devonseasider

As mentioned earlier, "50 x 50 shades of grey" by Nick Salzman who's based Okehampton-ish. It's 3mm scale, 50 x 50cm & finished completely in grey, except for one background figure with a splash of red. One of the most atmospheric layouts I've seen, being a superb rendition of a dank, dismal, winter's day. It's really a glorified "shunting plank", but very absorbing, having operated it for a while at the Thorncombe show last November. (Nick is a long-time supporter of our annual show, having attended for the last 3 (or 4?) years with a variety of layouts) Well worth hunting out at one of its exhibition appearances.

Many years ago when I was still earning a crust & contributing to the UK economy, rather than bleeding the state dry as I am now, we used to source our plastic sections from EMA Model Supplies. Don't know if they're still going or still competitive, or who their suppliers are, but we were always happy with their service.

Meanwhile, back at the remains of the junction, here's one of the canopy supports . . . . There are 7 of these in total, the ones I measured being 6m apart. The sides of the H-section are 150mm & the internal separation of the sides is 175mm. Overall width of the column is 200mm, Note how the "inside" of the H is used to hold the downpipe carrying water from the central "valley" in the canopy as referred to by the observant duck in an earlier post. More to follow, but not for a little while.

It's a model of the Loo branch . . . .

Stu / Phil - you got mail . . . .

Absolutely no promises at all, but leave it with me for a couple of days and I'll see if I can get you any definite sizes.

OK, I'll let it go this time but I'm watching you . . . . H. Einz

Similar question here, please - I have 4 of the red (wired) multimaus handsets - how can I get them updated? Also, how can I do "Shift-Shift 21-28" when there's only one shift key? Sorry to be a bit thick . . . .

Oi !! - just watch it, sunshine. I've told you about this before. I am a nice person - yes, really - but there's a limit even to my tolerance. Don't push it or I'll have to send Mrs DS round to sort you out . . . .

Tormouth Quay will be there too, running the usual eclectic mix of mainly S&D/West Country steam alongside various early diesel shunters (and probably a Thumper - it always goes down well!). Just need to find a couple of volunteers(?) to help me operate over the weekend as I don't think Roger's health will be up to it. Any takers? PM please. photos 1 & 2 courtesy Chris Nevard/Model Rail photo 3 copyright Graham Bean - enthusiasts' special traverses the quay. It's my birthday that weekend, so come & say hello or, preferably, bring me a present . . . .

Just got back home on a recovery truck after the car went into "limp mode" about 8am, two thirds of the way to Taunton. Problem with fuel injection system apparently. Sorry to have missed it but at least it gives someone else a chance to eat my pasty.

CK - it's time to pick up the pasties & pies.

Especially not if it had travelled from Sydney to Taunton!

I think the first one probably suits the occasion! Over to you for printing. and I'm not going to tell you . . . .

I'll have one if you can come up with anything suitable. Be careful . . . .

Are you me in disguise?

Here's our Jack Russell showing a similar, but uncharacteristic (other JR owners will know what I mean!), lack of drive a couple of years ago. He's now a teenager & much of the tan has faded to grey - probably about 49 shades thereof - but he still seems to think he's a puppy. Let his feelings be known to a pair of Rottweilers on the seafront last week. Definite case on his part of "come & 'ave a go if you think you're 'ard enough". Fortunately the rottweilers were on their leads . . . .

Oooops-a-ducky . . . . are Argyle getting the jitters?

Phil - I bought a sheet of the Archer rivets from Historex about 3 weeks ago 'though haven't done anything with them yet apart from look at them! Coincidentally they're intended initially to go on an old Mainline pannier body I'm trying to tart up a bit. Like you, I didn't know which variety I wanted so decided to go for the "starter set" which is a mixed sheet of 3 different sizes. Order code AR88001 The sheet isn't very big & certainly isn't cheap, but it's definitely got lots of rivets on it. Looks like it should be very useful, assuming I can master the technique for using it. I can recommend Historex as a supplier. I ordered online & the envelope arrived just a couple of days later. Can't grumble about that!

Is there a listing anywhere of the range available? Google isn't being my friend, I'm sorry to say.

Goodness gracious! Didn't realise Mr Bryford was a visitor, nay even now a contributor, to this emporium of fun & questionable lady-images. And to think I used to consider him an upright pillar of society back in Britrail days.

Regarding "City of Lancaster", here he/she/it is on April 4th 1965 in the Central Wagon Works yard at Ince. Not the best of photos, I know, but I were "nowt but a lad" back in those days, with a basic 35mm SLR & struggling to afford film, not to mention petrol for the scooter to get me around the sheds. It's in the same place in the yard as it had been on my previous visit on 6th January that same year (when I took an even worse photo!) but I don't think it evaded Gertie Gas Torch for much longer - I don't remember it being there on subsequent visits.

Only if you aim it very accurately before throwing it.

Are those the ones from Falcon Figures? I've seen a couple of examples but can't find details anywhere of the full range. I thought the ones i saw were maybe a little "undernourished" - would that be fair comment or was it just me?

Whoa - go steady, you're making me blush. I would never describe anything I've made as being "stunning" and neither has anyone else for that matter, which must tell a story! ** Actually, I'm not sure if you're referring to the loco or the layout it's on. If the former, in best OFSTED speak I think I'd rate it as "satisfactory" although probably accepting it as a bit above average for its time. It looks the part & performs acceptably. If you mean the layout, I'd say competent, maybe even pushing as far as convincing. If you want to see more of it, it's featured in the current Model Rail (#246) with photos from Chris Nevard, including another one of 4691. I keep thinking about starting a thread for the layout, but not convinced it's either good enough or interesting enough to be worthwhile. ** As an aside, the one exception to that statement would be some beer (for want of a better word) a friend & I brewed back in the late 70s. We used a wine yeast & fed it very slowly with sugar over an extended period of time to let the yeast mutate & become more alcohol tolerant. Now, that really was stunning! When we sampled the first bottle we immediately christened it Saturn V. Talk about rocket fuel - 2 pints & you couldn't stand up, but that's an entirely different story & a little bit off-topic . . . . When I was building K's kits on a semi-pro basis my rule of thumb was to run the motors for 15 - 20 minutes on the bench. If they survived that they invariably settled down, bedded in & ran smoothly (by 1970s/80s standards), as with the pannier. A considerable proportion didn't make it & had to be replaced - the Airfix/MRRC 5-pole X04 look-alike was a favourite if I could get it to fit. As has been said, it's now under the wing of Andrew Wotsisname at Wizard & back on the market. I bought one while Dave Cleal was still with us & that's what I'm looking to use to replace the flimsy microstrip when I'm in the mood for doing it. Agreed, and no doubt one day, if I live long enough, that's what will happen. At the moment, though, the real attraction of the loco, and the talking point amongst modellers (who recognise its parentage) as opposed to casual observers (who don't) is that it does have its original whirly bits and that they could be made to work if you were lucky! (Sorry if that sounds a bit arrogant or elitist, it certainly isn't intended as such.) No, it isn't up to today's standards but it isn't anywhere near as bad as some people would have us believe. As I said before, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.