Sorry to hear about the

Sorry to hear about the medical issues. My late brother could sit and watch TV all day. I don't know how he did it. More than a couple of hours, if that, and I'm going stir crazy. Here's to a speedy recovery!

Spreadsheets

Hope your recovery goes well.  Being sick is no fun.

I have found spreadsheet software the best for forming timetables,  The rows and columns work well for most timetable formats. 

Hang in there Az

Sounds like you are keeping the medical industry humming. Get this crap over with and get back to modeling ASAP.

 All the best,

 Rick

Hoping

Hoping for good news when the medicos are done with you.

Have to agree with you about tv. Not sure when the program choices went belly up but in my case it was a very long time ago.

Jack

Best wishes

Regret to hear about the medical issues. I hope they found the renal issue early; my dad is currently dealing with exactly that issue (for the last year). I don't like seeing it show up for other people... 

Wish you a Speedy Recovery

Hey AZ ,and fellow Valley dweller wish'n you a speedy recovery 

no lifting anything heavier than a GP 35 .. or a 2-4-4-2...

but seriously get well soon 

R.W.

Get well soon. Try watching

Get well soon. Try watching model railroad videos, historical research videos, etc. Try and focus on the things you can do and it might help dealing with recovery process. Attitude really helps with recovery.

All my best to you

Hi Az,

All my best to you for a complete and speedy recovery.

Thanks,

Thanks,  but back to what I can do and a game plan. 

At the moment no lifting.  I'm in the middle of rebuilding one of the New Pinball Machines (Sinbad) in my Collection,  I'm a also close to being done repairing the money verifier on a 1994 Double Double Diamond Slot machine I have have been working on for the last few months.

Next Surgery will be in 4 weeks or just over that. With another 4 to 8 weeks of downtime.

New game plan.  

I was able to get a New ANYCUBIC Photon UV LCD 3D Printer from Amazon for $369  https://amzn.to/2Dfm6cI  Used the $70 credit from getting an Amazon Credit card to drop the price to $369.  

At one time I used to do quality 3D animation,  So it is now time, and I will have some time to learn some 3D CAD.  Time to start making small detail parts.  Odds and Ends i can sell on Ebay. I have a Hobby Shop that is looking for detail parts and casting.  I'm also looking at modeling a few southwestern type homes that that are missing from the N-Scaly supply line.

Thanks, again, but we are looking at more of what can be done in my downtime and learn a new skill.

I'm thinking my time will look like this,

If I can make something with a 3D printer anyone can.   Or how to toss $369 in the trash can... Take your pick.

Now, There's an idea.. stay engaged!

As Rob in Texas said, it's about attitude (in part).

As I noted in Neil's recuperation thread, healing is in 3 parts:  One part Doctor, One part patient, One part body.  Here's hoping you're blessed with all 3!

But that 3D design/manufacturing is a good attitude to take into this challenging era.  As a self-taught CAD user (from Waaay back) I'd need to say, find someone with experience to compare notes.... learning is reinforced with several lobes of the brain reinforcing your skill... visual, speech, writing... all different lobes, and doing things with half the brain disengaged takes longer.    (heck, at our age, having any lobe engaged is a good thing!)

Wishing you well.  Keep us posted. 

checking out your new 3-d printer

As you probably know, anyone can download stl files from Thingiverse.com. Some are faulty, but many are useful.

Printing some of these might help you get familiar with your printer separately from the challenge of creating your own models.

Will you use Matter Control or some other software to drive your printer?

"Will you use Matter Control?"

I'm going to check with my friend Luke and see what he uses.  Then maybe try and bounce some ideas of him.  He uses the same printer or I think it is the same printer on his popular YouTube Channel.

I have been doing some practice modeling with Autodesk Fusion 360 at the moment and have been messing with that program with the intent of someday getting a 3D printer.  Price was right for the printer wife said get it now you only live once.  

AzBaja

Medical issues suck and I am a veteran of that. Best thing to do is the positive attitude. Oh yeah, listen to the doctors. Glad you have both a medical plan and a relaxation keep busy plan. All the best to you.

Tom

Medical Downtime is NO FUN!

I had a stem cell transplant in May for bone marrow cancer and was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for three months. Stayed at the transplant house. Brought some models with the intent of doing some weathering but just never was able to get started on that while down there. When we got home my recovery was going well until Thanksgiving when I wound up back in the hospital for 5 days with liver issues. I continue to battle with this, weekly visits to Mayo and twice a week labs at home in Duluth. 

I have tried to stay engaged in modeling but the level of fatigue associated with the liver issues and all the meds I am taking has made it really difficult. All I can say is keep battling! Your idea of learning a new skill is great. I have returned to my Silhouette cutter during this time as I can sit at the desk and draw parts on the computer, then cut them out without battling the tremors. 

Best of luck in your recovery. God Bless!

Jim

Maybe some time to work on

Maybe some time to work on models?

Az another thing that you can

Az another thing that you can do when you are too tired or medicated or what ever to do most things is read. When I was down with injuries and major pain I could still read and watch research videos on my modeling subjects or other things I was interested in. It helps to keep your mind active even when your body does not want to get in the game.

Hang in there Az

Fatigue has been my biggest issue. I somehow managed to finally watch “Model Citizens” but even that wore me out. Without being very mobile I can get bored and depressed so make an effort to move more everyday. I’m looking forward to visiting Cali this fall and meet some modelers face-to-face. 

Here’s to our speedy recovery! 

Dealing with fatigue

Dear AzBaja!

Sad to hear about your medical issues. But good to hear the doctors are dealing with that.
It seems to me that you have a good game plan. I hope that plan will work out for you and that you soon will be back in business with all your projects

It is also sad to read about Jim and Neil and other struggling with serious health issues and fatigue.

When I have been so well that I can to any modeling, there are limitations. I do need to be very careful to not do so much that I become worse. 
Here are some tips I have learned the hard way dealing with fatigue so it does not become worse.

I have a Box....

Looking forward to opening this and setting it up.  Need to to make a place for it's set up and a exhaust box for it.  I have a vent in the train room setup for that purpose.  Well, it was for the paint booth that was going to go in that spot but no longer fits after a change of the benchwork and trackwork plan.  But it will work nicely for a 3D printer.

As you probably know, anyone

Yes,  I have been told of Thingiverse and plan to give some models a go.  Just to get started.   From previous experience over my life and a long time ago I have learned to think and visualize in 3d space.  I have done this well before we had computers.  So the 3D interface of today is just advanced to the level of my designing capabilities. I used to visualize an idea in open space with my hands before we put it down into metal.   It is nice the technology has finally caught up to my skills  

One other skill I'm very proud of, it still  stumps me when I would get a new tech working for me who could not get past this basic skill, How to see with your hands.   I learned a long time ago to see with my hands.  We had times you're working on a tool that you can not see what is beyond a panel etc. but you still need to be able to instal a fitting, or gear assembly.  Align timing marks that you only know the position of before you put those gears behind a panel out of your view etc.  then lock the allen screws down and install belts etc. without being able to see the actual part you are working on.

I think this will be loads of fun, Looking forward to it.

It is most interesting to

It is most interesting to notice how many folks can not think in terms of the third dimension. When my son was studying engineering he told me that one of his instructors told him that many folks had a hard time in thinking in three dimensions. My son then decided accounting would be a better fit for him and he became a CPA instead of an engineer because of his 3d difficulties. I always thought everyone thought in three dimensions go figure.

it's a skill known to Michelangelo...

1st 3D Print and Build is a Track Cleaning car

1st 3D Print and Build is a Track Cleaning car,  Center roller is a spool of pennies.  Came out rather nice. Not my model,  but for a test, it is go big or go home. The quality and sharp edges are amazing over an extruder 3D printer.  Build plate is rather small but works well for "N" scale and HO detail type parts.   I will be trying a few coal hoppers at a later date.  It is an optical illusion, everything is square and flat and not warped looking.  Camera lens and the fact that the penny slots are round make it look all bendy from this angle.

All right Az!

That thing is so cool looking that it deserves a special "sci-fi" name.