Chubber

Cor! Spot-on, BR(S)......The same programme inspired us to get the caravan out and drive up to Austria from SW France for a visit, we were not disappointed except with the weather on the day of our ascent, which was not the best. I might put up a few more piccies on a separate thread if you think it would appeal to enough members, Doug

Last week I watched this human doing this......where is he? If this is of any interest to RMWebbers, I have more but it's a bit off-centre, interest wise! Doug

........sometimes I think I'm a fool, on other occasions I verge towards certainty.......

Diesel powered accordion.....

Taken at Broomhill, two reprobates.......Dave and Brian Doug

Juss woteesed! D

Oh! Memories, I instantly thought of the smell of a damp, blue gaberdine mackintosh, and how I'd keep tripping over my toes in each years new Clarke's sandals with their sticky crepe soles. I shouldn't complain, growing up around garrison towns in the 50s I remember kids who wore plimsolls and/or wellies to school all year round, what their Dads must have thought when a private soldier's wages couldn't put good shoe-leather on their kids feet, 'Homes fit for Heroes' didn't accord with the shared lavvies of Buller and Montgomery Lines Quarters in North Camp/Aldershot. At least each Autumn I'd get a new pair of 'Tuf Stone breakers'. In Class 4A1 of Queen's Road C.Primary School I felt so sorry for my chum David Durden, having to come to school in hand-me-downs. His four older sisters weren't too pleased, either, I bet............ [No! Not like that.... his cardigans buttoned up the wrong way] Doug

..............I think it's very nice for an uncle to take his young niece on a railway trip! I hope you both enjoyed it. I'm taking the O.A.P. I live with on a trip to the Kyle of Lochalsh, Fort William, and Mallaig and a trip on the Strathspey Steam railway at the beginning of April, plus a quick trip up the Cairngorm Mountain Railway with 4 nights in a hotel promising 'Scottish Breakfast'.....If that's Cornflakes with Bagpipes I'll not be too chuffed. Why? 'Cos it will be our 40th Wedding Anniversary. [Thinks-'you don't get that for murder, do you.'] So, from SW France to Haggis-Land in April, am I mad? Oh, she's taking this O.A.P. too..............Any recommends/must do-s? Doug

When you look at a picture like 1017 jpg it makes simpletons like me realise how unsatisfactory Peco track is in terms of realism. Moreover, it makes me regret my inability to tackle the 'roll-your-own' approach, so I'm not altogether decrying Peco Code 75 stuff, but do resent having to re-space sleepers. For my little wide-shelf jobby it's no big deal, but some of you seriously big modellers must have the patience of Job! Hopefully, these B/W piccies will last longer now they are recorded with electrons and not emulsions. How I wish this technology was around when I still had my [Royal Engineer] step-fathers 3" x 2" b/w photos in some recognisable form, to scan them and preserve them. Who wouldn't be amused/entertained by his pictures of 'De-lousing parade' featuring his railway team in their skivvies, using paraffin blow-lamps to kill bugs on the wire frames of their truckle beds in a Cairo railway yard...? Oh! How slowly our evenings pass when compared with such socially inclusive escapades!! Dave [and others] please keep posting.... Doug

....with regard to the chap in the orange overalls it looks as though the 'Giant Rivet Setter in the Sky' singled him out for special attention! Doug

Men like these would have been the people who impressed a young me with their patience and forbearance as I asked daft questions, tried to cab them and generally got in the way. Don't the firemen look young? This picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/8544717662/in/photostream/ should be in front of every modeller painting model foot-plate men to avoid the 'one shade of blue' covers all coveralls! I bet the sleeves reached the end of his arms before the shovel put muscles on his shoulders, too. Thanks for posting, Doug

It's now time to start looking at the fan-trained nectarine tree on the south wall of our house for the first buds, and maybe throw a piece of fleece over the younger tenderer branches if the blossom opens too quickly and there is a hard frost warning. Whilst doing so today, I spotted Eddy Lizard, who was obliging enough for me to let me take my camera out of my pocket. P'raps he/she is a bit of a poser, because they normally disappear in an instant..... Close up of head Doug

I hope that is a high-tech rag he's using.......

....and his Great Uncle, Mr T. Oad..... Doug

....and here's his Mum....tee hee...

I thought I'd lost this picture, not the best quality I'm afraid, but my best attempt at a Brown Longeared bat that catches the insects drawn to our terrace lighting. He/She has become quite fearless and flies beside our heads as we sit with a drink in the evenings. His/Her ears move independently, http://www.arkive.org/brown-long-eared-bat/plecotus-auritus/ Doug

AAaagh! And they let that lovely lamp smash down onto the ground???? Philistines..... Doug

Taken on a visit to U.S.A. 2007. Doug

Beautiful, Tim! Doug

Oh how I agree with all the recent posts! Perhaps, if the digital camera had happened earlier, if we were not tied to an Instamatic cartridge that cost a whole week's pocket money, I would have photographs of Harry at North Camp Signal box in the late 50s, and the station staff who would let me wander with a burlap sack of wooden wedges and a wheel tappers hammer around the sidings, a pot of creosote and a long handled brush for the woodwork in front of the signal box and the sleeper-edged flower borders where the cattle sidings had been. My bicycle was chained to the square section drain-pipe by the entrance/exit ['cause those soldiers will pinch anything......] with a big S.R. padlock and a foot of shiny 1/2" chain, the round ended common key that opened the padlock on the carriage loading bay AND the station coal store. The brass label was stamped '3'. I'd pay £10 to hold it in my hands again........... If the current generation of Railway Softies doesn't record and detail everything they can for their respective off-spring, then shame on them! [P.S. I'd love a picture of one of those 'label machines' with the huge handle, with which you could make an aluminium lable for your [Parent's] luggage. No reason, other than I loved them!] Nostalgic Chubber

Re the barrels, could you not saw them apart into two single layers and stack them sideways somewhere? That way the centre band wouldn't show if they were partly sheeted over..... Doug

........Yuk...dirty damned dogs.......... D

Following the post below by Jason in another members topic, I have opened this thread to answer the request...... Hi Doug The example you have here is really great. I'm sure I read a post somewhere where you gave instructions and tips on how you built this frontage. I've looked all over but I'm afraid I can't find it. You wouldn't happen to remember where it is would you? It had some points in it such as somehow making the edges stronger so that they can be sanded or files that I've never seen before. cheers Jason The thread is here http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=3290&forum_id=14 on the YMR Forum, I hope it helps, Doug

Worra baht the fag ends.....Old 'Olborn of course... Doug

Yup! Nothing moves in the U.S [Home of the Free] without the say-so of the haulage union 'The Teamsters'. Mafia practices are tame compared thereto. Movies don't get to 'move' aground the continent without it, in fact the first deliveries of fresh chilled produce to major populations by railway wagons packed with ice failed because the entrepreneur involved refused to pay part of his profits to the 'Union for the advancement of the working man' [my parenthesis] to handle this new cargo as well as paying the railway their way-bill. Hm.... From Glow-balls to low-balls..... Doug