Chubber

Here is a simple, reversible and cheap way of making this sort of pin-vice easier and more comfortable to use.... Force the 'handle' end into a firm pencil eraser until it goes right through, much like a hole punch. Then, using a dressmaking pin secure one half of a suitably sized pop-fastener into the rubber trapped in the end. Now you can push and twiddle more comfortably and accurately because the handle end rotates nicely against the palm of your hand. Simples! [insert annoying Meerkat noise...] Doug

Re post 1765, it would make Terence Cuneo or even David Shepherd take notice. Thank you for posting. Doug

Thank you all for your input. I have decided to go with John Isherwood's suggestion of https://www.drill-service.co.uk/ for 0.3 and 0.4, as I already have Dormer sizes down to No.76 [0.5mm] from model engineering days. Thanks to Daddyman for the heads-up on the earlier discussion, plenty to learn there, too. PatB, I have sets of cutting broaches down to 0.2mm and finishing broaches down to 0.4mm, donkeys years old, but still going fine and I shall have a go at using a sewing needle as suggested in the earlier thread. Doug [Whilst on the subject, does anyone else remember using bits of bicycle spokes heated over the gas-cooker, flattened and filed up for doing fretwork?]

Having drilled two sets of oversize holes recently, broken two bits and been seriously under-impressed with the 'drill pad' part of both sets I own, does anyone have a recommendation for a make/supplier of small drill sets 0.3-1.6mm 'ish? Multiple numbers of the smaller sizes would be an advantage! I am not looking to be too parsimonious to get some good tooling. Doug

Yes, if it normally costs them £2 to get the item to 'Mike's Models'. That's the crux of my argument. Doug

After two visits last month "I can't find it at the moment, can you come back?" and "No, I haven't found it yet, not sure if had any to start with" and "I don't stock those, there's no call for them..." he seems to doing that for himself, quite frankly! Hence my impromtu visit to P'ram. .. Going way OT, but you did prompt the response.

If you cannot grasp that selling a PECO large radius point for less than any model shop (because they can save on sending the item to the model shop) is, long term going to destroy the profitability of those shops, then we need discuss no further. The Pecorama shop does not do an on-line service, selling to personal callers to an out-of the way showroom in Devon will not alter the profit of a shop keeper in Birmingham or anywhere else. I suggest that were they to operate an on-line service then there is indeed merit in charging the RRP to avoid undercutting their distributors.

"the advantage at Pecorama of when you've paid for it is there in your hand, you're not "inconveniently" faffing about waiting in for two or three days for the post/delivery service" "I'm slightly fortunate that it is as local to me..." .....but I "inconveniently" drove 20 miles out of my way "There's no magic source of income Peco have to hand out as discounts" If I grow spuds and sell them to my neighbour, would he expect to pay the same for them as I charge someone 30 miles away for who I add delivery costs? I listened to the salesman describing to another customer all the injection moulding machines on site knocking out models and track... Peco support their distribution network by not undercutting them. Let me see if I understand..they charge RRP to support their distribution network who must surely have delivery charges and invoicing factored into their prices? Why would discounting the price of stuff bought at Pecorama by the delivery charge factor be undercutting their distribution network? My local gravel pit charges so much for a yard of gravel plus delivery costs. If I go with my half-ton trailer and collect it myself, I can save a good bit. If you pay full price you expect better service, full no argument G/tee, instant refunds on faulty items. I am assured that Ebay, Amazon et al offer the same safeguards...certainly John Lewis does as their exchange of a faulty T.V. proved, supplied at a hefty saving over Currys etc they tempt you to spend more in the end by using offers and discounts Tesco discounting the price of cat food wouldn't induce me to go out and buy a cat! Peco at Beer's main customer base is the holiday maker making an impulse purchase, not the savvy model railway enthusiast, so the prices reflect this. Hmmm....By the number of 'Thomas' toys being sold, it appears to work! Not many people seen buying 10ft wagon under frames though. Given it is Peco you have effectively bought from directly, I am not surprised that you have paid rrp. See gravel pit reply above...? a great bargain, but I still prefer to pay the going rate Stephen, you must be a very rare bird indeed! Doug

On a recent visit to S. Devon, I detoured to Pecorama at Beer and bought 2 OO-9 Setrack turnouts and a 10ft and 15ft N gauge wagon chassis kit. Total, £29.80. Out of curiosity, on my return, I looked at the Hatton's site, £25 plus £2 postage, total £27.00. I'd expect to pay more than the Hatton's price at a local outlet, with stocking costs, delivery costs to the shop etc, but not at Pecorama. Grrr!

Oh Ian, How sad I am to report that nothing has happened after I asked our revered Webmaster to make some enquiries....many moons, [and for me] two countries ago. I have since made my own, in brass, to exactly the same dimensions, but of late, eye-sight and arthritis problems have seriously curtailed my modelling efforts, some days up, others down. I wonder what has happened to 'Debs'? She had woofers, like us, loved engineering, like me, I hope it is not a tragic tale.... In the same vein, we have lost contact [18 months] with a mountaineering chum, Dennis Robinson, despite e-mails etc. We are so worried he is hanging of the end of a rope in an ice crevasse somewhere, waiting to be found... Best wishes, Doug

Paul, Does your father have a dick-a-bo? Nothing wrong with regional variation when conversing in that region, see the opening premise of my post. Your road sign would appear silly displayed in, say, Herefordshire. Some Scots would say they spoke the purest English, but talking like Robbie Burns whilst trying to buy a train ticket from Liverpool to Hunstanton (Huns'ton?) wouldn't get you very far! Doug

Usage is a personal and contemporaneous thing..(at one time the 'C' word was in common, unremarkable usage), but weather presenters (presumably graduates) who persist with -temmatures-(temperature), and -cennergrade - (centigrade), draw my shanks, and phrases such as ' I wanna colour that's, like, more light..' instead of 'I want a lighter colour...' are like sandpaper on what euphemistically is called my 'mind'. The dear late Terry Woman would rail against 'I was sat in my kitchen when. ..' with 'No, no, no! You were sitting in your kitchen when....' and off topic, but something that struck a personal resonance as a shift worker with one weekend off in three..'Why, oh, why, do you have to mow your lawn first thing on a Sunday morning when you are retired? You've six other days of the week to do it...' Americanism grate, too. 'Have a nice day' has been replaced locally in retail outlets with 'You enjoy the rest of your day....',what a specious, condescending remark to a customer who has just bought a 45p custard tart...Presumably, had I bought a six helping Walnut cake with sprinkles , the appropriate formulaic, management driven response would be 'May The Pope kiss your scro%um tonight..' Doug

Ab-so-lootly! Oresum! D

Mon 3/4/2017 at the Talyllyn Watering at Dolgoch Falls Running in to Nant Gwernol What were they looking at? Never did find out... I know he's not human, but he thinks he is!

Thanks for that! Hope all is well on the furry and family side, keep updating, a new caravan waiting to visit.....Living back in UK now, too. Best wishes, Doug and Bisto

A super shredder, a burning set, a new wood machine[i worked with Wadkins stuff in a previous life] and, and, and....a lady who can drive a 360 machine!!! I couldn't sleep at night for the excitement! Courage, Mon Brave. Doug [shelagh will ask when I show her, what is the pup called?]

P-P-P-p-painted lever handles? Doug

Don't know why, this picture touched me [or 'us', SWMBO and me]. Young man, with what in our family we call a 'Yum-Yum box', a way of life soon to be past etc. She rarely comments on much here [we share] other to say 'Too clean....' or 'What colour green is that supposed to be ?? {vegetation} but we both looked at this one and said 'Oh...!' Funny thing, memories, I wish we understood what was hard wired to the front of our brains. We would not miss 'University Challenge'. A few weeks ago, a question on neural systems evoked my responses "synapse", "myelination" {Sp?] and "axon", words that have not consciously entered what passes for my 'mind' for 55 years. They earned all the bonus points. What the [expletive] made that one picture trigger such a powerful reaction? Doug P.S. All of you [stationmaster zooms for'd] who can add flesh to the bones of these pictures, please continue to do so, porridge is porridge, but a little seasoning makes it 'tasty'. D

Is that £6.48 for 1 [one] sheet?? Doug

This might be of some interest here, I hope it posts, 76-77 How to paint figures.pdf I seem to be unable to find a link to the original BRM on-line article. Doug

Glad I'm not the only one! No elfin safety provisions, and I bet he's wearing a collar and tie... Doug

An easy one would be the single 'ding' to alert platform staff to an imminent arrival...? Alresford's gong is handily right outside the cafe door IIRC! Doug

Verona this Spring, shy lady driver. I waved but she didn't wave back.... Also note white painted rails appropos of the 'White Rail' thread Doug

Glad you liked them!! Dave would be very miffed to be considered too old to be a fire man! From the same trip up to Mallaig [best fish and chips I have ever tasted...] Dave doing the hot stuff, and a gentleman in a kilt on Mallaig Harbour Station taking pictures of a West Coast excursion diesel. Finally, although they are not 'humans', Lucy and Dudley go everywhere as props for our smaller relatives and friends' children, and only marginally human, 'Yours Truly' at Mallaig, not wanting to be moved! Doug

Dave and Brian, Aviemore 2013