The Night Mail

[Erichill16]

The modelling is an escape so if I don’t try and get bit of something done every other day or so things build up. Think that’s enough on that subject.

Goodnight

Robert

[Dave Hunt]

Modelling is also a catharsis when things go awry. Today started crappily with everything that could go wrong apparently doing so but then I received some goodies I had on order and got permission from on high to go and try one of them out on the layout. The item in question is a hot wire cutter and I had a most enjoyable couple of hours turning lumps of expanded polystyrene into embryonic bits of 1:43 scale topography. Great fun and a perfect restorative so to keep up the good work now SWMBO has gone to bed for an early night I have awarded myself a small but not insignificant helping of Lagavulin.

 

Until tomorrow people.

 

Stay safe and well.

 

Dave

[Happy Hippo]

Dave

 

 

I had a hot wire cutter but I broke it!

[PatB]

4 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

This modelling lark is getting very tedious.

im building up a train of Bachmann LNER fish vans and just bought another four of the weathered variety. I’ve already got all the factory running numbers so I’m renumbering the new one en block. I’ve a already done a couple last year and all I need to do is change a digit or two and replace them with something different and the result is almost indistinguishable from the factory lettering. 

Anyway, when this latest batch arrived I started removing selected digits and the chalk marking and everthying was going very well. So last night I got them all out ready to add the missing digits and got out my sheet of HMRS transfers and blooming hummer the size is different, just by a bit but noticeable. Obviously last time I did them I didn’t use this sheet but I’ve been through all my transfers and can’t find the ones that are a perfect match. I think I’m going to play the waiting game, I’m sure the correct ones will turn up somewhere, in a drawer, in box etc. I know if I remove all the Bachman lettering and redo the whole numbers the correct ones will turn up. 

I hate having part finished jobs lying about, especially when they are so simple to complete. Grrrrrrrr.

 

I suspect a trawl of the Prototype For Everything thread might reveal that BR sometimes had similar transfer matching problems . 

[The Johnster]

Cambridge Custom Transfers (John Isherwood of this parish) do a sheet for these vans which will overcome your difficulty, Erichill, so ling as you are modelling them in BR livery.  No connection, satisfied customer...

[pH]

For quite a while, I had been looking at a resin loco body on e-bay. Multiple copies available from the seller. Then a second seller started offering them, either getting stock from the first seller or a common supplier. The recommended chassis came from an old, but very well thought of model. Quite a few appear on e-bay, but never at cheap prices and often at ridiculous prices. Having decided to buy the body, I wanted to get the chassis first and after several months got one at what I thought was a reasonable price. Back to buy the body - both sellers have gone!

 

So now I have a loco that is as good as its reputation, but does not fit my location or period at all. I guess I’ll hold on to it and see if/when the body is available again.

 

(I know, I know - first world problem.)

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, pH said:

For quite a while, I had been looking at a resin loco body on e-bay. Multiple copies available from the seller. Then a second seller started offering them, either getting stock from the first seller or a common supplier. The recommended chassis came from an old, but very well thought of model. Quite a few appear on e-bay, but never at cheap prices and often at ridiculous prices. Having decided to buy the body, I wanted to get the chassis first and after several months got one at what I thought was a reasonable price. Back to buy the body - both sellers have gone!

 

So now I have a loco that is as good as its reputation, but does not fit my location or period at all. I guess I’ll hold on to it and see if/when the body is available again.

 

(I know, I know - first world problem.)

It might be worth asking a question about them on the Wright Writes thread there are quiteca few people on there who make resin bodies and are very helpful. The othervpossibility could be that the mould has 'blown' and a new one needs to be produced.  Good luck.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

I've also found modelling to be very helpful in times of stress. Howevervlately I've been using my modelling skills to repair such things as false teeth and glasses. This has resulted in a few brownie points of limited and unpredictable shelf life. I just hope that when another little bag of modelling items appears in the post box I won't get too long an inquisition.  I have yet to point out that the 14BA tap that came recently was first ysed to repair a pair of glasses and has not yet been used on the valve gear for the 4F.

 

Jamie

[pH]

20 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

It might be worth asking a question about them on the Wright Writes thread there are quiteca few people on there who make resin bodies and are very helpful. The othervpossibility could be that the mould has 'blown' and a new one needs to be produced. 

Thanks, Jamie, but this is a pretty specialized US loco. I don’t think they could help.

 

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/430020/

[jamie92208]

11 minutes ago, pH said:

Thanks, Jamie, but this is a pretty specialized US loco. I don’t think they could help.

 

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/430020/

Yes that is fairly specialised, a repowered Alco. There was me imagining some sort of LNER steam loco.  Good luck.

 

Jamie

[Dave Hunt]

1 hour ago, pH said:

Thanks, Jamie, but this is a pretty specialized US loco. I don’t think they could help.

 

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/430020/

 

pH, have you tried contacting the eBay sellers by asking a question about the goods to see whether any more are/will be available? I've done that before successfully.

 

Dave

[Northroader]

8 hours ago, PatB said:

I suspect a trawl of the Prototype For Everything thread might reveal that BR sometimes had similar transfer matching problems . 

 

Transfers? Most wagon lettering was hand painted.

[Tony_S]

My brother in law occasionally asks my advice about things to do with his computers but I can see a few model railway queries heading my way soon. He has his approximately 50 years old trainset stored in the garage. His daughters (age 8 and 4) have found it and seem to think it will be a great summer project to get it going. 
Tony

[Erichill16]

11 hours ago, The Johnster said:

Cambridge Custom Transfers (John Isherwood of this parish) do a sheet for these vans which will overcome your difficulty, Erichill, so ling as you are modelling them in BR livery.  No connection, satisfied customer...

Unfortunately they are LNER ones.

I think the ones on the fish are too large compared to other Bachmann offerings and HMRS sheets and others.

My issue really is I can’t find or remember what I used last time to good effect.

Robert

[Happy Hippo]

7 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I've also found modelling to be very helpful in times of stress. Howevervlately I've been using my modelling skills to repair such things as false teeth and glasses. This has resulted in a few brownie points of limited and unpredictable shelf life. I just hope that when another little bag of modelling items appears in the post box I won't get too long an inquisition.  I have yet to point out that the 14BA tap that came recently was first ysed to repair a pair of glasses and has not yet been used on the valve gear for the 4F.

 

Jamie

This is why I want to buy a scroll saw.  not for modelling but to make parts to fix things for other members of the family.

 

Same with a planer/jointer.

 

However, it would seem that all these big buckaroos have to come out of my modelling budget!

 

As for Tony's nieces and their father's train set:  What a fantastic situation to be in.  A managerial role as director of operations, and forward planning, but with a minimal financial outlay, save the time given.

 

On a more serious note, the hobby needs to bring in the youngsters, and making it appeal to girls can only broaden the interest.

 

My granddaughter is very much into TTTE, but more so since she saw that there were more female characters as locomotives and not in minor roles.

 

Yet we tend to refer to full size live steamers as 'she'.

 

At the risk of instant excommunication in the nether regions I would suggest this may be that they are rather temperamental, flighty, and can be really stubborn; they require a lot of preparation before they can go out. Much persuading, coaxing and gentle handling is required for maximum performance; plus on occasions they can be downright dirty.

 

 

Edited July 24, 2020 by Happy Hippo

[Compound2632]

7 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

There was me imagining some sort of LNER steam loco. 

 

Don't. Just don't.

 

Unless it's by James Holden's uncle or one of those Quaker brothers.

 

34 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

this may be that they are rather temperamental, flighty, and can be really stubborn; they require a lot of preparation before they can go out. Much persuading, coaxing and gentle handling is required for maximum performance; plus on occasions they can be downright dirty.

 

Awdry depicted passenger carriages as female, having in mind no doubt exactly the characteristics you list. All deeply problematical in this day and age. 

[jamie92208]

I was once travelling back from Kings Cross and by chance met up with a sister in law who has an excellent sense of humour. The other two at the table were a rather stuffy and snooty mother and daughter. The subject of steam locos arose in the conversation between Barbara and I extolled the reasons set out above as to why they are female. Barbara was trying not to laugh but the faces of the mother and daughter were an absolute picture.

 

Jamie

 

 

[PatB]

51 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Don't. Just don't.

 

Unless it's by James Holden's uncle or one of those Quaker brothers.

 

 

Awdry depicted passenger carriages as female, having in mind no doubt exactly the characteristics you list. All deeply problematical in this day and age. 

I dunno. ISTR the (female) carriages to be the sensible, responsible characters. Admittedly Mavis and Daisy weren't terribly flatteringly portrayed, but not uniquely so; Gordon, Henry, Thomas and Percy all, at times, exhibited similarly deeply unlikeable behaviour. 

[Stubby47]

26 minutes ago, PatB said:

Gordon, Henry, Thomas and Percy all, at times, exhibited similarly deeply unlikeable behaviour

 

and as for Cranky, Bulstrode, Bulgy and S.C. Ruffy, well...

[Happy Hippo]

24 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

 

and as for Cranky, Bulstrode, Bulgy and S.C. Ruffy, well...

My favourite has to be Evil Diesel.............

 

'Yes Thomas, no Thomas, anything you say Thomas.'

 

Of course these days it's not Evil Diesel, but Devious Diesel.

 

It just doesn't have the same ring to it.

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

All the talk of TTTE has got me thinking slightly evil thoughts.

 

Should I make up faces for my locos and have them all running so adorned at Guildex 2021?

 

Think of the indignation and the apoplexy.

 

How many would storm out?

 

How many wouldn't make it to the door?

[Stubby47]

What would be worse would be making accurate faces for each loco, then putting them on the wrong-shaped loco...

[The Johnster]

TTTE carriages, being female and, shall we say, written about in that period by a lovely man who was nonetheless perhaps less aware of modern views regarding female equality, seem a little in awe and at the same time a little in love with the male locomotive characters, and were (as you’d expect from a male writer of this era) largely submissive and acquiescent; they were coupled up and followed obediently if a little nervously.  
 

Troublesome trucks, OTOH, are blokes, working class, uncooperative, truculent, obstinate, unintelligent, malevolent, thuggish, and very probably trade unionists if not outright communists.  Very similar characters portrayed in a very similar light appear in Wind in the Willows and Famous Five stories, though not quite ‘he looks a bit shifty, I expect he’s foreign’.  
 

‘Oh, timmy, you’re so licky’, said George, a little breathlessly...

 

 

[tomparryharry]

18 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

TTTE carriages, being female and, shall we say, written about in that period by a lovely man who was nonetheless perhaps less aware of modern views regarding female equality, seem a little in awe and at the same time a little in love with the male locomotive characters, and were (as you’d expect from a male writer of this era) largely submissive and acquiescent; they were coupled up and followed obediently if a little nervously.  
 

Troublesome trucks, OTOH, are blokes, working class, uncooperative, truculent, obstinate, unintelligent, malevolent, thuggish, and very probably trade unionists if not outright communists.  Very similar characters portrayed in a very similar light appear in Wind in the Willows and Famous Five stories, though not quite ‘he looks a bit shifty, I expect he’s foreign’.  
 

‘Oh, timmy, you’re so licky’, said George, a little breathlessly...

 

 

 

"If you don't follow me, I'll give you a Buckeye....."

 

Timmy with a capital T, young Johnster.....

[The Johnster]

Does it really matter, so long as there’s lashings and lashings of strawberry jam and fresh cream for tea...

Edited July 24, 2020 by The Johnster