Bernard Lamb

Either a) There are fixing bolts going down into the ground to about 10'. b) In the windless climate where we display our models they are not required. Bernard (Who at one time had a chart that gave predicted maximum wind speeds expected in a 50 year cycle for all parts of the UK).

I reported that Starlings have been about this winter for the first time in many years and today they were collecting nesting material. Very positive. I had to fill the birdbath as a couple of Pigeons had splashed the water all over the place. LTTs are still about, but no sign of the Goldcrests. First time for several years that they have not been residents in the garden. Several Wrens are about and actual sit on branches out in the open for all to see rather than just getting the odd sighting. The Robin follows me at all times and now comes into the Greenhouse to see what I am doing. Bernard

Tony, This thread was your creation and long may it continue with you taking an active part or taking a back seat. Humour is a strange thing and people either get it or they do not. I take part in the MRJ thread. I get some positive comments and I get some negative comments. One editor got a bit miffed at one of my remarks but other people accepted it as a realistic exercise. I go by the issue being a success or not as to how many copies are sold at our local newsagents. To me that is a valid study. As the particular issue did not sell well I reported that I and the local population decided that it was a not so good an issue. I reported the findings in what I termed to be a light hearted manner. Unfortunately the editor could not take it in the spirit in which it was intended. I also take part in another joke on Wikipedia. There is a list of famous former pupils from my old school. This gets updated from time to time and some people find it quite a laugh as to who is in and who is out. It is maintained by people with an incredible in depth knowledge. Now to many people it is nonsense but to those in the know it is hilarious. Being very strong on media celebrities makes rejection particularly harsh to those with big egos. I should add that I am not on the list but I have a few good friends who are. Both here and there rather than comment adversely it would be better for those who do not understand other peoples jokes to ignore them. Bernard

It might at times seem like that. As a modeller of German prototypes I once bought a Piko BR95 and found that the supposedly RTR model had more detail parts to add than I have seen in a typical kit. It did demand rather more skill than a typical Airfix kit to complete. Bernard

Almost every time a new set of coaches comes out the bar is raised considerable and the price, in relation to the real world, increases slightly. Yet still some people are unable to understand the point. Given the comment It does give me an insight into why model shops are closing. Bernard

Epoxy seems to do the job. Araldite or other similar brands. I would suggest you roughen up the surface to give a better grip. Use the correct flux and solder combination and that should also work but I have never bothered to try as Araldite is pretty good.. Bernard

Seeing that at most times of the day on my local line it is not possible to walk from your seat, if you are fortunate enough to have one, to reach the toilet, due to the density of standing passengers, then the provision of toilets is purely academic. Bernard

A wise old owl sat in an oak The more he heard the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard Wasn't he a wise old bird. Bernard

To finish off a Talbot. While I was there the owner of this machine arrived and it was wheeled out of the workshop and fired up. The sound of it turning over to start was more like a flying circular saw cutting RHS than a normal car engine. After a few minutes ticking over in the yard the owner set of to drive it home. It truly is a work of art as well as an example of a superb restoration job and looks absolutely magnificent. It also gets seriously used and has been to the Alps fairly recently. Note the rally timing equipment. Bernard

To continue. An Alfa Romeo. I can't give chapter and verse on the technical details as I know little about such matters. I am told that they are highly sort after and change hands for serious money. More like the cost of a house than a car in some cases, with a good engine fetching £100k. The engine in this one is not the original as that was too far gone for rebuilding. I think the engine now fitted has two more cylinders than the correct engine. There are a few other detail differences from the original which lower the value, but it is a case of making the best possible restoration using parts that are available. Hard to get it all in but it gives an impression of the general style and shape. The interior. The power unit. I would love to have a go when it is finished. Bernard

I can sympathise with that comment. Being of a certain age I was brought up on Hornby-Dublo and was told that their locomotives were metal and far superior to Triang, which of course were plastic, which everybody knows is a cheap and nasty material. Actually Tony it seems that the guy was paying you a back handed compliment by comparing your models to Hornby-Dublo, which was regarded by a large section of the general public as the best available. Bernard

A chap I know is a car restorer and as I was going to be in his part of the world at the weekend I arranged to drop in to see what he had in the workshop. The workshop is rather cramped and the lighting not that powerful, so my apologies for the quality of the photographs. Start with a Packard. I find this an ugly brute. But rather impressive. The mascot is rather smart. The interior There is another example but in a less advanced state. More to follow. Bernard

That depends on what value you put on your time. Going by the work involved that would be several hundred pounds. The new uns still seem a bargain to me. However I will keep my modified originals as they are all my own work and thus have a value to me far beyond the cost. Bernard

A couple of points. Good quality small files will cost an arm and a leg, if you can get hold of them. I now use nail file sticks from Boots for most general jobs, cheaper suppliers are available. The pretty pink or purple ones are good as you cannot loose them. Regarding the pin chuck. I now keep 3 with the most common drill sizes in place. Saves a lot of messing about. Bernard

Rails like mine that move in the chairs and leave unpainted patches. Bernard

Now you are getting on to dodgy ground. The police in general are so overworked that they have to make decisions as to which cases they investigate, The idea that they have a duty to present evidence in all cases on an equal footing went out of the window long ago. At one time if you had an RTA that involved a London Transport bus you would be advised not to bother with a claim as they would back their driver. However confident you were about who was at fault. Sadly in my opinion we have moved away from this attitude and an employee no longer has faith that he will be looked after by his employer. The BTP providing evidence against a chap who works for the same organization is fundamentally wrong. No wonder they have all these strikes on the railway system. Thank goodness common sense prevailed in this case. Bernard

Try and change your email with the likes of Amazon or Pay Pal if you want some real headaches. Not only do Hattons send you information when an order is about to be processed, they also give you reminders that a model is due in several months time. Very handy in the case of the Stanier Mogul, as I had completely forgotten about it as it was two layouts ago. The only downside is you can see your order history from years ago and the amount spent can be a bit of a shock. Bernard

Mention of good things from the north prompts me to venture in this direction. I have not tried it yet, but having just been to the Eduardo Paolozzi exhibition in Whitechapel may I mention Paolozzi Lager by the Edinburgh Beer Factory. Bernard

The best mpg figures would not be achieved using a full tank. The F1 people will tell you exactly how much more fuel you need to carry the extra weight. If you plot where the filling stations are located before you make a long journey and then put in the minimum amount needed to get from one to the other each step of the way and carry on until you have used the theoretical tank capacity you should obtain the best possible figure for mpg. Every thing else being equal of course, which it is not. Probably best to get each measure of fuel checked as their is a tolerance on the composition that will affect the exact calorific output. Bernard

Seeing that they have modelled the reinforcing rings on the inside of the front of the frames but not pierced then, how the heck do you drill them out? In the past I have drilled holes and added washers to represent the reinforcing. Probably much easier. Certainly easier than measuring and making a drilling jig. Bernard

I think DCC I a move in the wrong direction. Now if a fraction of the effort went into trying to make a viable scale steam or diesel engine, then I think we would be getting somewhere. Till then I shall remain a Luddite. As for small speakers giving any sort of accurate sound, well, just ask the audio enthusiasts why they want the largest speakers that will fit in their listening room, even when they just want to hear a small instrument. As regards sound at exhibitions, it should be banned. I find it totally distracting. Of course if a ban on talking while watching was enforced then their might be some point in allowing sound equipped locos. I will concede that DCC sound on a large scale garden railway might be approaching the acceptable as regards an avenue to explore. I have only come across this on a German layout. Is their a specialist group in the UK? Bernard

A very tasty mogul. Regarding the lack of a gap behind the steam pipes. I find that there is a very small window while watching the loco in motion where the angle allows this feature to be observed. Looking at prototype photographs I have seen very few where the gap can be seen. Not a critical problem for me. Probably the under cab area will get some treatment. Other than that I am rather pleased with it. Nice to see a UK model with a leaflet of the type I regard as the norm with German models for around the last 30 years. Bernard

Tony, It is probably because the forum is owned by Andy that some people feel a need to push their luck and see just how far they can go. Here rubbish can be described as rubbish without any one taking offence and praise can be given without any accusations of favouritism. Long may it continue. Bernard

Or it could be that people have more respect for Tony Wright than they do for Andy York. Add emoticom for those who might take that remark too seriously, though I suspect there is a grain of truth in it. Bernard