Bernard Lamb

5 minutes ago, Northmoor said:

I'm not a lawyer but think it would be illegal to exhibit one in some countries including Germany, but not Britain.

Not a problem these days.

As far as the legal situation goes.

But it can still be a sensitive topic in some quarters.

I have posted photographs on the forum and never had a complaint.

It depends on the situation.

The Gilbert and George work did cause some comments as a lot of people were not aware of the extreme nature of it and it was a long time ago and people were more sensitive back then.

Bernard

10 hours ago, Craigw said:

It probably comes as no surprise to find out that most people are parochial and prefer their local prototype. The same thing happens here (Australia) and from what I have heard, most other countries. The only thing I can think of in modelling disciplines that appears to transcend borders is German WW2 subjects.

 

Regards,

 

Craig W

I have never seen a WW2 model of a German scene. But I have seen an art work by Gilbert and George on the subject. Days of future past. It was in Germany and a good few years ago and caused quite a stir.

There was a time when UK based Swiss layouts were popular, but that was back in the period when Switzerland was a popular second home to many military types. I was allowed to run my German stock on one of these super layouts at one time, as the owner of the layout lived near to me and was a good friend of a neighbour. It was featured in the CM and very firmly fixed in place, so never exhibited.

Bernard

I would go with diesel power. As rekoboy says, far more common.

Bernard

Well done Simon.

A very positive start.

I find it mentally very satisfying just to be able to run trains up and down a simple layout.

Far better than to start a major project that takes ages to get to a running stage.

Bernard

1 hour ago, melmerby said:

Am I the only one thinking about all the opposition that would have drawn?

Indeed.

But which pressure group should get what they want?

Too late now, but I do thinkthat a dual road and rail route would have been a good option.

Bernard

5 minutes ago, Nick C said:

Ours has that too - great for some things, terrible for others, as it entirely depends on whether the issue you've got fits in with the questions (and possible answers) it offers.

Vey true.

I tried it when it was intoduced. Twenty minutes answering the questions and then told to phone the surgery.

I find it better to phone 111.  As long as you answer the questions in a way that prompts a response, you will be contacted by a GP within minutes. At least talking to a real person will convey how serious the situation is and will receive the appropriate response.

Bernard 

14 minutes ago, Edwin_m said:

Where road and rail are approximately at the same level, putting the road under is usually much more disruptive and expensive.  With a road over rail bridge the railway can be mostly left alone, but digging down will disrupt it as well as the road.  

All very true.

But what price do you put on pacifying the local population?

It might well have been quicker and cheaper to have continued the Bletchley flyover all the way to Bedford.

Built at the same time as the A421 trains could have been running by now. 

Various vested interests seem to be doing all thay can to delay this project.

Bernard

What is wrong with putting the roads under the railway rather than over it?

Bernard

What I find even more frustrating, is that even with the one off code procedure, the system falls over.

There seem to be banned words, a similar situation to posting such on social media.

I have one company that I use on a fairly regular basis, has a name that could be associated with betting or gaming. I place an order, I pay, I get the provide phone number for a code message, I enter the code. Then the order does not go through. I have now cracked it. If I leave the items in my basket the company will inform me the next day that I have an incompleted order. I now enter my details and pay and it goes straight through. This happens however large or small the sum £7.99 last week, so it is clearly a banned word in the company name rather than a large amount that is causing the problem.

Bernard 

Try this one.

A cafe somewhere in the mountains near the border between Argentina and Chile.

Severe gales are not uncommon in the area and with a 60mph plus wind it rocked alarmingly from side to side.

Bernard

1 hour ago, Johann Marsbar said:

A few of the more unusual exhibits at ILA 2006, starting with this small Russian eraknoplan.............

 

 

...and they also had a jet powered flying boat on display amongst the extensive Russian exhibit area.........

 

 

No doubt there will be zero Russian presence at the 2024 ILA......

 

For something older, this pre-war Dornier flying boat, upgraded and fitted with new engines took part in the flying programme......

 

 

...as did this "new build" ME 262 - an aircraft type I never thought I'd ever see flying..........

 

 

The DDR era airport terminal buildings can just be seen in the background above the rear fuselage of the 262, as can some of the rather distinctive apron lighting towers.

 

Then it was time to head back into Berlin.....

 

 

On the Saturday I bought a Berlin-Brandenburg Lander ticket for the day and headed off to Szczecin, where a Konstal 105N is seen outside Glowny......

 

 

The Atlas Tramwajow that I had bought the previous month came into its element on this trip as it included a full route map of each system so you knew where the depots were.

In addition, the MZK local transport network was now included in the Lander ticket, so first point of call, after covering the long route to Goclaw, was Golecin depot.....

 

 

The works car was in use as the depot shunter that morning, displaying rather obvious body sag.......

 

 

...whilst an all-over advert pair of 105N cars passes the depot.....

 

 

The depot there gave the impression - or rather the frontage did - that it was a post-war rebuild on a presumably bombed out Stettiner Stadtwerke depot site, though some of the associated trackage gave the impression it hadn't seen much attention since 1945!

The road surface there must have been "interesting" for road vehicles with a mixture of original cobbles, concrete slabs and tarmac.

 

Everything was going well on my system tour until there was some sort of traction supply failure when it all ground to a halt.........

 

 

The headlights are still illuminated, but we sat there for about 15 minutes, well long enough for me to get off the 102Na and take this photo.

The ME 262 reproduction must have been on one of its first public outings given the date.

Fasinating stuff.

Bernard

In my day sport was competitive. These days it can be either competitive or participational. A situation with which my brain cannot cope.

The best sport that I have ever heard about. though never had a chance to take part in, was the Hungarian Pentathlon. Back in the days of the old Empire. Totally non PC these days.

Bernard

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

During Plymouth Docks area evacuation yesterday I did think about the truck drivers and imagined them dressed like The Hurt Locker. That illusion was shattered when I saw a couple of blokes in boiler suits and caps putting strops round the bomb to lift it with a telehandler.

I would presume, at that point, that the detonator would have been removed/isolated.

Bernard

13 hours ago, Nearholmer said:

Times have changed.

 

We used to do all sorts of fire-related stuff* as kids, but fire is very unfamiliar to most children these days, so I’m not sure they’ve got the measure of it.

 

* Our best effort by far was to make a mortar, using a yard of pipe propped up at about sixty degrees on some bits of wood, with a small fire under the lower end. Into this we would drop old paint tins, ones with a bit left inside, and the lid firmly stuck on with paint. After about ten seconds, there would be a loud bang and the paint tin would fly out. We got in a degree of trouble after launching one over a line of trees c60ft high into the front garden of a house beyond.

Golden syrup tins were the favouite back in my time. Stuffed with various chemicals. We did manage to clear the canal with one example. A further experiment was with iodine. Disolved in various substances it gave a powder that was very unstable. We were unable to detonate it and put it in the dustbin. Dustbin got full, somebody pushed down the contents, purple smoke everywhere accompanied by a loud ctacking sound. Unfortunately for us, somebody present knew what it was and we got a severe bollocking.

Back in those days Brocks Fireworks was near Hemel, They made display fireworks as well as the domestic type. They also supplied the military type hnown as thunder flashes. I came across these while in the Army Cadets.

Bernard

A nice touch.

So glad it included a note on what has happened to some of the staff and that several of them have found new employment within the hobby.

Bernard

4 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Next thing we know the authorities will be demanding Amazon inspect a boiler certificate on my Mamod too. 

Anyway it seems that till Amazon get their act together I could build a bomb using my Mamod engine and its fuel.  If I still had it.

 

Something tells me this new law is going to be so bureaucratic it won't work.  I bought some cutlery off Amazon not long back.  So I was supposed to be in and able to prove I was over 18 (I wonder if my bus pass would be good enough?).  White van man did what he usually does.  Left it on the door step and ran away.  Good job Amazon aren't delivering by drone yet.  When that happens, perhaps I'd be able to hijack the drone, attach my home-made bomb and fly it over the security gates in Downing Street.    🥸

Please let me know when you intend to try this out. I would love to watch what happens.

I have always been curious as to just what security procedures are in place for an air attack on Downing Street.😃

Bernard

8 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Bachmann do seem to have the spares available for it - https://Bachmann-spares.co.uk/product/category/709/class-24--handrail-packs---cab%2bfront-door-grey-plastic--32-400/e3240-mis-01

 

I've broken enough over the years.

Brassmasters also do them, as well as a few other bits and pieces to tart these machines up a bit. Being etched brass they are probably a bit nearer to scale than the plastic Bachmann version.

Bernard

10 hours ago, Buhar said:

Hi Bernard

 

With the right smokebox and a renewed tender (both existing, unless the smokebox tooling is unavailable) it would have passed muster as an "improved" model and the existing price would have been reasonable.

 

I would love Hornby to make the new tender available separately for their older models.  Admittedly, if they did it properly, there would be six liveries needed without the welded, rivetted and part rivetted variations.  Would the underpinning alone be enough to update?

 

Alan

Good morning Alan,

What I find frustrating is that Hornby have the solution readily available in most instances, or if not, quite a simply alteration to make it better.

As a world leader I expect them to be on the ball and to have a QA system that actually includes review meetings to discuss what they are going to make. This model should not have made it into productio. Simples.

Having worked in QA for a world leading company in its field, it probably grates with me rather more than with most people. 

However, putting the clock back around 30 years, with the smoke box dart, should be a sign to most people that all is not well in the Hornby camp. 

To twist a phrase. They cannot be serious.

As I wrote many years ago. We all love Hornby and want them to do well. I do not view this model as progress.

Continuous improvement it certainly is not. I await the next backward step with interest. I am also interested to see the prie they will set for the next fully new steam locomotive. It has to be knocking on the door of £300 going by this model, unless they cut corners again. If they do I can see the ceiling being breached in respect of customer loyalty.

Bernard

1 hour ago, fulton said:

At least here in the UK once your pension is sorted you keep receiving it, my wife is in the German system, has just had one of her private pensions write to ask for a form to be signed my a doctor, to say she is still alive!!! she has only been retired a few years!!!

The Germany state pension people require my wife to send in a form every year. It seems to be the norm if you live in a different country to the one that pays the money.

Bernard

11 hours ago, Buhar said:

To add to our woes (moans) it looks like the newly tooled Black 5 tender has not been fitted to this model so we still have a ledge.

 

Alan

Quite so. This model is a new issue and not a new model.

Would you like a full on updated version?

I reckon about another £50. 😀

I just find myself unable to take Hornby in a serious way amy more. 

I flip from ' lost the plot '. ' to taking the micky '.

Bernard

3 hours ago, Fair Oak Junction said:

 

I'm afraid to say attitudes like that generally stop me from using certain companies. Essentially calling potential customers lazy is not the best way to conduct business.

 

I never once said I wouldn't use a company that uses analogue/out of date methods, I simply said it is potentially off putting to customers.

I take it that you are not a reader of MRJ?

Fortunately there is no law compelling people to do business in a certain way.

It might well put off some customers. They probably do not want these customers.

As I have said before, one major retail chain has a perception of its customer. It is doing rather well in limiting its customer base to that market.

Bernard 

33 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

I have to say TfL have done more for the London orbital railways - WLL, NLL, ELL, SLL - than anyone in recorded history. These were lines on which the occasional trains were both short and often short of patronage. The service from Clapham Junction to Clapham Junction via all those routes, both clockwise and anti-clockwise, is frequent and well-used all the way round. Tick. 

 

If we believe that railways are run to serve the customer, then TfL is meeting a need. If branding other routes is part of the deal then they may just be on to something.  

I use the lines quite frequently to visit TNA at Kew and to get to the Dalston area. The service is usually very good. Better than the connecting service on the WCML north of Watford.

What I do find interesting is that it is not just people travelling for business or leisure, as on many other lines. It actually provides a local service for people without cars. There is always a selection of baby buggies, bikes/scooters, animals and mucical instruments. As well as all manner of trades people, often with large tool boxes,

The overground certainly caters for a need.

Bernard

8 minutes ago, Ray H said:

We appear to have inherited some extra bus routes between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

 

We now seem to have the 100 operated by Red Rose plus the 150 and X60 operated by Arriva, all three having been around for at least a few years. New kids on the block are Arriva routes X4 and X6, the latter like the X60, running via Buckingham.

 

I doubt too many people will routinely make the full journey but I wonder if the introduction of the newest two are a precursor to the rail link?

That helps to explain why we now have an X5.

There seems to be quite a few changes of late, with several old route numbers appearing in different forms.

Bernard

2 hours ago, Welly said:

I vaguely recall that during the 1980s the name "Harlequin Line" was being applied to that line by NSE?

Since then it has been Intu and now Atria.

If we call the whole district aroind watford Harry Potter Land folk will get to the right place.

Bernard

2 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Quite, I'm pretty sure they weren't dead while they were on the horse, and I don't thnk they died by falling orf.

William Rufus?

Good or bad it has certainly got people discussing it. Which is presumably what the Mayor wanted.

In general I like the idea and most of the names seem to be rather well choosen, with a good mix of periods.

Bernard