@Ron_S posted:I never thought I would see 50, let alone 60 and now I am staring 70 in the face. And I still can't handle those darn SMT diodes and resistors, even using the HD microscope.
Most people after hearing about my teenage years wonder how I ever made 20. 
I used to love explosives, motorcycles, and fast cars! It's a wonder I still have all ten fingers.
Ron, it sounds like you have slid down the slippery slope to rock bottom!! 
I only have one conversion I would like to do; an MTH ProtoSound " PS1?" to ERR. The only other is another ProtoSound PCC car that sits on the shelf. On the other hand, if I got hooked, who knows. I could start buying old stuff and upgrading them. The slippery slope.
Yes, at over 65, the HD microscope, head visors, I have both, don't help shaky hands much. 
You guys are pikers, I'm 78 and I assembled all of these. Well... not the 4-button remote, the other stuff. 
I know, John!! The shame of it all!
Lol john, I shake just enough that even bracing myself, the tiny parts move before I get them locked on the pad, where through hole I can crimp sideways and touch the pad, add the solder and it looks good.
I'm sure my time is coming, so I better get all the prototypes build before that happens!
My most recent assembly.
I do limit the size I'll deal with, 0603 for small resistors and caps, and .95mm lead spacing for chips and transistors.
I’m like Ron! 😄 I wonder if my carpal tunnel that was mis diagnosed for 10 years before my first of two carpal tunnel surgeries in each hand plus a broken right hand had anything to do with it. 🤷♂️ Or it is just arthritis?
RSJB18, time to do a steamer! Gunrunner has everything you need!
@Darrell- Yes, I have a K-line A5 like John just did and a Lionel B-6. I have a couple of diesels to work on next but a steamer is definitely in my future.
@Ron_S- I had my share of those days/ nights too. I used to work in the Theater industry in NYC doing lighting and stage scenery. Also some rock and roll roadie gigs. To say that I did some wild stuff is an understatement. I just turned 60 a couple of weeks ago and a Cab 1 and a single malt is more my speed these days. 
@gunrunnerjohn- that's some tiny stuff. WOW! I've not attempted any surface mount components yet but I'm guessing I will need to one day.
@Mark Boyce- Health issues are an unfortunate part of aging. You seem to do pretty good despite all of the challenges you have faced over the past few years.
Thanks gents.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:@gunrunnerjohn- that's some tiny stuff. WOW! I've not attempted any surface mount components yet but I'm guessing I will need to one day.
Those are actually 0805 resistors and caps, the 0603 parts are smaller. An 0805 resistor is 2.0 mm × 1.2 mm, an 0603 resistor is 1.6 mm × 0.8 mm. It does take a fairly steady hand, but to be fair, I do use a magnifier when I'm working on these.
@RSJB18 posted:@Mark Boyce- Health issues are an unfortunate part of aging. You seem to do pretty good despite all of the challenges you have faced over the past few years.
Thanks gents.
Bob
Bob, As I have told folks in person, my issues have been extremities, save for the lumbar fusion. Still, I am so blessed not to have had issues with internal organs and body systems. My dear wife suffers from several, hard to diagnose issues like that. My comments were more to congratulate John on his work, but it didn't come out that way. 
I think anyone that makes it well into their 70's has their share of health issues, and I'm no exception. I'm just lucky that so far my fine motor skills haven't been too seriously impacted, but I can see it coming.
John, you hit the nail on the head! Fine motor skills! I have a diorama I built of the Boyce Homestead my sister and I just sold in 2019. Four buildings and grounds, in N scale!! I finished it 30 years ago. Now I look at it, and am amazed I was able to do such a nice job!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Most people after hearing about my teenage years wonder how I ever made 20.
John, hmmm, we had similar interests as teenagers! I made my own explosives and fireworks (lucky to still have fingers, hands, arms, and a face), fast motorcycles (Honda 750-4, and several others), fast cars (1970 Ram Air Goat). We survived! LoL
Valid question for this thread, do you have list of all of your products that you offer along with descriptions? I know of some, but probably not all.
Thanks,
@WesternPacific2217 posted:Valid question for this thread, do you have list of all of your products that you offer along with descriptions? I know of some, but probably not all.
Well, the truly "commercial" products are listed on the Henning's Trains site at the link on my signature. I have a host of other little projects that are more specialized and I never commercialized them as I couldn't imagine selling enough to break even on a production run. I've sold various things as kits or bare boards over the years as well.
A partial listing of stuff I've done that never made it to a truly commercial product that is listed on the Henning's site. Some of the threads linked you have to read a little to get to the my contribution to the development.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, the truly "commercial" products are listed on the Henning's Trains site at the link on my signature. I have a host of other little projects that are more specialized and I never commercialized them as I couldn't imagine selling enough to break even on a production run. I've sold various things as kits or bare boards over the years as well.
A partial listing of stuff I've done that never made it to a truly commercial product that is listed on the Henning's site. Some of the threads linked you have to read a little to get to the my contribution to the development.
- AC-DC Power Modules
- DCS-RC Watchdog Generator Board
- Dummy Locomotive Connection Board
- DZ-Replacement Relay
- HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Detection Board
- LED Flickering Firebox
- Locomotive Motion Sensor
- MTH QRE1113 Tach Sensor Board
- MTH TIU Signal Protection Module
- R2LC Smart Motherboard
- R2LC Serial Data Buffer
- Rectangular Smoke PCB
- Universal Wireless Remote Control System
- Steam and Diesel Smoke Intensity Controller for TMCC
- TIU Signal Tester
Excellent, many thanks John. I have copied and pasted into a spreadsheet so I won't have to ask again! Happy Hump Day!
@RSJB18 posted:Thanks. I'm afraid I'm heading down a very slippery (and expensive) slope.......
Bob
You could lubricate that slippery slope with a cold one or two Bob.
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