malcolmt

Wow! Those pressures would blow your tire off the rim. There is a very good tire pressure calculator at www.silca.cc along with excellent explanations of the engineering behind tire pressure recommendations. I just discovered I’ve been overinflating for the last 50 years or so. I use 700C by 25C to 28C tires on most of my bikes which I’ve been pumping up to about 90 psi. According to the calculator, I should be using 70-80 psi. Something to experiment with on my rides this week. Malcolm T Calgary, Canada

I stand corrected (not the first time) and need to go for a walk along 17th. The Globe has moved across the street and a block to the east from the location I knew. cheers, Malcolm

Unfortunately, the Daily Globe on 17th is long gone too. Malcolm

In Calgary, two newsagents downtown carried most British modeling titles along with the rail magazines. Used to be a great excuse for a lunch hour walk. Unfortunately an economic downturn, high rents and the trend towards online subs lead to the closure of both around 5-6 years ago. I have subs for Model Rail and Hornby Magazine and delivery is problematic to say the least. I’ll often receive the mailed copy two months after the publication date. Covid is partly responsible for sure. I think though the bigger reason is the bulk mailing practices of the publishers as I’ve noticed non-UK postmarks. Oddly, the HRCA and TCS journals usually are delivered within two weeks of publication. So, Canada Post isn’t the problem, in this instance . The online subscriptions are the way to go. I have online subs to BRM, Railway Modeller and Model Railroader along with the others. Along with immediate access, the mags can be easily read on airplanes, in waiting rooms etc and I don’t have to deal with tons of paper. Cheers, Malcolm Calgary

A very pleasant surprise this afternoon when Canada Post delivered my GT3. The model is magnificent! Now to set up a test track. Thank you very much, Malcolm Calgary, Alberta

Plug it. Drill out the hole, cut a length a dowel to the thickness of the baseboard, glue it in, then after the glue dries, sand the plug flush and drill a new hole the size and place you want. Good luck Malcolm T Calgary, Canada

Hmmmm. Any chance of a 3 rail option? Otherwise, as a Dublo collector, it’s great to see Hornby Dublo marketed as the premium product. Malcolm T Calgary, Canada

Toast is served hot, straight from the toaster, not in those abominations Brits use known as toast racks. Cut a thick slice of bread, not pre-sliced, preferably fresh baked from locally grown grains (easy here, got millions of millions of hectares of the stuff). Toast. Spread with slightly softened butter, then the topping of choice. It’s okay to spread peanut butter or chocolate spread directly onto the toast without buttering first. Peanut butter has to be made from 100% peanuts, no added palm oil or sugar. Same with the chocolate spread, 100% hazelnuts and cocoa and maybe olive, canola or sunflower oil. Toppings for peanut butter include honey, strawberry jam, raspberry jam or chocolate. Vegemite and Marmite — ugh! Fortunately usually not found in our local grocery stores. It can be difficult being me sometimes. Time to sweep the snow off the sidewalk and burn off all those calories. cheers, Malcolm Calgary, Alberta

I’ve been a frequent escooter user, although not so much this summer with all the Covid-19 restrictions. Great fun! Here escooters are viewed as a last mile solution and are extremely popular. Generally ridden everywhere. Malcolm Calgary, Alberta

Does anybody have the dimensions of the base? I’ve ordered one and need to figure out placement on my layout. Thanks, Malcolm Calgary, Canada

I think there are a couple of issues here. There is less capacity as many airlines have suspended international flights. Here in Canada, Westjet and Transair have parked their airplanes and Air Canada has drastically cut back service. Which means any parcels from the UK are going to take a lot longer to arrive. Even in normal times, a parcel from say Hattons or the US takes 2-3 weeks to come. Parcels seem to to be held up by Canada Customs for screening and whatever else they do. Couriers are faster at a higher shipping cost. Malcolm Calgary, Canada

I avoid GSP like the plague. Often the charges greatly exceed the value of the item and are much higher than postage for a similar item that I can order from say Hatton’s. The so called import charges are ridiculous. Canada doesn’t really bother. I may be charged 5% Goods and Services Tax, although that’s the exception. Malcolm

I was in Paris about two and a half weeks ago. We walked up to Rue Douai to check out those shops. Les Cheminots has closed. The other three across the street, Transmondia etc remain open and appear to be thriving. One sells vintage models, the second modern HO and the third specializes in N-gauge. A fourth shop, very well stocked has opened beside Les Cheminots former location. Sorry, don’t recall all the names. Malcolm Turner Calgary, Canada

I watched Apollo 11 last Sunday night on CNN. Words can’t really do the photography justice, it’s simply awesome. I’m looking forward to watching it again. Malcolm Turner Calgary, Canada

I used an adhesive, clear kitchen and bath sealant to secure Woodland Scenics roadbed to the viaduct. It'll work just as well with cork. Only a thin layer is needed. The sealant grips firmly, yet the roadbed is easily removed with a paint scraper. The track is secured to the roadbed with the same sealant. Malcolm Calgary, Canada

I ordered a 30064 about four years ago, although I do not see my order on the Model Rail Offers website. Hmm, not to be whiney I am wondering if after all this time that the order has been lost. Which begs another question. Many of us probably provided credit card numbers with our preorders. With the passage of time, many of those credit cards have expired. Will we be contacted for updates? Cheers Malcolm Turner Calgary,Canada

BTW, WC Maroon is a match for LMS locomotive maroon, or at least the Dublo version thereof. TH&B cream is a reasonable match to BR cream. Malcolm Calgary, AB

A huge thanks to Locomotion and Rapidio for the APT-E. Mine arrived in Calgary Wednesday night, just in time for Supertrain this weekend. Assembly was easy, took me about 5 minutes. Sound is fantastic, even running on DC and I'm fascinated by the tilt. It's popular with the crowd too. Many requests as to when it's coming around again (answer: quickly). Malcolm T Calgary, Alberta

I was wondering the same and I ordered mine at about the same date. Meanwhile, patiently waiting although I'm hoping it arrives in time for SuperTrain next weekend. Malcolm in Alberta, Canada

Maybe include a DCC controlled tiny MP3 player, preloaded with the appropriate tunes? Malcolm Turner Calgary, Alberta

I think, subject to check, the 144 was used on the Kettle Valley line in Southern BC to film the CBC production of Pierre Berton's National Dream. The National Dream is the story of the building of the CPR in the 1880's for all you Brits out there. I recall the programme was filmed in the mid 1970's. I presume 144 still exists and would be available for measurement. Malcolm

I'd kill, figuratively speaking of course for a model of one of the vintage CPR 4-4-0s. 29 is parked outside Gulf Canada Square on 9th Avenue here in Calgary. Maybe it could be number 13 in the series. Malcolm Turner Calgary, Alberta

No. I read somewhere the 20x40 mm was recommended and ordered it with the decoder. Malcolm

Yes, it's the 20x40 mm speaker. Malcolm

I've fitted a Howes/ESU 21 pin decoder to a Bachmann 3F. It was very easy. The trick is replacing the round speaker with an oval one which fits between the wheels. I used the oval speaker housing that comes in the bag of bits. Cheers, Malcolm