Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[xrunner]

Holy hell X, all that to keep you train set running ? 

Not far from it LOL. 

Just for New Years here's a couple of pics of the scene I'm working on now - a cooking oil refining business which is modeled after a real business that recycles used cooking oil and ships it via rail to be turned into biodiesel. The whole scene isn't done yet but here's a few shots of the progress.

[Housedad]

Awesome!   What gauge is that set?

[xrunner]

Awesome!   What gauge is that set?

N scale 1:160

Been working on this one for about 1.5 years.

[bd139]

Dang that’s some good shit that layout

Model trains nearly ruined me in the 80s-90s. 

Edit: got to be honest, model trains may have got me into electronics. That and old radios and TVs and pirates.

[mnementh]

Just a quick note to wish you all best fortune in the New Year and so y'all can rest assured that the ol' TinkerDwagon is still alive.

Caught a sinus infection on the way here, been pretty much a zombie-dwagon for days; today's the first I haven't woke up feeling like roadkill.

We're going out to do things now; I'll try and catch up on the way home.

Cheers,

mnem
Thank Ifni verticalness comes by the cupful.

[tggzzz]

Dang that’s some good shit that layout

Model trains nearly ruined me in the 80s-90s. 

Edit: got to be honest, model trains may have got me into electronics. That and old radios and TVs and pirates.

After going to the Didcot ham rally, pay a visit to the nearby Pendon museum in Long Wittenham. And weep.

[med6753]

Awesome!   What gauge is that set?

N scale 1:160

Been working on this one for about 1.5 years.

How about some pictures of the rest of the layout?

[Specmaster]

Dang that’s some good shit that layout

Model trains nearly ruined me in the 80s-90s. 

Edit: got to be honest, model trains may have got me into electronics. That and old radios and TVs and pirates.

After going to the Didcot ham rally, pay a visit to the nearby Pendon museum in Long Wittenham. And weep.

Looks very interesting....

[med6753]

Sorry, this one is much more interesting. Been there 3 times.

https://www.cmrm.org/

[xrunner]

How about some pictures of the rest of the layout?

Sure thing ... just took these two.

[Specmaster]

Sorry, this one is much more interesting. Been there 3 times.

https://www.cmrm.org/

You're right, no contest but that would be one hell of a detour on the return journey from Didcot ham fest ham rally 

[Specmaster]

How about some pictures of the rest of the layout?

Sure thing ... just took these two.

Nice layout 

[bitseeker]

Actually I'll post something now TEA related...sort of.

Christmas present from the lady. A Dremel tool. Never had one and I don't know how many times I could have used one. Now I have one. This one is battery operated and it's currently on charge. Speaking of the battery....I'm a little dismayed that it still uses Ni-cads rather than Lithium. So I have to deal with battery "memory" and typically short life span of Ni-cads. But I'll make due.

They are really handy, I purchased a clone version from Lidl and I don't know how many times it has saved the day, from cutting and grinding away metal to make things fit to polishing, cleaning and cutting plastics etc. Even over the holidays, while not officially allowed to engage in full on TEA activities, it proved useful in modifying a dimmer switch plate to allow a dimmer module fit onto a plate it was not designed for in order to preserve the single supplier / look for the electrics in my sons new flat. That's something that would not have been possible without the dremel 

Nice. I need one, too. Does the drill press like mount for it work well? Seems it'd be a good accessory, if it's stable.

[Housedad]

Somewhat TEA related. 

The wonderful woman that I adore gave me a  MSIG DP10013 differential probe for Christmas.   Very pleased to have this in the inventory.

[bitseeker]

Happy New Year TEA. Having a wild night in Woo Hoo I am so old....  11pm and I am off to bed

https://youtu.be/eSa9-BIM89U

Lol, I went to bed at 10pm, staying up to midnight is undesirable when you have young 2 kids who get up at 5:30am - just a recipe for exhaustion.

LOL! Yeah, what's with kids and 5:30am? Seems a very popular time to start the day for them.

[bitseeker]

Happy New Year to all you TEA peeps. May all your TEA dreams come true in 2019!!! 

That's quite a wall of TEA. Happy New (TEA) Year!

[bitseeker]

How about some pictures of the rest of the layout?

Sure thing ... just took these two.

Woah, that's quite a setup. Very cool, xrunner. Are the walls destined to become part of the scenery?

[Mr. Scram]

I lived. That's a good start of the year.

[xrunner]

Woah, that's quite a setup. Very cool, xrunner. Are the walls destined to become part of the scenery?

Thanks. Later on a long backdrop of probably trees will be printed out and attached all along the back, then the layout will be pushed against the back wall.

[med6753]

Actually I'll post something now TEA related...sort of.

Christmas present from the lady. A Dremel tool. Never had one and I don't know how many times I could have used one. Now I have one. This one is battery operated and it's currently on charge. Speaking of the battery....I'm a little dismayed that it still uses Ni-cads rather than Lithium. So I have to deal with battery "memory" and typically short life span of Ni-cads. But I'll make due.

They are really handy, I purchased a clone version from Lidl and I don't know how many times it has saved the day, from cutting and grinding away metal to make things fit to polishing, cleaning and cutting plastics etc. Even over the holidays, while not officially allowed to engage in full on TEA activities, it proved useful in modifying a dimmer switch plate to allow a dimmer module fit onto a plate it was not designed for in order to preserve the single supplier / look for the electrics in my sons new flat. That's something that would not have been possible without the dremel 

Nice. I need one, too. Does the drill press like mount for it work well? Seems it'd be a good accessory, if it's stable.

Don't know. I didn't come with that accessory. Maybe Specmaster can answer that question.

[med6753]

Sorry, this one is much more interesting. Been there 3 times.

You're right, no contest but that would be one hell of a detour on the return journey from Didcot ham fest ham rally 

It's only a 3600 mile round trip detour for me. 

[bitseeker]

Since we seem to be a diverse group of DIY folks, what do y'all use for automotive ramps (or do you just go with jack stands)? I'm wary of the plethora of wimpy metal and even wimpier plastic ramps that seem to be prevalent these days.

I was looking at the 56" model of Race Ramps as a possibility since the approach angle is low enough. But I haven't seen what they're like in person.

[med6753]

Woah, that's quite a setup. Very cool, xrunner. Are the walls destined to become part of the scenery?

Thanks. Later on a long backdrop of probably trees will be printed out and attached all along the back, then the layout will be pushed against the back wall.

Agreed, nice layout! 

[med6753]

Since we seem to be a diverse group of DIY folks, what do y'all use for automotive ramps (or do you just go with jack stands)? I'm wary of the plethora of wimpy metal and even wimpier plastic ramps that seem to be prevalent these days.

I was looking at the 56" model of Race Ramps as a possibility since the approach angle is low enough. But I haven't seen what they're like in person.

I have plastic Rhino ramps with 12K lb capacity and never had an issue with them. I've had vehicles as heavy as a Honda CR-V on them with no concerns for safety. They are strong.

Edit, found a pix. The wood in front was to get a Saturn started up the ramp because without it the front bumper hit the ramp.

[Mr. Scram]

I have plastic Rhino ramps with 12K lb capacity and never had an issue with them. I've had vehicles as heavy as a Honda CR-V on them with no concerns for safety. They are strong.

I just checked those out and even though I assume they would have been sued into oblivion by now if these things are actually dangerous, they do look thin and chancy as anything. I expected some very solid thick plastic, while they look and sound awfully insubstantial. Reason tells me it should be fine, but my monkey brain is sounding the alarm on this one.