After work this evening, I installed a decoder into my Stewart FT A unit. Somehow during the process of taking the shell off and putting it back on (and the front coupler) I lost one of the small class light lenses.
Ugg [:(!]
My guess is the glue I originally used to install it dried up. So when I tipped it upside down or to its side the little lens escaped.
She still runs beautifully as ever with the new decoder, but it bugs me that one side is missing the class light lens.
I emailed Bowser/Stewart to see if they might have a spare part. Keeping fingers crossed.
I also looked in the box to see if there were any spares. Nope. I figured there would be. Especially in the B unit box. Unfortunately I didn’t find any.
Don’t you just hate it when you notice a small part is missing and apart from an eagle eyed miracle you know you are never going to find it [:'(]
I spend a lot of time on my hands and knees looking for dropped or fly-away parts, even though I thought that a mostly-white floor would aid in the search. [banghead]
In a previous work room (a former playroom for the kids) I had to contend with a shag carpet and generally considered anything dropped which was smaller than a freight car truck to be gone. [swg] One day I dropped a small part that I absolutely needed. To find it, I removed the crevasse tool from the hose of my shop vac, slipped a piece of pantyhose material over the open end of the hose, then re-installed the crevasse fitting. Not only did I recover the missing part, I found parts that I had forgotten dropping, almost enough to re-stock my spare parts department. [(-D] It did serve to remind me that I had been rather lax in my housekeeping duties, though, [:$] and I resolved to make this a weekly ritual. Surprisingly, very few of the found items were damaged, despite the presence of my rolling office chair. [:D]
Hey!!! That’s a good idea doctorwayne, I’ve spent way too much time on the floor with a flashlight sliding it across the floor looking for that lost part never to see it again.
I suspect that somewhere in my old basement there was a doorway to another dimension where things like that went.
You guys are not alone. Sometimes I think I spend more time looking for dropped parts than actual modeling. As to the idea of a doorway to another dimension, if the lost pieces don’t go there, I think the first manned mission to Saturn’s rings will find them there :^D
I hate losing parts as much as the next guy. I lost count on how many KD springs I have lost. I have also lost the tiny light lenses that I use when I install aftermarket ditch lights to my locos. Thank goodness there are spares included in the kits.
I am convinced that anyone could lose small parts in a phone booth or port-o-john wherever suits them.[:P][(-D]
That panty hose idea is great, but I live alone and I dont want to get a funny look from the cashier when I buy some[:$] I bought one of those flat, plastic thingys that keeps your office chair from tearing up your carpet, helps a little with the small parts too. Otherwise its put on the optivisor and get the flashlight!
The dimension of lost parts probably has modelers who loose big items. Kind of makes me feel better that I only lost a class light and not the loco [:P]
Pantyhose is a good idea. But I kind of remember doing this a while back and the vacuum sucked up the pantyhose [(-D]
Like the rest of you, I also have lost my share of parts - some not so small. My hobby desk is in a converted bedroom that has dark brown carpet and I put down a hard plastic floor mat for ease of chair movement.
If a part jumps out of my hand and hits the carpet, it immediately burrows into it. If it hits the hard plastic floor mat, it bounces several feet away to the nearest patch of carpet - and burrows into it.
There is a preventive practice that often works, but it can be a pain to remember. Put a towel on your lap or wear an apron and place the end by the desk into the top desk drawer and close it on it.
Also, I’ve used the panty hose in the vacuum “trick” a couple times and it does work!
I’ve had small parts jump into the carpet before I could grab them with the tweezers. I know they just didn’t want to be glued to anything. I have watched a part hit the floor directly under me and saw where it landed, but it disappeared right in front of my eyes. I know there is a complete kit in the carpet by now!
Another thing to note is that the part is still there somewhere. Some time ago I started putting a white cloth down before I start working. I also keep my work away from the bench edge. I got tired of spending time on my knees looking for lost parts. It still happens but the frequency has reduced significantly
You guys really do need to get out more often. [(-D] If I had to make a list of embarrassing things which I’ve done, this wouldn’t even make the top 1,000, and most of those wouldn’t even be allowed in this forum. [(-D]
Keep in mind that, unless you’re going to WallyWorld or the drugstore, pantyhose is usually sold in the lingerie department. Believe me, there’s plenty more to see there than just empty women’s clothing. [:-^][}:)]
Giant coil springs, large pieces of wire and super sized rail pieces keep crashing through the roof. Spock is attempting to contact the beings in the other dimension by putting non random glitches in their rail transportation systems but there has been no response. We will keep derailing their equipment until the bombardments cease. Meanwhile Scotty is using the giant parts to build himself a modular railroad and detailing his rolling stock.
To “Santa Fe all the Way” I say use your imagination, if you get a funny look simply tell them your girlfriend ruined her pantyhose getting out of your truck and she made you promise her that you’d get her a new pair! That’s the “G” rated version, I’ll leave the X rated version to you…
And to “Matt” all I can say there is, try a smaller vacuum cleaner, a “shop vac” is definetely overkill, try a small portable vacuum cleaner, they’re fairly inexpensive and are also very useful for cleaning the top of your workbench, floorboards on your car/truck, or whatever else you can think of…
You gotta admit though, it’s a heck of an idea and beats the crap out of crawling around on your knees for 20 minutes and still coming up empty handed.
I use a Hoover “Port-a-Power”, just the perfect size for what “doctorwayne” has suggested but there are many others as well.
Been there - done it - launched any number of small parts into the parallel universe that surrounds my house. But the thing that really drives me the brink of total insanity is to take off a coupler, small screw, washer, bolt - you name it - put it down on the work surface, and then can’t find it. And it makes no difference what or how big it is - parts will sprout legs and walk away on their own. I couple weeks ago I was assembling a large TV stand, and it took me twice as long because I spent time chasing fasteners that were trying to get away.
Surely you have a female relative, or a married buddy that can grab a pair of his wive’s pantyhose that have a run in them. If not, just grin and bear it. That’s one more advantage of being married. I don’t have to worry when I go to the store to buy makeup brushes that I use for weathering either.
I found it after I cleaned the ENTIRE trainroom…under my easy chair…
So I think the dimensional thing does occur…