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. 

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!

Quote from: daffy on May 05, 2021, 07:06:51 AM
Hmmmmnn....... curiouser and curiouser

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 

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.

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

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

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

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

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 

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!

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

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

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.