Alex TM

Hi again, A link, with apology for not having done so originally, was added in 17 hours before Happy Hippo's comment. Agree that this would be better seen in the layout planning area. Regards, Alex.

Another pointless exercise by City of Edinburgh Council?

HI folks, In the car park of one of our local supermarkets someone chose to get creative with a partly erased parking sign: Regards, Alex.

Hi again Peter, Sorry, but I should have included this link in my earlier post; it'll save you some searching. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94613-the-sheep-chronicles-dipping-ones-hoof-into-an-industrial-backwaterthe-continuing-adventures-of-norman-lockhart/ Enjoy! Alex.

Hi Peter, Welcome to the weird and crazy world of RMWeb. Interesting, and busy, spec for a layout design. You'll find a few folk on here who have an interest in the same area, especially the Hayling branch, John's point about wiring is an important one, however I wonder if a way round framing may be to see how the 'Mutton' layouts are done (these use shelves from a Swedish firm bent on total world domination). Regards, Alex.

Hi SP Steve, That is a truly useful article; many thanks for it. All of the information provided so far ends my notions of having a couple of conversions to run with my current stock, but as said in an earlier post it has given me ideas for the future. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Larkin's book on pre-nationalisation wagons arrived this morning. Oh dear, it's got lots and lots of interesting photos that have given me lots and lots of ideas; now I appreciate the warnings given to this effect! One picture early on in the book caught my eye: it's of an ex-LNER uniftted wooden hopper at Bo'ness in the 60s. I know wagons of this design ended up in use on the Wemyss system in Fife, but this is the first I seen one of this design on the mainline elsewhere in Scotland. Again, thanks for the suggestion about the book. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, That's a great piece of work; both you and Turbosnail should be proud of your efforts. It's also very gracious of you to release it to the wider world. Regards, Alex.

Hi, I wondered if there had been any more development with this. Thanks and regards, Alex.

Hi again, Interesting to see not only how spartan is the inside of the trailer but that the driver has to stand, too. Thanks for posting this. Regards, Alex.

Only an historian or a scholar of ancient religious texts, although burning has always been an option for the latter ......

I thought that was Harley Davidsons.

The turtle moves! (Just sayin')

Hi Andy, Thanks for that; most helpful. Sadly those dates are too late for me as I am looking at the period 60-63 due to liveries of at least one locomotive. However, a couple of diesel shunters with stripey ends could always be acquired ..... Regards, Alex.

Hi, It could've been worse: I once worked for a local authority that designed and managed a shopping centre. All was well until the day came when a brand new HGV reversed into one of the loading bays, and proceeded to completely offload its cargo. As the driver came to leave, with his now empty and much lighter truck, all he heard was an awful crunching and screeching noise coupled to a seeming complete loss of tractive power. Leaving his cab to investigate he realised that his trailer had risen up on its springs, and was now thoroughly wedged between the concrete hard-standing and the roof. It turned out that the clearance given on the 'max headroom' sign was almost 12" out ..... Needless to say, we footed the rather hefty bill for his repairs. More stories of local authority ineptitude are available to amuse or horrify..... Regards, Alex.

Hi, I realise that it's already been commented upon but that is an impressive backscene! From my own experience it's original, and excellently executed. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Up here (Edinburgh) we are, like the rest of Scotland, encouraged to wear 'face coverings' so as to reduce the risk of us spreading it as we breath out. The important word is 'encouraged'; most folk I see in the local supermarkets don't bother. As for model shops re-opening, I don't see that happening here until late July or early August, and then only if the 'routemap' goes well. In the last two months I have dealt with a lot more mail order than in any previous year as a whole. In this I have found a wonderful, and positive, attitude from all of the shops I have dealt with, even the one who is thinking of throwing existing customers out of the first floor window ..... ! Regards, Alex.

Hi, Is it an age thing, or does Patti Smith just sound better the older the listener gets? Or is it that the older one gets, the more she relates to life whether it's her own compositions or covers of others' work? (Philosophy/Aesthetics 101?) Regards, Alex.

Sounds great though, as I don't speak any Slavic languages, she could be singing any old rubbish, even the shopping list! Mind you, a grocery list with a beat (not beet) is appealing.

Hi everyone, This is another tedious approach: try a little Superstrip on a cotton bud; if successful it;ll begin to remove the paint after around a minute of rubbing. It will work on car paint too. If lucky a little weathering will hide damage to the areas you want painted. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Thanks for those two posts. There seem to be plenty of photographic records of them from the mid-60s onward, including the re-branding associated with their transfer to ale traffic; there's certainly plenty to guide anyone building the ex-Airfix kit. I have no real interest in building either of the meat van kits for there original purposes, but have transfers to letter them for other traffics; that's what prompted the OP. If they were branded for ale traffic by the early 60s then they would make for two useful van options. At least for what I am thinking their shouldn't be any argument as to livery! Again, thanks. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Finally some modelling has taken place. The delays have all been down to work becoming busy over the last weeks or so; hopefully it'll now calm down a bit. The shell of the first building has now been assembled; it's a covered loading shed. Due to the rather open nature of the front of it there will be a loading platform, and some other details, to be added internally. Once that's done, it'll be the glazing and roof. The keen eyed will also note that it's not square ..... The pair of J72s and highfit are for testing clearances; so far, so good. As well as Thornaby's 68696, Blaydon's 69023 may also be seen. In my reality she was also painted green in 1960 alongside the York and Newcastle pilots. There's a rumour that the local depot have also managed to acquire Hamilton's 68733 (the powers-that-be think it's en-route to a scrapyard in Coatbridge). As ever, thanks for taking the time to read. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I am aware that a number of BR diagram meat vans, both insulated and ventilated versions, were converted for use in ale traffic but can anyone tell me when this was done? Were they also repainted from white or carmine to bauxite at the same time? I have seen plenty of photographs of them but none of the references I have mention when it was done. Thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

It may be too late ........