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The Night Mail


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The arrival of the grandchildren rather slowed my progress down this afternoon as I ended up as the outdoor entertainment manger.  this involved playing football, hiding amongst the undergrowth that tops 'Bantam Hill', so called as we once had a chicken run there, and setting up the tramplette, slide and other garden toys.

 

Time also had to be spent digging out new potatoes from the veg plot.  Normally a few minutes work, extended to a quarter of an hour as each potato had to be investigated named and placed in the bucket.  Fortunately the novelty of named potatoes did not last long enough for them to be remembered as the potatoes were first transferred to and then washed in the kitchen sink.

 

A few minutes were stolen in the afternoon to enable me to fit the new filler valve to the gun.

 

However, a quick test fire showed that the gun is now firing about 1 inch over to the left at 15 metres.

 

I suspect this is largely down to me  carrying out some work on the sight whilst the gun was hors de combat.

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3 hours ago, Doncaster Green said:

 .........

 10 days later I was admitted to the RAF hospital at Wegburg where all four wisdom teeth were removed under a general with the explanation that they were in there anyway and the other two would only cause problems in the future!   The slightly worrying aspect of all this was, while partaking of only lemonade at a street bbq the night before, a Squadron Leader Dentist, beer in hand, approached me and said he was glad to see I was off the alcohol  as he would be seeing to me on the morrow!

 

It's good you can laugh about it - afterwards

 

I too had four impacted wisdom teeth removed at Wegburg in the mid 70s. The Sqn Ldr surgeon was one Tony Quant, brother of the famous Mary, and was quite a p*ss head. Could it be the same bloke?

 

Dave 

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I had four wisdom teeth removed under GA in early 1967. I was in Men's Surgical, and the other patients thought I must have died, so long was I in theatre. My dentist had had to take out at least one other tooth, so large were the offending items. 

 

Losing all my wisdom at 18 is my excuse for a lot of things in life....

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50 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

 so long was I in theatre. 

You sound like a retired Actor.............

 

And the illustrious Ashcombe plays on this long association, and makes you work front of house at every opportunity.

 

Smart lady!

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20 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

Smart lady!

She is. Spends more time on her appearance than her late predecessor! And, if I'm in the country at the time, we probably do FOH on the same night, now sometimes with me as manager. And actually with a full house being rather more than 200 souls, it is a job I need to take seriously. 

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5 hours ago, Florence Locomotive Works said:

I’ve seen both those planes, I almost went for a ride in one this time last year. I believe they were DeHavilland Beavers? We have some friends who own a non working farm outside of Spokane, bear the town of Tekoa, so on occasion I venture north into the pacific Northwet.

 

Yes, it was a de Haviland tour plane from CdA. Pilot plus five passengers including three children. The other plane was a Cessna out of Lewiston. Two on board.

 

Sounds like they flew straight into each other while flying at low level. Closing speed would likely be above 200 mph.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/least-8-people-including-3-173615773.html

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16 minutes ago, AndyID said:

 

Sounds like they flew straight into each other while flying at low level. Closing speed would likely be above 200 mph.

 

What is so sad about collisions like these is that they are  often avoidable:  If only one or both of the aircraft had been fitted with one of the low cost anti collision systems, such as FLARM, which have been developed especially for the general aviation market.

 

Eventually I think we will see a change in legislation that makes it mandatory for any powered GA aircraft to be fitted with some form of collision warning system

 

 

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2 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

I too had four impacted wisdom teeth removed at Wegburg in the mid 70s. The Sqn Ldr surgeon was one Tony Quant, brother of the famous Mary, and was quite a p*ss head. Could it be the same bloke?

 

Dave 

Unfortunately not Dave, this was 1990 and the only famous sibling this guy had was Jack the Ripper judging by how my mouth felt for a couple of days.   What I should have said was one of the Floyd tracks I listened to during my eye op was ‘Comfortably Numb’!

 

John

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I know this is a bit early, but could I remind those of us of a certain age to

 

HAVE A FLU JAB.

 

This is vitally important in 2020 because the thought of Covid and Influenza at the same time …..

 

Bill

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2 minutes ago, bbishop said:

HAVE A FLU JAB.

 

This is vitally important in 2020 because the thought of Covid and Influenza at the same time …..

Thanks Bill,

 

A timely reminder that I will certainly be heeding.

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11 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

I had four wisdom teeth removed under GA in early 1967. I was in Men's Surgical, and the other patients thought I must have died, so long was I in theatre. My dentist had had to take out at least one other tooth, so large were the offending items. 

 

Losing all my wisdom at 18 is my excuse for a lot of things in life....

At the tender age of 11 I was informed by a dentist that my mouth was too small. Those of you that know me may well doubt that dentists qualifications. However she said that I would have to have all my No 6 molars out so that my no 7's would move forward so that there would be room for my wisdom teeth to erupt. I had to go to Kendal and stay with the dentist who was a family friend. I duly had the 4 teeth out under a general (gas ) and was not a very happy bunny the next morning. However the house was alongside Grayrigg bank and I was somewhat cheered up the next morning to be able to watch and hear a Duchess pounding up the bank in the last summer of them being in service. I then caught the bus back home to Settle.  In the end my wisdon teeth all came through OK and I still have them. However ever since then I have had to point out to dentists that my no 6 teeth are actually no 7's etc. Interesting in French.

9 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

What is so sad about collisions like these is that they are  often avoidable:  If only one or both of the aircraft had been fitted with one of the low cost anti collision systems, such as FLARM, which have been developed especially for the general aviation market.

 

Eventually I think we will see a change in legislation that makes it mandatory for any powered GA aircraft to be fitted with some form of collision warning system

 

 

When I was in the US in 2005 there seemed to be reports of light planes crashing nearly every day. One of them came down on Vail pass the day after I cycled over it. This one sounds bad.

 

Jamie

Edited by jamie92208
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On 05/07/2020 at 22:22, Happy Hippo said:

 

 

Of course, now you have posted the pictures, the collective 'we', want to know more. (As an aside the first  point building I attempted was in 009.  Surprisingly it worked!)

 

Trials and tribulations and diversions into other interesting directions  are all part of our ethos, but we still all like trains.

 

Our followers who do have their own threads are at liberty to either post here, or just let us have the appropriate link(s).

 

 

Well you asked for it. 

Ive been been interested in narrow gauge since being a teeenager and first  took up 009 modelling in the late 70s whilst still at school.  I became a member of the South York’s group of the 009 society and built a bit of stock to operate on their layout. I drifted away from 009 when I went to university but always had a soft spot for the Welsh Highland Railway and would  buy any kits that I came across. I never thought I’d build an accurate model of the WHR but that didn’t matter.

I few years ago I decided I’d better make use of a baseboard that had been made for me and decided to resurrect the 009 stock. I bought some more kits and some rtr bits as well As I have some genuine Welsh Highland Railway  (WHR) I thought the initials of my fictitious layout would have to be WHR. Hence Wentborough and Holmfield Railway!

That ends part one of my layout blog.

Unfortunatley the layout is complete (as much as a layout is ever complete) so there won’t  any pictures of progress but if ‘you’ want I’m happy to post pictures and information about the layout. Even if it’s only to start the ball rolling. (Surely there’s a better analogy than that !)

Robert

 

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Anti-collision systems in aircraft are all well and good but a constant, active lookout is still an essential feature of good airmanship and lack of it is one of the main causes of collisions or airmisses. 

 

Thanks for the heads up on flu jabs Bill. In recent years I haven't been particularly concerned whether or not I have one but now......

 

More topographical work done on the layout today but still at the foamboard,balsa and cereal packet stage on the part I'm doing rather than spreading plaster everywhere so the workshop is still multicoloured rather than a overall white. One downside to the amount of diluted glue, watercolour washes and plastering that has been going on recently is that portions of the steel track I'm using is going rusty! Mind you, that could save me having to paint it all although there will be a lot of cleaning of the rail head to do before long if I'm going to play trains run my locos to check all is well.

 

Judging by recent posts, the presence of wisdom teeth is something of a rarity among Night Mailers. I wonder if an outside observer would read anything into that.........

 

Right, muggacocoa and eyelid inspection time I think. Night night all.

 

Dave

 

PS Just seen Erichill 16's post - pictures? Yes please.

Edited by Dave Hunt
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After I married, I started going to my wife's dentist.  I forget wht I said, but she sent me down to a specialist to have "upper 8 & 8" removed.  I nearly fainted with anticipation just sitting in the dental chair.

I don't remember my detachable retina operation or the follow up cataract treatment. I do remember that they let my wife wheel me down to the car with no post-op interview or meds and the eye got infected.

 

I've suggested various places that the older dentist chair -- with all the tools and washbasins and lights hung from it -- would make a wonderful modelling furniture.

 

Edited by BR60103
new idea
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2 hours ago, BR60103 said:

I've suggested various places that the older dentist chair -- with all the tools and washbasins and lights hung from it -- would make a wonderful modelling furniture.

 

I've had similar thoughts. However the drill would have to be one of those cord driven ones rather than the air rotor.  Eric, pictures of the WHR please.

 

Jamie

Edited by jamie92208
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Meanwhile, in the Impermanent Way department, the printer has been cranking out some "proper" flat-bottom sleeper panels. It does take a little time but it can produce them as fast as I can stick 'em down (and it doesn't have to stop for tea-breaks, and other things).

 

DSCN4913.JPG.86027ed0d5a3ae79023d5205165042a9.JPG

 

That's a sample in front of the printer.

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Richard,

Where are you with the Small Layout Competition at Guildex 2021?  I was grateful that Telford was cancelled this year as it is difficult to get bits and bobs from Germany at the moment, so progress on Blindheim was falling behind.  I'm signed up for the new venue at Stafford next September and I have no excuse not to provide a finished layout.  

It has been a benefit to be building a small layout.   Boards of 4' x 1' are easy to move around on my own and there isn't too much work to be done.  I can actually visualise the finished layout.

Bill

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Bill, 

 

 

I was on schedule to get Pantmawr Sidings just about finished for Guildex 2020, but ended up contacting Nick Dunhill on 23 May  to withdraw from the 2020 event. Even back then, I thought Guildex was a non starter, and since I classified myself 'at risk' as was my co-conspirator Gordon Roden, felt that a timely withdrawal was on the cards.  I did likewise for the W&LLR Gala which was the following weekend.

 

It would seem I was right!

 

I then had a self imposed moratorium on any physical railway modelling, until the beginning of July. (Once the tribe have left, I'll finally get back onto making things next week.)

 

Of course, since all the small layouts have now been invited to Stafford for Guildex 2021, we have no excuse for not having the layout completely finished.

 

I used the small layout competition to try out a number of techniques new to me, so the board edges are thin ply and the infill is offcuts of Kingspan foam.

 

The track is then laid on a ply trackbed.

 

It's very light!DSC_0075_(1).JPG.86139e993c6586771d7c887a85a18127.JPGDSC_0070_(1).JPG.dd21d21a6218c496ca5882ab509a9e6c.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It was interesting to read Dave's comment about good airmanship not being replaced by too many electronic warnings and gizmos.

 

The effect these have on driving skills has been pretty obvious for some time as drivers become more glued to the screen of their satnav.

 

Too many flashing lights and bleeps were obvious when I observed the workings of the Tesla X this morning.

 

With a settable safe car distance being set, there was no real incentive to look very much further than the car in front.

 

So much for scanning from side to side and up and down the visible road, looking for hints and tips such as hedges, telegraph poles and street lights in odd places and adjusting your speed and position accordingly.

 

Ona country lane where there were too many overhanging trees or hedges and no defined kerb.  I got the distinct impression that the auto drive facility wanted to push you clear of obstructions by a set distance, and then wanted to brake hard to avoid the car it had just driven into the path of.

 

Well I assume that was the auto drive facility.  It may just be that my daughter's drivings skills have deteriorated from good to mediocre in a matter of months.

 

 

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Car/vehicle driving is a skill learnt by many, to a level of competency in most and exceptional levels in the very few (sports drivers, blue light emergency drivers, etc).

 

Driving along a normal main road, I have to trust that all the vehicles driving towards me are being controlled by at least competent drivers, to be reasonable happy they won't veer over the white lines into my lane.

 

All the electronic 'safety' aids - lane control, safe distance - scare me because it reduces the driver from being in control to trusting a computer (and having worked in software development for almost 40 years, I certainly don't).  

 

I'm not even a fan of auto gearboxes or electronic handbrakes, haven driven a Ford Galaxy around Llanberis when it couldn't make it's mind up which gear to be in and wouldn't let me roll backwards out of a parking place.

 

Luddite?  Possibly, but I know where I am with my 18yo estate. 

Edited by Stubby47
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4 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

 

 

I'm not even a fan of auto gearboxes or electronic handbrakes, haven driven a Ford Galaxy around Llanberis when it couldn't make it's mind up which gear to be in and wouldn't let me roll backwards out of a parking place.Luddite? 

When I taught people to drive using an automatic gearbox, the vast majority were unaware that in days gone by, the correct way to use an auto box was to select 1 then 2  etc.  Most people want to stick it in D and forget about it. At least that is what I was told by the  Metropolitan Police driving instructor who  also trained us on the skid pan at Hendon (He took us around on a demo prior to our attempts, backwards!)

 

Using the old fashioned torque converter type auto box,  the intermediate numbers means that the number selected relates to the highest gear the box will select, which is useful when descending a long and winding hill.  It is also useful at helping stick to a low speed restriction, or for increased engine braking where necessary (Although current practice when teaching people to drive is to use the brakes to slow down and only use the gears and gas pedal to get going)

 

The glut of modern DSG style gearboxes means that if the gearbox does start hunting for a gear, just knock it into manual and select the appropriate gear which the box should hold. If you start labouring in the gear, the box will select a lower gear to prevent a stall.

 

The Galaxy would not allow you to roll out backwards due to the designed in safety parameters. It will not allow the vehicle to freewheel.  You must consciously select drive or manual to advance and then reverse to go backwards:mocking_mini:.

 

Edited by Happy Hippo
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Dear All,

I was hoping to post a picture of my WHR but can’t find any and the layout is stuck in the shed. I’m wanting to get it out to photo but I’ve had a busy day and it’s been raining most of the day. But keep thing rolling I’ve got these for you.The first is a close up of some of yesterday’s stock plus one of my locos . It’s a Chivers kit built on an Ibertran chassis probably built in the early eighties. The coaches are Dundas probably built at the same time and are based on Ffestiniog prototypes. 
I think some of you may like the loco’s colour. The roofs on the coaches are removable hence the gaps.A3CE48B9-ED80-427B-8E7A-D22F8F467182.jpeg.73dcd02b8b91bb22347ed614ab64a923.jpeg

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On 06/07/2020 at 11:43, SteveyDee68 said:

 

Agreed! (And some look easier to set to music than "The Night Mail" too!)

 

Not a poem as such, but "The Last Train" by Flanders & Swann has marvelous lyrics ... and the listing of  stations at the end, with their mellifluous names, is just sublime.

 

Also, belated birthday wishes to you, sir!

 

Steve S

 

I believe that the honourable member is referring to "The Slow Train".  There is a song called "Last Train", by Stanley Accrington.

 

Chris

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