Grafarman

I used to have a similar q&a when I taught Bass guitar to budding John Entwistles and Mark Kings, and my response was always the same: Be comfortable with the level you are at the moment, but always be looking for ways to move up to the next... In other words, there is ALWAYS going to be someone who does it better, faster, bigger, is more accurate, prototypical etc. etc. but you mustn't think that because this is the case your efforts don't have credence; they do. If you never achieve Magazine Cover status, or be heralded as the next Big Thing in your chosen area, it doesn't mean you are a failure or that what you have done is worthless or has no value. Everyone, without exception, started with the basics and their journey will be different to yours; don't try to be them 'cos there's no way you can travel the same path, and even if you did the result wouldn't be the same 'cos we're all individuals... If people would stop treating every artistic effort with an X-Factor mentality there would be far fewer artists/modellers dropping out of creative arts due to lack of applause... Encouraging those modellers who have just started out and don't know how to wire electrofrog points or scratchbuild a station platform is important to them as an individual and the hobby as a whole; thankfully there are plenty of people on this site who are much further along on their modelling journey who accept that modeller's attempts as valid and show them how to keep improving... I don't believe there is an ultimate "IT" to be attained as that would mean the person arriving at "IT" would then have nothing to improve on and have achieved perfection, which I would humbly suggest is impossible, and if a group of people begin to dictate what "IT" should be they immediately send out the signal that all those who haven't reached "IT" are failing in some way thus creating a heirarchy among those the group consider to be close to "IT" and introducing an arbitrary system of grading people's efforts which will always be unfair... Sorry; rant over, it's just that I've seen so many musicians sink into depression and give up because they didn't get to play Wembley and make the cover of Rolling Stone, and would hate anyone here to go down a parallel route in railway modelling... Back to reading topics and (occasional) modelling... David

I showed the pictures and video to my Dad; just thought I would share his response: Truly wonderful, and just as I remembered it. Of course, I spent just as much time at the other end at Manchester Exchange as it was in those days! The main platform there connected without a break with Victoria, making it the longest platform in the world. It could, and did, accommodate three passenger trains end to end. And the taxis and GPO vehicles ran onto the platform at Manchester and Liverpool as in the model. Great days....and many hours passed in my young days awaiting trains; inhaling the all-pervading empty fish boxes, and watching rats dodging along the black, oily ballast.`Elf `n` Safety? not a bit!

Could have them in prams....a sort of forward-looking cameo thingy...

I too still have the Graham Farish catalogue with Copenhagen Fields featured; have been following it on the web and in magazines for years but never seen it in person...must rectify that soon! Still looking awesome

Ah, Mr Tufnel's fave setting...

This lot have signal jammers for just about anything: http://www.estationb2c.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=798&productsort=3&gclid=CMfklMS4w64CFYwMtAodm2bKVw

Like the one currently being built just behind the old station and goods shed in Prestatyn...?! Here's a recent rather dark pic; the old Station and Shed still intact on the left...

Maybe the Exhibition Managers could arrange a voucher scheme at a local barber's... Whatever you do people are people and there'll always be someone who isn't happy...

You can't warm up fruit pies; that's sacrilege!! Cold pies fresh out of the fridge are best...besides which, you'd need custard to go with warm pies and I'm not sure they dispensed hot dessert sauces on most stations...

Hope it's ok but this was so good I've saved a copy for my "personal inspirational" file...

Used to get 'em all the time in Rhyl when I was a kid - Mods from Liverpool coming down starting up against the local Rockers... Bit off topic though; sorry for sidetrack...

Will Andy and the Mods be dressed in Parkas, Fred Perry shirts and Chelsea boots?! If so, I'll hoick out me old leathers and DM's for a seaside faceoff

Maybe going up to the seller with all the Hornby Dublo stuff and asking if they've got any N gauge...

I still have the Farish catalogue with exactly those locos in exactly that location...

Fantastic - really looks good; love the 3rd pic with the light catching the 66 - looks like a break in the storm clouds...wonderful

Now that's more like it! Just kidding; love the steam but these EE chaps have a certain presence...