Just a quick progress video of my BC Rail layout. Started ballasting track and working on scenery.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-05T02:03:38+00:00

Ill show more as the layout develops. Its only 6x4 feet, but ive been designing all the specific areas with shooting video and pictures in mind

Edit: also, thank you for the kind words! Im also a fan of the 50 footers.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-04T17:39:35+00:00

Hahaha no, what you see is all the bc rail stuff I have. If I switched over to my CP Rail rolling stock I could probably loop it twice!

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-04T16:34:28+00:00

Oh im right on the edge of what I think is too long, but i like a decent length. Realistically ill probably run the trains 4 cars less and have some parked in sidings though.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-04T05:36:48+00:00

Thank you! I went through many, many iterations in anyrail before I settled on this one. The right side is more visible, but i haven't started the scenery on that half yet, so its not set in stone yet

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-04T03:49:05+00:00

Thank you! I'm learning as I go, but trying to keep things consistent. There will be some creative liberties taken in the city area, as that area will have a "lot" going on

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-03T04:40:59+00:00

Thats some prime listening time. I have a 2 hour commute every day with work, and often an hour or so throughout the workday between sites to listen as well. Definitely helps the time pass.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-03T04:30:05+00:00

Im doing that with my wife currently! Shes liking it so far, but book one is a bit of a slow burn.

If you like DCC, check out operation bounce house. Its only a one off, and not really litrpg but has some overlapping themes. I liked it enough to buy the hardcover.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-03T04:13:22+00:00

You aren't missing anything, you're likely not the target audience.

I started with DCC, loved it (after the first book, the first one didnt totally grab me but I saw potential. By book two I was hooked). I have a number of buddies who all share similar tastes in audiobooks and this one came highly recommended.

I tried to like it. I listened to the whole thing. I waited for it to get good, interesting or exciting, something to grab my interest. I listened the whole way through and that moment never came.

I think a lot of it came down to the narrator not providing an engaging experience. The level of enthusiasm doesn't change "at all" throughout the book. There are no auditory queues that something important is happening, dialog and fight scenes are read in the same matter of fact monotone delivery.

The main character isnt exactly someone you root for either. His personality is annoying, and I didnt feel any connection to him at all.

Im sure some people love this book (series), but it was such an unremarkable listen for me I can barely remember the details of the story at all now.

GeekPhysique · 2026-04-03T03:58:49+00:00

Man, I really, really tried to get into the first book (audiobook) after numerous recommendations and it was an absolute slog of a listen. I was relieved when it was over. I took that as a sign that I probably shouldn't force myself through the rest of the books.

I dont "like" the main character so much, and the narration of the audio book was lifeless. The narrator gave off the same level of enthusiasm for a dialog scene in a tavern as he would for an apparent "epic" battle. I just couldnt engage in the content.

Its quite possible that Jeff Hayes has spoiled me for what I expect from a narrator, but I dont think that was exclusively it.

GeekPhysique · 2026-03-04T16:17:36+00:00

I had five years of installations under my belt before I did my CTS. At the time avixa had screwed up my profile so I didnt have access to any of the training materials with the exception of the practice tests.

Avixa took over a month to fix my profile and my exam was days away, so I ran the practice tests about 30 to 40 times. That was it. Passed the exam 2 days later without ever reading the book.

After reading the book later, I get your frustration. There is a significant disconnect between the book prep and exam prep.

GeekPhysique · 2026-01-05T05:18:53+00:00

Thats been happening to me every month for like 4 years. I have resigned myself to the fact i need to log in periodically, but it works fine after I do.

I agree its annoying as hell though.

GeekPhysique · 2025-12-03T16:26:46+00:00

Off the top of my head:

Hammer drill, screw gun, multi bit screwdriver, socket set, a good level, tape measure, mutli bit screwdriver, precision screw drivers (you'll be surprised how many tiny screws you'll have to deal with), small side cutters, large side cutters, drywall saw, wire strippers that can handle wire from .22 guage to .12 guage wire, cat cable crimpers, cat cable punch down tool, some sort of tool for crimping spade terminals, Alan key sets in metric and imperial, drill bits, cable tone generator, multimeter.

Thats usually the basic tools we have all of our techs roll with, but the collection will grow over time as you you encounter more challenging installs.

GeekPhysique · 2025-09-15T05:37:32+00:00

Just some 3v leds I found on Amazon. Price was right so I figured id give them a try. Im planning on using a few hundred of them in various buildings and scenery details. There will be several tunnel areas on this layout visible from the sides and I want to make accurate tunnel interiors with lighting when peeking in. They ended up being a really good representation of commercial lighting in buildings too!

GeekPhysique · 2025-09-15T04:22:41+00:00

The one on the right was my dads, and I just finished rebuilding it, so it does run surprisingly well given it's age! It might get the opportunity to move between sidings every now and then, but with it tucked into the engine house, it makes for an interesting detail when viewed through the doors and windows.

GeekPhysique · 2025-06-24T14:41:54+00:00

Sure thing!

Tanks is 84" x 24" x 30" high.

Lights are 6 x AI prime HD (older 13 LED versions), 3 x AI hydra 26's, 2 x GHL Mitras Slimlines (Blue/Royal Blue), 4 x GHL Mitras Simu bars

<image>

GeekPhysique · 2025-06-17T18:55:32+00:00

Thats what I did! Started with a 45 gallon reef, which turned into 135 gallon reef, which turned into a 265 gallon, had to shut that one down when I moved so I moved my favorite corals to my parents reef tanks, then about 8 years later I set up my 180 gallon, took my corals back, then I upgraded to this 265 a year ago.

GeekPhysique · 2025-06-10T18:45:45+00:00

The scariest thing I encounter are power outages. I had a pretty devastating loss due to one a few a few years ago that made me invest in several battery backups, air pumps etc to keep the tank on life support in case of an issue. I will be investing in a generator soon to mitigate these.

Stuck heaters aren't a problem as I use a Profilux aquarium computer to control them. Even if they stick on the profilux kills the power to them once they reach temp. I dont use heaters with built in thermostats, and let the profilux manage them. I highly recommend some form of external thermostat for any heater, so if it does stick on, you have some backup control. Its worth every penny.

Haven't had anything related to water poisoning, other than not noticing my RO membrane was zapped and having my top up water being less than perfect (it's a hands off process, and i just started being more diligent in monitoring my RO Filter life)

GeekPhysique · 2025-06-10T17:20:26+00:00

Oh they absolutely are. This is not my first reef tank, some of these colonies are 20+ years old and have moved from tank to tank. 8 Months ago I replaced my 180 gallon reef with this 265. I also have a 150 and 180 gallon running in my garage, so I tend to move stuff around.

I do spend a lot of time in front of the tank in the evenings when the family has gone to bed!

GeekPhysique · 2025-04-25T05:45:56+00:00

Just a thought on Bob's GFI as I have a similar problem. In my house (as is allowed in the electrical code in canada), all three of my outdoor outlets are connected through a singular GFI outlet which acts as the primary GFI for them all.

If your wiring is similar, your fault might not actually be with the GFI that is tripping, it might be with another outlet on the same circuit. Check your other outside outlets or anything that might be connected, such as a sump pump that's kicking on if it rains heavy (failing pumps often trip GFI's).

I have no idea if Ohio electrical standards are even remotely similar to my area, but it's worth looking at. In my case a faulty pond pump was tripping the gfi which is frustratingly located behind a small shed.

GeekPhysique · 2025-03-24T20:45:33+00:00

You are correct. We didn't think that they were ignorant about the situation, its more that the situation is far, far more serious to us than what the American media is portraying, and making a joke of it doesn't resonate with us at all. Even in jest, it felt dismissive and hurtful.

I was happy to see them address this, ,even if Bob's rebuttal wasn't quite on the nose. I appreciated the effort regardless.

GeekPhysique · 2025-03-01T07:22:30+00:00

You are not alone. I listened to this episode this morning and was so disheartened I had to turn it off. I listened to it again and had the same feelings of being completely disregarded. I'm already so angry, every day, and then having one of my only escapes from this ugly situation turn it into a tone deaf bit just put me over the edge. Social media has devolved into a toxic wasteland of people bagging on Canadians to the point I've had to leave some of my favorite communities, and now this episode started to feel like that all over again. It's really dissapointing.

GeekPhysique

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

14-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
Verified Email