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Christmas in February!!! Journals/Blogs
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MRH Author 5,541 posts Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Long ago when my son was still a little guy my lovely wife and I decided not to buy each other gifts for Christmas anymore with the idea being that whatever we would spend on each other would be better used making his Christmas as special as possible. My son is grown now and we also have a twelve year old daughter but the tradition has continued on. No Christmas for us, just spend everything on the kids and then sometime after the first of the year when finances have eased some and when and if we get a tax refund we then each take an agreed upon sum of money and buy ourselves stuff we like to have for our individual hobbies/interest. This is usually the only time of the year I can make any sort of major hobby purchases although there are some exceptions like when we had some unexpected good fortune last year and I was able to buy my turntable. Anyway, looking forward to all this, I had been planning on getting a new DCC system and a steam locomotive or two for  "The ole Black & Blue" as my freelance layout is known.

Those of you who follow my other post here besides blog entries  know that I was having some trouble deciding on the DCC system I wanted and also was undecided on which steam locos to buy. The choices for the DCC were between a SPROG 3  and a Digitrax Extra and a PR-3  and the loco choices were between buying a Bachmann "Sound Value" Mogul or two   or buying a Mogul and a Consolidation, the Connie not having any sound. I did a lot of hemming and hawing and had much discussion about it here with some of the kind folks who were nice enough to offer opinions and comments on my threads. In the end I decided that it was probably more prudent to just buy one loco and get some rolling stock and other  items I needed for the layout.   The DCC choice was harder but in the end that worked itself out as well.

So what did I end up getting??? Well here we go....

Digitrax Zephyr Extra along with the PR-3XTRA interface and programmer

Bachmann Sound Value 2-6-0 Mogul

Two pack of Accurail D&RGW Double sheathed 40 foot boxcar kits

A Tichy Single Sheath Undec USRA boxcar kit (I had a six pack of these a few months ago and sold them as I felt I didn't have time to build them then. I'm going to do just one and see how it goes.)

Woodland Scenics Incline set

Woodland Scenics foam Roadbed

Atlas Rail Joiners

I hope this post doesn't come off as bragging but I'm understandably stoked about  getting this stuff as it doesn't happen very often that I come away with a  haul like this at one time. I certainly appreciate all the advice and opinions that were offered along the way too. The best part is that my loot should be hopefully be arriving right about the middle of next week when I have some time scheduled off from work and will have a nice long weekend to begin enjoying it all!

Michael

 

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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MikeC in Qld Super User 1,066 posts
MikeC in Qld

That's great news, Michael.

That's great news, Michael. Sounds like a good week coming up. I hope you enjoy it.

My Blog: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/14628
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DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

Good for you!

I know what it's like to place that order after spending so long debating, figuring, planning, dreaming, and of course budgeting.  Even though you know what's in the box, there's still something exciting about opening it and seeing what's inside.  It really is like Christmas, for me at least.

I've got an order from Shapeways on its way, and I'm almost as excited about it as you are about yours.  So congratulations, and I look forward to reading about how you like you new toys!

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Thanks...

....Ken and Mike too...although Mike's post seems to have disappeared for some reason.... 

Now it's just the waiting game.  I don't miss LHS pricing but I sure do miss the instant gratification! Patience isn't my strong point.

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Just got the shipping notification.....

....which should put my goodies here around Thursday!

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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hobbes1310 Frequent poster 907 posts
hobbes1310

Excellent news. I have been

Excellent news. I have been looking at getting  the  Digitrax Zephyr fr my first DCC set, You can add UP5 loconet panels to it cant you?
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Loconet panels

Yes you can. IIRC and someone correct me if I'm wrong please...... there are two loco net jacks on back of the Zephyr and you can just "daisy chain" it in to an existing loco net or use it as a starting point for a chain of loconet devices.  The Zephyr Extra  is far form being my first Digitrax product, I started way back when with a Challenger system and once owned a Chief as well as the old Zephyr model but it's been awhile since I've fooled with them.

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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rsn48 Frequent poster 565 posts
rsn48

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.
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casenundra Regular poster 367 posts
casenundra

Good on You

I have the DigiTrack empire builder and do not regret it. I also bought the RR-CirKits Loco buffer-USB interface so I can program my locos with my computer. I could run my layout with my computer, but I perfer a hand held controller.

I run diesels mostly but I do have a hudson I may reserect.

I would suggest you add  some kind of circuit board to protect the system in case of shorts.

Have fun with your new system.

 

Rich S.

Home of the Here N There RR (N) (under construction)

One of these days I'll be able to run some trains!

Now on Facebook for whatever that's worth.
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ray schofield Prolific poster 1,394 posts
ray schofield

Michael   Sounds great

Michael

Sounds great  Good luck with the layout and keep us posted

Ray
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Well gee...really was Christmas in Febuary

At least the weather thought so.  Ice and snow, mostly ice, hit here in the south and knocked out our power for two days and disrupted our mail service. My package which was expected to be delivered on Thursday the 13th is still not here and I have no idea if it will be delivered tomorrow. The USPS tracking still shows the same info it did a couple of days ago with the package having been dispatched to the " sort facility" in MD.  MB Klein got it shipped out  but now their web site seems to indicate issues with the same winter storm that hit us and I'm sure if they are having issues then the post office there is too. UGHHH.....I hate winter.... especially when you northern folk ship the weather you normally deal with down South!!

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Bernd MRH Author 5,632 posts
Bernd

Winter

Quote:

UGHHH.....I hate winter.... especially when you northern folk ship the weather you normally deal with down South!!

That'll teach you Southerner's to laugh at us in winter when your warmer and we are in a cold snap.

Bernd

P.S. I hope you get packages soon.

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

It's finally here!!!

Mother nature did a number on mail delivery.  MB Klein shipped it on the 11th and I just got it today but it's all here safe and sound. Now to figure out where to put the shelf  to hold the Zephyr Extra and the notebook PC. Decisions, decisions....

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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