Russell_P

Gosh Paul you have made some great progress on the locomotive. Well done. I'm sorry I've not paid as much attention as I would have liked to your progress, but on the date you posted this comment I was in hospital for a further cancer operation. I'm one of a growing number of firefighters who over a long career have contracted various forms of the big C. Not looking for sympathy here, but I am in remission and hopefully will stay that way for a long time. So as you might imagine my modelling too something of a break. One of the other things I did a while ago was to establish a national support group for firefighters and your new King must have thought it was worth something. and on the recommendation of our government I was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Our equivalent of your MBE apparently. My sons said jokingly that if the government knew of my dedication to rail research and model building I'd probably get another gong; Anyway what I was going to add was that my wife and Me did a "return" visit to Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast and found that the rebuilding of the area was amazing and we took several train trips while there. I have some scenic pictures I could send you privately if you wish. Be Well All Russell

Hi Paul l cant understand how i missed this project. How wonderful. I love it for two reasons: l served / worked for UNPROFOR 93 through 96 and their locomotives are very similr to our NZ Rail EMD s we have used here in variations since 1955. l was based in Split for over a year which included North Port. also managed several trips to Zadar but much was restricted during the conflict. Good luck with your project Russell Postlewaight. An 0 scaler in Wellington New Zealand

Most lifts and lift shafts are of fire rated construction. At least here in NZ Russell Fire Inspector NZ Fire Service

Hi Rob The 1:50 models are built by an ex London fire fighter called Paul Slade. I have several of his models and the are appreciably smaller than my 1:48 models. Thus the may look even worse against your 1:43 items. I havent veen in touch with my friend yet as I spent 2 weeks with my sons and their kids over Christmas. As you know its summer here so there was lots of beach as well as the usual festivities. I'm just getting back into my modelling but catching up on my work as a fire investigator for our City fire brigade. Russell

There is a 1:43 Dennis F8 kit available from fellow New Zealander Paul Berntsen and the late Bob Brown's Classic Commercials range. Well out of first responder role they were stil used for training and releif pumps well into the 1980s. So one wouldnt look astray in the station yard in that role in the time period you are modelling. Be Well All Russell

As a firefighter with over 40 years in the career service I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Thanks Russell