Diesel Locomotives and Model Train Maintenance

By Daryl Clayton Kennedy

Model train sets today arrive at you door ready to run. In no way does this imply completely dismissing pre operations testing.

More than likely your locomotives chassis will be a snap to release. Seriously... it will snap off once you spread the bottom of the casting.

Once casting is lifted and electronics are exposed, place locomotive on track and trouble shoot for such poor operations as stuttering, binding gears, slow starts and odd noises. Make absolutely sure your trains trucks are resting comfortably. If you notice your train resting uncomfortably it may be necessary to adjust screws or reset truck.

An almost instinctive first plan of attack is cleaning wheels. By purging your wheels of imminent dust clusters, you limit dust entering your motor and bogging down performance. To clean wheels attach test leads to motor, ignite engine, flip locomotive upside down and with your free hand apply abrasive block on wheels until they shine like new!

After the Inaugural Wheel Cleaning You are Wise to Inspect for Mechanical Gremlins

After your locomotives wheels are clean take apart their gearbox and inspect for plastic shavings and also take this opportunity to clean the inside of your gearbox. Once clean and dry, apply lubricant as needed. Be carefully not to apply access amounts as this can lead to the very problems you where attempting to avoid.

While you have your truck assembly detached it's a grand time to clean electrical surfaces within the truck. These surfaces guide currents and their information directly to your decoder.

Finally, once tune up is complete, test your locomotive safely and enjoy the freedom and relaxation of your model train set.

In rapping things up you should be assured that once the above instructions have been followed you and your family will enjoy the fine hobby of modeling even more as you'll have cut your chances of having a really bad day expediently. By adjusting trucks and making sure they rest evenly on tracks and also by spit shinning your wheels for tangent connections you are lining yourself up for smooth rides and historical runs. If for any reason you should encounter problems simply trouble shoot familiar mechanical locations around your loco and test once more. If problems insist, it's not unheard of to have acquired a potentially bad decoder or possibly some other poorly functioning electrical component.

About the Author:

Be sure to check out Daryl's BLOG surrounding model trains, you may also stop in to read thomas trian engine reviews.

Interested In Decorative Mailboxes? Read This

By Melvin Sentrovski

You have got to read this article if you love to embellish things. So many techniques of embellishment and decoration are well suited to enhancing your mailbox. Your good taste and decorating sense will be right out there in front of your house.

The most pleasing aspect of these decorative mailboxes is that you will be able to express whatever you feel like sharing about yourself with the way you adorn your mailbox.

The majority of today's people enjoy putting their decorative mailboxes together in line with the season, but why let that hold you back? If you are a happy person, you could decorate your mailbox with a smiley face. If you are of Greek heritage, decorate your mailbox with the gods of ancient Greece.

Most people take the boring route and just put their last name on the mailbox in plain black lettering; their only purpose is to make sure that your mailman doesn't give the neighbors your stuff. However, you can make your mailbox stand out by putting your surname on the mailbox in wacky lettering and bright colors, so that everyone knows who you are! You might think that your mailbox will look garish by comparison, but it'll definitely be a conversation piece for anyone who drives past it and sees it!

Some extreme aficionados of mailbox embellishments have even formed social groups that focus entirely on making embellished mail receptacles. Kansas City's "Decorating Grannies" is one such well publicized mailbox loving groups.

These very hip retirement home dwellers put up flyers and advertised in the papers that they would, for a nominal price, totally refurbish and re-adorn people's mailboxes in a very fun, trendy and completely "un-granny" like way. They then donated the proceeds from their creative labors right back to their retirement home so that it could fund more activities for the residents to enjoy.

You might take this story of enterprising old ladies and apply it to you and your group of friends. You might start your own decorative mailbox business and donate the profits to a charity or project you're passionate about, to make the community as a whole better with the money that you give it. You can better the community around you, and you'll have a great sense of accomplishment, as well as adoration from your friends!

About the Author:

Melvin has several other articles on mailboxes, check out his sites: wall mailboxes and mailboxes for sale.

Oil Rigging Works - Can Give You A Chance To Be Debt Free

By Miriam G Price

In the oil work field there is still a lot of growth, even with the growth of renewable energy. As you work in the oil field you will see how fossil based fuels are just as important as ever, and you will see the numerous positions available and the wonderful benefits you can receive while working there.

These oil companies truly strive to give their employees an outstanding work environment. Here are some things that you can expect when you work on offshore oil rig jobs, a position that can have you living on site for months at a time: Work days are typically arranged so that you work for-- days in a row, and then have the next 21 days off. Your accommodations can rival that of a well heeled hotel, and include everything from food to laundry service to transportation arrangements.

While the majority of the work on an oil rig is very physical, there are also on occasion white collar office type jobs available, or maintenance work such as taking care of the laundry. For all of this, one can expect to go in with a starting salary of 50K for entry level, and 70K for the jobs that require some experience.

Usual Available Positions

* Radio Operator - One of the easier jobs to handle, the op is in charge of communications, needs to hold a GMDSS Radio Operator License and is also responsible for helicopter logistics, lifeboats and muster lists. * Electricians - in charge of all things electric * Barge Engineer - in charge of the control room * Derrick man operates and maintains the mud, pumps and all equipment in the pump room. Also assists roughnecks. * Chef or Cook - daily cooking duties * Roustabout - general duties, supplies equipment and tools requests, assists crane operator. * Catering Manager - has culinary school qualifications and is in charge of the galley. * Drilling Engineer - supervisor of the drilling operations, systems and procedures. * Diver - carries out the underwater tasks directed by the subsea engineer or assistant. Inspects repairs submarine installations and machinery.

Prepare Yourself

You don't want to arrive on an offshore rig without being prepared for it. This means, first of all, that everything back home is squared away, since it can be expensive to get in touch with anyone back on land. You should have all of your required immunizations, and the corresponding paper work in hand, as well as all other needed documents. Then, of course, don't be foolish enough to bring any sort of illegal goods on board, and alcohol should be left behind, as well. Be considerate of people on board, and don't interrupt them particularly if they have jobs that are there to ensure everyone's safety, such a radio operator. Last of all, remember that you will probably work with an international group, so if you can speak some words in another language, that's all the better.

You can look online at the work boards such as Monster, although nearly all oil companies do not market there. You can try online web searches through powerhouses such as Bing, Google or Yahoo with a phrase similar to " oil rig jobs ". Or you can patrol their websites for current openings. Full reward are on hand, including room, board and meals. Get ready to hit the road; the oil work job is ready and coming up!

About the Author:

Quentin J. Brook has had a vast amount of knowledge and experience about oil work. For more information on oil rig jobs, check out his resource site now and what it can do for you.