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ginzokid · ‎05-20-2005

Here is a link to Bar Mills Models on-line newspaper and information station. Art has 4 new on-line videos that you might find interesting. The first two are about Bar Mills Models itself. The next two are instructive videos. One on different types of glues and their use and the other on the new Bar Mills weathering powders. There are also pictures of some of the kits available. Enjoy. http://barmillsmodels.com/dailymoose_05A_05.html

dl85vette · ‎08-04-2009

Havn't posted anything I don't think, I'm having fun with my scooter. Had it for like 3 weeks now and have 250 km on it. I love my vehicles with V8 engines, but it is neat to zip out for fressh meat at grocerystore,pay bills, etc and burn a thimble's worth of fuel, and have fun doing it. I wouldn't have this much fun driving a Smart car or some other 4 banger import,etc.

ginzokid · ‎08-08-2009

Had a surprise visit from Kim's niece, husband and son with a friend of his too. The boys had a blast with the trains. I had three of them going at once and they were chasing them all over the layout. I ran a 2-8-0 with a passenger consist, the climax with the work train and the Galloping Goose all at the same time. They wer amazed that I could control them so easily and then I showed those little computer savy people the controller and they immediately understood. Such is the nature of the computer generation. It was a good afternoon. B-)

barrysfp45 · ‎08-08-2009

sounds like fun, a friend has been with us for two weeks and we did a bit of training while he was here, he has trains himself but not really into them quite like me, I rang the guys from the train club and although I haven't been there for about three years was told I was missed by most members, they have totally built a new layout with Zephyr DCC equipment, they say I might have to think about converting to DCC as well, next time I go I will check it all out and see, they say I can still run DC stuff so I will take a train or two when I do visit, maybe when I build my new layout DCC might be an option. ]:)

ginzokid · ‎08-09-2009

If you go DCC, I think you would like the NCE system. With a layout your size, go for the 5 Amp set up. I like the big screen readout and the feel of the hand controller. One of the train club guys here has Digitrax for his HO and is going to change over to NCE after he ran mine for a bit. But you have to be comfortable with whatever you get. Micro-Mark sometimes has the NCE on sale. And you know I can get it for you and ship it cheaper. Funny but I am planning on returning to DC for my new N scale layout. I am thinking of abandoning the HO tree layout. It's actually too heavy to move around. I'm getting older by the minute.....and weaker. B-)

barrysfp45 · ‎08-09-2009

I know DCC is interesting, I haven't used it but have watched it running, personally for my training, DC is extremely adequate and I really can't afford the expence of converting my fleet, I know I COULD sell some and recoupe some costs but I have worked hard to build the fleet and really want to keep it, if I was closer to a club and would get the advantage of running DCC more often I might consider it but for now I will leave well enough alone, if we do sell and move closer to our son I will join the club that is close there and it still runs DC only anyway. ]:)

dl85vette · ‎08-09-2009

Guess it depends on how many loco one has to decide on DCC. If one only runs a couple trains then DC is sufficient. IF you have a larger layout that could handle a couple operators, then DCC has the advantage of not worrying about block wiring/switching. (rememer a post looong time ago, I bought the MRC prodigy from Standard Hobby when they had it as the cheapest system out there so I could try DCC out without sinking 500 bucks into it. Digitrax is nice, but I don't like the zepher. By the time you're done you got a lot of money sunk into it, so Yea, if I ever upgraded I'd consider the NCE from Pet's experience. I do like the newer MRC Prodigy system too.

ginzokid · ‎08-09-2009

The $459 price for my NCE 5 Amp system was worth it for me. I can control up to 99 locos at once!!!! Wow!!! Wait a minute. I actually find that 4 is the max I want to run at one time. Even with the recall scroll button, 4 makes me nervous. Two is a better choice and gives me plenty of action on my layout. A larger layout may warrant the 99 loco feature.....with more operators. I have purchased a second throttle for guest use, so the next time I have a real railroader over I'll try it. Barry, you might try one loco with DCC for club use. That wouldn't be too costly. I know that I sold my N scale collection because I couldn't afford the conversion either and then went to the larger scale anyway. Micro-Mark has some great prices on DCC equipment at times. I'm buying another Shay from them. Walthers price $460. MM price $239. Sound and DCC equipped. My old one is on it's last legs. Early technology and lots of wear and tear. It will probably be a museum piece. B-)

dl85vette · ‎08-18-2009

I might have done the odd night but I don't think I did a string a midnight shift since leaving greenwood 4 years ago. I'm at a restaurant for 4 midnights overseeing contractors. Not exciting but last night went fine as far as me surviving those hours once again. So, you working 4PM to 12 or 12 to 8AM? I used to love the 3PM to 11PM "swing" shift when I worked at Bethlehen Steel in Lackawanna. The bars were still open at the end if the shift for a nightcap, Johnny Carson then I got a good night's sleep during normal hours, had breakfast and all day to get stuff done like doctors, shopping, car repairs etc. and then went to work. Perfect! B-) -- Edited by ginzokid at 08/19/2009 3:50 AM PDT

barrysfp45 · ‎08-19-2009

One of the things I absolutely hated about my time with the railway was the hours, in their infinite wisdom they declared that enginemen must have an eleven hour break between shifts, most of the road shifts were usually 16 - 20 hours on then this magic break of 11 hours then sign on again, often for another 16 hour run, your rail workers are supposed to sign off at 12 hours and I have seen videos where they do crew changes in the middle of nowhere, here we were back at the depot if working a local before we signed off. Shed work was a real joy, I often worked a 15 day fortnight, how that works is 8 hours on, 11 hours off then back on for 8 hours, and we often ended up with a day off as well, not bad 14 day fortnight 15 sign ons and a day at home, what an exciting life it was, and so many people asked why I went truck driving LOL ]:)

dl85vette · ‎08-19-2009

working 11pm - 7am. This am really sucked!!! tOOK ME 15 MINUTES JUST TO GET OUT OF tRANSCONA. Traffic so crappy that if you were in the wrong lane for turn off, you're screwed so needless to say I didn't get on some of the routes I wanted. 50 minutes to get home. (only took me 20 to get to work last night. Plus the weather last night was good so took the vette. this am...raining. Car is a mess. Tonight is High-Risk-Mutual-Fund night..aka lotto 649. hehhe.

ginzokid · ‎08-20-2009

Dave, I feel for you. Also worked that 11 to 7 shift at Bethlehem. My biological clock could never adjust. Fortunately the open hearth furnaces were usually fairly quiet at night, just cooking the steel, and didn't require much work. We played cards, listened to music and cooked great meals on the apron of the furnaces. Coke dust adds such a lovely flavor to steak and eggs. Some of these guys could really cook up a gourmet meal. We couldn't get away with that stuff on the other two shifts as the supers were on those. The graveyard shift only had one super for the whole plant and he slept most of the night in one of the offices. And I had no trouble getting home in the morning. All the traffic was going "in" while I was coming "out". I'm surprised you don't have the same effect. B-)

barrysfp45 · ‎08-20-2009

talk about open fire cooking, we used to take steak or chops with mushys and tomatoes on train runs in the steam days and at crib time we were usually sitting in a siding, so turn on the injector, give the shovel a steam blast and then rest the shovel in the firebox door and in a few minutes freshly cooked meal, was really good too from memory. ]:) -- Edited by barrysfp45 at 08/20/2009 5:06 AM PDT

dl85vette · ‎08-20-2009

i'm doing pretty good with the shift. I was so afraid of falling asleep but turns out I'm on my feet all night watching contractors work so it's not like i'm alone in the bldg sittig at a desk. worse part is I had to get up after only 3 hrs of sleep to call dealershop about my scooter so now really messed up. figured i'd tool around online for a bit nd hopefully will be tired to snozze some more hours.

dl85vette · ‎08-26-2009

ANother midnight over with. one more tonite. It's only 5:50AM so I don't want to go to bed just yet, otherwise I will be awake by noon. And then the shift will be hard and tiresome. I got called for 5 days work next monday so I'm guessing I might have a 4 day weekend starting this thursday morning so I should be able to get some much needed modelling done.