Running Bear's January 2026 Coffee Shop

[NorthBrit]

Good evening all. Happy New Year
Just chilling out in La Spezia (Italy) catching up a little.
Enjoying the Italian cuisine.
Visiting Coriano Ridge tomorrow.

 

[migalyto]

Good evening all. Happy New Year
Just chilling out in La Spezia (Italy) catching up a little.
Enjoying the Italian cuisine.
Visiting Coriano Ridge tomorrow.

David- Hello stranger!

Glad to see you check in. Was wondering how your world tour was going.

Safe travels on the rest of your journey!

 

[RetiredinIowa]

EBay defiantly has one of the biggest audiences, but there are the steep fees involved. along with the other pitfalls that come with it.

A train show might yield decent results but if you don't have much it may not be worth it to rent a table, set, up and bring back what doesnt
sell.

Facebook marketplace might be a place to list as well if you already are on that platform.

There is probably selling groups similar to HOswap.

@Marlin39 and @migalyto

Thanks for your responses!

I should have mentioned… I’m relatively experienced eBay seller… having sold 600+ items there in the last few years (I used to buy, sell and trade pocketknives)

So I’m used to the fee structure (around 13.5%) and understand how to deal with non-payers, returns, shipping etc.

I have buyers pay for shipping and I don’t generally promote my listings… so the selling fees are reasonable for me. Sale proceeds from eBay go right into a separate account I established at a local credit union… just for eBay xtions.

While there is a show coming up near me. I’m not sure I want to commit to a table ($40) and spend two days there.

So eBay it is… I was just curious (sometimes there are specific platforms for selling items)… e.g. GunBroker for firearms.

Jim

 

[migalyto]

@Marlin39 and @migalyto

Thanks for your responses!

I should have mentioned… I’m relatively experienced eBay seller… having sold 600+ items there in the last few years (I used to buy, sell and trade pocketknives)

So I’m used to the fee structure (around 13.5%) and understand how to deal with non-payers, returns, shipping etc.

I have buyers pay for shipping and I don’t generally promote my listings… so the selling fees are reasonable for me. Sale proceeds from eBay go right into a separate account I established at a local credit union… just for eBay xtions.

While there is a show coming up near me. I’m not sure I want to commit to a table ($40) and spend two days there.

So eBay it is… I was just curious (sometimes there are specific platforms for selling items)… e.g. GunBroker for firearms.

Jim

Yea, if your already that experienced with EBay then that is probably the way to go.

 

[2Tracks]

Hello and Happy Model Railroading for the New Year...........
I hope all are doing well!
I would be afraid to look and see the last time I posted on this forum. It looks as if the posts are still there, so I would have to see where I left off reporting on my layout and continue from there. I'm headed to town today, but I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a Great New Year!

 

[migalyto]

Hello and Happy Model Railroading for the New Year...........
I hope all are doing well!
I would be afraid to look and see the last time I posted on this forum. It looks as if the posts are still there, so I would have to see where I left off reporting on my layout and continue from there. I'm headed to town today, but I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a Great New Year!

Welcome back!

 

[troyphoto]

Welp... I was going to do book covers for LULU, but then remembered that audiobooks are a thing. Fortunately only 6 of the books needed updated covers.

I pay between $500 and $900 per book for a narrator (depends on length of the book). Unfortunately the only time I can get traction selling audio is by throwing advertising money at the audio side. Putting $$ into advertising on the ebook side doesn't really tick it up much.

So, I stopped after 5 books. I did book 6 in that series with Google Auto narration (AI). It's decent and free, but it's basically only two platforms that will accept it right now.

One of my other series I've done in AI audio. It's more work on my part, checking the voices. But only runs about $150 for the AI versions that are accepted about 2 more places than the ones from Google.

BUT, if I don't keep the covers current, then the Audiobooks won't sell at all.

So that was my morning. I have just the Google AI cover to redo, and upload to two places. then I'm going to move into hobby mode.

 

[Bruette]

faulty memories.

That would be me, I have CRS. My solution to not being able to find tools, redundancy, and more redundancy.

Louis,
Did you receive the results of the blood culture? Hopefully you're feeling a little better.

They did find anything, but some blood and urine was sent to Hopkins for further analysis. They suspect the antibiotics have suppressed any growth.

I am on the fourth day of seven days of the stronger antibiotic. I am sleeping better and not feeling as exhausted before going to bed. I think I am doing better.

Thank you for your concern.

 

[Bruette]

 

[kbkchooch]

Current Ebay fees, non paying bidders, returns, shipping, etc. are all the reasons I stopped using it to sell.

Ditto here!

 

[troyphoto]

Welllllp... found the Quality Review person from Hades.

Was submitting my audiobook covers to all the platforms, and two of them failed quality review.

Ok, the sales platforms all have different resolution/size requirements, probably drug the wrong one over.

Nope, still rejected. the other three went through ok.

OK, maybe this person needs a PNG instead of a JPG?

Nope...
Finally read the fine print...

Hmmm... go in looking for misspellings bad formatting?

Change the sizes of the text to make it bigger?

Nope... I think I figured it out, and someone is new on the job and being anal about it.

Look at the "Series Name" to the right, then find it on the cover.

The other three covers don't have "Mysteries" on the design either. But this person seems to have gotten two of my submissions and keep bouncing both.

There is NOT another platform anywhere that requires the series title to be fully spelled out. They may say it in the TOS... I had to go look hard to find the reference for this platform. Even Audible (owned by Amazon) lets this one skate as it.

I'm currently getting ignored by the QR person, and don't have a method to contact them. The emails come in from a DoNotReply email.

My plan is to ride it out to tomorrow. Then go in and change more than just the book cover. I'll update a few words in the description, and resubmit. If it still bounces, then I'll escalate.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Mikey - What are you going to with all of those figures now? The Mop & Glo sounds interesting, but I think that I will stick with the Dull Coat, since I hate shiny on the layout.

I am think I will have a downtown parade with spectators and marching groups. Should use 4 to 500 figures.

 

[DeaconKC]

Good afternoon folks, an absolutely gorgeous day here, hit 75 and sunny, so we took our drive. Got subs for lunch at Firehouse Subs, went to 3 different stores and got several things we were looking for, unfortunately the one store I was counting on for suspenders [braces to you folks in Europe] doesn't have them. But they did have fresh popcorn, so that almost made up for it. LadyC discovered a track cleaning boxcar that I almost threw out by accident, so that was good. Gonna go hit the train room in a bit.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

I went to tear down the layouts our club displayed at the children's museum during the Holiday season this morning.
I just had to share the tee shirt I got for Christmas from my daughter that I wore.

 

[kbkchooch]

The Mop & Glo sounds interesting, but I think that I will stick with the Dull Coat, since I hate shiny on the layout.

Willie I concur, Mop & Glo might make for repairing water features or showing a wet area like a car wash, but I like dull too, but there is a better alternative to Dullcoat. Krylon workable fixatif (their spelling) Originally it was intended to seal pencil and pastel drawings, has a very low gloss if any, and doesn't chalk out like dullcoat can because it contains no talc. IMHO the spray pattern is more even than the Dullcoat rattle cans. $8.28 at Wally World for a full size can, not those dinky Dullcoat cans.

 

[westtexjohn]

This part?

View attachment 253643

Send me the following dimensions and I'll print up a few of different tolerances. I can send via letter mail.
View attachment 253644

A - diameter of the mount. Doesn't seem to be too critical as long as it doesn't extend beyond the width of the motor.
B - diameter of the bearing. Measure on the motor.
C - width of the mount. Can be derived from the amount of space between the motor and the chassis. We just have to keep the motor from moving fwd and back.
D - thickness of the bearing. Can be derived from the thickness of the saddle and then added to the C value.
E - diameter of the saddle on the chassis.

I can print this out in two haves so that you wouldn't have to pull the gear off. This thing is just to make up space and keep the motor from moving around.

Let me know if you want me to do this. It definitely is no problem at all as I is retired and have all the time in the world. The drawing above only took me 5 minutes in sketchup.

The piece I need is on the other end of the motor. My motor has a flywheel on the end of the motor shaft with the drive gear.
I will take a couple of photos tomorrow. I had a doctor appointment today along with a few other stops and am getting some things done around the house for now, haven't been home long.
If you can 3-D print the piece I need, I have no problem in paying you for it. That will save a complete loco for me. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks a bunch....John

 

[Marlin39]

Willie I concur, Mop & Glo might make for repairing water features or showing a wet area like a car wash, but I like dull too, but there is a better alternative to Dullcoat. Krylon workable fixatif (their spelling) Originally it was intended to seal pencil and pastel drawings, has a very low gloss if any, and doesn't chalk out like dullcoat can because it contains no talc. IMHO the spray pattern is more even than the Dullcoat rattle cans. $8.28 at Wally World for a full size can, not those dinky Dullcoat cans.

Karl,
Is this a true clear flat finish or more of a matte finish?

 

[kbkchooch]

David, I would say a Matte finish. It will dull dawn a glossy item somewhat, not as much as Dullcoat but if the item already has a flat finish, it wont gloss it up. I like it on figures and other items that are painted with acrylics to "seal them" before a light wash with diluted India Ink to bring out the details.

 

[TLOC]

I think I know the answer to the following question (from.just looking around on the interweb) but would appreciate confirmation from the experienced gang here...

I preume Ebay is the best place to sell used model railroad items?

Since I'm currently starting from scratch In HO scale.... I'm going to sell my late 50's O scale 3-rail Lionel set (locomotive, rolling stock, lots of track, controller). Going to take pics this afternoon and will post a link to the listing (if that is permitted here... I need to check the forum rules first)

Thoughts welcome if there is a better way/place to sell than eBay

Thank you

Not to me. Ebay is an overpriced gathering of junk UNLESS you know what you are looking for, know what it costs and how much you are willing to spend.

Personally since I model in HO Scale most of my buying and mostly selling is on the Facebooks buy/sell groups. I’ve over the years had good success.

Some people go to [email protected]

I’m sure if you search for O scale sales groups some will pop up.

My biggest issue with EBAY besides people wanting gold prices for copper juNK are its fees. But it maybe a good price for you. It is the most visited buy/sell place online

Best to you

Edit, maybe 15 minutes later. I always start reading and replying were I left off. I later read your reply to a couple of the guys. Since u are an experienced EBay guy you know what you’re doing there, do your sales there.

 

[Kusojiji]

The piece I need is on the other end of the motor. My motor has a flywheel on the end of the motor shaft with the drive gear.
I will take a couple of photos tomorrow. I had a doctor appointment today along with a few other stops and am getting some things done around the house for now, haven't been home long.
If you can 3-D print the piece I need, I have no problem in paying you for it. That will save a complete loco for me. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks a bunch....John

Sounds good. I have a lot of filament and this is the kind of stuff I mainly use my 3d printer for. The only payment will be for you to open a bottle of your favorite adult beverage and drink it for me.