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marc smith

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Status Updates posted by marc smith

  1. marc smith

    Belated "Happy New Year" fellow RMweb members and model rail fans. Hope 2022 is the re-start of some railway exhibitions, and hope to catch up with modelling pals.

  2. marc smith

    Just picked up a copy of RM for the first time in ages -  as "Penmaenbach" by our very own Gilbert is in the Dec edition. It's a great layout, by a great modeller and RMweb member. Looking forward to reading it later. Well done Chris. Merry Christmas everyone :) 

    1. marc smith

      marc smith

      Read the article yesterday evening, and really enjoyed it. Those pics certainly look great. Wish I could see this layout "in the flesh". Fingers crossed for future exhibitions (fingers crossed, toes crossed, very tightly....)

  3. marc smith

    Really enjoying my recent purchase - my 2nd title by our very own @Rivercider
    Another cracking book Kevin, some nice photos and very informative notes.
    Congratulations on another book - I'm sure to be buying your book on Freight Trains now too

     

    I have asked Kevin to sign my copies, next time we meet at a show...... but I think he'll end up with writers cramp at this rate! ;) 

    https://www.amberley-books.com/railways-of-the-western-region-in-the-1970s-and-1980s.html

  4. marc smith

    Just thought I'd give a heads-up to our fellow rmweb member Rivercider, and his superb book "South Wales Railways in the 1980s" Firstly though, I must apoligise most humbly to him - the book completely slipped under my radar! Ooops. Anyhow, I ordered my copy last week, and have picked it up daily since.
    Kevin has captured some superb images, and his captions and accompanying notes are really informative. I'll shortly be ordering a copy of his book on West Country Railways too. Well done good sir. I'll get my copy signed, when we're allowed to go to exhibitions again. :)
    https://www.google.com/search?q=railways+in+south+wales+in+the+80's+kevin+redwood&rlz=1C1GCEB_enGB938GB938&sxsrf=ALeKk02ANTUg1W0G-hfdPr4loQ0kkL9rew:1616491434804&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=ihfmTKFl38wT8M%2CHYROt7yYQj6slM%2C%2Fg%2F11hz1p4xcv&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSS2_brnZHX_HGsyI5q7wYIwj5Rww&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQ4IPui8bvAhWrQxUIHYoqDHUQ_B16BAgXEAI&biw=1920&bih=880#imgrc=ihfmTKFl38wT8M

    SW Rail BOOK.jpg

    1. Captain Kernow

      Captain Kernow

      Excellent, many congratulations, Kevin!

       

    2. marc smith

      marc smith

      Folks, I was so impressed with Kevin's book....I ordered another one of his titles :)
      "Railways of the Western Region in the 70's & 80's"
      I'm hoping it will be as good as the previous title I bought - I'm sure it will
      Cheers again to Rivercider, and well done on getting these books into print :) 

      https://www.amazon.co.uk/Railways-Western-Region-1970s-1980s-ebook/dp/B07PNPQ3H1

      PS. I didn't get my copy from Amazon BTW

  5. marc smith

    If you drop something on the floor when you're young, you just bend down & pick it up.
    But at my age, I stand there for 5 minutes, deciding whether I actually need said item anymore.....

    1. Show previous comments  10 more
    2. Huw Griffiths

      Huw Griffiths

      Seriously though, those telescopic magnets are great.

       

      My late mother used one for retrieving pins she dropped on the floor when she was sewing.

       

      Sticking a light on the business end would make the things even more useful.

       

    3. Hroth

      Hroth

      Aldi had a telescopic magnetic pickup with an led light built into the head (hole in the middle of the magnet) so you can see what you were aiming at. I have one, its pretty good! . Rather like this...

       

       

      image.png.9c0c251c0b8117a335687e8049d3516a.png

       

      This is from Amazon, though at nearly £7, its a bit dearer than Aldi was.

       

      Aldi also did a mirror on a telescopic stick with LED lights, rather like the devices that bomb disposal operatives use to inspect the undersides of vehicles...

       

    4. westerhamstation

      westerhamstation

      It beats me why they built the ground so low down.

  6. marc smith

    Have been enjoying "The train now departing" on BBC iPlayer. The series was filmed in the late 80's and I didn't see them all at the time. I particularly enjoyed episode 5 on the Industrial & narrow gauge railways. Nice Ivo Peters footage in there too :) 

    1. Show previous comments  2 more
    2. Captain Kernow

      Captain Kernow

      Incredible to think that when it was first broadcast, the future of the Settle & Carlisle still wasn't assured.

       

    3. marc smith

      marc smith

      Yes @Captain Kernow- I watched that one last night, and I'd almost forgotten how insecure the future of the S&C was.
      The programme also made me want to visit Dent & Ribblehead again ASAP.

    4. marc smith

      marc smith

      Some nice footage of Barry scrapyard in one of the episodes too. I was in the area before in between lockdowns, and was amazed at the streets, housing and shops that now occupy the site :o 
      Whenever I see footage of Woodhams yard back in the 70's & 80's - I keep a sharp eye out for the young me, clambering over sharp, rusty, oily bits of metal, and kicking asbestos around :O 

      ..... whilst wearing flares, Proclaimers-style glasses.... and snorkel jacket of course ;) 

  7. marc smith

    Had a good day at the Bristol O Gauge show yesterday, catching up with some old pals. Really enjoy that exhibition each January -  the start of the modelling year

    1. Huw Griffiths

      Huw Griffiths

      I'm glad you enjoyed it.

       

       

      That's one show I've been wanting to visit for a number of years.

       

      Unfortunately, it never seems to work out for me.

       

      Oh well, I guess there's always next year (I hope) ... .

    2. marc smith

      marc smith

      Hope you can get there @Huw Griffiths 
      I always enjoy it, as do my usual troupe of pals who attend
      Hope to see you there, at next years show :) 

  8. marc smith

    Expecting BIG redundancy news today. I await with very real trepidation.......

    1. Show previous comments  6 more
    2. truffy

      truffy

      Having been made redundant twice already, I feel for you. Best of luck!

    3. marc smith

      marc smith

      And the BIG news is....... someone from the senior committee failed to sign the proposals
      So they can't tell me what's happening, even following a delayed deadline day!
      Sigh, I've had over 4 and a half years of this..... :(

    4. Captain Kernow

      Captain Kernow

      Oh no, I don't know what's worse! So sorry to hear that it's not resolved yet, Marc, one way or the other. Best of luck, either way!

       

  9. marc smith

    People say "No news is good news" - but I've had no time to work on my latest layout... so there's "no news" there - that's not good news is it? ;)

    1. Show previous comments  8 more
    2. Barry Ten

      Barry Ten

      Good enough for Bowie!

    3. marc smith

      marc smith

      @Barry Ten - if J J Burnel or Norman Watt-Roy didn't use one, it's probably not for me
      I hear tell Kraftwerk wouldn't touch one with a barge pole :)

    4. Barry Ten

      Barry Ten

      kraftwerk-priests-father-ted.gif.bc9a828cdf2103476682002a9f2b2c20.gif

  10. marc smith

    Looking at my profile, it says I last "Won the day on July 16 2013"
    Well, I wasn't aware of winning the day back then for one
    And I suppose this also means my best days are behind me? ;) lol

  11. marc smith

    It's sunny here in Wales..... who'd have thought that? ;)

    1. Show previous comments  4 more
    2. Ian J.

      Ian J.

      I prefer Charlotte Church, or at a push Catherine Zeta Jones... :D

    3. marc smith

      marc smith

      @AY Mod and @Barry Ten- Yes, Cerys is indeed a fine ambassador... I need a cold shower, thinking of her - and that's not related to the unusually warm weather here ;)
      @Ian J. Charlotte and Catherine are also among those I consider to be ambassadors for Wales ;)

      Heck, Scully has been mentioned too.... now I need two cold showers :o
       

    4. Hroth

      Hroth

      Holiday in Wales, its not always raining!

  12. marc smith

    Just realised, in a couple of weeks time - I'll have been an RMweb member for 11 years! Where did that time go? :o

    1. RedgateModels

      RedgateModels

      I've just gone past 12 years .....

    2. AY Mod

      AY Mod

      You need a grey beardy avatar now Marc. ;)

    3. marc smith

      marc smith

      ... or possibly a razor @AY Mod ;)

  13. marc smith

    Is it just me, or is RMweb rather slow at the moment? I suspect it's just me.... but someone please tell me it isn't ;)

    1. AY Mod

      AY Mod

      We've had issues for 24 hours following a software update with security patches which has caused disruption.

  14. marc smith

    Pah! The threat of redundancy is looming again. This time.... its' for real :(
    Ah well, there's always trains.......

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. marc smith

      marc smith

      Cheers for the thoughts folks... however, it's in black & white this time, and in their plans for the future
      They've even stated that our dept as "outside of their plans". 18 months absolute tops :(

    3. Mallard60022

      Mallard60022

      Good luck; another door will be ajar and you will be able to push it open.

    4. marc smith

      marc smith

      Thanks for the good wishes folks. It's a difficult time. Sadly, the Voluntary severance package is absolute rubbish.
      It makes no account for my 30+ years of service. In fact, it's the same offer to someone who has only been employed for two years! :o
      I'm not walking - they'll have to push me!!! 

  15. marc smith

    Looking forward to the Bristol O gauge show next week - my ONE annual train show! :O

    1. marc smith

      marc smith

      Actually, I'm going along to help Barry Ten the day before, in the Small Cardiff Show, hosted by Lord & Butler. So that's two train shows this year... on two consecutive days...

  16. marc smith

    Really enjoyed the Bristol O Gauge show yesterday. "Arun Quay" was worth the entry fee alone :)

    1. Captain Kernow

      Captain Kernow

      A great show and lovely to catch up with you and lots of others too, Marc.

    2. bgman

      bgman

      Agreed, most enjoyable day out, although it wasn't possible to speak to Gordon as the layout was surrounded as usual and deservedly so.

    3. Huw Griffiths

      Huw Griffiths

      Please don't do this to me, guys!

       

      For me, "Bristol O Gauge" is like "Guildex" - a show I'd really like to get to one year - but will probably never be able to sensibly, using public transport.

       

      I'm glad you enjoyed the show, though.

  17. marc smith

    Didn't eat himself fitter, obviously :(

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. John B

      John B

      And Mr Pharmacist

       

    3. Hroth

      Hroth

      Rowche Rumble!

    4. marc smith

      marc smith

      Hey, Lucianni...

  18. marc smith

    They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree museum...

    1. Show previous comments  4 more
    2. bgman

      bgman

      Are they the Chinese ones off eBay for a couple of quid ?

    3. Hroth

      Hroth

      Typical dumbing down. Its like Train Station. Tree museum? Its an Arboretum!

    4. waggy

      waggy

      I talk to the trees but they don't listen to me.

  19. marc smith

    It's got nothing to do with vorsprung durch technic you know

    1. Show previous comments  6 more
    2. Fenway Park

      Fenway Park

      We have shares in Add Blue

    3. vaughan45

      vaughan45

      Duckworth Lewis Method

    4. adb968008

      adb968008

      All the people...

  20. marc smith

    Oh dear! It's been so long since my last visit to RMweb. I really need to start working part time... if only, if only. I'd LOVE to get modelling again :(

    1. mike morley

      mike morley

      And we quite definitely need someone of your considerable talent modelling again!

    2. marc smith

      marc smith

      Such kind words Mike.... I'll show this message to Mrs Smith - she won't believe someone thinks I've got any talent! lol

  21. marc smith

    Had a good day at the Bristol O gauge show on Sunday. It was worth the trip just to see Gilbert's fab layout

  22. marc smith

    Christmas belly is too big, and hasn't started reducing in size yet! :(

    1. Tim Dubya

      Tim Dubya

      don't fight it!

       

    2. 46444

      46444

      One more waffer thin mince pie Mr.Smith?....

  23. marc smith

    PIcked up my Dapol O gauge 08 yesterday - it's lovely! Now I need a decoder, driver, paint etc etc...

    1. Captain Kernow

      Captain Kernow

      All this new O gauge RTR is great, isn't it?!

    2. marc smith

      marc smith

      I know Captain! Sadly, with the advancing years, I don't think I can see my 4mm stock anymore ;)

  24. marc smith

    No time for modelling in ages now. Been absent from the forum far too long. But the Dapol 08 has roused me... a little ;)

    1. Show previous comments  6 more
    2. Andrew P

      Andrew P

      Good to have you back Mark, and looking like you might be modelling again quite soon I hope.

    3. Russ (mines a pint)

      Russ (mines a pint)

      welcome back still following your micro layouts

       

    4. marc smith

      marc smith

      How many of you (us) are old enough to remember the well known phrase "Never fear, Smith is here" ? Anyone recall the TV series that was from :)

  25. marc smith

    No time for modelling in ages now. Been absent from the forum far too long. But the Dapol 08 has roused me... a little ;)

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