Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

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bnsf971 said:
I just experienced sticker shock--again.
I have a fair bit of N scale equipment, and there really isn't a good place to store the stuff when off the layout. I used to use Axian storage boxes to hold the equipment, in HO as well, when I had it.
I searched and found them still in business, and still selling the storage boxes. The price has increased from $21.95 to $31.95. A 50% or so price increase over the course of about 8 years. I guess that's inflation, so I put two in my shopping cart, and navigated to pay for them. Imagine my surprise when I found out shipping costs more than the boxes, making two cardboard boxes with foam inserts over $90, plus tax. I guess I'll be rethinking my storage situation.
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Shipping costs have gotten crazy! I just add the actual costs (I show the receipt with the tracking number to the client) but 12 pieces of rolling stock and 2 diesels shipping to the West cost from Wisconsin with insurance is $60.00. 4 years ago including insurance that would have been in the $32 range. Probably per my USPS delivery person by Summer 2025 the next USPS increase will be in the 25% range. If Elon gets his way, it will be lots more than that.

But, shipping cartons costs have increased even more. It’s a cycle we are not getting away from!
 
TLOC said:
Nope! I haven’t posted pictures of any of the houses since we had an incident after I first joined Facebook. I also rarely post pictures of our kids or grandchildren without permission because of that too. I promised my wife after that no house pictures. A couple winters ago I posted pictures of just the snow in the driveway and caught flax from the wife. I didn’t know the meta data or whatever it’s called can tell folks where the location of the picture was taken. Sorry Mike
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Yeah it’s a good policy. I avoid kids’ pics in public. I also think my photo export strips out most of the personal meta data. There are often times I want to post something but think better of it.

I do post occasional kids pics on FB to “friends only”. Not a lot and restricted. Because most of the reason for Facebook is boomer and gen-x to brag about their kids and grandkids.

I know I’ve been posting pics of the house build and I’m sure smart people could figure out where it’s at but I’m pretty sure the location meta data has been stripped out. Every time I’ve checked the photos have it stripped out. (Cross fingers).
 


bnsf971 said:
My new phone has the ability to remove or change date, time, and location data.
For future reference, in case you end up having to post something somewhere, you can block that data, or change it.
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I think the default for exporting from your Photos on Apple (Mac or iPhone or iPad) is to strip out any personal meta data. The only data I see when I inspect is the photo details like exposure, camera, aperature, etc.

Always worth a double check.
 
kbkchooch said:
IMHO rebuilt starters and alternators are crap.
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Without knowing the guy who did the rebuild I have to agree.

kbkchooch said:
I'd rather have OEM new
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If the box doesn't say "Genuine GM" I'm not buying. I can find GM parts below wholesale on Amazon, why buy anything else?

kbkchooch said:
Troy, Thanks for reminding me of the joy of not living under an HOA!
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No HOA in Dundalk. Karl, can you imagine a HOA in Dundalk? It makes me laugh just thinking about it!
 
Good morning! It's 19°F in Tipton.
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Bruette said:
Without knowing the guy who did the rebuild I have to agree.


If the box doesn't say "Genuine GM" I'm not buying. I can find GM parts below wholesale on Amazon, why buy anything else?


No HOA in Dundalk. Karl, can you imagine a HOA in Dundalk? It makes me laugh just thinking about it!
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Born at Johns Hopkins Bayview, back then it was called City Hospital in 1960. I've lived in Dundalk all my life.
Except back in the mid 80's I lived in Indiana for about 7 years. Every place and neighborhood I've lived in Dundalk never had a HOA.
If anyone dare, try to put together a HOA, I'm sure the neighborhood would probably kick them out.
 


Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those chasing Willie around the sun for another year of railroading.

It's Troy again.

not much new to report since last night. Been thinking on the N vs HO issue. No decisions yet, other than to wait at least until my eye exam on Jan 30.

Some ponderings on it, though. Here are some ruminations about is N-scale good enough to keep going with.

Scale... what changes?
Rolling stock and loco power: I'm not a detail freak, so it's more about being able to see to change trucks and couplers on the rolling stock. Weathering smaller is just slightly different approach from what I'm reading/seeing on vids. N-scale means you don't have to be as critical of fine details, but you do have to watch how you apply the mass effect. (TomO? Thoughts?)

People and animal figures: Definitely a loss of detail. With my 3D printing, I can print in more detail than the Chinese knock-off figures that Willie uses on his layout. Can I paint that fine detail? Doesn't matter. The three foot rule comes into play, just like on the gaming table. Does it look good from 3-feet away? That takes block colors, add a wash/filter, then highlight the details with a drybrush. Good enough for me on the gaming table. Will it be enough on the MRR?

Scenery and Scenes: This may be the deciding factor. If I take the current benchwork and half the scale (N to HO... is that half or double... fractions!!!!) HO will force me to go one continuous mainline run, and make doubling back, or splitting off into a second main line doing something different, more difficult. Plans on the N scale are for a double main that share trackage into and out of the future helix.

And, in a 30 inch deep benchwork scene, I can have those two mains service different towns based on elevation. I suspect that will go away, or will really compress the scenes where I try to run two mains through the scenery.


These thoughts make me lean toward keeping the N scale going.

Anyone who made the switch from N to HO (or bigger) - what were the factors that made you want to jump up in scales?
 
troyphoto said:
Anyone who made the switch from N to HO (or bigger) - what were the factors that made you want to jump up in scales?
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There were many of the products I wanted for my railroad available in Ho VS N

The biggest factor was wanting to go DCC, I had 40+ locomotives to buy decoders for. That would of been a huge expense. When I made the switch I could go DCC/sound right out of chute.
 
Morning all,

I'd love to say I'm at work, but since I'm in the neighboring county where the roads are closed, I can't drive in. So I'm working from home today, I think. I may have to drive in later.

We ended up with a couple inches of snow on top of a half inch of ice. Temps continued to fall overnight where we got to 2° (the current temp). We're going for sunny and a balmy 13° later.

BBL
 
Good Morning All. Partly cloudy and a very chilly 19° here this morning, wind chill of 6°. Wind is still around 16 mph, at least down from the 25 mph+ from yesterday. High today through Wednesday around 40° and snow still in the forecast for Thursday/Friday. While this is neither unusual nor unexpected, it is infrequent and takes us a while to get used to. Then it's gone and we're back in to the upper-50's by this weekend.

Nothing special happened yesterday, a typical but cold Sunday. Cowboys lost as expected to close out an ugly season according to my wife.

Today starts off with a return visit to the dentist to have my temporary crown replaced with the permanent one at 9:30. Then a return home to bring in more firewood. At least it's all dry. Later on, it's down with the Christmas tree.

Out in the train shed yesterday, it was a balmy 58°. I was able to do some structure and track cleaning, without a long-sleeved shirt on. Nothing worth posting about yet, and I'm pressed for time before the dental appointment, so no pictures today.

Troy - Can't help with the starter as I quit doing most car stuff years ago. I always went with OEM parts when I had a choice.
A radius of 34" is nice but impractical for most. Heck, even my most broad curves are between 31" and 32". The 30" pinch point is generous if you're a solo operator.
David - Have you resolved the tracks in the snow mystery yet???
Kurt - Not a good time to lose power.
Patrick - It seems to me that all car system failures occur when the weather is bad.
Terry - Ice is more likely than snow here most of the time. But it generally doesn't last too long.

Today is The Epiphany, or Three Kings Day to some. Everyone have a great Monday.
 


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