Re6/6

I seem to remember that they were notoriously grumpy?!...or was it Hamblings! 😜

I was also chuffed to see a Matford picture as well from 2011 in there which is now defunct, but could be resurected in the future! Pictures by David B Also there was a nice picture of the late John Watson's 'Laxfield'. A fine piece of modelling from the 80s (MRJ 0) and 10800 has custody of it. It will be seen at this year's RMweb members day at Taunton. It was one of the early P4 layouts which has survived. The scenics are in a very 'mothy' state so some refurbishment is being undertaken as time had taken its toll on the materials of the time. Refreshed scenics on top of John's quality work. His methods and results were very much before their time. Photo by David Brandreth.

Certainly not!😜

Ah yes, the pit. Derick Evans and I built it one winter shortly after DVR (TSR) took over. I think IIRC Geoff Thopson and Fred Heath (ex- Newton Shed) were also involved....Memory is not what it used to be! Regarding 4472s visit to Paignton, my wife became George Hincfiffe's temporary secretary and some 'interesing' conversations were noted between him and the TSR. Ken Hoole was also there with Scotsman. Indeed frightening to think that that was all those years ago!🤕

Yet another ignorant junk dealer.

B

A lovely angry sky George....brilliant!

I use one very successfully (CK hates the thing!). I widened the base track slots to P4 and soldered a pair of wires so that it can be 'hand held' as well (a Baron Harrap modification!)

An interesting curio there Dave in this picture. Note that the running rails are flat-bottom but the checkrail is bullhead. When I visited there back then the chairs were a sort of 'half and half' IIRC! Never saw this anywhere since!

Lovely things Rob!

Sad that Rick is retiring. It comes to us all so a happy retirement to him and Mrs Rick.❤️ A visit to stock up with essentials is now essential. There will be no town model shops in a good part of Devon any more. Sadly, it's way of things nowadays. In past times, his prices for a lot of models were only a quid or two more than from 'box shifters' when p&p is included.

One has to feel for the first farmer on this piece with the way the Government and HST Ltd have conducted themselves after the disasterous cancellation of the northern link. We can only hope that the route land is safeguarded for a future completion but one has to fear not with the present government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001vfkv/countryfile-tamara-way 17 minutes in.

A big and unexpected shock. I was in contact very recently with Nigel discussing Fareham and Bristol. He was a lovely chap. Condolences to his family and friends.

Netherhope Halt

PM sent.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/forum/133-the-railways-of-devon/

Splendid pictures John. Memories of the time before all the track additions after the TSR took over.

My fascination with trains started with Dad's Bowman live steamer hurling around the tinplate track on the lawn or falling off indoors scorching the parquet floor in the hall! My 'beginnings' were with an HD goods set bought by my father (ostensibly for me!) and some extra points and wagons all from Hattons, who will be much missed, I still have it all complete with Hattons price labels! Post Honby Dublo, two rail was next after a gap of some time with all things GW. The delights of ERG cardboard coach and wagon kits cut with razor blades and glued with 'Seccotine' ! I think that the whitemetal under gear came from Hamblings or maybe CCW or Bradshaw Model Products of Brighton. Next came teaching myself to solder with resultant lumpen joints (not enought heat or insufficient amounts of the very corrosive Bakers flux) in order to build a Jamieson nickel-silver 'kit' which are still fun to build. Back then, if one wanted to go beyond HD and Triang , you had to make most things including track. Travelling to school each day from Egham to Waterloo (on BILs, HALs or CORs) on the way home, I would call in at W&H, with the grumpy staff(!), maybe Hamblings or Allan Brett Canon to buy their 'Chairway' track. It was grossly overscale but at least it did look like bullhead....happy memories! Other things took over but many years later interest was rekindled by a visit to a Westminster show and was captivated by the P4 layout 'Heckmondwike' . Nothing for a few years then came the building of 'Matford'. 'Balcombe' and the viaduct came next in 2010 which is still to be completed! Next came 'Parkend Marsh Sidings' which started out as a lockdown project which I thought would only take a few months to build but was only completed last year! There's still a Welsh colliery layout to continue building, 'Rüthi' a Swiss museum layout to start and the late 'Grahame (BGman) Hichens' Italian layout 'Lisanno' to continue with what we thought was in his mind. He left us with some exquisite buildings which need a layout to complement them. Much still to do before decrepitude sets in!

In 1951 my father bought an HD trainset (ostensibly for me!) for my Christmas present which came from Hattons. I still have it all with additional wagons and points in boxes with Hattons price tickets attached. A sad day that they're going.

....but I've trvelled on a bus from a bus staion..........hat...coat!😜

Will do Peter!

That's impressive Peter. I've ordered some!

Just lovely Alex. ...such a feel of the Forest. This one I really love. It reminds me in a strange way of Coleford!

Peter, I've yet to try 'school glue' but I heard from someone in the business (can't remember who!) that the commercial base glue sold by them is a very sinilar consistency to 'school glue' and not PVA. Apparently PVA is rubber based and proprietary basing glues are polymer based. Quite what the effective difference is, I don't know, but in my experience the proprietary stuff works better for me. Much as the difference between hairspray and layering spray! Yes, there is rather a lot of grass so a large quantity of fibres required! The picture shows about 20% that is needed! I'll look into trying some 'school glue' which is probably much cheaper than the commercial stuff.