CME and Bottlewasher

Sorry to hear that mate, hope it clears up soon and isn't Omnicron etc. Go gently with yourselves and take your time to get better. Any of the SARS2 variants can cause Acute Long Covid Syndrome - convalesce rather than get saddled with ALCS. Depending on age and type the vaccines can cause ALCS symptoms and worse too. Get well soon. ATVB CME

Thanks Simon.

Thanks Paul, I have a couple of IXO items, but they're pretty hard to find in the UK? I have some resin and IMP kits in 1:48 and some 1:43 models too - all a bit of a fudge, but if one is strategic it's okay. Oxford Diecast et al have been slow to meet aspects of demand re 1:43 vehicles, I even pointed such out with the intro of 7mm Warwells etc. How long ago was that?! Re an Ergomatic cab? Yes please a Leyland Lynx would be great, spent many a happy hour in one of those! Back on topic - apologies to Stephen.

That's coming on very nicely.

Hi Keefer, Thanks, I thought as much. IIRC they were written in an American format. ATB, M.

I like the Bedford on the Lowmac, very akin to what I'm compiling with MOD train(s). Can I ask who's kit the Bedford is please - I'm compiling a range of vehicles RTR and kits and things are a bit thin on the ground. I'm lucky in some ways as my railhead also serves RMCS so older vehicles often end up there as historic teaching aids ;-)

Hi Paul, Interesting - thank you. When was that photo taken - may I ask - was it October 1979 (looks later livery to me?). I couldn't tell from the photo info. As always many thanks in anticipation of your comments and wisdom. ATVB Martin.

Lovely work Steve with your merry men, very impressive. Interesting observation re Dowmac sleepers etc. I can only comment (might be of use or stimulate others' memories) from the early to late 1990s, that most appeared, from my creaking memory, to be unbranded but occasionally you'd come across Dowmac branded concrete sleepers (even then). When AACM in Bristol, I oversaw the 'refurbishment' (a very loose term - we kept having mainline locos sinking in the area, due to IIRC the watercourse and ancient WWI era manufacturing works etc) of the Highworth Branch at Cooper's/Pressed Steel/Rover we used timber sleeps and....err timbers. Old skool (sic)! Ironically when I moved onto National Track Renewals at Kings X (late 1990s) I hardly ever left my desk - the bitter irony! ATVB.

Cracking video Stephen, some wonderful, exciting, exquisite work, so realistic.

You're right, I couldn't recall it - senior moment - thanks for filling in the gaps

Superb!

It is a conundrum, model railway retail packaging has to look good, protect the model in transit, but is often next to useless for storage when additional details are added and weathering applied. Or with these coaches as supplied using the retail packaging is fraught. I've already decanted to other procured boxes with foam inserts etc. I'm sure though that it can be done retail packaging that's all things to all people - I used to buy £millions worth of packaging for a blue chip back in the day - we had some bods with PhD's in packaging and packaging tech.

Perhaps certain manufacturers should know better?

Yes Mark Found seemed to be involved in a lot of railway programmes and the other fella, from Train Spotting I think has made an appearance on Planet Rock iirc. David Pratt visited our H&BLR and broke bread with us, he and his wife, Valerie were charming and helpful. Happier times.

Ditto - I've found several. Sadly the retail packaging on the coach ends holds them too tightly and one ends up with various types of damage to the vestibule components.

Beautiful work.

I've all four DVDs of TRM - I enjoy them all, great broadcast quality and content that hasnt aged, to my eyes and mind, some 18 years <gulps> later (where does all the time go?! Such a shame that the concept didn't fully take off (I wasn't aware of the series in 2004 - I found Issue 1 at the TR shop Towyn in the late 2000's). I much prefer DVDs to 'streaming' etc, I see that LPs (Vinyl) are making a resurgence - let's hope cash does too and we can avoid issues such as; "you'll own nothing and be happy" dictat, I digress. I see some interesting content in the "Coming Up" section of Issue 4 - I take it that Issue 5 never made it into being? I've searched for Issue 5 but without success.

Very impressive!

Hasn't the GOG taken over the product range, thus fulfilling the GOG's original raison d être? On another front, if operating using Radio Control, can the Lionheart coaches' lighting be operated by Eg battery?

Hi all, Tony from Protocab has been in touch (and the email address worked perfectly - with a super fast response) and has been most helpful, across the board, with information and advice. There's also several videos on You Tube detailing how to fit the system to several loco types - all very helpful. I have to say that the plug and play aspect is very appealing as are the safety features when using LiPo batteries etc and catering for those of us using modern O gauge RTR (and in the garden too). Takes some of the DIY elements away and makes life easier. I remember catching up with the late Chris Klein at the Reading GOG do, I was with my father, and Chris had his personal Minerva Pannier kitted out with Protocab. The three of us chuckled as onlookers couldn't fathom that moving picture Eg an O gauge loco running on a table without track. Chris was overjoyed with the installation and set up. Thanks for your help and guidance. For me, making life easier, is paramount these days and plug and play, akin to the RC that I've used in cars, aircraft, boats and my father's SM32 locos would certainly help in that regard. Ttfn all. Best regards, Martin.

Hi, I had Comms issues with Protocab too, they reached out to me via here. Try:- <sales@protocab.com> Address it to Tony, mention that I pointed you in the right direction. I hope that helps. Kind regards, Martin.

Hi Tony, Thank you for reaching out Ill try the above email that you've mentioned - I had a similar one but with your name embedded (iirc), that may be part of the issue. If not, I'll try the telephone via your website. Kindest regards with thanks in haste, Martin.

It is sad - If I had a through garage layout I would have loved it Steve - great to hear that you'll be using goodly chunks of the layout.

Nice work Steve. Always sad to see a layout broken up, but needs must, a good halfway house is to use the constituent parts though.

I've tried all forms of communication with them and had no luck at all, not sure as to why. Maybe I'll try again in the near future. Thanks for the info btw.