You never see them, but they are there, spiriting tools away and hiding them!
My board is U-shaped, with track at the back of the cross-board, behind a (low) hill. I can access it by reaching over while standing on a step, but as the loco depot at the front is not yet installed, it is easier to sit on the board itself. As such, I know that having got on there, I have not moved anywhere, because that would have involved getting off and and that is a reasonable physical effort as it is around 48 inches from the floor! Yet, having knocked three pins into a length of flexi, I moved the Tracksetta along, realised that I'd not positioned the next pin and removed the Tracksetta to make it easier to find the hole that I'd already made. I reached about 14 inches to the right to pick up a pin, leant back and put it in the hole and have now spent the last 40 minutes looking for the Tracksetta.
The board is tight to the wall and fixed there, so it can't have fallen down the back and there is nothing in the area that it could be under, other than a couple of pieces of track bed and a second length of flexi-track, each of which I have lifted and looked under. The hill stops it coming any further forward, but even so, I have looked on the floor and under the board.
It has just vanished.
I have come in to get myself a drink, sit for a few minutes and then go back for another look.
I often find the quickest way to find a missing tool, is to buy another. The original normally reveals itself when it hears the postie approaching with the new one. :'(
Maybe you absent-mindedly put it behind your ear, like woodworkers sometimes do with pencils?
PW
1/ Steal tools.
2/ ???
3/ Profit!
Quote from: RailGooner on May 04, 2021, 09:41:04 PM
I often find the quickest way to find a missing tool, is to buy another. The original normally reveals itself when it hears the postie approaching with the new one. :'(
Ain't that the truth. I ordered a yardstick compass from one of the hobby suppliers here in the US, in Arizona. After two weeks, no sign of it so I called to suggest that they might like to send me a replacement as the original obviously got lost in the post. Of course, no problem, sorry for the incovenience. Sure enough, the next evening the replacement arrived - wonderful customer service, very prompt!
A week later, the actual replacement was delivered :( It's sitting on my desk two inches from where I'm typing this and I feel guilty every time I look at it that I've not sent it back. :-[
Quote from: Jim Easterbrook on May 04, 2021, 10:09:53 PM
1/ Steal tools.
2/ ???
3/ Profit!
That obscure reference would have worked better if I could prevent automatic "smiley" substitution for 3 question marks.
I usually find things where I last left them, though my problem is remembering where that was.🤪
But as a suggestion I would venture you might find the Tracksetta caught in an item of clothing you are wearing: "It's behind you!" :smackedface: That's happened to me more than once.
But wherever it is it'll be found in the last place you look for it. :D
Happy hunting. :thumbsup:
It's not caught in my clothing - I checked, plus pockets, plus on the floor around, in case clothing had snagged it and lifted it over the edge.
What is worse, is that I went back, had another look and still didn't find it. So I switched to laying the parallel track. Again I got to the third or fourth pin, used my phone to light the track better and find the hole, put the pin in and ... the :censored: track gauge has done exactly the same thing :veryangry: :veryangry: :veryangry:
How can something bright red disappear, in the space of 15 seconds, without me moving anything except my arms and even those only to pick up a pin and my phone that were right by me!
I give up.
I'll order replacements, I'll immediately have two sets right in front of me then!
I dropped a pen once. Spent ages looking for it, shifting the chair, the bin, everything, to no avail. Gave up and got another one out.
At the end of the day I picked up the bin to put it for the cleaner to empty and found the pen - neatly clipped to the rim !!
Couldn't have done that if I'd been trying ;)
I frequently go hunting for me glasses when they're on me head :worried:
Hmmmmnn....... curiouser and curiouser :hmmm:
So back to first principles I think, as I always did back in the day when I was an expert at finding things others could not. My apologies if this all seems a bit obvious.
- the Tracksettas must be somewhere.
- they are not where you have looked, a.k.a. where they could or should be.
- logically therefore they have to be where you have not looked, a.k.a. where they can't possibly or shouldn't be.
So search now only where they shouldn't or can't possibly be, and reconsider your conclusions so far. In other words, think crazy.
For example, you say you checked your clothing, and they weren't caught up there. However, that is when you checked them, but what had you done, or more importantly where had you been between losing them and checking your clothing. Is there any possibility, no matter how slim, that one or both caught in your clothing and were transferred beyond the confines of your current search area, say to a kitchen or bathroom, and then dropped there?
Again, you were working on your layout, and the Tracksettas were on your layout when last seen, but are not seen there now. Seemingly from what you are saying the only thing that has changed on the layout is that you have laid more track. Has that action or it's associated activities hidden them from view?
Apologies if this all sounds rather obvious, but in my experience when something goes missing the human brain can often ignore the obvious and the logical, especially as time passes and a degree of frustration and sometimes even panic takes over.
Alternatively, take the pragmatic approach: stop looking, take a break, forget about them. Maybe they will just come to light. Some day. And when they do the most likely thing you will say is "How on Earth did it/they end up there? That's crazy!"
Best wishes and hopes that they turn up soon.
They will be exactly where you left them, just covered up by something you moved but don't remember moving.
Unless it's the old catoon joke, and you accidently sat on them whilst shuffling about the layout and they are still their stuck to your butt
https://images.app.goo.gl/bELAgvNVcDePhQ1m8
I find tool boxes and drawers to be quite good at repelling those fairies. Apparently those fairies don't have the brute strength to wrastle around with latches or keyways. :P
Look in the proverbial last place you would look first. This act will of course cause the item not to be in the last place you look as it will now be the first place, but if you are quick, you'll catch it in the first place you would have looked, to which it has just hastily moved.
Sadly, I can relate to this. I'd like to put it down to old age, but I've done it all my life :-[. My problem is I'm concentating in what I'm doing, and not paying any attention to where I put the tool down. Must be in the genes, my son does it too :laugh:
Quote from: GoesWhenReady on May 05, 2021, 09:19:00 AM
I find tool boxes and drawers to be quite good at repelling those fairies. Apparently those fairies don't have the brute strength to wrastle around with latches or keyways. :P
And once all your tools are placed in said tool box/drawer, lock it and throw away the key - you'll never loose a tool again! :D
Quote from: daffy on May 05, 2021, 07:06:51 AM
Hmmmmnn....... curiouser and curiouser :hmmm:
So back to first principles I think, as I always did back in the day when I was an expert at finding things others could not. My apologies if this all seems a bit obvious.
- the Tracksettas must be somewhere.
- they are not where you have looked, a.k.a. where they could or should be.
- logically therefore they have to be where you have not looked, a.k.a. where they can't possibly or shouldn't be.
So search now only where they shouldn't or can't possibly be, and reconsider your conclusions so far. In other words, think crazy.
Think crazy? It's been driving me crazy, I don't need to think it!
Quote from: daffy on May 05, 2021, 07:06:51 AM
For example, you say you checked your clothing, and they weren't caught up there. However, that is when you checked them, but what had you done, or more importantly where had you been between losing them and checking your clothing. Is there any possibility, no matter how slim, that one or both caught in your clothing and were transferred beyond the confines of your current search area, say to a kitchen or bathroom, and then dropped there?
Between not being able to find them on the layout and checking clothing (more than once), I didn't move at all (I was sat on the board) and couldn't move more than 1 foot to either side. I then got off the board and checked again, before checking around the floor and under the board - and there is only a 3'6" x 8'6" area to move in anyway!
Quote from: daffy on May 05, 2021, 07:06:51 AM
Again, you were working on your layout, and the Tracksettas were on your layout when last seen, but are not seen there now. Seemingly from what you are saying the only thing that has changed on the layout is that you have laid more track. Has that action or it's associated activities hidden them from view?
As I wanted to sit on the board to work, I removed everything from that board and the end areas of both adjoining boards. All that was on there that was moveable was me, two lengths of flexitrack that I'd just removed, the track-bed for them pins, fishplates, the 12" Tracksetta, a hammer, the rail gauge and a small pile of other tools in one corner (I've been using the front of that board as a general workbench, hence the extra tools, which I have searched through a number of times). I put three pins in, moved the Tracksetta along, realised that the the next hole was hard to see, so lifted it off, picked up a pin, put it in the hole (using my mobile to light it better) and then could not find the Tracksetta, so no change to track or track-bed during the 20 seconds between removing the Tracksetta and being unable to find it again.
Quote from: daffy on May 05, 2021, 07:06:51 AM
Apologies if this all sounds rather obvious, but in my experience when something goes missing the human brain can often ignore the obvious and the logical, especially as time passes and a degree of frustration and sometimes even panic takes over.
Alternatively, take the pragmatic approach: stop looking, take a break, forget about them. Maybe they will just come to light. Some day. And when they do the most likely thing you will say is "How on Earth did it/they end up there? That's crazy!"
Best wishes and hopes that they turn up soon.
Luckily it is only the one Tracksetta, so no panic. Just frustration at not being able to carry on. I'm just going to buy new ones - to guarantee that the old ones turn up straight away!
Meanwhile I have lifted everything moveable, looked under bridges and the tunnel, along the rear of the hill, even used the camera and light on my phone to check nothing could have got between the board and the wall - which would have required the Tracksetta and the track gauge to both have ended up right against the wall, be stood on edge and the hardboard covering to pressed in (most of which I had to break loose as paint was holding it against the board anyway!)
As Daffy says, sometimes it can border on paranoia.
Relax, mate, all will be well ;) :beers:
If all else fails, the patron saint of lost objects is St. Anthony of Padua.
Quote from: joe cassidy on May 05, 2021, 11:07:28 AM
If all else fails, the patron saint of lost objects is St. Anthony of Padua.
Every day, something new learnt. :beers:
My aunt had a statuette of him on her mantlepiece :)
Quote from: joe cassidy on May 05, 2021, 11:30:19 AM
My aunt had a statuette of him on her mantlepiece :)
Until he went missing :-X
I have a Rolson extendable magnet (c/w built in light) and have checked to see if Tracksettas are attracted to magnets and they are. If you have a magnet attach it to a rod of some sort and wave it around the layout. You may not find the Tracksetta but you'll be amazed at what you do collect :D
Quote from: joe cassidy on May 05, 2021, 11:07:28 AM
If all else fails, the patron saint of lost objects is St. Anthony of Padua.
Yes, my wife tried that last night - it is amazing just how often that seems to work! Unfortunately, no luck this time.
Quote from: Newportnobby on May 05, 2021, 11:49:39 AM
Quote from: joe cassidy on May 05, 2021, 11:30:19 AM
My aunt had a statuette of him on her mantlepiece :)
Until he went missing :-X
I have a Rolson extendable magnet (c/w built in light) and have checked to see if Tracksettas are attracted to magnets and they are. If you have a magnet attach it to a rod of some sort and wave it around the layout. You may not find the Tracksetta but you'll be amazed at what you do collect :D
I did have one of those years ago, but I think that one of the kids snapped it. I have, however, waved an ex-speaker ring magnet around.
I've now ordered a new Tracksetta and a few track gauges - so fully expect to find the originals in the next couple of hours :doh:
My last morsel of advice, and the one most likely to lead to a solution* ;) -
Buy a Ouija Board, hold a seance, ask your local Poltergeist what he/she/it has done with them (don't ask why, they never know), and follow the instructions given below.
For the *solution, mix one part distilled alcohol of choice with a taste of experience and c'est la vie, turn on your favourite music and....... chill!
:music:
Quote from: stevewalker on May 05, 2021, 12:10:34 PM
Quote from: Newportnobby on May 05, 2021, 11:49:39 AM
Quote from: joe cassidy on May 05, 2021, 11:30:19 AM
My aunt had a statuette of him on her mantlepiece :)
Until he went missing :-X
I have a Rolson extendable magnet (c/w built in light) and have checked to see if Tracksettas are attracted to magnets and they are. If you have a magnet attach it to a rod of some sort and wave it around the layout. You may not find the Tracksetta but you'll be amazed at what you do collect :D
I did have one of those years ago, but I think that one of the kids snapped it. I have, however, waved an ex-speaker ring magnet around.
I use a fridge magnet to look for tiny screws etc. gone AWOL on the layout.
It gets worse, having bought a new item and subsequently found the lost one after a while you lose both of them. I've now got 3 or 4 of quite a few tools; beware, the older one gets the more frequently this happens
Quote from: railsquid on May 05, 2021, 09:23:52 AM
Look in the proverbial last place you would look first.
My Dad used to say that he'd put something in a safe place, but couldn't remember where the safe place was. He said if he ever found the safe place, it would be full of stuff he'd lost. He never found the safe place. I'm sure I've got one somewhere too.
Sometimes you'll lose the tool you need, then find a tool you don't. Then when you need the tool you didn't need earlier, it disappears!
It's all part of the circle of tool.
Strangely, this was recommended me today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVrEaaLApM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVrEaaLApM)