Bernard Lamb

How did they compare in volume with Kaliningrad? That was at one time the port for a large volume of wood pulp for paper making, rather than in the form of timber. I am out of touch with recent and current workings. Bernard

It would need a lot of research. As I am now retired I no longer have access to the experts. I am sure there are people in the business who would see it as a challenge. The consistency and conductivity would be critical. Getting a bit OT, so better keep this space for Darious and his super models. Bernard

I would go along with most of that, However I have always liked and avidly read about, the small layouts of Ian Futers. The build it and move on idea seemed to work for him. But then, I like the locations. My earliest experience of layouts that I found to be of great interest were the likes of Hitchin and Borchester. I still have a, much carved about, Trix A4 as per the notes from Bert Collins. Bernard

Well done Darius, what a brilliant job. I don't think I have ever seen a model of this unit. Certainly not to the standard that you have achieved. It brings back happy memories of good times at Wells-Krautkramer in Letchworth. Ever thought about a working model? Sorry couldn't resist. There are some pretty small probes about these days and connecting one to the gubbins of a smart phone would be a starting point. Bernard

There is a ready made hole, in the form of a pond, in the garden of the family weekend house. However I do not think the MIL would have been too happy to have discovered a sight like that. Mind you, if I could have found a Skoda built example, complete with a welded boiler I would have been very tempted.😀 Bernard

Did you actually look at his review? I am not in the habit of watching them, but in this case I did and it is quite clear as to what he found out about the lamps. He also pointed out a hell of a lot of other problems. Bernard

Not according to Sam. Bernard

Yep. Around 1952 the level of private car ownership started to increase rapidly. Bernard

Going back to the early 1990s, you could have bought a real BR52 Kreigslok, for anywhere between 5 and 10 thousand DM. The only problem was finding a place to keep it. Bernard

The problem is Chuffer, that the market in Germany and a few other places, is so much larger than in the UK. There is a niche for this type of model. I suppose that the nearest was DJH. But in that range there are good and bad, with even the better models being nowhere near the best of continental models. Coupled with the reluctance of UK punters to spend serious money, availability of top quality RTR is not going to change. The nearest I have seen was the FIA LMS diesels. However they don't go round corners, without a full wheel change, so the experiment was never repeated. Mine cost about £370, so going by standard RTR prices today it now seems a reasonable purchase. They were much more when launched, but a lot were sold off cheaply. Bernard

But look at the prices. I used to read CM in March/April, I think it was, for the new releases. Weinert was pushing things for me, but these are a different ball game. Bernard

Ironically, it was Oliver Cromwell who allowed them back. Bernard

The oddest use for wagon buffers was at work. We rolled narrow steel coil and after rolling the coils were sent down a shoot, with an old wagon buffer to bring the coils to a stop. The coils, weighing 2-3 tonnes, hit the buffer and rebounded a fair way before finally coming to a halt. It looked rather Heath Robinson, but was very effective. All gone now, it was not the done thing to wand round the factory with a camera, so no photographic evidence. Bernard

Good evening Tony. In the first shot I find that the tall signal is too dominant. A much darker sky might help. I can never tell what time of day it is on your train set, without being told what service is depicted. In the other shot I find that the point rodding detracts from the assertivness of the signal. This one, to me, is the 'better' shot However the parked waggons tend to lead the eye away from the main subject, which rather spoils it. I have mixed feelings about the greyness of your track. Being used to less well maintained minor branchess in my modelling, where the track tends to be the colour of well weathered LMS bauxite, it is not what I would do. However to show off your express trains it provides an excellent neutral background. Basically there is no right or wrong. When I was printing photographs for an income I would deliberately aim for a slightly warm flesh tone. Clients would like it. Not a very PC remark these days, but the aim was to flatter the femail subjects, rather than to produce an accurate portrait. On the subject of current trends in photographic equipment. I have recently bought a Nikon Z5 and am using it as a general camera in place of a frull frame DSLR. Lighter, quieter and it gives surprisingly good results. Bernard

Yes. there was a set made. I have one, but have no idea of the catologue mumber, or when it was produced. I would imagine back in the 1990s. Worth looking out for, or you can get decals for the large DR insignia and give the older period set an update. The small lettering would be harder to change, but a bit of weathering would diguise the difference. On many DR routes they would not have run as sets, but would run with a mix of other old stock. Bernard

Re the sharper is not always better comment. At one time I was involved in wedding photography, my two colleagues used Bronicas and I had a Mamiya, all 6 x 4.5 format. The standard 80mm lens on the Bronica was superb. When working in good light there was no questions as to these lenses being sharper than mine. However I had a wide angle lens, 45mm if I remember correctly. At one stop down this was amazing. When taking group shots in pouring rain I would gather the subjects near a wall, to give a bit of shelter and go in close with this combination. It worked, not in respect of actual sharpness as measured in a test, but in terms of giving the client a set of acceptable prints. I remember one wedding where the conditions were diabolical. The standard lens on the Bronica could not capture the shots and the Bronica wide angle lens showed distortion. It was not a situation that happened very often, but it was good to know just what could be acheived If needs must. I am sure there must be many examples where technically less good, relatuvely speaking, equipment can deliver the required results. Bernard

Try to find a photograph of the other side. You should then be able to see the ejector pipe. Some K3s were LH drive. Bernard

If you bought one around the time that they were current. Even better with some Brassmasters bits added. Worth £99 today? I think not. Bernard

Have it your own way, This model has a low 2k series number. There are models about with a mid 3k series number. One is old and one is ancient as I call it. If you buy one of these there is no history of where it has been. What temperature has it been stored at? What is the lubrication like? I have one from this period and it runs well. I nnow its history. Is a model that old worth close to £100? To quote you. No it's not. It's our old friend having a laugh yet again. I thought , as a group of experienced folk on here. that we knew bettet than that. Bernard With apologies for posting in this thread, instead of the ebay madness one.

That is not just old, it is ancient. Look at the loco to tender connection. Much later models with the plug are avalable. Bernard

On the Maldon branch they used an almost brand new Thompson coach with a very ancient GER vehicle. A far greater contrast. As has been said, anything goes. Bernard

Good afternoon Tony, Probably Slaters. I know they did a kit and I have a few. They mix in well with steel 21 tonners for a BR late 1950s period. Bernard

Of course Dapol can tell these from the kosher stuff. Just check for the 'cast iron' instead of mazac, or whatever alloy Dapol specify.😀 Bernard

What puzzles me is why people buy stuff from China via ebay. If you do want to get involved in that market, then the margins are much better using ali express, or dealing with a company directly. The volume of model trains that could be sold, seems to make it unatractive for people in China to contemplate a punt. At least not in a large way. The Chinese are certainly aware that Hornby, for example, have been known to get quantities very wrong and have had to resort to fire sales. It is actually a brownie point for Dapol that that they are considered worthy of attention. Bernard

'Recruits' I remember the late 1960s, a major supplier to the motor trade. Press operators on piece work and family members coming in to help with the stacking and packing. Some people recorded fantastic output rates and senior management choose not to ask questions. Probably the best case I came across was a new Sales Director who went out to The Gulf to drum up business. While there he enquired, very discreetly, about a job the firm had quoted for but had not turned into a contract. He was told it was half way built and that they were delighted with how it was coming on. All hell was let loose on his return. However it all went quiet very quckly, as it was hinted that somebody very senior ws involved in what was a massive job to take private. I don't know what was involved in your training, but mine was to keep your head down and keep quiet.😃 Bernard