Free At Last

R.I.P. Geoffrey Bayldon BBC News I loved watching him as Catweazle and as The Crowman in Worzel Gummidge. They remind me of much happier times.

A good reason to wear a hard hat.

Is this something similar from DCC Concepts... http://www.hattons.co.uk/81131/DCC_Concepts_DCF_BR2_Bearing_Reamer_Pack_x_2/StockDetail.aspx

It takes me longer than that to put the vents on the roof, I would be no good on the assembly line.

Where are the RTR Dapol Stanier coaches assembled that are sold in Hattons (not checked other shops) for £12.00?

Will insulated joiners still be necessary on unifrog points?

Hattons, for one... http://www.hattons.co.uk/270178/Peco_Products_SL_114_Pack_of_24_finescale_rail_joiners_for_Peco_SL_108F_bullhead_track/StockDetail.aspx

Or maybe a ceiling rose.

Several more will jump in to say no one is forcing you to buy it and that candles are available for those that are cash strapped.

5 Piece Set. Product contents5 x extractors (4-11mm).

That sounds like my kind of servicing.

Disconnecting the battery and having a cup of tea appears to have reset the engine management light. So all is now well until the next thing goes wrong.

*Embarrassed* I had forgotten about them. Had the car from new 2003 and had it serviced for the first few years then zilch. I have never kept a car this long but as it has just kept on going I left well enough alone, doing minimal maintenance like annual oil change, topping things up, replacing bulbs and fixing any mot advisory's like brake pads, discs etc. It has just over 72,000 miles on the clock, original exhaust and clutch. I bought an Mx5 at the same time that got serviced for the first three years, and now just gets an annual oil change and any fluid checked. 9,200 on the clock. First new cars I've ever had. When I had Escorts, Cortinas, Seirras I used to change the plugs, filters and oil every 6 months and it was like throwing new stuff away. The Focus Estate only gets used about two or three times a week since I retired seven years ago, the Mazda only on a nice summer day of which we don't get that many of. I prefer to use the bus and train. I know, I deserve all that happens to me.

All parts of plug were accounted for. Put some thick grease on extractor to catch any possible swarf. New plugs in, starts and runs ok. Just been to garage to book an mot for next week, 10 mile round trip with no problem, he said he will reset engine light at same time. Plug brand - Motorcraft.

Driving home yesterday afternoon I became aware the engine was misfiring and the engine light came on, so when I got home I checked the leads then the plugs. First three plugs came out easy enough but the fourth one seemed to turn too easy. This is what I found. Using the bus and train I got to my local Screwfix just before it closed at 8.00pm and bought a set of screw extractors, a set of 5 for £3.99. By the time I got home it was dark so I sprayed some release oil around what I could see of the rest of the plug and left it till this morning. As I had nothing to fit the square end of the screw extractor I filed a square hole in a 10mm nut so it was a tight fit on the extractor then went to work with my new tool, using a 17mm socket with the extractor taped in to stop it dropping out in the deep recess in the cylinder head. On turning the extractor into the remains of the plug I could feel it biting in and was getting worried that it was just going to chew it away, then I heard that dry squeaky noise and here is the result... Just celebrating now with a cup of Assam tea and well deserved ginger nut before putting new plugs in. Fingers crossed there is nothing else wrong and the engine light goes out.

Roll on death.

Why did that feel like reading a poem.

Really enjoyed seeing this layout today at the Liverpool show. Watched it for a while, there was a lot to take in and always something moving. I suppose knowing the location well also made it more interesting. My older brother got brought home by a policeman one day, him and his mate were caught throwing stones at the engines from the footbridge and one hit one of the footplate crew.

I have three Princess Coronations with fixed flangeless trailing wheels, none came with a spare flanged set.

Slightly OT but... A few years ago on a site I was on there was a diesel tank for the site plant. It was opposite the gatehouse where the key was held and all fuel was logged and signed for. Anyone found misappropriating site fuel would be dismissed. I said to my workmates what about that van by the portakabins, no one is bothered about him stealing fuel every day. They looked at me puzzled. I said it is an electric van and there is a lead from it going through the cabin window.

Flanged trailing wheels are a good sign.

I rang back and said I don't want one, they were fine about it.

The makers of our models are manufacturers not manufactures.