AngryMeerkat

Really liking the cassette idea with the copper tape providing power, simple yet reliable. Mark

I've been looking forward to an update for a while, really glad things are still progressing and to the highest standard. Can't wait to see this develop further. Just a note on inspection pit lighting which I've recently learned the hard way - light up the rest of the depot and get the brightness right before setting the brightness on the pits. I did my pits first and thought the brightness was just about right, then I added the building lighting and realised the pits are far too bright in comparison. Mark

We see plenty of depot layouts, but I'm yet to see a single loco with a red/white 'DO NOT MOVE' flag on the lamp bracket. Mark

Unfortunately there is nothing to update at the moment, just had the wedding and honeymoon, Xmas, the Alfa needs a new gearbox...... Is there anywhere that sells time, I just don't seem to have any at the moment!! Hopefully I'll get back into the modelling mood in the new year, until then you guys are providing my modelling fix haha. Mark

Making good progress Paul, I've finally caught up with the thread and it's coming on well. Mark

Don't know how you've got the patience to make the trunking!! I used the Ten Commandments trunking and found it excellent. It looks true to scale size and has some lids missing and separate with visible cables moulded in that really add some fine detail. I wasn't too happy with their line side electrical cabinets though, they are cast in plaster and took a lot of work to get right. Strangely I found the Hornby Skaledale cabinets were a better option, and will use them in future. Mark

I think it looks ok, very much as I remember the parts of the Liverpool railway that hadn't been re-ballasted by the 90s. If you're unsure then you can always use the airbrush to add patches of grey for patch repairs to the ballast, no need to bin it and start again. Alternatively mix small amounts of colour with matt varnish to create a wash and add colour variation, the exact colour doesn't matter as your brain sees different shades and light/dark more than it sees colour. Mark

Coming on well Paul, great progress. Mark

DO NOT FEED THE TRAINS! Really liking those catch points Paul, fantastic work! Mark

Here's the link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270919043170?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT He has a few different types depending on how many wires you want to connect, I got the 9 pin and 25 pin and they come as pairs so order 1x 9 pin and you get 18 pin if that makes sense? Mark

Hi Paul great work so far, Beasts excellent diagrams are really giving life to this layout! Just a note on your wiring for across the boards, I've just got some connectors of eBay, 25 wire and 9 wire male and female connectors. Cost under £10 for 2 pairs of each, so once wired they just plug in as needed. If you want the link to them let me know. Mark

Good start Paul, really liking the idea of banking and altering the track level. Don't see many layouts with this idea, but the real railway is banked at most curves so why do we not include it? Looking forward to watching this Mark

Looks good Paul, not a 'small' project but I can't wait to see it progress. Mark

I don't think the ban on laptops and tablets is anything to do with recording the match - mobile fones which have far better cameras, and indeed cameras themselves are still allowed during matches. As they have been very specific about which kinds of device are banned and indeed the dimensions of allowed devices, this is definitely a security measure. Mark

Almost got the decorating finished today, a few fittings for the bathroom then it's just a bedroom and the conservatory to go. The Mrs has got tomorrow off work (she was called in today) so we are planning a day out together instead of doing stuff in the house. She came up with the idea of going to Swanage for the day, and I was very happy to agree. Don't think she's quite realised why yet, there's gotta be some surprises between people, right? Hope today isn't too stressful for any 'A-level parents' in ER, or indeed anybody getting their results today. Remember, it's just a piece of paper and not the end of the world, don't feel pressured or stressed by a grade. Mark

Great to see MK Dons draw Man Utd in the 2nd round of the Capital One Cup, their manager Karl Robinson was my old neighbour and school friend from nursery till the end of senior school. Both him and his brother were football mad, and it's good to see Karl become a successful manager after his playing career was cut short through injury. Mark

A company who's price promise revolves around them not adjusting their own price based on stock or demand is one thing. But when a manufacturer raise their prices by +/- 20% then that is out of the retailers control and quite rightly their price promise shouldn't stand. That 20% manufacturer increase could result in the retailer making a 10% LOSS on items sold if standing by a price promise often made long before an RRP is even announced by the manufacturer! If you're not happy with this fine, shop elsewhere. I'd rather a retailer lost one customer who can't understand economics than went out of business for honouring a price promise that creates a loss that is out of their control. Mark

Ahh another Alfa fan, such beautiful cars. I've always loved the look of the Brera, but was severely disappointed with the performance, the Brera does not go as fast as it looks! For now I'll stick with my 156 Selespeed, a stunning car to drive and the induction roar now I've removed the stupid OE system and replaced it with a large cone is music to your ears. Will probably trade up to a 159 next year. Speaking of working on cars with inaccessible items, it's the only thing I dislike about the Alfa. The air filter is behind the front bumper, and was so difficult to access I ended up ripping the whole induction system out (via the passenger wheel arch!) and replacing it with a cone filter that doesn't require maintenance. Even with the induction system gone, changing a headlight bulb still involves the use of a mobile fone camera pointed at the bulb holder inside the headlight and working from what you can see on the fone screen. There's barely enough space for your hand in there, let alone getting your head in there to see what you're doing! Mark

When all the holidaymakers come down here to Bournemouth and cause absolute chaos on our roads, we have to send our locals somewhere else to cause mayhem. Sorry it was your town today! Generally our locals are somewhere between 75 and dead years old, and drive at a speed that would allow a horse and cart to overtake them. Those white lines in the road - they can't see them. Roundabouts really confuse them and god help anyone using a roundabout at the same time! Mark

Good afternoon all, hope today is treating you well. Very mixed day in every sense here in Bournemouth. Weather is warm enough to make you sweat, and it's either sunny or raining or both at the same time. Maplins didn't stock the size of wire I needed, so having to use something 3x bigger to wire some LEDs up. While I was out I picked up a big aerosol can of gloss white to spray some tables the Mrs had started to paint. The aerosol reacted so they both need stripping back to wood, oh the joys! Started the clean-up operation after decorating. In my (lack of) wisdom I sanded the walls in the hall, and thus made the whole place look like somebody sneezed repeatedly into a bag of class A narcotics! Not my brightest moment I admit. Day 2 of not smoking, still very early days but not struggling at all so far despite having smokes in the conservatory if I chose to light one up. Keeping busy is helping, speaking of which I think my glue must be dry..... Enjoy your afternoon Mark

I used a cheap rangefinder a few years ago for measuring the LOA of yachts so I could get an accurate square meterage for surface area. Worked perfectly well and was accurate enough for what we wanted it for. Mark

Hi Richard, Just a quick note to say thanks for making the videos on youtube. It was watching some of your earlier vids that made me decide I wanted a model railway again after over a decade away, and I still use your channel as a reference point when I'm planning something. Great work on the layout, it looks fantastic and is a real inspiration for many people. Thanks, Mark

Good morning all, happy Monday. My good friend and his band have released their album today, after a very long wait for those of us who enjoy his music. Feel free to check out The Cape Race on youtube if you're into indie music, or just fancy a change. I've decided to have another go at quitting smoking. I quit last year and managed over 6 months without a problem, but one night in Malta with alcohol flowing and good times on the beach and I'd gone back to my old smoky habits. So I've purchased a new e-cig and some flavoured juice and I will go again. I know there are still doubts about e-cigs but for me it's simple - an e-cig is less poisonous to you and those around you than a proper cigarette, and is the best aid to giving up smoking that I've found available. And at around £10 per month for juice it's a damn sight cheaper! Here goes day one..... Wishing you all a happy and productive day Mark

Looks like 'Adonia' will soon be entering a pretty busy shipping area, always an interesting experience! Captured courtesy of the Ship Finder app. Mark

More decorating to do today. Managed to get the lounge painted, glossed and new furniture and fittings in yesterday. Kitchen is tiled. Hall is painted awaiting another coat and the gloss. Not bad for 1 person in 1 day. Also trying to hunt out some gearbox oil for the Alfa. In my wisdom I purchased the version with the sequential gearbox, lovely fun to drive but an absolute PITA and bloody expensive to get anything for it! It shares it's engine oil with the BMW M3 and maybe 3 other vehicles so only 1 manufacturer makes the oil and it's around £25 for a litre. The gearbox oil appears to be a manufacturer only product, which means it's also going to be bloody expensive! Thankfully the car is so nice to drive that it's worth every penny. Hope everyone has a happy productive day and finds at least one reason to smile. Mark