It has been so quiet I've decided to burden you with the story of why construction stopped on the Southern Pacific depot I was building.
In our last exciting adventure a piece of ash permanently stained the model's rear wall. So I started from scratch, redesigned the floor and sub-walls, and laser cut all the parts again. After about three weeks I had rebuilt the walls, doors, windows, and trim and the depot was at exactly the same stage its predecessor had reached: Ready for a roof.
Then my laser broke and set fire to the roof parts I was trying to cut. The problem was related to one I reported last year when the unit was under warranty. At that time the U.S. distributor's tech support team I contacted blamed the issue on me. When I asked for help this time they said the laser is now out of warranty and it will cost several hundred dollars to repair!
I spent a month arguing with them while trying to diagnose the cause of the problem. I finally gave up and contacted the manufacturer in Australia directly. The owner himself dealt with me and has sent some replacement parts at no charge and I'm working with his tech support guy. My wife enthusiastically has suggested I abandon the hobby along with the laser.
Well, I'm not yet ready for that so today I'll fiddle around inside the laser again and replace a circuit board. And that is why you have seen no posts from me about model construction.
Russ
Russ, Glad to read the owner of the laser company was upstanding with you. I wondered what you'd been up to as there hadn't been reports of sightings of bikini clad beauties lately.
I'm contemplating laying some salmon out back to get it smoked from all the smokey haze from the Canadian forest fires we been having around here (actually it's nowhere nearly as thick here as it's been in NYC). It all reminded me of your uncertain situation with the fires there a while back.
Hi Russ and Bill.
Russ you should have contacted me and I would have gone over and had words with the printer guy. But most likely it was made in Asia and the owner was trying his best We in Australia don't make anything we are a service economy and expect to get fat at the expense of others.
The members of this list have different speeds and interests but most importantly we are getting old and a few are losing their dexterity in their hands it is frustrating not only for the look of the site but also for members who have had a long interesting life in the miniature world. And yes there is the language barrier of getting a reply together using Translate
I value this site for not only being able to see the best modelling, and being a very active member but it is an alternative to Facebook or Instagram.
I hope to have a long association with the title and look forward to the future, so many possibilities.
Kim, I was so angry and frustrated with the U.S. distributor's arrogant approach to tech support I actually thought about contacting you about the laser. The manufacturer, Darkly Labs, is in Melbourne and it's possible they assemble their lasers there. The components no doubt come from Asia.
I have wondered whether maintaining this forum is actually anachronistic given the popularity and more contemporary nature of Facebook. I have no idea whether Instagram attracts many modelers; maybe somebody here knows. Either way, I'll keep the forum going as long as enough of us want to contribute. If a majority wanders off to Facebook or whatever, maybe I'll finally accede to my wife's preference and rethink my participation in model building.
Russ
Melbourne is a bit of a distance,but I am sorry that it has been a pain for you,sometimes it is just a lot easier to deal locally at least you can return it.
Yes Facebook and Instergram it would be a part of all creative personalities for better or worse personally I like Facebook you can blow up pictures and have multiple image posts.
The reality is that feedback and posting on the internet is about the only reward that you can expect so the more places you can post the better the prospect of recognition and developing your personality.
If whenever you need a chance please contact the members and we might be able to help you.
Hobbies are essential for a happy positive old age.
Cheers
Sorry change
The big advantage of your site Russ is that you don't get idiots trying to scam you or rubbing you up the wrong way.I am or have been a member of a lot of Facebook sites and most I have left,some I use heavily for reference on others like Instergram I get a stream of young girls wanting to be my best friend ,gee I must be a Chick magnet I don't think so.I really could dominate here with all the stuff I build but no I believe in respect and waiting my turn.
I can't stand Facebook. Never used Instagram and have no desire to. All of those so-called "social media" things are a blight on humanity and have done more harm than good, IMHO.
Based on cold analysis, I agree, Ray. -- Russ
Sorry to hear of your troubles Russ. I lived in Melbourne for probably 15 years total, and the chances of in person help are 50/50. Fingers crossed.
There was a place that sold screws in South Melbourne, every conceivable variety. When you went into this warehouse you had to know exactly what you were asking for, and then they would sell it to you. If you didn't know the right specific terminology it was like trying to make a DOS curser do something, anything. That's the kind of help I hope you don't get!
I have a local building firm and you can say I don't know what Im looking for but it screws into something and the answer is "if its one of these you are looking for we have metric and imperial sizes and can deliver this afternoon"
On the other hand the Big Guys say I don't know if its not on the shelf we ain't got it so go away !!!!!!
The TOYOTA sales person did not know how to open the boot (or do you call it a tailgate ! or something else)
Barney
Giving Max a Bath and he is not Happy !
Barney, the proper American word for "boot" is "trunk". Memorize it. There will be a test on Friday. If you fail you will have to give Max another bath or maybe he will give YOU one.
Narayan, the tech support guy in or near Melbourne is really pretty good; it's just that we're moving along at a glacial pace because we communicate by e-mail with a 17 hour time difference.
Russ
I do a lot of lurking on this forum. I find it fascinating with all the different scales and projects presented. Perhaps I should post a bit more. I see one of my model railroad friends is on here also, Bill Gill.
I have an opinion about Facebook. I'm on it also and follow some of the modeling groups just for the nuggets of information that are presented at times, but rarely post. My personal opinion of modelers going to Facebook, and I may have to go sit in the corner after this, is that they are too lazy to prepare their photos for upload to a forum. I personally have my own website that I link all my resized photos from. A majority of modelers also use cell phones to take pictures and just want to upload their pictures. I use a 35mm digital camera and Photo Scape X to size my photos to forum photo requirements.
So with that said I will no go sit in the corner.
Bernd
Actually, some of those Facebook hobbyists should stand in the corner and you should get an all expenses paid vacation to Tahiti with a dozen beautiful girls in thong bikinis, each eager to cater to your every whim. -- Russ
I could go back to Tahiti....
I my experience the quality of FB is inversely proportional to the size of the group. Small, focussed, groups work quite well and are easily controlled. Large groups rapidly descend to the lowest common denominator.
One big issue I have with FaceBook groups is finding a thread that had interesting items in it. No way to search on a specific item. Plus FaceBook seems to change how things work occasionally. I have found interesting items and saved them but have not posted much to any groups I follow.
One of the other reasons Russ I think things are slow is that there is a larger majority modeling in HO and N scale. The modeling industry has supported those scales more than others. Plus, today's modeler has a bigger choice of products for those scale, were as the larger scales as presented here on this forum, the modeler needs to build his item. Meaning it's easier to buy than make for most modelers. There are some excellent projects going on here that requires using machine tools. Something not every modeler has ever been exposed to. I've discovered that on other forums when I present something made on my lathe or CNC mill.
That's my rant for now. More to come. ???
Bernd
As things continue to change, maybe we should think of hobbies differently.
Our hobby is model design and construction, regardless of subject. This forum is for model builders because those who scratchbuild anything have more in common with one another than those for whom building consists of assembling a kit out of necessity. Many hobbyists fail to realize that because many people seem to stress differences more than similarities. They would have no interest in this forum.
Another hobby is operating a model, whether a train, plane, boat, or r/c vehicle. That hobby seems to overlap a little with the hobby of collecting things. Most of us don't spend much time operating models.
As time passes, I think the model building hobby may be very small but, overall, more healthy than hobbies relying on manufacturers. As society and economics continue to evolve (or degenerate), I also think far fewer people will build large model railroads.
Those changes already have begun. They are the main reason I decided to stop publishing.
Russ
Oooh, philosophy :-).
There's quite a few possible reasons why large scale model railroading may be on the decline.
For starters it takes a lot of space and much of the world never had the classic N.American basement, and I suspect it's increasingly rare in N.America.
I think the amount of 'details' you can build in a lifetime is fixed (but will vary from person to person). So you either spread those details over something large, or concentrate them on something small. While layouts may be getting smaller, they are also often getting more detailed.
Some years ago I visited San Diego and saw the model of Tehachapi loop there. It's huge, impressive and even so I don't know how much compression was applied. But viewing it is akin to flying over the country in a helicopter. Enjoyable, but remote. Smaller layouts are often far more immersive, and you feel like you are lineside. Personally, I prefer that. Pendon museum probably manages both expansive and immersive, but that is a large collaborative effort. Any urge I may have had for a large layout has faded, and these days I hanker for something more akin to an animated diorama. Rewanui will still be 5m or so long, but there is not a lot of railway involved.
Russ,
I've come to realize after several years now that not everybody enjoys the model railroad hobby the same. Some are kit builders and enjoy that aspect of the hobby, others enjoy operations, and still others pursue the prototype to a tee. I've come to the point of using machine tools in my hobby and animation.
Bernd
Lawrence,
A space for large N. American layouts is still possible. Basements are still pretty popular here in the Northeastern part, New York to be exact. It also depends on how close other modelers are to you. You'll usually find, if that's true, a larger layout than if there were no modelers in the close proximity.
I designed my own house and then had an architect do plans to build the house. It was ruffed in and when the windows, roof and gutters were done I did the finishing. Still working on the finishing 20 years later.
Bernd
Back to the original post by RUSS:
He has a machine that no longer does what it's supposed to do. He's experiencing that solving the problem isn't really easy when the manufacturer is almost on the other side of the world. Even if the manufacturer is helpful and their technician assists, there's no guarantee that things will progress. That's how I understood the situation. Here are my thoughts:
RUSS has no obligation to explain to us why there's a time delay in his projects. He will have his reasons. Period.
Running a small company is not easy. I can assess that, as we ourselves have 3-5 employees. A minor technical issue with a customer consumes our own innovative energy and disrupts time management completely. We approach it similarly to the NZ company, helping the customer without bureaucratic procedures and gaining feedback regarding our own quality (which is more valuable to us than a few transportation costs).
The dealer in other country lacks sufficient knowledge and often hides behind the warranty period. They haven't received/distributed enough information from the manufacturer internally. This creates an uncomfortable/uncertain feeling, and the end customer also senses this.
Conclusion so far: (1) Establishing a strong distribution network is nearly impossible for a small company.
(2) If the manufacturer has recognized this, they can embrace new technologies and take a digital approach. (3) Whether the customer is then bold enough to make a direct purchase from 15,000 km away remains to be proven.
Another conclusion: (1) I can understand the manufacturer. (2) I can understand the customer (RUSS). (3) Today, I finally delivered my firmware and can (hopefully at least for a few days) dive into my hobby (and this site).
What could be more beautiful?
Uwe P.
I guess I should report that I told the American distributor to jump in a lake and contacted the laser manufacturer in Australia directly. The owner has integrity, sent me some replacement parts, and asked his tech support guy to help me via e-mail. I wasted all of April debating with the American distributor and it took three weeks of e-mails in May to get my laser running properly again. I have resumed work, have cut roof panels and shingles, and hope to complete the project and shoot photos within a few more weeks.
At the time I bought my laser it was the only reasonable choice, both because of its (barely) acceptable price and especially because of its safety features. I am lucky the owner is honest and has some compassion for his customers. Although I continue to build models and realize many here raise that to an art form, I've long considered what I do a trivial pursuit and often question my sanity.
Russ
I thought the question on your sanity had been answered years ago .
Nick, go stand in the corner. Yet again. And this time, no peeking! -- Russ