tomparryharry

Cat fluff away! No trouble here! I recommend Staffordshire Bull Terrier! Warranted to keep your furry feline a respectable distance from any model! Available from any Dogs Trust, or RSPCA*! *Note. Subject to interview, compatibility, and home checks. Caution! Will require dog walking, and engaging in conversation with other people. Friendly specimens will invariably attract people of the opposite sex. Cheers, Ian.

I must confess I'm a dyed in the wool Western person, but it's nice to see that all of that tutelage by Swindon paid off in the end. The one locomotive they should have never, ever scrapped. Cheers, Ian.

I guess Hornby might re-release the 72xx tank, but this time with the correct GWR roundel. I'm pretty sure the legend didn't appear in the earlier time, until the rebuilds. Bids for the 8th? A re-tooled Dean single. Re-tooled Clerestory coaches. Some new wagons, about 4, complete with those awful couplings that Hornby do so well. Sorry, but the truth hurts. I've just deleted my last paragraph, because if I'd posted it, I'd be in trouble again. Finally, something from the Eastern region, because we haven't seen anything new for the past 6 weeks.... Cheers, Ian. Nearly forgot.... Fishplates.....

Just a quick hike across town, south of the Thames, we find:- HONOR OAK. A quick get out of jail here. Either the LB&SC line, or the SE&CR route.

I'll bet that if you re-open, or apply for change of use, your local friendly ratings officer will be paying you a visit.... However, a lot of MSE's run from a bedroom. The change of retail is unrecognisable from just a few short years ago. Cheers, Ian.

One of the major reasons for smaller shops closing is the increasing commercial rates levied by a local council. A big player will move into an area. They will 'tell' the council how much they will pay, usually not a lot, and well under the going rate. For this, they will put a council over the barrel. "Accept this, or we'll move elsewhere'. The shopkeeper now has 2 issues. One is the major player competitor, the second is the local council pushing up the rates from the council, trying to make up the rateable shortfall. Newport, Isle of Wight is a ghost town of its former self. The main shopping artery is now a half of what it was in 1997, when I moved there. Never mind, the McDonalds is still there, looking after the local Chavanistas.... Cheers, Ian.

For the price of some of these items, I expect a delivery in a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, with a footman running alongside.... Cheers, Ian.

Ryde pierhead is still quite a large-ish station for its track. Nowadays, one in, one out. In its heyday however, it boasted 4 platforms, 2 scissors crossovers, and its own unique tramway. Cheers, Ian.

Hello Folks. I have a slightly offbeat request, although railway related... Do you have an old (but still working) Dot matrix printer, please? If you have an old one that is just taking up space in the loft, or just in the way, then I would be very grateful to collect it, and give it a good home. Many thanks, Ian.

Quality, Quality, Quality. Oh, and fidelity too. I'll always maintain that these two factors will ensure any business. Attention to detail, customer service, that sort of thing. Price is not an issue here, especially in the toy market. If it's good, it will sell. Hornby have proved this time and again. They have fallen by the wayside from time to time, but they have seem to overcome that. Going onto a forum such as this about the monetary aspect of a business is downright laughable, and most likely offensive & rude. If I had a business to run, I wouldn't be paying too much attention to the forum members playing Doomwatch. Is the British market the largest part of Hornby? Or, is it one of the high class models across the globe? To be honest, I'd be laughing if the 'dramatic announcement' is a press release for a new style of fishplates.... Happy modelling! Ian.

Fiat used to do this with their spare parts. Fiat 124 clutch (1200)? No problem! Fiat 128 clutch. The same went for Fiat 850-127-128-124 (small size) clutch. Across the border, different number. Cheers, Ian.

On the way.....

It's how we word our concerns. If you charge in with critism, then then it's a short path to indifference between client & producer. If however, we make 'observations', with recommendations & solutions, we stand a good chance of 'right first time'. It's probably costs far less to make a good model, than a bad model, if you follow my drift. However, you're quite right when you point out that some producers would have an easier ride when they listen. Cheers, Ian.

I'll bring along the old camera this weekend. No silly quotes about things being over-exposed.... Ivor Pentax.

Having fought at the fort, a thought occurred to me Flying from A to B, I could easily be a bee. I come from a long line of bakers, you could say it was bred into me. Do female deer eat doughnuts, or, are they too dear? Finally, are dairymen expensive, or are they just milking it?

We ought to be thankful that the English language continues to evolve generation upon generation. However, I continue to read multiple readings, whilst residing in Reading, where the residual residue resides. Arthur Ritic.

While working at Brecon Mountain Railway, I had a kiddie jump down to try to pass between loco & leading carriage. We were slow moving, at about 2-4MPH, as I drifted down to buffer up. Lucky for me, I had my hand on the brake which allowed us to stop on a sixpence. No buffers here; just the central coupling. When the head disappeared, I thought he'd gone under.Luckily, the kid had stopped short, otherwise I'd have squashed him. I couldn't see him as the loco smokebox obscured my view. Thankfully no harm done, and a quick change of underpants ensued. We had one 'nob' try to cross in front of me with a transit mini bus. The result was a severely crumpled transit, missing it's rear bodywork. However, the van contained 12 army cadets, plus the 'responsible' adult. Cheers, Ian.

"Aaah, Jim Lad. 'Tis the mark of the pasty upon ee"

So, what was that password again? Wear a tin of Carnation milk in the pocket, with the password "The rogering dog is dining out, whilst eating lunch...." No, hang on.. "The dog is eating Carnation milk in long trousers...." No, I'll try again... "The dog knows Roger, who watches Coronation Street after lunch...." Got it! K. Neetrembler.

I forsee a good old cardboard box, just like Airfix of the 1960's Take your old, unused box, and get a discount! Cheers, Ian.

I have allsorts at home. I do like three link. There's nothing to beat a bit of prototypical take-up when a loco moves off. When I operate the shunting puzzle, then it's Kadees. They give a degree of latitude which allows you to operate in a slick manner, essential if you've got the public watching you. Cheers, Ian.

Hi Godfrey, One of my reasons for travelling to Taunton is to measure up the basic dimensions for a module. Cheers, Ian.

No doubt talking about the Bristol & Exeter locomotive.....

I hope it's not habit forming (Groan) NUNHEAD

That is Havenstreet, looking towards Newport. Fireman Stuart Butt (on the footplate) looking backwards. Cheers, Ian