Bernard Lamb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I would suggest a search on the forum for carnet. Then come back with specific questions. Bernard

They do show up just how small a radius curve is required to get the track layout into a reasonable space. Tony does a brilliant job in his photographs to conceal this. Bernard

At a very early age I had a HD 80xxx. I thought that this was the dogs whatsits at the time. Partly because they were used on the local service to London. About ten years later I took it apart and rebuilt the valve gear nearer to scale, and converted it to 2 rail. Some years later, in my teenage years, I sold all my HD 3 rail. I often have an idea of getting hold of some more. Modern stuff that will last? Much more difficult. Accurascle Deltic? Nothing, from the main players in recent times. generates any emotional feelings for me Bernard

Another good issue. I have used various types of black paper origami corridor connectors. My current method is very similar to that used in The Bachmann Mk 1 article. However I make all the folds on mine the same height, the lower end fold to fit inside the existing moulding looks like a worthwhile improvement. Simple ideas are often the best. Bernard

As above. But round tube works just as well, but needs to be held in place before soldering. I use the tubes for location and electrical connection, but I also use a tapered piece of wood as a guide to slide the cassette into rougly the right position and the use the tubes to line up the last gnats of misalignment. Bernard

You need a flag and a nameplate. Having come to regard the GDR as my second home for around the last 18 years of its existence I could hardly not be tempted to model the area. Given the interest in the narrow gauge lines in Eastern Europe I am surprised that there are not more exhibition layouts. I suppose a lack of RTR motive power, especially for the smaller locomotives contributes to this situation. Bernard

Back in the day, around the early 1960s I would think, I used to buy it for use in testing varnished surfaces on coated paper. I had to have an invoice on the firms headed paper and sign the register at the local chemists. Was that a legal requirement back then or just a chemist/company rule? Bernard

What bearing does that have on what I wrote Mr Bear? Each one of them will be subject to due legal process. It is very easy to draw up a proposal, but a very different kettle of fish to actually get it delivered. As Nearholmer points out, different people on the same side view the situation very differently. There may be trouble ahead, as the old song puts it. Bernard

What would you consider to be a fair margin? Bearing in mind they are doing it as a full time job? With all the overheads and legal requirements that are involved in doing that. Bernard