. Hey, help me come up with a fancy hobby type name for them and I could start selling them on ebay. How about "paint protectors"?