Large Scale Central

Taking down the sign

General Discussion
#1

Done. Finished.

Been fighting this for a lot of years, shifted to impossible the last 15 months, and untenable the last two weeks.
Suppliers gone that I either depended upon or really, really liked.
Suppliers that cannot ship product.

Been thinking about this for a long time, and figure it’s just time to pull the plug.
25 years I’ve been doing this, and can no longer provide what I need to provide.

Doesn’t mean suddenly the issues will be fixed tomorrow, in which case I can continue, but not likely.
I do not need the stress in my life any more.

I will still order stuff out where I can, as I still have relationships and accounts with the good guys.

I’ve watched threads on this very forum complaining about specific delivery issues, and all I can tell you, shills notwithstanding, is they are all correct and fall far short of the scope of the problem.

TOC

#2

Its been a good run. I figure I’ve known you and your business for 17 of those 25 years… Wow I guess I’m getting old at the same rate as you. :wink:

#3

Good Luck Dave …enjoy life as it’s very short and hard like a body building Elf

#4

TOC

?

Us new guys don’t have a clue who you are or what your business is.

Maybe some of us newbies would be good customers.

Tom

#5

Tom Stephens said:

TOC

?

Us new guys don’t have a clue who you are or what your business is.

Maybe some of us newbies would be good customers.

Tom

TOC, AKA Dave Goodson has been repairing trains and doing RC conversions for a very long time. Like he said; it’s not for lack of customers, it’s for lack of supply and support from the manufacturers.

@Dave - Know exactly what you mean about getting rid of stress. For that same reason at 64y.o. I quit my IT job to concentrate on sign fabrication where I work at my own pace creating things and expanding my knowledge of materials and techniques. Sit back and have a Cigar and what the guys switch out the RR and enjoy life!

#6

I did radio/battery for 25 years. I was the SOB that everybody hated when I pointed out all those years ago how much better it was than anything track power…and could be run anywhere, regardless of control system favoured by the host.

Customers have never been a problem. Had to beat them off with a stick sometimes.

I’m too old to get into something new…lost the drive to do that.

I am disgusted with the whole thing.

#7

Jon Radder said:

Tom Stephens said:

TOC

?

Us new guys don’t have a clue who you are or what your business is.

Maybe some of us newbies would be good customers.

Tom

TOC, AKA Dave Goodson has been repairing trains and doing RC conversions for a very long time. Like he said; it’s not for lack of customers, it’s for lack of supply and support from the manufacturers.

@Dave - Know exactly what you mean about getting rid of stress. For that same reason at 64y.o. I quit my IT job to concentrate on sign fabrication where I work at my own pace creating things and expanding my knowledge of materials and techniques. Sit back and have a Cigar and what the guys switch out the RR and enjoy life!

Yeah, I hear you. Trying to keep some sanity while this all falls apart. That’s why I started (before this thread was started) posting in the “0” section.

#8

Sorry to hear that TOC. Thanks for all the help over the years. Hopefully you can relax. Get out and run your trains.

#9

Sorry to hear this Dave, but enjoy retirement :).

Somewhat related to your problems with suppliers…I stopped doing the “garden variety scales” about 5 years ago and I’m now concentrating on 1/8th scale ride-on trains again. Are you still on FB?

#10

Best to you, TOC. I did the same thing a few years ago, completely different business, all the same reasons. No regrets.

John

#11

Sounds like a revolution is cresting!!! he he he

#12

I owe my start in this business to Dave and Tony Walsham. For me I relied on Dave’s support during those early years and telling it like it is. I will still call Dave seeking advice until he stops answering the phone.

Thank you Dave for helping us have more fun running our trains.

Don

#13

Beyond what has been stated, TOC’s “mechanical prowess” makes him my “go to guy” for issues on drivetrains, tracking, reliability, and well, just the right way to make what we buy better.

Until politics invaded Bachmann, they relied heavily on him for how to fix things the factory/designers messed up.

I’ll bring the cigars next trip Dave!

Greg

Tom Stephens said:

TOC

?

Us new guys don’t have a clue who you are or what your business is.

Maybe some of us newbies would be good customers.

Tom

#14

So Dave…ready to start that On30 layout?

#15

Bart Salmons YOG said:

So Dave…ready to start that On30 layout?

No. I have more 3-rail 0 and 2-rail 0 than I will ever use. I have all US made stuff in 2-rail some pre-war, sand cast bronze boilers and frames…ScaleCraft, WestBrook, Athearn, All-Nation, Varney, General Models, some Walthers, Kemtron…plus enough TruScale roadbed and rail, AND switches (including crossovers and double crossovers) to fill a much bigger basement than I have.

I intend to sell the 2-rail off.

I have all the Half 0 engines I have restored…Mantua, Roundhouse, PennLine, English, Varney…not sure about those. I’ll make them available to my nephew first, as he has a rug rat now and nephew has shown interest in doing more with all the Half 0 he had as a kid (and we preserved for him).

The HiRail is what is in the basement, and that is what I am spending some time with while it is so hot and I cannot work in the shop.

TOC

#16

Dave,

Sorry to see your wealth of knowledge pull the plug, but then…ENJOY RETIREMENT!! What advice I have received over the last 8 years since I have returned to model railroading and Large Scale in particular have always been spot on.

I do hope you will stop in now and again and ‘educate’ us on some subject we need educating on.

Be well! Bob C.

#17

I’m still running the CCRy regularly. I really “retired” some time ago…when the moron ran the stop sign and t-boned me. But, I was able to do…this anyway. I am starting to get my hands dirty again with auto repair stuff…a bit.

Fun when you can get a 1973 Mercury Cougar convertible that hasn’t run in years…running…then get the brakes to function 100%…then do a water pump (351C with P/S and A/C), get some decent petrol in the tank and it drives home. Satisfying.

Cut my dealership teeth in on those. Only time I ever worked for a dealership.

TOC

#18

Curmudgeon mcneely said:

Done. Finished…

Suppliers that don’t deliver; manufacturers that can’t get the product right. Believe me, Dave, I feel your pain and frustration and exasperation because I’ve been going through it for some time in the framing part of the gallery business. Oh, and yeah, like you said, disgusted.

I can’t wait for the day I can say “Done!” “Finished!”

Sounds like you’re quitting while you still have some sanity left. Congratulations and good luck!

#19

double

#20

According to several internet pundits, I never had any sanity to save or lose…!