tomstockton
Tom Stockton
Has anyone done a "how to" or a "tutorial" on how to handle newer model railroading's "finer scale" equipment?
I am now in my seventies, and I'm having serious trouble with my hands and delicacy. For years I've run "Athearn Blue Box" (and their cousins) equipment, with overall success; an occasional drop step or brake wheel broken off, but nothing I can't "handle. Brass tends to be forgiving of us sausage fingers types... as does the not-quite-to-scale stuff that I'm used to...
BUT... today's plastic models CAN be made with the fine scale of prototype equipment. And with that finer scale of detail, comes the problem of breaking things off, often (it seems) just by looking at them. I can't even get all my stuff out of the packaging without breaking something off!
Naturally, this comes at the cost of being considered a liability with derailments, etc., of fellow club members equipment. They've been polite and respectful -- and because it seems like I can so easily damage someone else's finer-scale models, I hesitate helping out in times of (operational) need. Which makes me a bit of a liability in derailments, clearing models off the layout before tear-down, etc.
Can someone give me some tips on how to pick up equipment without damaging it? The methods I've learned over the years just aren't good enough to help my fellow model railroaders, and I WANT to help, not be considered a hindrance to the club.
In advance, any good advice you can give me will be appreciated -- and not only by me, but by my fellow club members, who equipment I won't be breaking!
Regards,
Tom
"If I only had a train!"
I am now in my seventies, and I'm having serious trouble with my hands and delicacy. For years I've run "Athearn Blue Box" (and their cousins) equipment, with overall success; an occasional drop step or brake wheel broken off, but nothing I can't "handle. Brass tends to be forgiving of us sausage fingers types... as does the not-quite-to-scale stuff that I'm used to...
BUT... today's plastic models CAN be made with the fine scale of prototype equipment. And with that finer scale of detail, comes the problem of breaking things off, often (it seems) just by looking at them. I can't even get all my stuff out of the packaging without breaking something off!
Naturally, this comes at the cost of being considered a liability with derailments, etc., of fellow club members equipment. They've been polite and respectful -- and because it seems like I can so easily damage someone else's finer-scale models, I hesitate helping out in times of (operational) need. Which makes me a bit of a liability in derailments, clearing models off the layout before tear-down, etc.
Can someone give me some tips on how to pick up equipment without damaging it? The methods I've learned over the years just aren't good enough to help my fellow model railroaders, and I WANT to help, not be considered a hindrance to the club.
In advance, any good advice you can give me will be appreciated -- and not only by me, but by my fellow club members, who equipment I won't be breaking!
Regards,
Tom
"If I only had a train!"
