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Lionel 115 station

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 28, 2022July 6, 2022

The Lionel 115 station is a popular centerpiece for pre-war tinplate layouts. While best suited for standard gauge trains, its design does lend itself to o gauge, and it was one of Lionel’s pre-war designs that went back into production during the post-war era. Its first run lasted from 1935 to 1942, with a revival from 1946 to 1949.

The Lionel 115 is the second largest station Lionel produced, second only to the 116 station, which has a similar appearance. Its design was inspired by New York city’s Grand Central station, but it used selective compression to give the impression of a big city station without taking the space that would be required of a true scale model.

Pros and cons of Compaqs as retro computers

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing April 27, 2022March 10, 2025

Compaqs get mixed reviews among retro computer enthusiasts. I had one in 1994 so I get it. They have quirks. But the news with Compaq isn’t all bad. So let’s look at the pros and cons of these machines, and why you may or may not want one.

Remove a sticker from a laptop

Dave Farquhar Hardware April 26, 2022April 23, 2022

Not everyone decorates their laptop with stickers. But what if you do, and you like those stickers and want to take them with you when you get a new laptop? Or what if you decide you don’t like one of those stickers and want to get rid of it without damaging the others? Or you want to get rid of the Intel or Windows stickers because you don’t want your laptop to look like a NASCAR racer. Here’s how to remove a sticker from a laptop.

Hart electric mower won’t start? Try this.

Dave Farquhar DIY April 25, 2022August 12, 2023

I’m seeing a lot of people complaining that their year-old Hart electric lawn mower won’t start anymore. I don’t think that’s a coincidence at all. If your Hart electric mower won’t start all of a sudden, here are some easy things to try. It’s frustrating, but not difficult to fix.

When your Hart electric mower won’t start, it’s usually one of three things. It’s often the battery, the handle not being fully extended or locked, or the discharge, all of which are fairly easy to fix.

Convert Marx 7-inch to 8 wheels

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 21, 2022August 31, 2023

There’s a lot less interest in Marx’s short-lived 7-inch line, than in their other lines, but they can be useful cars. For example, with the appropriate trucks under them, they can add some variety to Marx’s metal scale cars. While they’re not quite 1:64 scale in most cases, they’re close enough that they look fine with them. Here’s how to convert Marx 7-inch to 8 wheels.

Tandy 1000 vs Commodore 64

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing April 20, 2022October 19, 2022

In early 1984, IBM released its first home computer, the IBM PCjr. Commodore won that battle handily. But in late 1984, Tandy released its idea of a a PCjr-done-right, the Tandy 1000. When it comes to the Tandy 1000 vs Commodore 64, Commodore didn’t do as well. The Tandy 1000 eventually overtook the Commodore 64 to become the best-selling computer in the United States.

Samsung QVO vs EVO

Dave Farquhar Hardware April 18, 2022June 7, 2022

I saw a question come up the other day about two different Samsung drives. One of them is more expensive than the other, and that can certainly lead to questions, not to mention potential mistakes. So let’s talk about the difference between a Samsung QVO vs EVO.

What nickel silver track is

Dave Farquhar model railroading April 14, 2022March 13, 2022

If you are into model trains, you’ve probably seen the words nickel silver on the packaging for track, or you’ve seen track advertised as being made of nickel silver. But what is nickel silver, and is it a good thing or a bad thing?

What happened to Sega

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing April 13, 2022September 13, 2024

When I was in high school, the console to have was the Sega Genesis. While Nintendo thrived, Sega carved out a niche for itself catering to a more mature audience that had outgrown Mario. And for a few years, it worked really well, until it didn’t anymore. What happened to Sega? Why did Sega stop making consoles? Does Sega even still exist?

Sega hasn’t made a game console since 2001. After the commercial disappointment of the Sega Dreamcast, Sega tried, successfully, to reinvent itself as a software publisher.

What is solder made of?

Dave Farquhar DIY April 12, 2022April 3, 2022

Solder is a mixture of relatively low melting point metals, designed to melt at a lower temperature than metals like copper. This allows you to join components, providing a strong chemical bond that is electrically conductive. So what is solder made of? It’s made of a special mixture of metal. Frequently it also contains a core with chemical additives to make it easier to work with.

The precise formulation of both the solder alloy and the core varies depending on the application. But, generally speaking, solder is made of an alloy of low melting point metals.