SM42

In essence you are talking about building a portable layout just like any exhibition going layout but without the same audience. Essentially I would build in the garage up to and including track, wiring and testing. At the joints cut the track and fix securely to baseboard ends. use locating dowels or other system of choice to accurately locate boards when reassenmbled so everything lines up and finally cross wiring over joints using plug and sockets of choice. This can be simple choc block to fancy multi pin connectors. No need for rail joiners at the joints. the cross board connector will do the job. Another benefit is that it can be moved again in the future if need be. Andy

Work breakfast (eaten al desko) normally consists of fruit. An apple and a handful of grapes occasionally supplemented by a pear or a cereal bar. Breakast on none work days can vary from the full Ponglish (the full English with a Polish twist,) fried egg, smoked bacon or sausage, not both, with fried mushrooms on toast washed down with tea or coffee. Mrs SM42 and I have also recently become partial to ham, cheese and spring onion on crumpets. (Cooked in the oven not the toaster otherwise the cheese falls off) Other days may be a cup of coffee and some toast or fruit loaf. Breakfasting like a king is not done here very often. That pleasure is enjoyed at the in laws when breakfast takes about two hours and it seems to be a test on whether you can finish the contents of the fridge. Andy

Apparently viruses do tend to mutate downwards. This was the view of a scientist early on. To be successful the virus needs a host. Killing the host is not the virus's intention (even if we have given it a human murderous intent) Killing the host is of no use. The virus will die too. Thus the virus mutations that will survive in greater number are those that don't kill all the hosts. Back to a previous post, instead of buying gloves to operate communal keypads, use a cheap disposable biro. Remove ink tube and nib. use pen to push buttons. Replace cap to cover the contaminated end. I keep one in the car for use on card terminals at petrol stations. Can be used to open doors on trains too. The warning signs for the government have been there since 2016 when an pandemic exercise was carried out. The lessons have either not been learnt or heard or just plain disregarded and as a result they are quite literally making it up as they go along. The result is ad hoc legislation and instructions that in theory could have been thrashed out 4 years ago and kept in a cupboard to be used if required. The problem with such ad hoc policy is that it tends not to be very effective or enforcable (See Dangerous Dogs Act) but bear in mind that there is a 3 weekly review within the legislation, unike the Hungarian model On the whole the public has gone along with it. There will always be those who refuse to abide, but their voices and the apparent disregard by those in the public eye who should know better are insidious and the rot starts to creep in across the populace in general. The longer this goes on the harder it will be to impose new restrictions. People have been given a glimpse of the light at the end, to have that extinguished will be hard Really the restrictions and guidance from restricting movement to quarentines and mask wearing should have been there from the start. It is always easier to remove than to apply. The travelling public will now be facing the prospect of delay and cancellation because of a dispute about someone who refuses to wear a mask, staff or fellow passengers may even be assaulted for daring to challenge someone and the limited resources of the BTP and other police forces will be stretched further. On a brighter note, I have no doubt that in time COVID19 will become like it predecessor SARS. It will be out there, as a constant and occasional hazard, much like seasonal flu is, and life will return to normal in the not too distant future. I just hope and pray the cost of getting there is not much higher. Andy

I don't remember if it has been memtioned before but a few months ago the signal box (porttakabin style) known as Claydon L&NE Jn was moved from that place to the site of the old Waddesdon station just north of Aylesbury. The line from Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Waddesdon is now the token section and from there to Calvert is now officially a siding. The signal box has retained its old name with the addition of "(New)" between Junction and Signalbox. Andy

This is a problem I meet every day. As with all rules, if there is a grey area or the chance of different interpretation then it will be problematic. Also I'm not sure if some don't bend the rules deliberately to show a little bit of resistance to big brother or to just draw attention in some way. For example "Stay 2m from others." Now does that mean only when stationary, like in a queue, crowd or indeed on public transport, or does it also include passing in the street, supermarket or train doorway. I know some who say the 2m rule doesn't apply if you are just passing someone. Some say it's ok to stand / sit near you as long as they are not face to face with you. There are now those who think it only applies if proximity will be for more than 15 minutes and indoors, but not if you wear a mask. I prefer to think that if both persons are caplable of breathing then 2m applies regardless. It just seems more sensible that way Andy

The rules and how to follow them has been muddied somewhat lately. The enforcement was probelmatic to start, almost impossible now. Who will police mask wearing on public transport? Policing ticketing is hit and miss and the path of least resistance is taken for the greater benefit of not delaying everyone or being physically assaulted. What hope with mask wearing? The original message was simple. Now it is 50 odd pages of guidance with periodic ad hoc additions and a strange traffic light system with parameters and timelines that can change but seem to be set in stone. It may be the road map everyone wanted, but you don't need to beat the estimated arrival time. Perhaps the government were surprised that the original Stay Home message was too successful The rules / guidance are now so muddy and complex that it seems anything is now fair game. From the experience of commuting by car over the last 8 weeks and seeing many who obviously weren't making essential journeys, I don't hold out much hope that this rule will be possible to enforce effectively. Andy

Not a good comparison. 35% of the UK isn't effectively desert like Australia nor are there several active volcanoes and large forested areas (38%) like New Zealand. A better comparsion would be in populated areas rather than whole country area (Sydney c1,114, London c7,700, Auckland c3,133, Canberra c448, Birmingham c3,600) per sqaure km. Note that Sydney is around 10 times greater in area than London Back to masks Whilst the effectiveness or otherwise if open to debate, there can be no harm in doing so if you so wish. However there does need to be some common sense in use which unfortunately is not very common. How many mask wearers do you see on TV who think their nose isn't a route in or out and therefore doesn't need to be covered. The whole stategy at present does smack of limping from one thing to another whilst the common sense that the government is relying on has gone out of the window over the last two weeks since a particluar road trip came to light. Seems odd to me that "the science" seems to be different in every country, when science should at least be fairly consistent. It's science after all. Physics and chemistry are quite consatnt so I suspect is epidemiology. Andy

No NR don't generally. Always have to check before diverting off booked route. Or just ask GBRf if Jim's driving and then most places are fair game. Andy

Yes those are the things You have made a very fine job of those. What size is the strip you used? Andy

A simple coat of matt varnish can make a huge difference to the look. BUT, make sure you mask any windows or other clear parts you want to stay clear before spraying with varnish, otherwise they will all go opaque. Andy

All buffers checked were cast, 4 bodies on a little brass feeder. I've just dug out a Fruit / Ventilated van kit (essentially the same kit as your van with different sides) and the buffers there were fine too. Certainly a challenging problem. I can't think of a tool that would be universally useful to solve it. It can be very frustrating when things aren't quite right or could have been better with a little thought. Brossard has mentioned things like brake van stepboard hangers. May I also add Slaters brake gear safety loops. Why would plastic ever be a good idea for something so fine? A length of brass strip and maybe a bending template printed on the instruction sheet would have been better. My brake van build stalled because I didn't relish the prospect of bending all the (wobbly out of the box) stepboard hangers back into shape. I may get round to finishing it off during the current period. I just need to find the roof. For the axle guard tie bars I'm tempted to use 1mm angle to give a bit of extra strength. Whilst not strictly accurate I don't think it would be noticable . Hope the kits on their way to you are better. Andy

I've just checked the next 4 kits I will be building (13t open. Palvan and two insulated vans) and non have anything like that in the buffer bodies. certainly a real pain It may be useful to contact Slater's about it. I appreciate that there is some distance between you and Matlock and any solution may take some time. Andy

Hmm. Not had that one yet. Certainly not on the 7 sets of buffers I've put together Worst I had was what can only be described as casting sand in the buffer body. Easily cleaned out Maybe just a rogue one you've got there I'd perhaps try a round needle file. Andy

There is a picture of a Tube in Ale traffic with extra planks in Larkin's Working Wagons Vol 2 1974 - 1979. Slightly different to the one on Paul Bartlett's site, being BR rather than LNER design. Andy

It's even smaller when the phantom is approaching from an upstairs bedroom window and on a previous landing attempt there was a serious undercarriage malfunction. Land a two wheeler on a 30 degree glide slope is much harder than it looks. Andy

The nice bit is that many of them are available (some more available than others) as kits or RTR or from cross kitting. You have a good chance with many of the vans, opens and 16 tonners I've got too many wagons that are too early for me beause of this and other books. I don't think many fit into the TOPS era. I now have green diesels and steam locos as a result. Andy

Another hunt in the archives (to avoid tidying the house whilst Mrs SM42 isn't looking) has found a 4 vent version (diag 1/250) in normal van traffic in 1969 and in bauxite. Now the caption, which I accept may be a little off the mark, states that they were taken off meat traffic by 1964. If they went into general traffic by then as well can't be comfirmed Quoting one of the Larkin books - Wagons of the early British Railways era 1948 - 1954 (usual caveat about taken the written word as gospel) "neither batch saw prolonged service in meat traffic, the diagram 1/250 vehicles particularly. Both types could be seen in ale traffic and the diagram 1/251 were also seen in fish traffic." The latter not in blue spot traffic. Now considering some were still being ordered/ built in 1954, and they were not in prolonged use for meat traffic, On the face of it, by 1960, they would be in traffics other than that for which they were built. After this the trail in my limited library goes cold. In terms of white, carmine or bauxite, the white seems to have lasted quite a long time (but rather distressed, see previous reply above, that was in 1969) and there is at least one late photo that appears to be in bauxite with the white showing through but when this repaint occurred is lost to the mists of time. On the whole I think that a couple in Ale traffic wouldn't be out of place for your time period. The non vents possibly in white, the vented you could possibly go bauxite with. The next question is when did the side vents start to disappear. Choose your prototype carefully. Andy

Well last night the Nechells Grand Prix was in full swing between 10pm and 4am on the north side of Brum I'm glad I wasn't out on the roads in that area and it sounds like many have a new layer of rubber on them. I was half expecting to have to drive around the debris on my way home from work this morning. Andy

A hot air balloon was floating above Worcestershire this morning before 6am. Didn't expect to see one this year so it was a pleasant surprise. Andy

Did a similar thing to the OP, only this was with a wooden cased Hifi speaker from the top of the bookshelf. The small occasional table that broke its fall came off worse. The speaker works, the plastic decorative front broke off but easily repaired. The table? A careful positioning with the damage (triangular hole) towards the wall and a strategic house plant hide what damage couldn't be fixed by a bit of swearing and laminate bending and flexing surgery. . As for Torper's wagon. I think a new set of wheels would do the job, either that or a repaint into S.C Ruffy livery. Andy

I've had a look through the library here and the earliest I can find is a 4 vent version in bauxite in Ale traffic in 1965. It is allegde in tyhe caption that they had all been similarly converted / repainted by then. As for no vent versions there is a late 60s picture of one in white in the company of fish vans and the speculation that it was running with some non fish form of inuslated traffic. I'd say you could justify both Andy

Kidderminster shed had a triangle too for turning locos. Bewdley, Hartebury, Kidderminster. Andy

The one I spotted was half the speed muliply by 1/10th the speed (braking distance) plus the speed (thinking distance) So 30mph is 15 x 3 + 30 =75 70mph is 35 x 7 +70 = 315ft so 200mph is 100 x 20 + 200 = 2200ft Probably the same maths written in different form. Probably a lot less as would only have to shave off 130mph (975ft) to match your speed Andy

I was really hoping Alex had an older model and a D1667 would have been perfect and so easy to convert. At least there is a kit available for a D1667 and we know they were still plying their trade in the early 60s. Alex, you'll find that book a treasure trove of wagons photos from c1960 - 1976. Be careful though, it may lead to a rash of wagon aquisitions. Andy

Hi Alex, The book was published in 1977 by Bradford and Barton. I was lucky to find it second hand. I have had a quick browse through some other general steam books and wooden undeframe wagons were in evidence in freight (mainly coal) workings in 1962. Whether these are 10 or 9 footers. who knows? Quite possibly end door wagons too The LMS open Wheatley refers to has a steel underframe so possibly a 17' 6" , 10' wheelbase. Essery has the D1666 as 17' 6" body. I have no idea what the Bachmann model is tryng to be. Possibly a D2157. I'm sure some LMS experts will know. Agree on vac fitting the van. Andy