I'll be joining you in a discussion of joints and bad backs. When I was
in photo school, the school offered some weekend work @$2 per hr. I
lifted more than I should have and have been plagued with problems ever
since. It doesn't take long to discover the damage done 40 years ago.
I think aging is a problem for anyone who has any kind of layout beyond
the basics or a wisely designed shelf layout. It is getting really hard
for me to get up on the layout for those (luckily rare) events longer
than arms length. I have some stop-gap methods that I'll mention: 1)
Micromart sells some track cleaning devices that consist of a metal rod
handle with a circular abrasive element that helps. If I get on a step
stool I can get into areas around 5' inside the layout. There is
nothing that says you can't put together a longer arm to reach more
distant locations. 2) I have a scrap piece of quarter round that I
stuck a chunk of old camera case foam to. It often helps in shoving a
dead engine or errant car into a better position without damage. 3)
Similarly, I purchased one of those jointed-hand extender-gripper
things. The Tool Man and maybe MicroMart might carry them. I can pick
up a SHS F unit safely with one from about 4' inside the layout. It
does okay with delicate things like plastic grabs/ladders if you're
careful.This device is actually designed 90 degrees in the wrong
direction but it was designed initially for other things I'm sure.
I passed up the chance to purchase one of those ladders that again
MicroMart and others sells to get over the top. I felt it might take up
too much room, but a good friend now owns it a few miles away.
The only other thing, is to encourage younger folks to help. My son was
never much interested but others have had better luck with their kids
other than kidnapping the neighbor's kid!<G>
Bob Werre
On 7/16/12 10:05 AM, Jim and Cheryl Martin wrote:
Hi Ed
You are a member of a growing club of guys I know who are scaling back
their modelling efforts to attainable goals in dereference to aging
limbs and eyes. Nothing wrong with that. The late Ben King was ahead
of his time in that regard.
Cheers
Jim Martin
I can only work until my back gives out. I remember when this wasn't
an issue. I've decided to stop wandering around the layout as fancy
takes me and make a schedule based on limited goals.
*Ed Kozlowsky*
*Sanford, Maine*
*sscale.org*
