MJI

On 07/08/2019 at 04:56, PatB said:

Although Australia is a fairly high profile case at the moment, I think we might see a general rush amongst countries with significant coal reserves to get as much of it as possible out of the ground and sold before inevitable commercial progress renders it worthless.

 

Australia's overall performance on per-capita emissions is, I suspect, a legacy of its relative affluence, since WW2 at least, and historically cheap energy. I know there's a lot of current whingeing about power prices, but when I first moved here 23 years ago electricity cost ~50% of the equivalent in the UK. Petrol was about the same (and still is). Historically there's been very little incentive to use energy efficiently. On a domestic scale, double glazing is still unusual in new builds and almost unknown in anything more than ~10 years old. Roof insulation is by no means universal, although it did become more widespread under the, politically much maligned but practically very successful, scheme of 10 years ago. The vehicle fleet is still much more extravagant than it needs to be. In industry, very few of the projects I worked on had energy efficiency high on their priority list. In short, we're bad at energy because we've never needed to be better at it.

 

And then there's land clearing, in which we could give the Brazilians lessons, and a host of other staggeringly wasteful agricultural practices which are only now starting to be regarded as maybe not sustainable in the long term.

 

Australia seriously needs to lift its game, but seems to often wilfully refuse to do so, even when there might be a quid in it, which is a bit disappointing.

I noticed that the average Antipodian window is a lot less insulated.

But they are getting better.

Argon fill is rare, solar control glass is less than a tenth of the normal clear clear units.

I have noticed 5mm thick glass is common.

Most units sold in UK are solar controlled ot some form or another, and are often gas filled to improve insulation.

On 26/08/2019 at 15:06, polybear said:

An appeal to those clever and most knowledgeable people that frequent Tony's excellent thread - can anyone shed any light as to the origins of the following mouldings (Manufacturer and prototype) please?  Another of those items collected at some long-forgotten exhibition in the dim and distant past....

Many thanks,

Brian

 

 

Looks like a mix of Kirk body and DC Kits floor.

So would the DMU be both buffer stools or 4 of one and 8 of other?

Need to work out diameter now!

I am ready for the DMU ones, will fit them to my 119.

Thanks

Martin

Celebrities. I know people who knew them but never direct, an Uncle met all the Princes and confirmed a common opinion of the middle brother.

My dad PDIed a car for a well known racing driver called Nigel, I once chatted to the uncle of an England rugby player who was driving a 1960s singers car.

Railway wise I suppose .David Shepherd is the most well known.

it is one of my bucket list places.

Got a picture of the children standing near a road sign on the main road.

Not bothered by the buses, more interested in the village.

Wouldn't mind a drive on the plain anyway, the tracks look fun.

I remember them cleaner than that. But that was in early 80s

03 382 is an ex Bristol Bath Road loco and I have seen it there.

I have the Mainline model of it.

Tempted to do one of these open days.

Are they open to public?

OK

I used to use D&A when they were good, had the same pair for ages, Nikon lenses, excellent quality.

Don't like Boots.

Went to Specsavers and here we go.

Optical quality is not great, centre of vision is fine, but edge, bad.

Also they are a tiny bit weak, not sure if it is my eyes, the manufacturing or the testing. (They said my vision was slightly less shortsighted)

But I can handle the slightly weak as the loss of very far distance focus is about the same as the extra short sighted shrinking from my old pair.

These will do until I have saved enough to go to an independent and get Nikon plastic again.

What an interesting vehicle.

I think the liking of DMUs is for a number of reasons.

1) The sheer variety, local station I could see

Met Cam 101s of two different layouts, 3 different liveries

Derby 116, South Wales and Tyseley versions. The Tyseley were non gangwayed

Pressed Steel 117s, 4 different liveries remembered

BRCW 118, always seemed to be blue

GRCW 119

Swindon 120

2) The places they took you.

The Cornish branches

Welsh Branches

New Street station

Swindon

3) The view through the cab

4) The familiarity of your local sets.

The usual 4 or 5, 101s.

The small number of 117s in the area (most were still Reading), including B430.

23 hours ago, davefrk said:

All this talk of DMUs makes me happy.....

 

DMU buffers and mounting stools are in the new mould made this very morning, with more designs to follow.

 

More anon on the Lanarkshire Models thread.

My fault I think as I asked Dave if he had any suitable for a GRCW 119 DMU.

I hope to be first customer for a set of 12.

My 116 DMU

Western Region, gangwayed, took 4 Lima vehicles and some resin DMS sections to do.

Swap for Black Beetles or High Level motor bogies

On 04/05/2018 at 12:54, meil said:

Might be of interest: http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/Push%20Pull%20YTT.html

I went to school with him, his dad was woodwork teacher. I knew him as Mark

Been nusy so neglected modelling for a while.

Theft

This is becoming more common because it is so easy to sell on stuff.

Set up a throwaway Ebay account, sell on there, so much listed that they could probably get away with it.

I do know that a lot of stolen car parts are sold on there, for example my cars headlamps are popular to steal.

Not everyone would check the sellers credentials like I would.

However keep a look out and you may find your own stolen goods.

Exhausts, been there done that. Expansion pipe on a 2 stroke, a stainless 2 into 1 system on another bike to replace a rusted system.

Fitted a rally system (2 box absorption, large bore, 4-2-1 manifold) to a Sunbeam hatch, I used to pick on boy racers with it.

1 hour ago, Classsix T said:

Huh. It'd seem post-apocalyptic games are the in thing. Absolutely nothing to do with the tiny hands orange dope doing the rounds, obvs.

PSN informs me a Borderlands title is up for grabs for June. The franchise has been on my interest radar for sometime but I've never played one, anyone care to opine?

 

C6T. 

Handsome collection (2 and Presequel) are currently free on Playstation +

Old Triang and teach them to not try pushing them along

Been playing Destiny 2 in a fireteam consisting of both sons.

Wright TV programme

Is that Tony Wright?

I think the future of railway modelling and preservation is in the hands of the broadcasters.

Recently we have

Chris Tarrent around the world.

Michael Portillo of course.

The model engineering through Great Glen.

The model railway challenge programme.

The NYMR programme.

All is generating interest.

BR Blue, people knock it but it was an interesting era.

Overlapping end of steam to sectorisation.

Quite a pleasant livery.

Vacuum brakes to air brakes.

Huge variety of locomotives and stock. (22 classes over a few years at one area).

Steam locos are very clean and shiny.

But then I also like other older eras such as late 50s MR and WR

I still think the demise of all of Rootes group was really sad.

The 3 door hatch at their death throes was a great car.

AC electric sounds.

M&S freezer section.

As to variety, was loads even when everything was blue.