[Christmas 2023, observing the signals.]

Very nice indeed . We need more Caledonian layouts . Might I enquire where the tenement back scenes came from ? I think I saw something similar on a layout called Shieldinch at the recent Paisley exhibition . I just wondered if these are a commercial product ? 

[Stoupayne Marshall progress]

Very atmospheric . Really captures the look 

[Tarting up a 1981 Hornby Spamcan]

Looks very nice indeed and nice to see a loco that meant so much being given as a present 40 years ago still being cherished.  Nice layout too !

[Son of Seafire - Supermarine Seafang F.32]

Must admit I have never heard of it . My Dad worked on Seafires and Fireflies when he did his National Service , fortunately after the war .  Nice build though . Looks a bit like a Sea Fury . Did it evolve into that? 

[An Enormous Naval Build - HMS Nelson - What's in the box.]

My experience of warship building is 1/600th Airfix kits in the 60s/70s, although I never had HMS Nelson.  I've been watching YouTube "The Midwest Model Shop" . He is constructing 1/200 USS Missouri also by Trumpeter. Really fascinating . I think he had some specific etchings for the deck planking . I think the gun barrels are brass . Wow how things have come on in model warship building . Would love to see more of your build .

[A Slightly Smaller Naval Build: HMS Buttercup - Part 2]

My Dad built them for real at Fleming and Fergusson's shipyard on the River Cart, which feeds into the Clyde . He did his engineering apprenticeship there .

 

I've often wondered what it would be like to build a ship kit again . My main issue is where to put it when finished!

[BA, omg...]

Really there’s not much to distinguish airlines these days in normal operation . I think it’s when things go wrong that good airlines shine through . In this respect BA are lamentable . I’ve had a few issues with them over the years. If there’s an issue at Heathrow then they cancel flights and it’s usually the domestic services that get cancelled first.  They assure you your bags will transfer with you onto another flight, but in fact in cases of severe disruption , like bad weather, they truck the luggage up, where of course it arrives 2 days after you do! But the clincher for me was coming back from Miami. Check in was a huge queue covering three flights and was a farce . The Miami plane was 2 hours late  giving us a problem with connecting flights to Glasgow . Arriving at about 8am BA thoughtfully bumped us from the connecting 9am flight , rebooked us for 9Pm ( I’m sure they use the last flight as a mop up for any connection issues during the day)  and gave us a voucher for £10 each to last  us 12 hours in Heathrow . Whoopee !   Huge queue at customer services in Term 5 , guess what their computers systems are down and they can’t rebook us on earlier flights . Yeah right!    So BA  is an experience id rather avoid, regretably not a lot of choice  from Glasgow if travelling further than London . 

[A Dunalastair 1 part 7, in service]

Beautiful. Nice layout too. Love the tenements