Jol Wilkinson

True that interests are going to be subjective, but I think that this hobby, like some others, are about following different religions or faiths. Some are constrained by physical restraints (space, income), others by lack of imagination, learned skills, self confidence or motivation. Some choose the RTR way fervently waiting the high priests' announcements of new idols, others choose to follow the way of the Maker of All Things to lead their activities. Some like it large, others small. So there are different places of worship, churches, chapels, mosques, synagogues, mandirs, temples, etc. The idea of a "broad church" doesn't really cover it, it's too loose. In response to the OP, the answer is No. People that buy the latest RTR models get pleasure from buying/owning them. For some it has become Conspicuous Leisure. How long lasting that satisfaction lasts for I cannot guess as I only build from kits or scratchbuild. Whether owning the latest models motivates people to improve their "modelling" is the question. I suspect that it doesn't for the majority as they have already defined their own standard for what they want to achieve and so continue with that, the "new, improved" models simply adding some gloss.

Sainz given a 10 place grid drop for replacing PSU. Will the FIA fine Liberty Media for providing an unsafe circuit?

Liberty Media/Formula One Mismanagement should pay for Ferrari and Alpine's car damage. They provided an unfit venue in their continued quest to make an even bigger profit Motor sport and F1 is dangerous enough without their help.

My only, albeit limited, experience of Shapeway products is that they have been poorly designed/printed and excessively expensive compared with others using 3D printing are producing.

You overlook that consumers like to follow trends and show off their ability to buy the latest fashionable item, be it a smartphone, car, RTR model locomotive, or w.h.y. Estate cars have largely fallen from favour in the small/mid size car range, despite their practicality. Three box saloons fell from favour when hatchbacks were introduced, other than for the larger "prestige" models. Saloons can be difficult to get into/out of for older people. SUVs are easier in that respect and have higher load platforms (two reasons I now prefer a SUV). Small hatchbacks are ideal local runabouts but not so much fun on longer journeys. 4X4s appeal to the the affluent trendy and overpaid as a display of their self perceived status. So SUVs provide a compromise that suits many people. Regarding vehicle names, many people won't know of the original models of the Capri, so won't see any connection (unless Ford promote that). The original was a striking design at the time when previous designs often had touches of US influence (both Ford and Vauxhall) and the industry was still recovering from the effects of WW2. Likewise the designers weren't influenced/hampered by safety legislation, mpg economy comparisons, cupholder requirement, etc.

Notable hat these model figures are produced by Noch, a German company. Perhaps it is something of a cultural thing.

I haven't posted anything here for a while as, although I have been working on the layout wiring, it is almost as boring to read about as to do. However, another milestone has been reached as all the baseboards are now wired. The most complicated is the "north" storage sidings board. This has three crossovers between the four of the five siding lines and is also the connection point for the storage sidings control panel. The control panel will connect by the 37way d-sub socket at the top right. The six point servos are driven by two MERG Servo4 controllers while the vee switching is by the 4-relay units. The plan was to control the Servo4s and relay units jointly by single pole on/off switches. However a bench test showed that, for some inexplicable reason this didn't work. I could have used two pole switches but as I had spare relay units I have wired these to switch both the vee polarity and the Servo4s. The points on adjoining boards that also feed into the storage sidings are controlled by MERG Servo1R units that have integrated relays. With the benefit of hindsight it would probably been easier to use six of those on this baseboard. Next job is to reinstall these baseboards - the baseboard above is the "foundation" baseboard that the others on this side link onto. Then I can start on the storage sidings control panel and modify the original baseboard for the "scenic" section.

An excellent line up, promises to be a great show as usual and looking forward to it. Will I be able to claim the furthest travelled visitor award (169 miles from Felixstowe)?

Pete, I also have TCU (Antex) and don't bother to change the tip between normal (LRM 144) solder and low melt (either LRM 70 or Carrs 100). I continually use a Hobby Holidays tip cleaner (the curly brass type) and haven't had any problems. Jol

Another three D&S kits that are still available having been absorbed into another supplier's rage, offered at twice the price of a new kit. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126168597274?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=5b23d07b0b514bf6a804e8fd163cf6d9&bu=43007734306&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20231104012511&segname=11021 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126168599700?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=5b23d07b0b514bf6a804e8fd163cf6d9&bu=43007734306&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20231104012511&segname=11021 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126168600195?hash=item1d603c0e83:g:AI4AAOSwCnxlQYGB His other offerings are also optimistically priced. Either doesn't know the market adequately or is relying on equally poorly informed buyers.

The giveaway is in the Series Title, although in today's society you can apparently have a big name at a young age although you probably won't really have achieved much. Perhaps PW's next series could be Little Trains and Young Bloggers/Influencers Sam of Sam's Trains could be one featured guest, suggestions for others?.

The "temporary£ flyover that has been there for over fifty years and is a notorious accident blackspot.

This LNWR Class C 0-8-0 from the LRM kit has a fixed driven rear axle, compensation between the two leading axles and is sprung on the third, flangeless wheels, axle. Runs very well on Sharman P4 plastic centre wheels - absolute heresy!

Ply sleeper track laid with Copydex can be lifted or adjusted using white spirit to soften it. Care is needed but it is possible. Regarding sound deadening. Run a piece of stock along a section of track glued down and along a section not yet glued and you will find a remarkable difference. Iain Rice showed a track building technique where the track was build on a paper template and the whole lot laid onto the foam. The template overlapped the underlay and was tapped to the baseboard at it's edge. I think that this would achieve the same level of low noise transmission, although ballasting with pva might soak through the paper and have the opposite effect. With ply baseboard tops some noise with be from the ply "drumming". The cure for that is a layer of foam insulation glued on the underside, with holes cut out for point motors, wiring droppers, etc.

John beat me to it. I also have that fine feed attachment on my Unimat milling unit and have found it is ideal for controlling vertical feed..

"Our models will feature independent brakes and correct wheels as appropriate." As in the correct tyre and flange profile, together with the correct distance apart across the axle? Just asking.

London Road Models produce kits for both the LNWR 10T four wheel and 20T six wheel brake vans, priced at £25:00 and £37.00. The former has cast w/m body components, the latter a one piece resin cast body, both having etched n/s underframes. However, they have to be assembled and painted, something apparently increasingly difficult for many people.

I can't resist a challenge.

Hi Justin, I think it is a six wheel McConnell tender underframe with the centre axle, axle boxes and springs removed. The giveaway is the cutout above the centre axle guides where the spring was located. Are your four wheel water cart underframes shortened six wheel ones (possibly cut down LWB type) or did McConnell design/build any four wheel versions? I can't find any photos of McConnell four wheeled tenders. Jol

Not a Webb tender, but probably a McConnell version as used on the Bloomers. There were two versions, the short wheelbase type used originally and the Webb modified LWB version used with the Bloomers when the locos were rebuilt by Webb. I believe some were adapted for use in later life as water carriers on the C&HPR.

Quote from GOV.UK "Imported goods: accounting for import VAT These are normally charged at the same rate as if they had been supplied in the UK. But if you import works of art, antiques and collectors’ items they’re entitled to a reduced rate of VAT." In simple terms a VAT registered company pays the HMRC VAT on the difference in value (price) between their purchase cost and selling price. Or at least that is how it when I ran a retail model business some decades ago.

Etched kits. Well, with a caveat. If still in the box and "untouched" then it is a reasonable risk. But those that have been "started"may be missing bits and pieces, while some parts may be difficult to identify if removed from the fret. Of course, if you are unscrupulous you can contact the kit producer and claim that they were missing from your kit, which you had bought some years ago and just got around to starting.

Jonathan, the Coral was available as a w/m kit from K's (I think). I was given some castings - but not the whole kit, there were no buffer beams - late last year. As things GWR are rather a closed book to me, I passed them on to a fellow S4Society member who understood what to do, productively, with them. Jol

Our Peugeot 2008 has such a steering wheel, when driving we don't notice that it is not a conventional round one. Our previous 3008 was the same. It makes it easier for me to get in when my better half has been driving and left the seat forward and wheel/ column in a low position.

The motor bike riders around here seem to be more interested in the decibels their machinery can produce, especially those who suffer from that seemingly involuntary regular twitching of their right wrist when stopped at a junction.