Owd Bob

So much for freedom of speech on here and to someone with a differing view from a mod' and someone who sees it from the other side of all the oh so perfect appraisals of products. AY has stopped CME from posting on this very thread and has barred him for a week for daring to be honest in his own opposing appraisal, until he decides what to do with him next.

Albion Market was a supposed spin off from 'Corrie' i think i remember there were once rumours that 'Hilda Ogden' was supposed to be seen shopping there in one ep' and you've ruined The Water Margin for me now ejstubbs, i thought it was based on fact!

No! It's not that petethemole It's just pure bone idleness and lazyness for this brainwashed generation to actually open their gobs or move their necks around to have a proper conversation.

Watching my youngest and her boyfriend sat together on the sofa side by side, both twiddling about on their mobiles, and then i realise they are actually texting/talking to each other via the phones...what the...??? is that about!

I have the 'Water Margin' on DVD, i was lucky to find the whole un-opened box set for a fiver at the charity shop, i'm just half way through watching it, it was always on BBC2 repeated late on after eleven pm from memory in the early '80's. I used to love the western series 'Branded' with Chuck Conners. 'Michael Bentines Potty Time' was fun and i loved the models they made for it.

Wow! Great, and it shows off the height and the track gradients well.

Tex! here is 08 611 at Newton Heath depot Manch' in 1981. Unofficially named 'Dewsnap' Hope it helps.

We got the grille squares cut out of the two bonnet side panels over the last few days so as to fit two metal grilles which i got off e-bay a several months ago, they look to be 1960's ex military surplus to me and came in the usual MOD type brown paper so they are well made and look to be enameled. I've riveted them on from the rear using the grilles original fixing holes, and we put a bit of 'No Nails' around the grille/hole edges to act as a sealant. The round hole is for a future fuel gauge which may or may not be a working one, but i do have the chrome surround and the glass to fit into it. I'm not happy with the red paint i got for the loco' as seen already painted on the bonnet, so i'll be stripping that lot off soon! lol. Ten small alloy kitchen drawer door handles for the side panels have been ordered, only eight are needed but they were a job lot going cheap they have'nt arrived yet, so there's a few more holes to drill before i can even think about what paint and colour to use on it next.

Trial & loose fitting some panels whilst the Sun shines, most will need spacers behind them, so i'll be using large rubber tap washers in the hope of stopping any future rattling. I'm hoping to get the steel cab panels tacked on this week. The mock fuel filler is the top screw on/off half of a kids pound shop bike bell. I have a mock oil breather as well to make but i do have all the parts. I forgot to add the cab roof when i took these pics' it is finished and just needs some hinges fitting and painting up.

I have eight 'o' gauge diesels, the 3 Dapol 08's i have are yet to turn a wheel and being over two years old will probably be seized up by now The five others are all Heljans which fall to bits every time i take them out of their boxes, no matter how careful i am. It's a lot of dosh to spend for what could turn out to be static dust collecting ornaments. All mine are up for grabs so why not take a risk on a bargain...you never know they might run ok and bits might just stop falling off them in someone else's hands...but keep the super glue handy just in case.

C.M.E. Our coal man also had Bedford TK's, the council dustcarts around here were almost always the small Bantam/Karrier types with those pull down shutters on a half round bin type rear body Then there was the 'Pop' mans wagons Again they were either TK's or Ford 'D' cabs. We had the 'Corona' and 'Alpine' pop firms coming round. Then there's all the Ice Cream vans Bedford CA's mainly, and all with Italian sounding names which were all beautifully sign written, we had one big posh van that would come around, think it was a Morris? Maybe Mr. Whippy with pink and cream paintwork, it looked like the type of van as seen in the old 'Tufty' safety films/ads' that were out at that time in the late '60's....Ah! Willy the Weasel what a great actor he was, it was so sad when he ran behind the ice cream van and got hit.....and survived!

My mate came around over the weekend and did some cutting and drilling for me, i just did the easy stuff and stuck the rivets and bolts in the holes and then sprayed the bonnet up. Managed to get and fitted two alloy cupboard door handles which i found at the local DIY shop for ten bob each! The two side panels can be etch primed today whilst its surprisingly lovely warm weather, i do still need eight more smaller handles for the side panels which i can find and add later.....and cheap i hope! It all adds a bit of interest and detail rather than plain blank sides.

Cheers CME, the coal wagon started off as a £3 charity shop find, which i cut about a bit! Made it from my memories of our local coal man coming around the streets back in the '60's. Coal sacks were modelling clay, the two weights made from those plastic 'size' things found on the top of coat hangers, filled, sanded and then some small brass screw in eyelets fitted.

Jazz! it gets worse poor Hroth lol...i have the likes of Tommy Steele with 'A white sports coat and a pink carnation' Anthony Newly..'Why' Why? indeed not because i love it at all! And Jimmy Youngs 'The Man from Laramie' not a bad version but i prefer the film, the whole heavy pile of future plant pots and ash trays is of this ilk.. Something else i've noticed all things seem heavier.

...when you still have 78rpm records, admittedly they are hand mi downs from my parents.