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Something that shouldn’t be there

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing, Saving money, security, Toy trains July 7, 2013April 15, 2017amiga, cardinals, computer security, garage sale, garage sales, marx, OPSEC

I was standing in line to get a number for an estate sale this weekend–they’re what I do–and found myself standing a couple of people behind someone who talks too much.

I think some people talk because they want affirmation, and telling tales of what they’ve found is the way they get it. I’m very careful what I talk about, because I frequently see new people who look for exactly the same thing I look for, and if I just give away the knowledge I’ve spent years learning, it literally costs me money. But that’s not how a lot of people think, so if you keep your ears open, you can hear some good information.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.

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“It’s your happy place.”

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains May 15, 2013January 12, 20211940s, atmosphere, marx, tin, toy train, train layout, wyandotte

Someone told me today that she didn’t quite get the appeal of model railroading, that it must be a male thing. And that’s fair: Model railroads were first invented by a dollhouse maker so they would have something to market to boys. That company still markets trains, but no longer markets dollhouses, so I guess you could say it was successful.

Here’s how I summed up the appeal.

Dave Farquhar

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Collecting parameters

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing, Toy trains April 12, 2013November 21, 2018american flyer, commodore, lionel, marx, o gauge, tin

I missed this bit of collecting wisdom from Rob O’Hara when he first posted it last month, but Rob describes his concept of mini-collections to keep his hobbies from taking over his life. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Scratchbuilding, Marx-style

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 2, 2013April 1, 2013boxcar, boxcars, greenberg, KCS, lionel, marx, marx trains, tin, Wayne Wesolowski

I saw a modern-production Lionel box car in a hobby shop one weekend. I wanted it, but I really wanted it in Marx 3/16 style, so it would look right with my Marx #54 KCS diesels pulling it. But I face very long odds of ever getting that car in Marx 3/16 unless I build it myself.

So I started building. And you can too.

Dave Farquhar

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Does your spouse know who your collecting buddies are?

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Retro Computing, Toy trains March 22, 2013July 15, 2017atari, marx, survivors, train layout, vintage computer

The story of the 1967 train layout and stash brought up a couple of good questions, even as more facts failed to emerge. If something were to happen to you, would your spouse know how to deal with the collection you’ve left behind?

I think it’s a valid question, and not just for trains.
Read more

Dave Farquhar

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I have a new favorite juice for oiling my train cars

Dave Farquhar Toy trains February 24, 2013December 27, 2015lionel, marx, Quantum Hot Sauce

I’ve heard the suggestion several times now to use Quantum Hot Sauce fishing reel oil on model and toy trains. I finally decided to try it myself. I like it, for several reasons.

Dave Farquhar

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How to use price guides

Dave Farquhar Toy trains February 19, 2013May 4, 2020baseball cards, collectibles, marx, train layout, train show, video game, yahoo

Pricing collectibles is more art than science, and most guides have some errors in them, so large (or at least very vocal) numbers of people mistrust them.

I still use them, however. Knowing how they’re produced–or would be produced, in a perfect world with perfect data–helps someone to use them to maximum effect. The principles are the same for any guide, whether you’re talking trains or video games or baseball cards or any other collectible. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Non-derailing Marx switches

Dave Farquhar Toy trains February 1, 2013April 23, 2017american flyer, lionel, Lionel O27, lionel train, marx, Marx O34, marx trains, o27, RADIUS, train layout

The Marx 1590 is the best O27 switch ever made. It’s durable, works well with all makes of trains (just put a track pin in the center rail where the switch pivots so that Lionel trains can pass), and can run off accessory power without modification.

The only downside is that it (allegedly) can’t be set to automatically switch to a position to accommodate an approaching train like a Lionel 1122, which makes it unusable in a reverse loop. That’s true if you wire them the way Marx said to wire them.

Here’s how I wire them to get that coveted feature.

Dave Farquhar

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A cheap and easy replacement for insulators on American Flyer, Lionel and Marx track

Dave Farquhar Toy trains January 8, 2013December 3, 2015american flyer, lionel, marx, toy train

When you’re dealing with vintage toy train track, sometimes the insulators on the track will be damaged or missing. This will cause a short circuit and keep the train from running. This is one of the most common problems with vintage track.

But there’s a cheap and easy repair using material from an unlikely source: 2-liter soda bottles.

Dave Farquhar

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How to attach trucks to Lionel train cars with screws

Dave Farquhar Toy trains December 10, 2012December 20, 20151980s, american flyer, hardware store, lionel, lionel train, locking pliers, marx, Marx O27, o27, PTFE, s scale, Tacky Wax

Frequently the trucks (the wheel/coupler assembly that sits under train cars) come unattached. Lionel trains from the 1970s and first half of the 1980s are especially prone to this, though other makes of trains aren’t immune either. And sometimes you just want to change the trucks–some Lionel and Marx O27 cars are just the right size for American Flyer S scale, for example, only the trucks are the wrong gauge.

It’s tempting to try to just re-attach them with a nut and bolt, but as the train runs in circles around the track, the nut loosens and eventually works its way out.

The key is all in the type of nut you use.

Dave Farquhar

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