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 Posted - June 27 2014 : 4:27:14 PM
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Interesting story about this one. I was at a hobby shop yesterday getting some decals for my newly built hopper car kit when I saw this set.
It was marked $49 as you see on the price tag. The second I saw it, I knew I had to have it because I had been looking for a Mantua, Mantua/Tyco, or Tyco Dixie Belle 4-6-0 for a year or two now. When I first got it, it had a couple of issues. There was a massive amount of paint wear on one of the driving wheels and the funnel was broken off. Thankfully, both issues were easily fixed and it looked just fine afterwards. Anyway, enough about how it looks. The most important part is how it runs. When I first got it, it ran horribly until I added some oil shortly after I got home. (I don't have grease but I know what type I need and am pretty sure where to get it which I will at some point.) It ran beautifully beside stuttering just a tiny bit and the groaning noise all older model trains seem to have. Anyway, at the hobby shop, my parents told me over and over again that the set was a rip off and that I shouldn't get it. The thing is, they don't even know what Mantua is while I do which means I have a much better idea about the engine than they do. Ah, parents.  Anyway, most of the people who were running the hobby shop were complete jerks. They treated my mom and I like complete garbage and my mom was complaining afterwards about how bad the service was there and that she never wanted to go to a hobby shop with me ever. (My dad will though.) That right there is one gigantic reason why I think model railroading is dying. The clerks at hobby shops nowadays are complete jerks. So much so that it left a nasty feeling in me when I left. If I was a newcomer to the hobby and that engine was my first train, I would never come back to the hobby period. (Don't worry guys, I'll still be in the hobby but I'm sure you get my point.) Whoa, I went a little off topic there didn't I? Overall though, it's a good engine, I'm happy with it and that's all that matters.What do you guys think? Feel free to express how you feel about the set or what I said about the hobby shop. I don't mind.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 27 2014 8:27:38 PM
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 Posted - June 27 2014 : 6:45:49 PM
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They could afford to treat you two like garbage, you still brought the train. No way I am putting my hard earned money down for bad customer service, but your young and really dont understand.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 6:47:34 PM
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They could afford to treat you two like garbage, you still brought the train. No way I am putting my hard earned money down for bad customer service, but your young and really dont understand.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 6:48:55 PM
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quote:They could afford to treat you two like garbage, you still brought the train. No way I am putting my hard earned money down for bad customer service, but your young and really dont understand.
Originally posted by GG-1 Guy - June 27 2014 : 6:45:49 PM
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I'm making sure that the loco that I got is the last purchase I buy from them unless I can't find whatever I need anywhere else. I'm 14 years old. I'm learning little by little.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 9:26:50 PM
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It's a nice looking set. I think their 10 wheelers look best in that bumblebee scheme.
How were they jerks? Just generally rude and inattentive, or were they giving you a hard time about liking Mantua and Tyco?
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 10:06:38 PM
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quote:It's a nice looking set. I think their 10 wheelers look best in that bumblebee scheme.
How were they jerks? Just generally rude and inattentive, or were they giving you a hard time about liking Mantua and Tyco?
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â June 27 2014Â :Â 9:26:50 PM
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They were just rude. They didn't say anything about me liking Mantua stuff, they just acted like they were annoyed and for no reason too. They're like that every time I come in. Even when I first came to that place! Of course, I've never really said anything to them until I got that engine. Oh! By the way, what type of grease would you guys recommend for the loco this thread is about? I'm thinking about going to another hobby shop (Not the one where I complained about how rude the people working there were. ) this weekend to get some grease and some other model railroad supplies. Anyway, what would you guys recommend as grease for the engine? My guess is that it's La Belle 106 but I'm not 100% sure so I'm asking you guys for suggestions.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 27 2014 10:17:53 PM
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 10:50:13 PM
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quote:What type of grease would you guys recommend for the loco this thread is about? My guess is that it's La Belle 106 but I'm not 100% sure so I'm asking you guys for suggestions.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â June 27 2014Â :Â 10:06:38 PM
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I've been using La Belle 106 on Mantua locomotives for a few years, now, and it seems to work pretty well.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 11:08:55 PM
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| Hey Kovac, I think you got a pretty decent deal and you probably got a decent engine. You just have to mess with them and do what you can to get all the electrical connections clean (don't forget track problems). I have Mantua or Tyco/Mantua engines exclusively (four of the 4-6-0's as a matter of fact) and the number one thing I've found to help them run more smoothly is to replace the tender trucks with a good brass set; maybe the Mantua trucks aren't that good of a conductor? Then secondly, you could replace the magnets, but really you should be able to get it running pretty smoothly. They do take maintenance as well; like if you run it regularly. You keep messin' with it and you should expect it to pull a pretty good train (say 7 cars) at 40 to 50% throttle. You can probably get it to start fairly slow and stop fairly slow, but that seems a bit more fussy and may require the magnets. You know, most certainly you can get these to race around the track fast and smooth; the trick is to get them to run more slowly like they more often did. So . . . it's not a bad engine and the hobby shop people didn't care because you didn't spend much money and they probably don't know anything about it. Check out how much those sell for on eBay; you couldn't have done much better and then you don't know what you're getting there either. Go to www.hoseeker.net and find the instructions for this.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 11:12:47 PM
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| Kovac, what I wanted to get across is that you should be able to get it running decently WITHOUT doing the trucks and the magnets (but those changes will make a significant improvement). And it will probably be generally good model railroading experience for you to be able to make this thing run decently.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 11:30:08 PM
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I recommend getting a tube of Super Lube grease (which is available at Harbor Freight) for enclosed gearboxes, but for an open worm like this I recommend Labelle 106 as well, because it's thicker and doesn't sling as much.
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Posted - June 27 2014 : 11:46:29 PM
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quote:I recommend getting a tube of Super Lube grease (which is available at Harbor Freight) for enclosed gearboxes, but for an open worm like this I recommend Labelle 106 as well, because it's thicker and doesn't sling as much.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â June 27 2014Â :Â 11:30:08 PM
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It's an open gear loco. I can clearly see the worm gear when looking at the locomotive. And Barry, thank you for the recommendation, I may try what you just said if it doesn't run well enough after giving it some lube. Thanks to your help, I am now 100% sure what I'll use to lube that engine. I have decided that I will use La belle 106 which I will get at a hobby shop closer than the one I got the set at.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 27 2014 11:48:54 PM
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Posted - June 28 2014 : 12:41:42 AM
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The pickup between the trucks and tender frame is a weak point. It helps to polish the steel truck bolsters, and clean the kingpins on the tender frame. There's conductive lube available that can help conductivity. I've had good luck with that.
I've also hardwired them by soldering wires to the truck bolsters, then run the wires up into the tender through holes I drilled in the frame, then drilled a 3rd hole and connected them to the frame via a 2-56 screw.
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Posted - June 28 2014 : 3:55:25 PM
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quote:The pickup between the trucks and tender frame is a weak point.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â June 28 2014Â :Â 12:41:42 AM
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The Mantua Prairie had a brass washer with a wavy pattern stamped into it:
Here are some close-ups of the washer and how it is mounted:
It appears to be there to shim the tender up for proper coupler height, but it seems also to help out electrical contact between the truck and the frame. When the zinc frame sits directly on the truck (as with the slope back tender), the zinc eventually corrodes to a dark crust that conducts poorly. That seems not to happen to the brass washer, nor does it happen between the brass washer and the zinc frame.
I have yet to test it, but I suspect that a brass washer might help contact on those tenders that do not already have it. If the coupler height is already right, one could use thin brass and not put the wavy pattern in it.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - June 28 2014 : 4:43:49 PM
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quote:The pickup between the trucks and tender frame is a weak point. It helps to polish the steel truck bolsters, and clean the kingpins on the tender frame. There's conductive lube available that can help conductivity. I've had good luck with that.
I've also hardwired them by soldering wires to the truck bolsters, then run the wires up into the tender through holes I drilled in the frame, then drilled a 3rd hole and connected them to the frame via a 2-56 screw.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â June 28 2014Â :Â 12:41:42 AM
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That is kinda why I'm not the biggest fan of model trains that use the tender to get electricity from. You can't always rely on them to work properly. But hey, I've seen far worse locomotive mechanisms and design choices than this nonetheless.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - June 28 2014 : 5:36:11 PM
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I just greased the locomotive and all I can say about the performance is that it can't run much better than that. Except on slow speeds but that's probably just because it needs cleaning and the tender trucks need to be polished.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 29 2014 11:43:06 AM
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Posted - June 29 2014 : 02:01:24 AM
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Nothing wrong with tender pickup, as long as the electrical path is solid. For e.g., Rivarossi used wipers with a spring around the shouldered truck screw to insure contact at all times, newer models usually have leads soldered directly to the tender wipers. Leaving the trucks flopping loose like that can cause interruptions.
On my 4-8-0 tender I polished the steel truck bolsters with a steel wire Dremel brush, and no problems so far, tho it's rarely run.
Shaggy, I've seen those wavy brass washers on Mantua tenders, but to work properly they should be really thin springy phosphor bronze.
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Posted - June 29 2014 : 08:12:02 AM
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Stephen - customer service is almost an unknown quality these days. And that you experienced such bad service at a hobby store drives me up the wall.
Generally speaking, I would agree with GG-1: if they are complete jerks I wouldn't give them your business.
On the other hand, if the deal (like the one you found) works for you - take advantage of it. You might mention on your way out that you need to stop at (insert name of hobby store you like) to get some lube, etc. for it
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - June 29 2014 : 11:28:52 AM
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| You just have to keep messin' with it. Maybe none of us can give you a pat and dry answer for a solution. Take it apart, clean it, put it back together, do it again, check the track, do it again. You'll get it, and when you do it will be a real pleasure to see it run smoothly. And then, in a couple months, you'll probably have to do it again. It's railroading.
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Posted - June 29 2014 : 11:47:32 AM
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quote:Nothing wrong with tender pickup, as long as the electrical path is solid. For e.g., Rivarossi used wipers with a spring around the shouldered truck screw to insure contact at all times, newer models usually have leads soldered directly to the tender wipers. Leaving the trucks flopping loose like that can cause interruptions.
On my 4-8-0 tender I polished the steel truck bolsters with a steel wire Dremel brush, and no problems so far, tho it's rarely run.
Shaggy, I've seen those wavy brass washers on Mantua tenders, but to work properly they should be really thin springy phosphor bronze.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â June 29 2014Â :Â 02:01:24 AM
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I have one of those Rivarossi engines that use the same style connection as the Mantuas. It's a very good runner through and through. Plus, I'm thinking about taking the tender trucks off of the 4-6-0 Mantua this thread is about and taking a look at the trucks, how it gets an electrical connection and, well, cleaning it.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 29 2014 11:49:15 AM
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Posted - June 30 2014 : 10:18:15 AM
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| I've neglected to bring up the issue of "free rolling" chassis. Then there's also the issue of motor mounting. The Tyco-Mantua instructions suggest that for these "steamers" you need to make sure they will roll "freely" before mounting the motor (e.g., checking that no binding is occurring that will foil the free rolling before the motor is installed). Then, there is also the issue of mounting the motor just a hair "off" so that the gears are too tight and the engine wont run freely. Bottom-line is that there are an array of things that can "buggar" you up, but that ARE solvable.
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Posted - June 30 2014 : 11:38:35 AM
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quote:I've neglected to bring up the issue of "free rolling" chassis. Then there's also the issue of motor mounting. The Tyco-Mantua instructions suggest that for these "steamers" you need to make sure they will roll "freely" before mounting the motor (e.g., checking that no binding is occurring that will foil the free rolling before the motor is installed). Then, there is also the issue of mounting the motor just a hair "off" so that the gears are too tight and the engine wont run freely. Bottom-line is that there are an array of things that can "buggar" you up, but that ARE solvable.
Originally posted by Barry - June 30 2014 : 10:18:15 AM
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Thank you for the advice.Also, when I got the engine, it had never been out of the package ever since Mantua supposedly tested it at their factory in 1985. Heck, it still had the plastic wrapping around the whole pack to protect it.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - June 30 2014 : 11:28:16 PM
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| That's cool that it was all wrapped up yet kovac. Those locomotives alone without the cars seem to command the $49 dollars you paid for the set. I believe you will get that running fine and be very pleased with your purchase.
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Posted - July 01 2014 : 12:24:07 AM
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quote:That's cool that it was all wrapped up yet kovac. Those locomotives alone without the cars seem to command the $49 dollars you paid for the set. I believe you will get that running fine and be very pleased with your purchase.
Originally posted by Barry - June 30 2014 : 11:28:16 PM
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I did get it running nicely actually. I will open up the engine eventually to see if I can make it any better but for now it's okay. Oh, and thank you for the kind words. I think this thing will give me many years of good service as it is now.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on August 18 2014 10:24:23 PM
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Posted - August 18 2014 : 10:56:03 PM
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Glad you got the train you wanted, but it really surprises me that the customer service at that store is so bad. With the way hobby shops are closing down these days, you would think that they couldn't afford to be rude to customers. Personally I would never shop at a place like that again, but sometimes you don't have a lot of options.
Anyways, I'm glad you got the steam loco running again. It looks like a great model, and the paint scheme is very eye-catching.
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Posted - August 19 2014 : 12:10:58 AM
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quote:Glad you got the train you wanted, but it really surprises me that the customer service at that store is so bad. With the way hobby shops are closing down these days, you would think that they couldn't afford to be rude to customers. Personally I would never shop at a place like that again, but sometimes you don't have a lot of options.
Anyways, I'm glad you got the steam loco running again. It looks like a great model, and the paint scheme is very eye-catching.
Originally posted by ChessieRRÂ -Â August 18 2014Â :Â 10:56:03 PM
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Bingo! That is exactly what I was thinking about that situation. And yes, I don't have very many other options besides that place in Woodinville or the internet. But to be honest, why would the people at the hobby shop in Kirkland be so rude to me? It's not like I ever broke anything or almost broke something they had there. Heck, they were like that when I first went there a few years back. The only reason I kept coming back to that shop over the years was because it was, for a long time, the only model railroad shop in my area that sold a decent amount of model train stuff. The place in Woodinville opened up only a year or so ago and they apparently came from Bellevue. The service at the model railroad shop in Woodinville is a perfect example of how to handle customer service at a hobby shop. When a customer comes in, the store owner working on his layout in the center area gives them a warm greeting, asks what they might need, etc.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on August 19 2014 12:12:17 AM
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Posted - August 19 2014 : 08:23:06 AM
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Possibly your age is the reason the service was so crummy, these days, you don't expect much out of young teenagers ( sorry, Kovacste000 ! ) , many are rude, will handle inventory in a disrespectful manner, and just generally be a pain in the ass to the Hobby shop. While that's not a good thing to treat every young man that way when they enter the store, I'm sure it has an effect over time, it's a matter of numbers of how many people this age act in a store. All you can really do is put up with it, or, hit them head on with it, and ask them WHY they are being so apparently rude to you when you want to spend money there, unlike so many other guys your age who come in the store to just browse. You might surprise them with your question ( do it tactfully, though , not belligerently ). Gotta remember, a model train store is a business, and they dont' have much margin of profit, every damaged train or box or whatever that some careless kid causes, costs them money. They may have far more of that type of teenager coming in, than someone like you who will respect their wares. Just sayin' . Glad you got something you wanted, I think that was a fair price for it. Some hobby store owners are just curmudgeons, and hard to deal with ( seen and met a few here in Virginia in the past as well ), so it may just be something you have to put up with to deal with them. I'd be point blank with them, to try to get an answer, no reason you should have to put up with that. Again, you may surprise them , if you're cool and calm about it. It sometimes takes a bit of work to earn some respect, but once you've got it, the relationship with that store could be a dramatic shift , once they know you're not just a lookee-lookee layabout all about finger browsing. Give them a chance at least to explain why they did what they did.
Jerry
also works at a hobby shop P/T and is pleasant to customers....
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 19 2014 : 10:49:22 AM
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Jerry, you know what bothers me about what you said about my age, it's the fact that I've actually seen other kids that are around my age, maybe older from time to time and I don't see the people there treating them like garbage although I only saw those kids for a second. But I understand what you mean. I'll put up with it unless it gets to the point where I can't take it anymore. Then, I'll go head-on with them.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on August 19 2014 10:49:35 AM
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Posted - August 19 2014 : 7:26:08 PM
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quote:Jerry, you know what bothers me about what you said about my age, it's the fact that I've actually seen other kids that are around my age, maybe older from time to time and I don't see the people there treating them like garbage
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â August 19 2014Â :Â 10:49:22 AM
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Well, the other thing is, I guess , is appearances. Are you blue jeans and polo shirts, or pierced face and torn clothes? My wife's son had pierced holes in his ears, huge, and couldn't get a job at a mall Lego's store because of that. They wanted a more family-friendly appearance. Hate to say it, but the way you dress and body decorations also can cause people to judge you more harshly. Not saying it's fair, but people DO make judgement calls on people when they dress out of the ordinary. Lots of tats, excessive facial hardware, etc. just drive older people bonkers it seems. Might be fine for a record store gig, but not every business appreciates the artistic display some people put out there. I don't know your situation, or the stores, just putting a few ideas out there for why. It's all a guess anyway until you actually ASK them why they would treat you differently than others your age as you said. Good luck with your situation, and hopefully it'll improve with time. When you have few model train resources to visit, you have to take what you can get sometimes. My area has 3 local train stores, so I have a few options, many people don't.
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 19 2014 : 7:47:08 PM
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quote: quote:Jerry, you know what bothers me about what you said about my age, it's the fact that I've actually seen other kids that are around my age, maybe older from time to time and I don't see the people there treating them like garbage
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â August 19 2014Â :Â 10:49:22 AM
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Well, the other thing is, I guess , is appearances. Are you blue jeans and polo shirts, or pierced face and torn clothes? My wife's son had pierced holes in his ears, huge, and couldn't get a job at a mall Lego's store because of that. They wanted a more family-friendly appearance. Hate to say it, but the way you dress and body decorations also can cause people to judge you more harshly. Not saying it's fair, but people DO make judgement calls on people when they dress out of the ordinary. Lots of tats, excessive facial hardware, etc. just drive older people bonkers it seems. Might be fine for a record store gig, but not every business appreciates the artistic display some people put out there. I don't know your situation, or the stores, just putting a few ideas out there for why. It's all a guess anyway until you actually ASK them why they would treat you differently than others your age as you said. Good luck with your situation, and hopefully it'll improve with time. When you have few model train resources to visit, you have to take what you can get sometimes. My area has 3 local train stores, so I have a few options, many people don't.
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â August 19 2014Â :Â 7:26:08 PM
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Heck no. I would never pierce my face. Me, I have a more grown up hair style, I usually where normal T-Shirts, I where jeans that, if at all, have one tear in it. That's only one, maybe two jeans out of the rest I have. I where presentable, aka "family friendly" (As you said about Lego's dress code.) style stuff.But the thing is, that hobby shop in Kirkland (The ones that had the jerkish people working there.) is mainly a Lionel retailer although they have a pretty good selection of H0 and N scale stuff. The one in Woodinville that I like sells mainly H0 scale stuff although they have a decent amount N scale stuff too.The only other hobby shop that's somewhat close to my home that I know sells model train stuff is a hobby shop located in Everett and that's just a general hobby shop. Although they do have a decent amount of H0 and N scale stuff to help me out with and it's where I got my first model train set. But then there's the internet and train shows which I also use from time to time.Still, these hobby shops that can replace the hobby shop in Kirkland still doesn't make that situation right. They're only nice to the people that's been going to their shop for like 10 years or more and that is just so wrong on so many levels.For one thing, 50% or more of the people in this hobby are around ages 50 years or older which means a lot of them won't be around in 10-20-30 years from now so the people working there need to start treating newer customers (Aka "youngsters".) better than they did with me and possibly other people who haven't been into model railroading for too long or else their hobby shop may potentially close their doors in the next 10-20 years from now. I hate to say this, but if this sort of thing continues to grow worse and worse over time, I may not be in this hobby anymore in the next 10-20 years, period. That's if the service continues to get worse and/or spreads to other hobby shops with no others to replace them. But still, I'm sure you understand the point I'm trying to make here.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on August 19 2014 7:53:39 PM
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Posted - August 20 2014 : 08:21:47 AM
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quote:
1 - Heck no. I would never pierce my face. Me, I have a more grown up hair style
2 - But the thing is, that hobby shop in Kirkland (The ones that had the jerkish people working there.) is mainly a Lionel retailer although they have a pretty good selection of H0 and N scale stuff. The one in Woodinville that I like sells mainly H0 scale stuff although they have a decent amount N scale stuff too.
.3 - But still, I'm sure you understand the point I'm trying to make here.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â August 19 2014Â :Â 7:47:08 PM
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Well, seems like you're a mainstream lad for the most part, Stephen . But the 2nd item above, pretty much explains it all. My own boss is an O gauge snob, he even told me he considers everything else ( gauge/scale ) other than O to be "junk". And the O gauge club around here got kicked out of the Boy Scout layout display last year for constantly running their smoke units , even when asked not to. The school had to have the gym floor scrubbed it was so nasty afterwards. I guess the ol' fart attitude may explain it. But it seems that the O-gaugers are far more likely to be jerks than people enjoying other scales. Don't know why that is, maybe because they're all just old, angry white guys? LOL! Some of them, anyway. But my boss is actually a fairly young guy, compared to the old timer Lionel guys, and yet he has the same superior attitude that others seem to exhibit in that gauge. He grew up with O, his parents were both O gauge store owner/sellers, so he came by it honestly. Not everyone has the space ( or money ) to put into O gauge, it's nice ( especially the modern produced stuff with the fantastic detailing ), but I just dont' have the room nor the money to invest in O gauge. But I think that fact alone may suggest why your HO interest is disparaged. Like I said, all you can do is put up with it until it's unbearable, then move on.
I get your points, and agree with them. I always try to encourage young people who come into the shop, and courteous to the family. Everyone has different interests, and none should be turned away or put down because of my interests. I try to deal with each customer on what they want, their space/money limitations, etc. I don't try to steer them towards any particular gauge or scale, just let them decide what is best for themselves.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 20 2014 : 09:47:55 AM
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quote: quote:
1 - Heck no. I would never pierce my face. Me, I have a more grown up hair style
2 - But the thing is, that hobby shop in Kirkland (The ones that had the jerkish people working there.) is mainly a Lionel retailer although they have a pretty good selection of H0 and N scale stuff. The one in Woodinville that I like sells mainly H0 scale stuff although they have a decent amount N scale stuff too.
.3 - But still, I'm sure you understand the point I'm trying to make here.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â August 19 2014Â :Â 7:47:08 PM
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Well, seems like you're a mainstream lad for the most part, Stephen . But the 2nd item above, pretty much explains it all. My own boss is an O gauge snob, he even told me he considers everything else ( gauge/scale ) other than O to be "junk". And the O gauge club around here got kicked out of the Boy Scout layout display last year for constantly running their smoke units , even when asked not to. The school had to have the gym floor scrubbed it was so nasty afterwards. I guess the ol' fart attitude may explain it. But it seems that the O-gaugers are far more likely to be jerks than people enjoying other scales. Don't know why that is, maybe because they're all just old, angry white guys? LOL! Some of them, anyway. But my boss is actually a fairly young guy, compared to the old timer Lionel guys, and yet he has the same superior attitude that others seem to exhibit in that gauge. He grew up with O, his parents were both O gauge store owner/sellers, so he came by it honestly. Not everyone has the space ( or money ) to put into O gauge, it's nice ( especially the modern produced stuff with the fantastic detailing ), but I just dont' have the room nor the money to invest in O gauge. But I think that fact alone may suggest why your HO interest is disparaged. Like I said, all you can do is put up with it until it's unbearable, then move on.
I get your points, and agree with them. I always try to encourage young people who come into the shop, and courteous to the family. Everyone has different interests, and none should be turned away or put down because of my interests. I try to deal with each customer on what they want, their space/money limitations, etc. I don't try to steer them towards any particular gauge or scale, just let them decide what is best for themselves.
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â August 20 2014Â :Â 08:21:47 AM
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 I think I did read in an article or something somewhere not so long after I got the Mantua train pack that 0 gauge people tend to be more jerkish overall than people in H0 or N scale. Heck, it might've been somewhere on this forum!But I totally get your point.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - August 20 2014 : 4:58:35 PM
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Another possibility for bad service in a small store is just clannishness. There can be a good old boy's club formed around a store and outsiders are just not acknowledged. My dad went into a ski shop near here and the hardly gave him the time of day.
He's not a consummate ski bum, so he would not have been in the inner circle, but he does need some supplies or equipment now and then, and his money is the same color as everyone else's. I think, though, that the poorly socialized folks working in the store that day just didn't know how to talk to strangers. They probably would have been braver if their mommies had been around.
Carpe Manana!
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