TonyA

Your memory is correct regarding English law as I have been assured in the last couple of weeks. Not, I hasten to add, that I am contemplating remarriage. It is just that my will has not been updated since before my wife died over 25 years ago and, as I am due for surgery next month, it seemed to be a wise move to update things. I would leave enough problems in sorting out a wide variety of stock in different scales as well as books in at least two languages without adding to the problems. I suspect my recuperation period next year will be spent selecting what I am not likely to use, even if I live to 100, and turning it into hard cash to enjoy myself with. Tony

That explains the coffee! Tony

This should be interesting as I have never used Windows 10. My PC is too old to upgrade. However I am a fast learner - I hope. I will also teach Bill how to protect his contactless card. Strangely, I have only had a card ripped off once. The bank refunded immediately and advised me to pay by cash and not card for petrol. I now check my accounts every morning. It takes less than two minutes and only requires my fingerprint to log in. Couldn't be done without modern technology! Incidentally, why is a Luddite using DCC? What's wrong with wire in tube for points and a reel-to-reel tape recorder for sound? Tony

PS at Waitrode??? If that's how you type, we will have problems. Anyway, it will have to be next week and in return I need a PAT test on the transformer that I dropped. Now I am going out to play with the grandchildren. Tony

Oh ******! At least I wasn't asked to provide the card as well. Tony

Good luck removing the air inlet louvres, aerial base and AA gun mounting spigot to bring it within loading gauge. I would suggest it would be easier with an Airfix kit. Tony

I had a very enjoyable day operating on Ashbury, free from the glitches that occurred last time we were out - apart from one that I caused. Here are a few photos, slightly spoilt by the sun being directly behind the layout. Looking forward to another session tomorrow. If anyone is visiting, come and say hello. Tony

Unfortunately, all LMR models are spread over a wide timeframe and most could not run together unless you apply Rule 1. Given the liveries as supplied, the dates are: Austerity tank – arrived in late 1964 and named in 1968 USA tank – scrapped in 1959 Austerity 2-8-0 McMullen – if coal fired, 1947-1950 Austerity 2-8-0 Sir Guy Williams – 1962-1965 Brake van – from 1959 Coach – in blue from 1967/8 IMHO, your best date is early 1965 which is what I have chosen but you still need to do a lot of repainting and make our own transfers. Tony

The brake van in the photo is the WD design that was built by SR and, among other differences, has the brake cylinders on the end platform. Only the Warflat is (will be) suitable unmodified for Longmoor before closure. An ex-BR 25 ton brake van is due from Invicta Models. There is also the BR 1/208 van from Bachmann, ten of which were purchased new in 1959. This just needs a repaint and re-lettering. However, at present nobody makes suitable lettering for Longmoor wagons. Kits include ex-LSWR diagram 1410 vans and diagram 1541 brake vans, ex-MR diagram D664 vans and the warwells and ramp wagon from Wild Boar Fell. You can also modify the Bachmann SR 12 ton van into a Mobile Workshop Train van as seen here without lettering. Tony

Track plans of Longmoor Downs can be found in the following books. The Longmoor Military Railway vol. 1 by Ronald and Christensen The Longmoor Military Railway by Ronald and Carter Branch Lines to Longmoor by Mitchell and Smith It can also be found at http://www.old-maps.co.uk by searching for Longmoor Camp and viewing the 1:10,560 scale map from 1961-1962. Incidentally, the track and stock shown in the photo above was never part of the original LMR. It was built after the closure of the line as part of the Fighting In Built Up Areas (FIBUA) training ground that was built on the site of the old married quarters in the 1980s. The stock shown did not run on the LMR either. Tony

There are full details in Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War by R. Tourret. Copies are available currently on Amazon. Tony

In my defence, the amount of support that I can give over the phone to a computer that I don't know well is limited. A visit may have to wait until after my son's wedding next Saturday. Then I will leap into (in)action. Tony

I shall be very happy if it includes the Longmoor one as my layout, Liss Forest Depot, makes its first exhibition appearance on 17th September. Now how fast can I get a chip and sound in??? Tony

Silly boy! Best wishes to both. Tony

All this Internet access without phoning me for help. I'm impressed! Hopefully I can retire from that job now. Glad you are having a good time. Tony

I have followed this discussion with increasing bemusement. Are you suggesting that the layout owners who are approached to exhibit are unaware who is organising the show? Whilst the visiting public may be unaware, I cannot believe this applies to the exhibitors. Many years ago I was approached by Dakota about exhibiting a layout. It was a verbal approach so I knew exactly who I was dealing with as I had seen him on several previous occasions at shows. It was not convenient so the invitation did not proceed. However, he is not the only person who has asked me to exhibit outside a club structure and I have been happy to do so when I can. I enjoy exhibiting and often do not see the point in charging expenses when they are less than a couple of litres of petrol. It is a lot cheaper and more enjoyable than going out for a round of golf. I would not describe any of those organisers, including Dakota, as a commercial organisation in the way that the magazines are. They appear to be just hard working enthusiasts who are demonstrating our hobby to a wider public, which is more than I for one can manage. Tony

Just spotted this comment. Just to clarify, only the top half of the Longmoor cab interiors were painted cream. The bottom half, roughly from the bottom of the spectacle plates were dark green as can been seen here. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_08_2013/post-9767-0-96053200-1377548570.jpg The biggest problem with modelling Longmoor is that many painting details were dependant on which squaddie got the job. This is particularly true in the case of numbers and letters but also produced variations in lining. It all makes it a nightmare for both the modeller and the manufacturer. Tony

According to the Model Rail Offers website, it is a 6-pin socket. The question for me is whether anyone will produce a sound file for it. There are enough preserved examples around to provide input. The next question is whether my WD 300 will be available for an exhibition outing in September (2016). Tony

Lutz Hielscher currently advertises models in H0 and N. http://www.hielscher-dampfmodelle.de/en/Suspension-Railwails-/-Motorail/Gauge-H0-1:87 I believe Herpa also produced a model in the past. The Hielscher model is battery powered and runs for up to six hours - almost long enough for a day at a show. Tony

Portreath was in February 1962. I recently found a copy which brought back the memories. Another favourite was Tetfield in January 1960 which I also have a copy of. Good job Bill is not around to tell me off for admiring GWR models. Tony

Sometimes???? Well, that's me relegated to the fiddle yard all day on Saturday. Tony

With the Longmoor version, I see the sample has the works plate lettering picked out in white. Does anyone know when this was done? In all the photos that I have seen, it appears to be the same colour as the smokebox as in this photo taken in 1955. http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p242188935/h6F908E99#h6f908e99 It would be easy enough to change for my period but it would be nice to know. Many thanks, Tony

Bill, You only had to ask! I will try to find my photo of a red squirrel in Nürnberg taken in 1979. That should be close enough for Höchstädt, both geographically and time-wise. Tony

In my experience, you have to align them carefully and then glue down. The exact alignment, both vertical and horizontal, is critical and the only way to ensure this is to use the alignment jig to glue the uncoupler. A possible alternative might be to use double sided tape but I have not tried this. A few years ago, I added uncouplers after installing a roadway up to the track, which prevented use of the alignment jig. Although I was very careful with the installation, these uncouplers were never completely reliable. It was only when I used the jig on another layout that everything worked properly. Tony

Downer, If you want trip working, model Longmoor. The Longmoor Military Railway, vol. 3 describes the last trips of WD300 before it was withdrawn on 26th Sept. 1958. To summarise, on 17th Sept. it ran from Longmoor to Oakhanger five times each way with eight wagons and two brake vans. On 22nd Sept. it ran with one coach seven times between Liss and Oakhanger, a total of 51 miles. Although I am modelling Longmoor in 1964, I will either run a 1958 service or stretch the withdrawal date. Tony