|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 17, 2024 17:25:54 GMT -8
Managed to basically finish my model of Guilford 339 over the weekend. Need to touch up the fuel tank and install some finial details, but its good to have it off the project shelf! Also had time to prime this Atlas MP15DC. KV models sunshades, window blanks, and doors on the cab, along with Canon and Co detail parts for the fuel tank. Primed with Vajello Gray Surface Primer. Great job on the GP! What did you use to fill the holes with where the sunshades were?
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 8, 2024 3:32:01 GMT -8
Nice work! A lot of potential with that.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 7, 2024 15:36:47 GMT -8
Only the Athearn-clone drive has this issue. Helical drive engines don't. Which is odd as I never heard of Athearn engines having that issue
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 6, 2024 15:19:37 GMT -8
Mr Trainiac- Interesting story- you have very good reasons for doing things the way you do. I can’t help to think that most people don’t tho. Am I wrong?
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 6, 2024 15:11:59 GMT -8
I believe that issue has been corrected with the more recent Protos?
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 3, 2024 9:19:33 GMT -8
Best for the money? Atlas for experienced modelers and Athearn especially for beginners and even are still good to fix up for cheap too. And they run forever. Proto is good too but a little more $$ than Atlas. And all 3 are reliable, established names too. I know I’ll get my $$ worth and then some.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 1, 2024 13:11:18 GMT -8
Generic slides usually sit, but special interest topics? The market is alive and well. I have seen Milwaukee electric shots crack $400. And that’s what I don’t get. It’s the generic stuff that people don’t want to post on groups.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Apr 1, 2024 9:15:48 GMT -8
They do but a lot doesn’t, especially the more expensive ones, unless they’re that much of a gem which seems to be a lot less often than even several years ago. I bought around 80 slides from 2016-2018 and on rare occasions will buy one these days.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 31, 2024 9:28:21 GMT -8
A look on eBay (I see a lot) will show a lot of slides and especially prints don't sell quickly or for much money either. Except in rare cases, the more expensive slides are still up for bid months later. And I’m sure it’ll stay that way. Some kind of line needs to be drawn but I’m worried the most of the not sharing the knowledge or photo recorded history. Even seeing all of that of before my time has further captured my interest in the hobby as even my generation missed out on a lot because the world vastly changed by then.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 31, 2024 9:23:03 GMT -8
I agree. Taking it to your grave is pointless, but a lot of those folks are too stubborn for their own good. I guess when you think about it- how much money, aside from a manufacturer using it or such, are these pirates really making off selling photos? Probably not much at all. Most people don’t have or won’t spend that kind of money for the “prize photo/slide”. It’s the dishonesty of people I have a problem with not the money thing. Unfortunately, everywhere you go in life (including hobbies) you are always going to have the dishonest bunch. Just have to steer clear of them the best you can.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 31, 2024 7:32:14 GMT -8
Believe me I see the respect and money issue but my biggest concern is the inevitable permanent disposal of history. When that happens, we all lose. A lot of us weren’t able to get out during those times.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 31, 2024 7:23:34 GMT -8
Exactly! Growing up in the 80’s in southern NJ, I have seen plenty of slides and books about the pre Conrail years but very little since until the mid-2000’s when everyone was taking pics. How many folks took local pics around here and never saw a book yet alone the internet? That’s history gone for good! Before FB took off I was on a local yahoo group and actually reached out the the group owner, who I knew, and mentioned about posting a page of pics regarding local RR history from ‘76 thru that time and he told me he tried to do that. The biggest problem he encountered was most folks didn’t want to share their pics at all. How many are passed on and have collections that will never see the light of day? I didn’t get out taking pics until early 2000 so I missed out on that. Thankfully there’s one member on one of the FB groups that does graciously share his pics but not as sharp as the slide is because of the internet thieves as he saw some of his friends become victims. I honestly can’t blame him because those guys didn’t do it for the money that’s for sure.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 30, 2024 16:10:05 GMT -8
You know the saddest part of all this is if things were different all around- how many good and not so common pics were never seen by others because the photographer passed away and god knows what happened to the slides and such as most families don’t take that stuff as seriously as we and their departed loved ones do? If it wasn’t for the thieves out there, more would be shared. Take for example a long time railroad that no longer exists around where you live didn’t have many public pics or in books from a certain time period and the few taken were never seen because of how people are and all that went to waste after the photographer passed. It all boils down to respect. The internet and then photoshop has thrown gasoline on a raging fire in that respect. I see both sides of the issue and it shouldn’t have come down to this in todays world.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 30, 2024 7:41:35 GMT -8
Not to get OT but not only is thievery out of control on the internet, especially FB, but so is peoples behavior overall which is why a lot of us left groups or post a lot less useful info for others to know.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 30, 2024 7:21:59 GMT -8
Exactly patch job and I’m fine with people making copies for their own use and knowledge but there’s little respect out there anymore. THAT is what I was issue with, as do many others. And rightfully so.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 29, 2024 21:12:22 GMT -8
Personally I’ve never understood the fascination or why people will pay for slides. There wasn't digital cameras when I model, so I buy slides or I buy books with a bunch of pictures I don't need to find a few photos I would like to reference. Books tend to get expensive and heavy. For photos pre mid-2000’s when digital cameras took off, there is no better option. Slides can also be made into prints if needed and only slides get used to make books. Prints do not turn into good book photos and never did. I am a print guy myself and know that all too well. Not all of us only care about doing everything online hence why we like books and photo albums. When we had to learn how to use a camera properly -especially the more expensive ones, unlike the digital ones we all use that do everything for you for the most part.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 29, 2024 21:02:26 GMT -8
And there are plenty of folks today who also post pics but nowhere near as clear or looking as great as they should for all of us to enjoy because of the same reasons.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 29, 2024 21:00:35 GMT -8
I do not have a dog in this fight, nor do I want to get involved but..un-popular opinion time.. As an author, it is indeed a swift kick in the nuts, when you spend lots of money to write a book, article, website or whatever it may be, only to have somebody scan the book, etc. and share it online or worse yet, when you share a photo, and people start to copy it and sell it. This is a small hobby in the grand scheme of things, and nobody is getting rich off model railroad/prototype book sales. I have had it happen personally, and know plenty of guys that will not share anything online anymore because they were tired of things getting pirated. It goes beyond the simple sharing on forums, etc. when you see your photo now out there on ebay for sale or railpictures, with somebody else's watermark. Simple fact now is if you post it online, and do not want it shared without credit, you HAVE to watermark it, and to some people, that will only slow them down. If you can save a photo on the internet, you can save the photographers name in the file and credit it. Its not a lot to ask for when people are sharing things. Lots of guys put their heart and soul into this hobby and share hours and hours of research, collections and everything else for free. A little recognition goes a long way. When guys say to "buy the book", I get it, it does come off snarky, and lord knows guys can be absolute assholes about it (sorry to say, but especially some in the older crowd..). And of course, not everybody can own every book on every topic in this hobby. But remember, authors put hours and years into research for their pet projects. I put 8 years into my tugboat book project. I do not even want to think about how much time and money I have into it in research trips alone. We wont even talk about the issues of the slides and negatives I have bought over the years, and spent time tracking down photographers to credit said photos. I will never, ever see a return on it, I did it as a labor of love. So yeah, I of course would like to see guys buy my book, but I am also happy to share information I have researched, yet I am also not about to put up a scan of every page of it either. A group I am in, recently a member shared a photo. This photo was saved from an online archive, photoshopped, and watermarked as said members own photo (with his name only, not the original photographer), because he edited it. It blew my mind that somebody could do such a thing. This is no different then the threads we have had on here with sharing STL files for 3D printers. I am genuinely not trying to be a dick here, but please look at it from the other side also. Very well said and there has been cases of ripped off pics that got used for a manufacturer advertisement and a lawsuit was filed and won by the original photographer so yes, it can end up being a legal case. Even if there is no ill intent, please always tell the name of the photographer or say unknown if it’s not known. Unfortunately even the railfan and model railroad world has too many scam artists anymore that don’t care to ruin it for everyone else. Too many people in society don’t care about the golden rule anymore- these others the way you would want to be treated.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 29, 2024 20:45:56 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about all of that Nick. Moving 10 times is 8-9 times too many. Hope things get better soon regardless of the decal business. At least your priorities are right. The hobby will always be here.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 28, 2024 4:56:27 GMT -8
And I don’t like too many Atlas shells that are not one piece either. I prefer just one. You mean locomotive shells? Atlas' multi-piece is the best for those of us who paint our own. Yes. I paint my own too but prefer one piece. I can understand with multi color schemes it may be easier but it also makes the unit more fragile IMO.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 27, 2024 7:46:32 GMT -8
And I don’t like too many Atlas shells that are not one piece either. I prefer just one.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 27, 2024 7:36:21 GMT -8
I agree regarding Atlas not keeping up with ScaleTrains or Genesis level tooling or details. The last Atlas D&RGW GP40's I bought were from around 15 years ago and the plow was rather generic looking. There is anew run due out in the coming year but I'm not expecting any improvements to be made. Honestly, Atlas plows are god awful. Even Walthers did a much better job with them. This latest run of GP38’s finally has fairly accurate fans. Altas needs to step up even if it’s just a little more.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 24, 2024 9:06:11 GMT -8
What a GREAT job on the CF7!!
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 21, 2024 13:55:48 GMT -8
Class One railroading has become quite sterile. You have all of the major players fielding large fleets of GEs (C44-9W, AC4400CW, ES44AC/DC, ET44AC) with a token force of modern EMDs (SD70 variants and or rebuilds, and or SD70ACe/SD70M-2). Local and yard jobs are handled by GP38s, GP40s, SD40-2s, and SD60s, all in variously rebuilt forms. There are some oddballs like the dozen SD50s left on CSX, the SD40E fleet on NS, or BNSF's various rebuilt GP30s and GP35s and 4 axle Dash 8s, but that's about it. If you want any kind of real variety anymore, you need to check out a short line. As someone who railfanned a lot between 2000-2017, that first sentence is so true in the years since. So glad I got the pics I did when I did. I feel beyond sorry for the young fans today.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 16, 2024 14:42:09 GMT -8
Amazing the GEVO’s outdid the SD40-2’s and with a lot less class 1 railroads around today.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 12, 2024 4:58:41 GMT -8
Great work!
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 5, 2024 15:33:10 GMT -8
Scalecoat has officially announced this past Saturday on their FB page that they are back under new ownership in Florida. No date set yet for when they will be shipping and that more details will be coming soon. They also said to spread the word. They are in the process of setting up shop and production and to have some patience. Also of good news is the paint formula will not change at all.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 5, 2024 8:43:41 GMT -8
FB is working now
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 4, 2024 13:50:38 GMT -8
California?
No offense to the residents there but..........a possible "BUMMER!" I may be mistaken, but from my understanding "Cali" has the MOST stringent regulations / rules regarding paint refinishing chemicals in the USA. I know their regs apply to the use and disposal of said chemicals, but I'm wondering if they may also apply to the manufacturing of non-VOC compliant refinishing products as well? Waterbased and Waterborne refinishing products are the standard norm in that state. None taken. And I share your sentiment! When we lost access to MEK at Lowes and Home Depot several years ago, I was like, "What is going on?!" I had to go to Las Vegas to get two and a half gallons (my forever stash) which is more than enough for what I do, probably way more than enough, but at least I have it! We can't even get mineral spirits from Lowes or Home Depot locally! CARB is not our friend, as much as they would like to have us think... As for paint, I am over hobby brands. I buy whatever works. Tamiya, Scalecoat II, Testors Enamels (1/4oz bottles), Master's Touch Artist's Acrylics (Hobby Lobby brand), various craft acrylics, Krylon Fusion spray paints, it makes no difference to me anymore. I am NOT paying $9/oz for paint! That ain't happening!!! I agree 1000% about paint costs but it’s all about the shade of color I’m looking for especially since I use the rattle cans and fwiw, SC is the only one I’ve used that sprays like an air brush.
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Mar 4, 2024 7:06:44 GMT -8
California?
No offense to the residents there but..........a possible "BUMMER!" I may be mistaken, but from my understanding "Cali" has the MOST stringent regulations / rules regarding paint refinishing chemicals in the USA. I know their regs apply to the use and disposal of said chemicals, but I'm wondering if they may also apply to the manufacturing of non-VOC compliant refinishing products as well? Waterbased and Waterborne refinishing products are the standard norm in that state. It would be nice if they could make a acrylic SC2 spray can that’s still a gloss finish. Can definitely be done in this day and age.
|
|