Here is a Mich Alkali Co. Soda Ash Facility;





I messed up the original paint job, so these photos show a repaint.




CHEERS!

Not really, I'm up and running. I could not recover the software myself, but I've got this new PC up and running at 90% of what I had. It was a project. You don't realize (at least, I didn't realize,) how much software is unique to a particular PC)

I had to find downloads for printer drivers and Zoombrowser EX. I still haven't got the right version on the later. All the preferences had to be reselected, etc.

It was quite a pain.

I found older versions of my excel programs in sent email, and I can recode them from there. My IT guys will take the bad hard drive and see what they can get off of it.

THANKS for the tips and concern guys!

Another update....

Well Gentlemen,

I’ve got the bad drive in the good computer and made it a slave. Good news and bad news; I’ve got a D:\ prompt… however; I get a CYCLIC REDUNDANCY CHECK when I try to access it.

I did a CHKDSK/F D: command at the DOS prompt and got about 32 unreadable file records segments, 2 deleted orphan files (276, 5296) and this ominous message.

UNREADABLE MASTER FILE TABLE

Do you all have any more suggestions before I deep six it?

Thanks in advance,

Kyle

An update...

I picked up two CPU's from IT that have a Pentium 550? and Windows XP. I'm sure I can get the bad hard drive in one of them as a slave and see if I can recover anything. I was also informed of a freeware program called "The Ultimate Bootable CD" I downloaded it, and that looks pretty good too. I think I'll try that before I get out the screwdriver.

If all that doesn't work, it's off to Best Buy for a whole new 'puter.

The file I'll miss the most is my Excel program, which I actually gave to a couple interested guys here. I'm gonna look them up and see if they still have it. I think I'll get a data "stick" for future backups. Of course, many pictures, movies and such and backed up (if you will) on the Internet.

It's not too bad. Weekend project. THANKS for all the ideas!

I was gonna format the A:disk to make a bootable drive. This command will not affect the hard drive.

Other thoughts?


Thanks for the website!

I really need a nickel’s worth of free advice. My hard drive on my PC will not boot up. I’m pretty sure the system files are bad, and there is a lot of work on there that is very valuable and I need to save it.

I’m pretty sure the operating system is Windows XP. I don’t have the original system disk but I do have access to other computers.

From my DOS days I remember a command that went like this    C:format a:/s

That command would make a disk bootable. I’m thinking is I had such a disk with the 2 system files on it I could restart my computer with that, then see about backing up crucial data and Hard Drive replacement or other things.

Will that work on today’s computers? Is there a similar command to make a “boot disk”?

Thanks in advance

Kyle Engelmann

 

I REMEMBER ULTRA MAN.

Thanks so much guys for all the valuble opinions. I have read all the responses to this post and wholeheartedly agree.

If you have seen my posts here and especially on The Gauge, the Bachmann Board and the Atlas Forum then you know I love to share photos of my projects and written reports on information I think other modelers will find useful.

My question was more an idle curiousity. My wife prodded me too. She said, "As long as you are spending all this time in the basement and writing about you r projects online, why not try to make some money off of it."

I hope my querry was not threatening. And I hope it didn't push any forum rules... thanks again!





Kyle

Hi all,

The wifey is looking over my shoulder wondering if I should try to set up a website that includes articles, tutorials, a gallery and so forth and accept credit card donations for it, to further the world's greatest hobby.

Maybe even charge a nominal fee for complete access. Has anyone done this? Is it easy to set up?

We spend many hours on our hobby, why not get a little compensation for our valuble time?

Hi Jack,

Thanks for the interest.

I use four kinds of glue; Superglue for details, Titebond Carpenters glue for wood and paper, Testors "Model Airplane Cement" for styrene to styrene and  silicone based household goop for everything else.

Once the plastic bottles were sprayed with a primer coat, they got a coat of silver then various rust washes, a bit of oxide tempra powder and some Dullkote. The paint was all oil based for this application.

EK

Hi Paul and everyone,

Thanks for the interest   

Here's another photo of the "tanks". After I sold some of the surrounding pieces in this scene, the tanks looked kind of lonely so I moved one of them to the Sibley module.




Those contraptions on top of the tanks are the wheel guards that Atlas RTR stock comes packed in. Recognize them?

CHEERS!

EK

Thanks guys,

The tanks started out life as little squirt bottles. I added rust and details.

CHEERS!

All projects look nice!

Here is mine. I freshened up some scenery and added details to Oxford Sand and Gravel in HO scale;










Cheers!

Rich,

When I tell you the what the sound is, I will reveal a model train video secret.
The sound is the steel wheels on the track and other model train soundz.
If it sounds unusual it is because that video is playing in slo-motion.

Like a few have mentioned, the slower the better for freight. So even when I'm filming at a scale 15 MPH I will sometimes edit it in half time. Smooth images, deeper sounds. The middle of this vid is in slo motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svhQnkt_-Lg

please forgive if this is a rerun. EK

Maybe you could define what you mean by remote switch...

If the turnout is thrown by means of a switch motor, it can be powered by any means and DCC does not enter into it.

The turnouts themselves should all work too, but I think you are 'sposed to stay away from from the ones with powered frogs when using DCC. I'm not sure why.

A number #6 turnout is close to fitting into a 22" radius. With straight points over an inch long, no turnout will match a curve exactly.

Someone with more knowledge than me can expound on this I'm sure. Jim Banner where are you?