lapford34102

Interesting that if that's the EP shown on the Engine shed page it's an original unrefurbished VEP!! Stu

My father spoke of Weymouth firing turns for Swindon trains via Devizes and Chippenham, no dates as I recall but must have been 40's or 50;s. He particularly recalled the service than ran on Christmas Day stopping everywhere. Not really relevant but there were also the late war services between Portland and Devizes carrying POW's. Stu '

Many would argue, with some justification, that the Lima based body of the Railroad version is better than the SD version. Get one and indulge in a bit of super detailing of your own which is what I expect to do :-) Stu

Just to clarify something if possible, is the "Lady with the Lamp" set not connected at all to this dispute. Stu

Whatever your view on this somewhat crazy situation what we'll probably need is a set of 4mm Lawyer figures. Stu

Because there's nothing else except their own Lima retread around. I'll be looking when the blue one appears to see exactly what they've done and whether they've got the details consistent for the loco. The website says pre-tops ??? The Railroad Fragonset 31 is tempting plus a chance to do some modelling on it. Stu

So am I. Not overly surprised that Hornby might have been trying to eke out as much as they could from their existing 14XX and autocoach but a bit baffled that no-one - Dapol obviously - else has taken a punt now the DJM 14XX is long past. We've got decent models of both types of GWR railcar which rather highlights the gap. A Class 230, possibly a bit too left field but you are right, it ticks boxes when you think about it. There's a few other things I would like to see but not long to wait now. Be interesting to see what we are actually chatting about in the morning :-) Cheers Stu

Agree but would still be happy if only one brought a decent 14XX, if a new "classic" autocoach appeared that would be the cherry on top. Stu

All getting far too exciting, perhaps we need a bit more of this https://punch.photoshelter.com/image/I0000q.ZchBJUGyg Stu

Hi, I'm sure we can discuss that point at leisure but I feel there's a particularly large group at one end of the political spectrum of a size and volume we don't normally have. That may be coloured by having two local and adjacent MP's of the same party at loggerheads on the local radio over Covid rules with some frankly specious arguments being pushed by one. Sacred Cow ? I'll still argue that. Headlines like "safe in our hands" are usually trotted out by papers at elections seeking to support this or that party. It's not what I believe many are thinking given the scrutiny the NHS have been under the past couple of years. Cheers Stu

I would argue that the NHS is a religion or sacred cow is actually a bit of a myth and that most people who think about, especially now, realise that it probably needs "modernising" for want of a better term. The idea we might be pushed toward the US model is a genuine fear with many, me included having had a recent conversation where the only solution put forward was complete privatisation of the serrvice. Various bits have been already and has caused unnecessary problems, example cited on request. I doubt anything is being "conveniently ignored" rather on how do we go about getting a concensus on what we need to do. We have a particularly polarised political environment at the moment so no easy route there, a Royal Commision might be a first step but they don't a sparkling record. Stu

You've made some some very good points in recent post Andy though Hobby has a valid stance as this can't go on much longer.The NHS+Social Care needs a cold hard look , everyone seems to agree on that, and maybe the sooner the better though getting a social and political concensus on the way to go unlikely to be easy. Daughter's view of their current situation is that they may not be overwhelmed but they're effectively saturated at the moment. She's a Lead Clinical Occupational Therapist and pulling 12 hour shifts as she's the only one left standing in her group. No-one's going to give her a bonus, tell her her to take next week off or even apologise to her family for the resultant disruption. We saw her before Christmas and she's clearly knackered but will undoubtedly keep going while we're hoping nothing gives. This is just one very small cog in a one very big machine. One thing that's beginning to rankle her and, I suspect, others is the assorted talking heads going around praising the NHS for all their hard work. Her view is words are cheap, do something! An anxious Dad just having a blast of her behalf. Happy New Year! Stu

A 14xx to compete with the one Hornby announces. Somewhat delusional but.... Stu

NS hi-nose 38, very tempting Stu

First estimates of vax + booster effectiveness against Omicron https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59696499 A faint glimmer perhaps Stu

Hi, The 33008 body has the right livery for your period but depending on how accurate you want to be it has the modifed exhaust port which only a few Cromptons had with this livery. Have to look up the numbers if needed. Could be a relatively straightforward renumber job but the name will need removing which might not be quite as simple Just as an example Railtec do this https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3231 6561 is a bit late as it appeared v late 67 or 68 after steam had gone from the Southern Region Stu

For a number of years there used to be one held at what was the Black Lion Centre in Gillingham (Kent). Whilst there's a lot of cross-over between disciplines now the feedback then was it was fine for the general public but there wasn't enough of any particular area to really grab the interest. Maybe a 50/50 mix of Warley and Telford would work though the only way to find out is try it I suppose. Stu

This might explain why - T cells https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53764640 Same here, adds a tad more confidence. Stu

The 74's weren't "woefully underpowered"on diesel, it was adequate for what they needed to do off the 3rd rail which included cross London transfers. They did get to Weymouth for a time but only on shortish parcels turns. A Crompton all the way from Waterloo to Weymouth was almost unknown, I can't recall the boat ever been diesel the whole way. After the 74's went they used 73's to Bomo. To get back on topic perhaps Hornby will give us a 74....... :-) Stu

Re tbhe Spit Vc Airfix have also brought out a new 72nd Vc in their mainstream range which does have both types of wingtips in the kit. The starter kit seen had no cockpit to speak of, the 72nd one does. He took a lot of cockpit shots. Overall episode a bit.....! Stu

Interesting Mossie DLI, who's decals? Something else FAA, Sword's 72nd Gannet AEW3, an aircraft I've always wanted to model. Be tempted to do the COD and a T5 versions to go with it. Thanks for looking Stu

The Custom House is the building below the writing, you can just see it's clocktower in the Pacific231G's picture, the buildings just above the writing are now a car park ! Two shots of the site now The chalk cliff just down from the tunnel entrance I imagine if the station had have stayed open the the cliff face would have been concreted up to reduce the the chance of a cliff fall or at least given some support like the section here also just along the prom. Stu

I don't think Ramsgate was ever a major fishing port, more cross Channel and commercial traffic. The railway was conceived mainly to cater for the holiday traffic. Dark grey, tan stained, etc etc. I had a go at a chalk face for Drewry and took my cue from the cliffs around Dumpton Gap but as eastwestdivide points out it tends to "wash out" when photographed and the same seems to be true of model attempts. Having a look at old photos of the station the face looks quite overgrown in places. Possibly like the cliff in the photo here https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/anger-as-dumpton-toilets-close-132547/ You're making a very good job of modelling the station as if it had lasted longer. I've often wondered what it would have looked like if it had survived into the 3rd rail era. Today it's an on-going development of flats, retail and a hotel which is a major improvement after the long and chequered history of the site. Stu

You say "old" 03 so assume you mean the old Mainline style version with split chassis rather than the newer Bachmann version. If it's a vac braked version you're after then really just new handrails. If air braked then the tanks and compressor housing that replaced one of the bonnet doors plus pipes etc. The tanks and housing aren't difficult to scratch build. Stu

No, sorry, my schoolboy error as my wife pointedly pointed out! It's the NHS app the one with your prescriptions, test results, Covid "passport". Incidentally there's a delay apparently in getting booster jab info to both GP and NHS app. Taken 5 days to get to GP but nothing yet on the app. Incidentally (2) no card or other proof of having jab at time we had it, also no bit of paper saying what we had just had. At the pool met the Pfizer lady who wrote the thing and mentioned this, was a bit surprised. Stu