Running Bear’s June 2025 Coffee Shop

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Status
Not open for further replies.
Marlin39 said:
The folly of my youth came back to hit me in the head yesterday. I grew up on the beaches of Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara and baby oil was considered sun screen. A little sunburn was considered normal.

Fast forward 40+ years and at my annual April dermatology appointment is was told to keep an eye on the top of my head. I had a couple of things that could become a problem. One of the those "things" continued to grow and last week it became painful. I went in yesterday and he said I did the right thing keeping an eye on it. He numbed it up, dug it out, cauterized, and sent it out for biopsy.

I've had 2 squamous cell carcinomas on the left side of my face. I guess all the driving in sunny CA exposing the left side helped. The first one was on the nose near the corner of the left eye. Eight 3-minute radiation treatments later it was gone. 6 weeks later I found another just in front of the left ear and that was cut out.

The dermatologist said wearing a hat now helps and is better than sunscreen, but the damage was done getting fried in my youth.

Keep an eye on the spots and bumps. Pink is not a good color. Non symmetrical is not a good shape. Fast growing and becoming painful are not good either.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the testimony,

Growing up on a farm and working outdoors most of my life, skin cancer is always a concern.

Fortunately, a hat and long sleeves were standard gear.

However, I remember a few Boy Scout canoe trips when I burned red, painful burns.

We have a family history of farmers, but luckily skin cancer seems to be rare.
 
Good morning folks, 83 here and sunny, supposed to hit 94 today. Gonna go take a look at a house my nephew might rent if he gets voted in as our new Pastor. Looks like it is a done deal, but you never know. Grocery shopping while out [gotta get chocolate milk for their kids], nice to be back in my own bed. I love tracking numbers on stuff, watching make strange trips around the country is always amusing.
On the subject of photographing kids, yeah, I hope parents are watching their kids anymore. I spent 13 years as a Field Parole Agent whose job was tracking Sex Offenders. Took over 100 back to prison for violating their Parole conditions, they are predators and will charm folks into letting them around their kids. ESPECIALLY those groomers who want to read to kids in libraries and in schools.
 
Marlin39 said:
The folly of my youth came back to hit me in the head yesterday. I grew up on the beaches of Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara and baby oil was considered sun screen. A little sunburn was considered normal.
Click to expand...
As a kid of the 70s and 80s, remember when it was a badge of honor to have a sunburn all summer.

We would run around all day with just shorts on swimming in the river and what not. No sunscreen involved.

I think most summers as a kid I was peeling all summer.

But your right, it is now concerning. Now if I go out back in the pool for even a half hour I spray on the SPF 50.
 


bnsf971 said:
I have a question for everybody that’s gotten old enough they are having trouble in a smaller scale of modeling. I’m thinking about divesting my N, and building a 2x7 ho switching layout. Because of where I live, that’s pretty much all the rom I have. I could probably stretch it to 30 inches, but it would require some careful measuring and construction.
Any ideas? Would a larger scale benefit, or am I just putting a bandaid on?
Click to expand...
Yup, probably putting a bandaid on. It is what it is. So far with me, HO is still see-able, sometimes with headset for the tiny stuff but running trains does not seem to bother me. I jumped from N years ago...

L8r
 
santafewillie said:
John - A few years ago, lazy FedEx drivers used to hand off some of our packages to USPS, but they seemed to have fixed their system and come here directly now. I don't recall anyone other than Amazon who delivers on Sunday here.
Click to expand...
That’s actually a service both UPS and FedEx Ground sell. It’s cheaper to the sender. UPS or FedEx Ground hauls it across country and then delivers it to USPS for last mile delivery.

With UPS I’ve had them deliver it anyway instead of handing it off if I’m getting a UPS delivery anyway or maybe if they’re already going to the neighbors house.
 
bnsf971 said:
I have N now, I was wondering how many years’ enjoyment I’d add by going up in size to HO. Or none at all…
Click to expand...
I struggled with this, and decided to stick with N since I'd already invested so much in it (compared to some of you, it's a drop in the hobby-money barrel).

BUT have you considered the extra fun you get by. building a new layout? That's the fun I anticipate once all of the track laying and wiring is done this winter... I love the scenery part.

The cons: You have to sell what you have.

The pros: you get to buy more stuff!
You get to build new stuff
You get hobby that isn't just running trains and switching decoders.

Find a FreeMo group in your area. You might be able to make your unit portable and connect up for some weekend running.
 
bnsf971 said:
I have N now, I was wondering how many years’ enjoyment I’d add by going up in size to HO. Or none at all…
Click to expand...
Now that is a different question. My younger granddaughter operates the diesels on my 00 layout.
Does she get more enjoyment being around 1-1 stuff? I would say 'Yes' as she has to be dragged away. 🤣

Would you get more enjoyment going up to HO? Only you could truly answer. Off course others will say they did.
Answer yourself, is N becoming a challenge? If so (and you still want a model railway) then step up to HO. If not (and you are happy) stay with N.
 
bnsf971 said:
I have a question for everybody that’s gotten old enough they are having trouble in a smaller scale of modeling. I’m thinking about divesting my N, and building a 2x7 ho switching layout. Because of where I live, that’s pretty much all the rom I have. I could probably stretch it to 30 inches, but it would require some careful measuring and construction.
Any ideas? Would a larger scale benefit, or am I just putting a bandaid on?
Click to expand...
Small HO switching layouts will work if you develop the correct concept and plan. Otherwise it's as frustrating as a N scale with continuous running. My layout is 2' wide, and runs around 58' long. It includes two end point staging areas, and perhaps 5, 6' switching areas. Yet, it's not satisfying because it is a single level and there is no provision for a continuous run, which prevents me from running passenger trains like this"

GG1 06_26_25.jpg
The area shown is about2'x7', and is staging and storage with two industries. As pictured, the eras clash, as everything is1968 - 1976, while the passenger train is 1948. The GG1 incidentally, is a BLI product offered prior to Mike Wolf's successful lawsuit against BLI.

If you built a 1½'x 7' or 8', switching layout using N scale components, you would have more flexibility, in my view.
 
Getting a late start. My cats are busy shredding some random packing material, and I'm out on the patio again; it's 92F and 52% humidity. I like this weather.

Yesterday ended up a day of interruptions. I did get things done, but... not as much as I wanted. Back to work on the camera project today. I have to build a bit of hardware for it, and I have it mostly laid out, just not soldered down yet. On the upside, I got the random research bits I needed finished; I don't think the software will be hard at all.

Knock on wood...

santafewillie said:
Insomniville - While I generally agree with you on customer service overall, I have always had very good responses from all of the model railroad related companies that I have dealt with. That includes Walther's, ScaleTrains, Bar Mills, Woodland Scenics and Blair Line...those are the ones that I recall.
Click to expand...
I haven't had to talk to any of the train folk yet, so I'll take your word for it -- and keep my fingers crossed. Poor customer service is a pet peeve of mine. :)

Have fun today, folks!
 


bnsf971 said:
I have a question for everybody that’s gotten old enough they are having trouble in a smaller scale of modeling. I’m thinking about divesting my N, and building a 2x7 ho switching layout. Because of where I live, that’s pretty much all the rom I have. I could probably stretch it to 30 inches, but it would require some careful measuring and construction.
Any ideas? Would a larger scale benefit, or am I just putting a bandaid on?
Click to expand...
I started out in HO because I just felt that N scale would be more difficult for my eyes and hands as I aged. And at the time that I started, N scale equipment and models were neither plentiful or reliable. In retrospect, I could probably survive with it even today at age 73. There are several successful N scalers on this forum right now who I believe are in my generation. Hughie and Dan (OleSmokey) come to mind first.
 
The refrigerator/Freezer is installed and the old one hauled away. Fantastic customer service!

They arrived at 3pm and were gone before 4pm. It was no simple task to bring this beast into my 1950s house! But the two Spanish guys were true professionals and very courteous as well. They made short work of removing my storm door and kitchen door to have the beast fit with millimeters to spare, with the doors off! Just as I had measured it. As the guy from the A-Team used to say "I love it when a plan comes together"

The surprising part for me was when I handed them each a $20 tip. They looked at me like I was green. Don't people give tips anymore? I even gave the guy at Walmart a $20 tip for installing my tires. I aways give tips to service people. Working for a W-2 is a racket for the taxman.
 
If you are wondering why I am still awake at this hour, I'll tell you. I took a long nap on the couch as my wife watched lifetime movies. I wanted to be sure I was coherent when the Refrigerator/Freezer arrived. Look out now, I'm wide awake!

migalyto said:
Captain Crunch was the best.
Click to expand...
You sound like my friend from Philly he still loves Captain Crunch! It's not bad...
migalyto said:
It made the tastiest milk!
Click to expand...
Milk needs no help, it's Greeeat as it is.
migalyto said:
We have the makings of the "great cereal debate of 2025"
Click to expand...
There is nothing to debate, Kelloggs is the best! ;)
 
Biopsy came back positive for another Squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Basically that means that the cancer cells were only in the epidermis and the Dr removed enough tissue that no further digging or removal of tissue is required. I dodged a bullet on that one.

If it grows fast, changes color, gets painful, or shows up quickly don't wait to see if it goes away.
 


Marlin39 said:
Biopsy came back positive for another Squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Basically that means that the cancer cells were only in the epidermis and the Dr removed enough tissue that no further digging or removal of tissue is required. I dodged a bullet on that one.

If it grows fast, changes color, gets painful, or shows up quickly don't wait to see if it goes away.
Click to expand...
My dad just had a couple similar spots removed, and is going in next week for a couple more. That stuff is no joke. :(

Glad you caught yours early!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top