MarcD

Randall Good work on the gates. I would upload them to shapways and then make them available to the general public. Someone else might buy some. It's what we have done, with all the parts for our kits that are printed or any thing I design for myself that isn't worthwhile bringing out as kits. You have shown, yourself, that you have the skills to design your own stuff. Keep going. As for the Guild forum I have been told, having never been on it, that it is full of people who are quick to put anyone down who is doing anything but are not keen to do anything themselves. I have also been told that they mostly drink the finest acid in the "Pedent and Armchair" at the weekend. Marc

Modellers of any gauge have to ask themselves a single question. Do I value the work that is put into making either the kit or finished model? If the answer is yes then you pay. If you answer no then you don't pay. Cheap mass produced imported models are just that, identical models. In the real world you can get a 10 photos of the same type of wagon and each one will be different. This can't be done with mass production. We all to greater or lesser degree have champagne tastes with lemonade pockets and have to cut our cloth to suit. In industry there is a concept of the "Quality Triangle" it trades off Quality, time and cost. ie if you want something that is cheap and in quick time the quality will be poor (Mass produced model), if you want some thing that is of high quality but low cost then its going to take a long time to make it (Scratch/Kit built) or if you want something of high quality in a short space of time then you have to pay a high price (Hand Built). Marc

There is a third option which the Furness Railway was very keen on. That is the singing/sliding stop block. Before the Furness' Lakeside branch was relayed in 1899 there very few trap/catch points. I have attached the 25inch to the mile OS maps for 2 section so the Lakeside branch. Hope they are of help Marc

See you at the NEC as we will be there with our slightly bigger layout in its "Lowick" guise. Marc

Mike when are you thinking of showing this little gem of the the general public? Marc

It's sort of the way that we are doing our new locos. 3D printed top with a CAD drawn etched nickel sliver bolt together chassis. Marc

We had a shunting layout 8ft by 2ft call Ultramarine Works. It was based on a dolly blue dye works. It's was a 5-3-3 inglnook with a Victorian chemical/dye works. There was a dye works like this at Backbarrow near newby bridge at the bottom of Windermere but it never had a rail link. As it only shutdown in the middle of the 80's I can remember the whole area being covered in a light blue dust including the workers. If you look at the setting and if you can get it so that the buildings didn't change over time the you can run what you like and no one can say other wise. Marc

Where were these people looked a lot less to me. But perhaps I need to go to spec savers. Marc

People better be careful what they wish for. We are currently working on the Furness or more correctly Sharp Bros/Sharp Stewart 2-2-2WT in 7mm. We might have the prototype ready for the NEC. Along with a 2-4-2T and 2-4-0. Marc

There are some drawings in the museum archive at Ravenglass. I'm also sure there is a book on Hawoods estate railway which has some drawings of the R&ER's early 15inch stock. Marc

We were contained by the guild just as we set off on Friday to find out if we were still coming. It's never happened before. Marc

Or o gauge layout changes its name pall the time depending on what stock and buildings are being used. If it is running LSWR, LBSCR, S&DJR or GER then it's "Scratchy Bottom" if it's raunning Furness or NER then it's "Lowick" and when it's running Cambrian and Manchester and Milford the it is "Gwaelod Crafog for Gwaelod Hapus".

I can't comment on the feelings of other traders. But we would have lost less money if we hadn't turned up. We were thanked by both the trade manager and trade secretary and given lunch vouchers. We can't suffer this level of loss again so we are going to look into insurance for such occasions. Marc

We have got to the hotel epic journey lost of snow. Might have to dig out the car in the morning Hopefully people will turn up tomorrow! Marc

We have got as far as Wellingborough and the hotel. Biggest problem was the idiots who can't drive in snow and the hotel car park had 4 inches of snow on it. Might have to dig ourselves out in the morning. I half expect the show to be knocked on the head in the morning. Marc

We can add Haywood railways to the list of missing traders. I have just had an email from Geoff Gill in which he thought it was to dangerous for them to get to Kettering. Marc

Some might say about time! Marc

Good point. We could always have a traders meeting? Marc

I just had this email from the guild Dear Traders This message is to confirm Kettering show will be going ahead as planned. We appreciate that weather conditions in other parts of the country may make travel difficult for some of you but conditions at the venue and in the surrounding area are OK this morning and therefore the show will take place. The venue will be open for set up later today as usual. Best regards Alan Redgwick Events Chairman I wonder if the cancel they would have to refund traders and advance ticket holders. Marc

Thanks for that. My cousin who lives in Kettering has just messaged me with this "We have had about an inch of snow up to now, but are expecting about six to eight inches from early afternoon through tonight and tomorrow morning. The roads last night were bad. **** got stuck getting home from work. I have not been out today, but going out soon. Most of the problems are due to a lack of gritting. All the schools are closed. The drifts are causing the biggest problems. " Not sure what to do now. Marc

It is looking like the only model show that is going ahead this weekend is the Kettering show. Marc

Shunting with a H, H1, H2 or a K locos or North Sunderland? What scale? Marc

That's 3 more than normal could be a good show then Marc

I might be on my own by this time tomorrow! Marc

The communication between the guild and traders isn't exactly great. But the OXO train must go on regardless. Interesting considering the new high vis jacket requirements! Marc