The Silicon Underground

How to disassemble a Lionel 1110 or similar Scout locomotive

by Dave Farquhar
June 23, 2022April 17, 2022

Disassembling a Lionel 1110 or similar Scout 2-4-2 or 4-2-2 locomotive isn’t too difficult. The biggest problem is knowing where the three screws are that you have to remove.

These particular locomotives weren’t really designed to be repaired, but there’s some basic work you can do on them with household tools. You can also replace dead motors with motors from certain other locomotives to get these trains running again if they have sentimental value to you. My 1110, which was my Dad’s first train, falls into that category for me, so I understand.

Can you use Windows 95 in 2022?

by Dave Farquhar
June 22, 2022April 16, 2022
1 Comment

When troubleshooting a Windows 95 build, I came across an interesting question: can you use Windows 95 in 2022? And a related question: is Windows 95 safe to use? As a retro computer enthusiast and a computer security professional, and one who specializes in software life cycle management at that, I take a special interest in questions like this.

Lead acid vs lithium batteries

by Dave Farquhar
June 21, 2022June 11, 2022

When you’re comparing electric lawn mowers, you may find two comparable mowers at widely different price points. The reason for that, if you read the fine print, is frequently the battery type. The cheaper ones use lead acid batteries and the more expensive ones use lithium. So what’s the difference? Let’s compare lead acid vs lithium batteries.

Is a smartphone worth fixing?

by Dave Farquhar
June 20, 2022May 21, 2022

My wife took a broken smartphone in for repair this week and the person at the repair store tried to talk her out of getting it fixed. That raises some interesting questions. Is a smartphone worth fixing? And why would a repair shop suggest a phone wasn’t worth fixing?

Best postwar Lionel transformer

by Dave Farquhar
June 16, 2022April 10, 2022
1 Comment

What’s the best postwar Lionel transformer? Arguably there might be two contenders. But the Lionel KW and ZW definitely stand above the rest. Here are their advantages and disadvantages.

Arguably the best Lionel postwar transformer is the one you have. But if you’re looking for an upgrade, there are two worth considering above all the others: the Lionel KW and ZW.

Dell E1912HF and the Amiga

by Dave Farquhar
June 15, 2022June 11, 2022
1 Comment

Amiga monitors have never been especially easy to find, but as time moves on, they get even harder. In a pinch you can use a television, but that has some drawbacks. Fortunately there are some other modern alternatives. The Dell E1912HF is a good example, though not the only one.

Why Dale Murphy isn’t in the Hall of Fame

by Dave Farquhar
June 14, 2022June 17, 2022

Dale Murphy was one of the biggest stars of the early to mid-1980s. He was always among league leaders in home runs and was always playing centerfield in the all-star game. So why isn’t Dale Murphy in the Hall of Fame?

What a Torx screwdriver is used for

by Dave Farquhar
June 13, 2022June 11, 2022

Torx screws are a modern screw bit with a six-sided star-shaped opening in the screw head. People will use a Torx screwdriver or screw in situations where they don’t want screws falling off the tip of the screwdriver, they don’t want to strip the head accidentally, or where they want to limit who can remove them. Torx is a trademark, so you also hear people refer to them generically as star drivers.

What does silicone mean when wiring trains?

by Dave Farquhar
June 9, 2022May 18, 2022

Hobby shops sell silicone wiring with high strand counts for wiring train layouts. But what is silicone wiring? What does it mean? And what is special about it and do you need it?

3Com 3c509 in an 8088-based PC/XT

by Dave Farquhar
June 8, 2022June 7, 2022

Officially, the old reliable–and super common–3Com 3c509 Ethernet card requires a 286 or better processor. Unofficially, you can get one to work in an 8088-or 8086-based based XT-class system. Here’s how.