karabuni

Slight correction: Colin's "Newhaven Harbour" layout wasn't actually Railway of the month, in the May 2011 Railway Modeller, as I posted previously. Colin's funeral was held in Llanddewi Brefi last Thursday (14th March). It was well attended, with probably about 50 people present in the church, and afterwards on the walk behind the hearse to the cemetery. Barry.

You have a long memory! Delivering in the Reliant Robin (It was green), was from about 1976 - until January 1983. As it was a five hour (and more) drive each way, we also took it in turns to bring kits in two suitcases, down on the train from Aberystwyth to Euston. The day return was cheaper than the petrol, and more relaxing, with one or two exceptions. Kings Cross might have continued, perhaps not at the same location, but it, like W & H Models, passed to a son who didn't seem that interested in carrying it on, once offered money by developers. At least they didn't owe us money at the end, unlike W & H. Barry.

We looked at the layout in Colin's workshop yesterday, which he described as a "test track". It is, indeed, to S4 standards. Seems to be rather more than a test, though as most of it is ballasted, and has outlines of the platform and signal box marked. Colin's friend, Mark, who lives nearby (in Welsh miles, though) , thinks that it was to be another version of "Newhaven Harbour". This isn't immediately apparent from the track layout, however. Barry.

Thank you to all those who have added their kind words. Colin's family knew that ultimately he would lose his battle, but we did not expect his end to be yet, or so sudden. I spoke to him at length, about a week before he died, and he talked of coming over to see us in the summer. We talked also of modelling - I think he had a new layout in mind, but had only built an S4 test track. His funeral is being held tomorrow, in the west Wales village of Llanddewi Brefi*, where he had lived for around 30 years. * Yes, the name "used" in the Little Britain "Only gay in the village" sketches. Before taking up modelling again, Colin played guitar in bands for many years, and the last one had T-shirts printed with "The only band in the village". This is Colin, on the right, Ysbryd on YouTube 1982 in a Welsh language band. Barry Parks.

This was the possible solution for achieving two different wheelbases (attached picture). Solebars would have been different to suit the particular prototype. One-piece underframes: the mould fits under the injection nozzle vertically, which limits its length, so underframes cannot be much longer than the LSWR one. The Sole/Haddock might just go on the mould, but not Dogfish/Catfish. BAA/BBA (FBT6) bogies: these would have been turned into one-piece, but the mould for these has the detail on one side of the mould, and the cavity on the other. Most of the other older bogies (e.g. Y25, Turbot & Gloucester) had the detail in the bottom of the cavity, allowing them to be used on the on-piece bogie mould without complete re-tooling. Graham Taylor, the new Cambrian owner, is hoping to introduce some new kits, and I may be doing the tooling for one or more next year. Barry, (ex-Cambrian Models, now deangoods.co.uk)

I'm afraid we are old enough, at least to semi-retire. I am 66 and my wife, Jean, is 68. She has done getting on for half the actual moulding since 1985, and our machines are not automatic. We are passing on some stock, but there are 4 or 5 trade orders that will also be passed, that will easily use up what there is, for quite a few of the kits. We hope that the range continues to grow in Graham Taylor's ownership. Barry & Jean Cambrian Models Will post a free-standing Thankyou later (probably tomorrow))

The new owner is planning website ordering. Supplying to the trade will continue, as far as I know. Our insurers would have allowed supplies to N. America, but the extra premium was more than previous sales' value had been. You can order through a retailer (e.g. Kernow) who has insurance cover for N. America, AFAIK. Barry, Cambrian.

I bought the first VU album from seeing the cover - when it had pictures of the band and their light show, not the later banana cover. Their songs, although, er, sometimes a bit odd, stand the test of time. In 1968, I had't heard anything that ended the way "All tomorrow's parties" does. (This does of course live on as the name of the weekend music events held at Minehead, and before that Camber Sands) VU songs covered (& sometimes done better) by other artists: "Pale blues eyes" - Counting Crows/Sheryl Crow, "Sweet Jane" - Sugarcubes (demo, ends suddenly), and Cowboy Junkies, "ATP" - Japan, and Iron & Wine/Calexico, "I'm Waiting for the Man" - Vanessa Paradis, "Sunday Morning" - Mathew Sweet/Suzanna Hoffs (ex-Bangles). "Heroin" - Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Sinead O'Connor/U2 (boring version, unlike the other covers, but then that's U2 for you). A VU song done by Joy Formidable could be interesting - saw them a couple of years ago in Norwich - seemed promising, if a bit under-rehearsed. Currently listening to: 'Allo Darlin' and their label-mates "The Loves" (now no more). Barry

Saw them on their first (?) tour at the Cavern in Exeter (old wine cellar). Excellent and only £3.00 to get in! Still have their first single on the Xeric label. Currently listening to Metric, fronted by Emily Haines who is aka Emily Haines and the Soft Skeletons. Both these, and many others can be heard or downloaded from the US public radio site NPR Concerts (but I bought their album as well) Also listening to Yacht (not on NPR) - off the wall electro-pop, a good example track being Psychic City. Barry.

The D1/420 is still in the "not sure when" class of forthcoming kits at the moment. There is one of the BSC wagons at the Rutland Railway Museum, but haven't been to see it yet. Barry Cambrian Models

The board system says you aren't allowed to upload this kind of file. If you send a PM with an email address, I'll attach the files (ttf format) Barry.

From Cambrian Models: The early type of LNER 6 plank with a wood underframe is now in our range (since Dec. 2009), as Kit C81. It's only been sent out to two retailers (who have "standing orders" for new kits) so far, others that have ordered them will be getting them soon. Barry Cambrian