Little Muddle

[Simond]

The youth of today (as exemplified by the two who persist in living in my house, drinking all the beer, and eating the contents of the fridge) tend to the Humpty Dumpty view that “words mean what I want them to mean, nothing more, nothing less”.  This is not a sentiment with which I am in much agreement, as it does make communication an even less certain process.
 

Whilst I have no problem with “freight”, or “goods”, I have no truck with “train station”.  I know it’s logical, (it’s reasonable to assume that trains will, from time to time, be stationary at them, it’s fairly obvious that in all but the most extreme cases, railways tend to be so on a rather more permanent basis) but I just don’t like it.

 

atb

Simon

[KNP]

Two cattle wagons finished.

Well, I say finished for now but no doubt I will think should have done that better/different and they will end up back in the workshop!

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't realise until the last picture how thick those old Cooper Craft transfer where.

Decalfix used but didn't soften them up much but then they are 30+ years old so will be a bit stiff in their old age....!

Compare them to the new Ratio ones (wagons 3 & 4) and there is a world of difference.

Not one of the new wagons (1 to 4) are the same shade of grey.

Started with Vallejo London Grey and then either darken with Black Grey or lightened with Sky Grey.

Nearest one had a new technique for me, darker grey but each plank over washed with a mixture of London/Sky Grey to give effect of weathering planks but mainly to the centre of the planks.

Washed varied between applications to change consistency.

 

The other thing to point out, many of you may know this but it might help someone out there, never cut out a transfer with a normal cutting/slicing moment of the knife as this cut can make the edge uneven and rough even with a sharp blade.

I always cut them out to big and then use the knife like a guillotine with a steady downward cut to trim to size, this gives a nice clean cut and can push the edge down to fix to the model better.

Edited March 25 by KNP

[checkrail]

2 hours ago, Simond said:

Whilst I have no problem with “freight”, or “goods”, I have no truck with “train station”.

Did you mean 'I have no wagon with "train station" '?

[jcm@gwr]

10 minutes ago, checkrail said:

Did you mean 'I have no wagon with "train station" '?

 

No, he's just not 'open' to the idea!

[KNP]

Mr Porter's (Stationmaster) lean has been sorted....

 

 

Edited March 25 by KNP

[gismorail]

I do like the cattle wagons Kevin and as you have said considering the 30+ years since introduction they were kits that were well ahead of their time. I reckon the transfers look OK as considering they are painted onto open planking the numbers could well have bit a little larger than normal and as normal the weathering is spot on 

[Limpley Stoker]

I do love an eye level platform view- this is focus stacking at its best - I feel I have finally set foot in Little Muddle for my staycation!

[KNP]

As mentioned earlier Mr Porters lean was rectified.

This is how Stan Masters (Porter) ensured he didn’t fall over again!!!!

 

 

Now he can’t do anymore sweeping!

Edited June 14, 2020 by KNP

[MrWolf]

Why am I thinking that one of them is saying: "Next train's gone!"

[The Johnster]

Or, as I recently asked a Cardiff bus driver, 'are you this one or the next one'?  To his credit he bounced back straight away with 'no, I'm the previous one'.

[KNP]

 

Edited March 25 by KNP

[Stubby47]

[tannoy voice] The next train to depart from Little Muddle - and, yes, it is classed as a train - the next train to depart from Little Mud- Oi!, you reading the paper, are you listening? - the next train departing from Little Muddle will be the 12:45 to Encome Town. This journey of a few miles may take until Wednesday, if you're lucky.[/tannoy voice]

[St Enodoc]

30 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

and, yes, it is classed as a train

[Oldddudders]

2 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

[tannoy voice] The next train to depart from Little Muddle - and, yes, it is classed as a train - the next train to depart from Little Mud- Oi!, you reading the paper, are you listening? - the next train departing from Little Muddle will be the 12:45 to Encome Town. This journey of a few miles may take until Wednesday, if you're lucky.[/tannoy voice]

I am reminded of the SM at Dorking when I sold tickets there in the 66/67. He was standing by the ticket barrier, microphone in hand, announcing trains. A woman stood near him, waited patiently until he had finished and then asked "Is that right?" 

[Tallpaul69]

What would the folk from the 30s have made of social distancing?

Or all the current locals in our town for that matter:-

The latest local transport victim of "SD" is that our high street, that already only allows buses to go through its full length with stops, and a small amount of parking outside the shops, is to be "pedestrianised" due to Social Distancing requirements!

So the buses will stop on the busy "bypass" to the high street, some 5 mins walk for the disabled away, with pedestrian crossings at each end only, and no shelter along the way if it rains.

Our District Council (based 30 miles away(!)) say they are actively working to improve shoppers experience of the High Street?

You couldn't make it up?

Keep smiling

Regards

Paul

[KNP]

Seated Dad [angry voice]

    Did that chap with that tannoy voice say we wouldn't arrive until Wednesday!!!!

 

Son [winey voice]

    Think so Dad, are we there yet?

 

Dad [quiet voice]

    Thought he did,

    Son we are not there yet as we haven't even started the journey.

 

Son [fed up voice]

    I know that Dad otherwise we would be sitting on the train

 

Mum [knowledgeable voice]

    Are you sure that is called a train? 

    Did the tannoy chap say which Wednesday?

 

Dad [resigned voice]

    Not that again....

    One, we are not there yet as we haven't started and

    Two I have on good authority it is called a train and

    Three, no he didn't actually say which Wednesday!

 

Daughter [questioning voice]

    Have you seen my Teddy?

    I think I have left it at home!

 

Dad, Mum and Son [ exasperated voice]

    We'll get Granny to post it as at this rate he'll arrive before before us...…..!

 

 

Edited March 25 by KNP

[Stubby47]

Son [superior know-it-all voice] Well, we're not going anywhere till the guard changes the red lamp on the front.

[The Johnster]

Or, yours truly back in the 70s in response to posh lady looking for her 1st class reserved compartment on mystex, platform 1 Cardiff Central (my view was that 1st clarce was not in the spirit of things  on a mystex).  She’d in all innocence asked ‘excuse me, porter (well I’m not going to be sympathetic after that, now, am I), ‘is this ‘A’ coach’?

 

Irresistible, no court would convict, ‘Yes, madam, this is a coach, that is a locomotive, you are standing on a platform, this (waving arm inclusively) is a railway station, and the grumpy looking gentleman over there is the driver...!

 

Johnster, a guard and not a porter, 1, posh lady, nil.  

[Stubby47]

11 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

Or, yours truly back in the 70s in response to posh lady looking for her 1st class reserved compartment on mystex, platform 1 Cardiff Central (my view was that 1st clarce was not in the spirit of things  on a mystex).  She’d in all innocence asked ‘excuse me, porter (well I’m not going to be sympathetic after that, now, am I), ‘is this ‘A’ coach’?

 

Irresistible, no court would convict, ‘Yes, madam, this is a coach, that is a locomotive, you are standing on a platform, this (waving arm inclusively) is a railway station, and the grumpy looking gentleman over there is the driver...!

 

Johnster, a guard and not a porter, 1, posh lady, nil.  

 

"Customer service" eh, oh for the good old days...

[The Johnster]

They weren’t customers in those days, they were passengers.  Another favourite, if one complained about a late running train from that direction, was to point out that ‘the Severn Tunnel’s under water, you know...’. 
 

You had to remind them who was in charge  occasionally!

[Harlequin]

Bing Bong!

<Pinches nose, turns on echo machine>

We apologise for the late departure of the 6.52 from Liddle Muddle.

This is due to the presence of the unearthly black object on the platform.

For your safety, please remain frozen and continue to ignore the device, which may be sending images of you to a higher dimension.

Engineers have been informed and they will be here as soon as they have opened their crate of specialised tools.

Thank you.

 

[Siberian Snooper]

On several occasions whilst I was a bus driver, time 09.15,  arrive at a stop, passenger gets on "wot 'appened to the 08.10 and the 08.40?" me" Well I can't tell you wot 'appened to the 08.40, but your on the 08.10." "Your late!!" me " yeah and getting later, the more you stand there and discuss it." Passenger storms off in a huff, and I wait patiently until she's sat down comfortably. Other times are available and reasons are many and varied, but the most common was an RTA somewhere or other. I think the worst one was on a Friday afternoon during the summer at Callington about 15 miles away, average delay 2 1/2 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MrWolf]

Customers are a pain in the backside aren't they? Whilst trying to rig up a tow on a P.O.S. Leyland National single decker that had decided to grenade its transmission (a tediously common occurrence) in pouring rain. A woman demanded: "How long is the next bus?" The Midland Fox mechanic replied: " About twenty eight feet, same as this one!"

[KNP]

Good morning everyone.

 

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the latest residents of Little Muddle.

They arrived a month or so ago with a group order from Modelu and wasn't until I finished the cattle wagons that they moved into the make up department.

 

Without more ado here is.

 

PC Dibble and his trusted steed

and

Rex the shopkeeper

 

 

 

 

 

Again they are temporarily placed to ensure I was happy with the set up, with that I must say seems to work straight out the box!!! 

 

Cathcott cottages need to be totally finished and fixed to the base - hence gaps.

For the shop front I am just going to do a couple of metal signs and a rack of papers, it was pointed out after my first sign effort that there would only be locals that visited and they, after all, would know who and where his shop was.

 

PS - another cattle wagon is on its way then that should be enough - !!!!

Edited March 25 by KNP

[Worsdell forever]

Nice to see they're 2 metres, sorry 6' apart.