Running Bear's July 2025 Coffee Shop

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Marlin39 said:
A question for you N scalers.

I have a 2'x3' and a 1'x3' diorama base. I'm thinking of toying with an N scale layout, for fun and frustration, but ideally more fun. I have seen a lot of layouts built with Kato Unitrack. Is it really that simple and DCC friendly to put down? I hated the dealing with the tiny rail connectors and fragile switches when I tried N about 10 years ago. I still remember getting rail joiners sliced into my fingers.
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I went to a train show years ago and one on the traveling layouts was using Unitrack. I asked about the track and the guy told me the layout was 12 years old and been assembled and dis-assembled hundreds of times and they never had trouble with the Unitrack. So I decided to buy a few pieces of track and give Unitrack a try. My layout is all Unitrack, 26 Unitrack turnouts and 1 crossover. I have not had a bit of trouble with any of it. I'm also using DCC and there really isn't much difference in the wiring.

PS The joiners are inside plastic, no sliced fingers.
 
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well, howdy there internet peeps and those wishing former POTUSs a happy birthday!

It's not the heat it's the humidity... no, its both!

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Just got back from gaming. Had a good game piloting the new Dwarves (technically, in this game they're the "Dweghom"). I played vs a gent I've played several times before. He normally trounces me. This time I was trailing by just a few points until we went into turn 7. He had one objective zone with one stand. I had one objective zone held by one stand, but mine was giving me more points. We each had one unit left to deal with.
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I had my Zappy the Dragon with his sorcerer mounted up. He had a unit that hit hard, but was facing the wrong way. It would be turn 10 until he could clash. He'd have to wipe out both the dragon and the single stand to stop me from getting points. And there was no way to do that by the end of turn 10 when the game officially ends.
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Unfortunately, my friend just got fired from his OTR Truck Driver job. Sounds like the big boss needed to make some numbers, and had a friend willing to drive that route for less. The route involves New York City, and according to current posted rate by the company, my friend was supposed to get a bonus for spending 6-7 hours in the city.

So, instead of getting their pallets unloaded by the driver, his old clients are now getting tailgate-only service from the contractor doing the route. Friend is filing for unemployment on Monday. Not sure if he's union or not. Forgot to ask.

Waiting on the wife to return so we can go get pizza.
 


Marlin39 said:
A question for you N scalers.

I have a 2'x3' and a 1'x3' diorama base. I'm thinking of toying with an N scale layout, for fun and frustration, but ideally more fun. I have seen a lot of layouts built with Kato Unitrack. Is it really that simple and DCC friendly to put down? I hated the dealing with the tiny rail connectors and fragile switches when I tried N about 10 years ago. I still remember getting rail joiners sliced into my fingers.
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After seeing how highly recommended Unitrack was, I used it on my layout [DC only] and am thrilled with it.
 
Texas Hobo said:
y layout is all Unitrack, 26 Unitrack turnouts and 1 crossover. I have not had a bit of trouble with any of it. I'm also using DCC and there really isn't much difference in the wiring
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The layout prior to this one was Uni-Track (HO) DCC. Worked fine, and was easy to maintain. Believe the next layout will use that
same (Code 83) Uni-track. The only flaw with Uni-track is the #4 switch. Too restricting. No problem, use all #6s.
 
Marlin39 said:
A question for you N scalers.

I have a 2'x3' and a 1'x3' diorama base. I'm thinking of toying with an N scale layout, for fun and frustration, but ideally more fun. I have seen a lot of layouts built with Kato Unitrack. Is it really that simple and DCC friendly to put down? I hated the dealing with the tiny rail connectors and fragile switches when I tried N about 10 years ago. I still remember getting rail joiners sliced into my fingers.
Click to expand...
Unitrack is easy to use and won’t beat you up or kill you or your fingers. That small of a layout you probably just have one power feed? And you can easily use the KATO power feed track.

I use power blocks (track divided into quadrants) and so solder a wire to the bottom of normal unitrack connectors. To do that you need to take them apart. No need on something your size I’d think?
 
Good evening. I's intermittently cloudy and 92.
My bank/credit union has decided I shouldn't be spending money at my LHS. I went to the LHS yesterday, and made a couple of purchases. The credit union waited until after close of business, then locked my card about the fraudulent charges until I call them tomorrow morning after 9 AM.
I'm sensing a theme with this credit union.
Buy gas--card locked.
Buy groceries--card locked
Shop at Walmart--card locked
Pay my phone bill--card locked.
 
NorthBrit said:
The picture is taken from my room window as I look out. The platform is only one carriage in length. The rest of the train is beyond or in front.
Another picture of it arriving.

View attachment 224828
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Ah. It’s a platform. When I first saw it this morning it looked like a straight line with something going on. I guess the platform end being covered in brown gravel or dirt made it look strange to my eye.

Thanks.
 
chadbag said:
Ah. It’s a platform. When I first saw it this morning it looked like a straight line with something going on. I guess the platform end being covered in brown gravel or dirt made it look strange to my eye.

Thanks.
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It was a great optical illusion, because I thought the same way you did.

Now that it was explained and I went back to take a second look it makes perfect sense.
 


Boris said:
The only flaw with Uni-track is the #4 switch. Too restricting. No problem, use all #6s.
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I have 4 #4 Unitrack turnouts. They are wired in pairs. One throw operates switches 1 and 2 and the other throw operates switches 3 and 4. Switches 1 and 2 have never been a problem in any direction. Switches 3 and 4 however, I believe are to close to a curve. Forward through those is fine, but backing through some of the cars don't like it, in particular the long passenger cars.
 
bnsf971 said:
Good evening. I's intermittently cloudy and 92.
My bank/credit union has decided I shouldn't be spending money at my LHS. I went to the LHS yesterday, and made a couple of purchases. The credit union waited until after close of business, then locked my card about the fraudulent charges until I call them tomorrow morning after 9 AM.
I'm sensing a theme with this credit union.
Buy gas--card locked.
Buy groceries--card locked
Shop at Walmart--card locked
Pay my phone bill--card locked.
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I had a card locked once, however turned out legit. Some tried to purchase $400 in cosmetics at Sephora in Ontario (the province).

That was my first credit card, I had the numbers memorized, had it from 1992 till 2024. Pretty secure for this day and age.
 
Texas Hobo said:
I have 4 #4 Unitrack turnouts. They are wired in pairs. One throw operates switches 1 and 2 and the other throw operates switches 3 and 4. Switches 1 and 2 have never been a problem in any direction. Switches 3 and 4 however, I believe are to close to a curve. Forward through those is fine, but backing through some of the cars don't like it, in particular the long passenger cars.
Click to expand...

I’ve heard that the H0 and N turnouts from KATO are different. At least in terms of their construction. I’ve heard that N #4 is the same as H0 #6 and vice versa. In terms of how they’re made. That’s what I’ve heard. I don’t know the truth of it.
 
troyphoto said:
Unfortunately, my friend just got fired from his OTR Truck Driver job. Sounds like the big boss needed to make some numbers, and had a friend willing to drive that route for less.
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I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

With the price of diesel back up again it puts a lot of pressure on these companies. The average loaded over the road rig gets between five to eight MPG. Most are in the six to seven MPG range. Empty or Bobtail could be as much as double. Drivers and aerodynamics can have a significant impact on MPG.

People always end up paying the price. Especially when you have short sighted "bean counters" making the decisions. And favoritism is always an issue as well.

I love the photos of the beasties as always.

migalyto said:
Louis- I seen this today on Facebook and instantly thought of you.

An idea for your next get-together.

View attachment 224855
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That is cool Mike! But I would leave the ketchup off.
 
Good morning, Everybody!

I had an enjoyable day with my wife and grandson yesterday. We had no fireworks, instead we played games like Masterpiece and Connect Four. We also watched baseball and some movies. I love these early Sunday baseball games on Roku TV!

My grandson drove us to and from Pizza Hut, to give the young man some real-world experience behind the wheel. He did great driving on the back roads, I695 and I95. It is only ten miles, but I sent him the long way to make it easy and to expose him to the Interstates. The Stuffed Crust Meat Lover's Pizza was excellent, even my wife liked it! My wife is not a fan of pizza. She ordered Chicken Alfredo but took that home as she ended up eating pizza with us. Giving me all the pepperoni 😁 the dining room was nearly empty. I hadn't eaten at that Pizza Hut in over forty years! I'm sad to report the Juke Box with Black Sabbath's Paranoid is long gone I was told.

I can't for the life of me remember what was on the B-side of the Paranoid 45. I never bought 45s. I was an Album Rock guy.

The Orioles swept the Braves in Atlanta. I saw firsthand why Atlanta's defense is considered one of the best. All three games were close, but the Orioles' pitching and hitting were a little bit better. The Birds flashed some serious leather as well. The Orioles were better in all phases in each of the three games, hence the sweep.

Look out now, my Birds are getting healthy again! "It aint over till it's over"

It's time to get ready for work.

Have an enjoyable day Everybody!
 


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