Alex TM

Hi again, The book was found online, and ordered late on Monday evening; it arrived today. I've had a quick scan through it, and it looks great. Where there aren't drawings there are more than enought photos to make up for it (e.g. signal cabin, and 'bothy'). The other three branches are interesting too; I am now tempted to get the other volume. Also picked up the Tom Middlemass book on the Terriers. Again, thanks for the information. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, I have to agree with Jim on this one. As has already been suggested, this shop was in the premises fromerly used by D&F. Sadly the new business never seemed to carry much in the way of new stock, and the used items were always a bit overpriced. That said, it is always sad to see a model shop close. If, however, you are in Glagow city centre and are looking for basic modelling tools, acrylic paint, etc then there remain three other sources that immediately spring to mind: Static Games in King Street (specialise in wargamming); Millers Art Shop in Stockwell Street; Class Art in Queen Street. Pastimes in Maryhill Road are also worth checking out although neither Ann nor Gordon would describe themselves as modellers; they do, however, carry new Bachmann and Hornby stockas well as a good used range. I have no connection with any of the above businesses other than as a happy customer. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, There may be other spin-offs beyond steam restoration; a friend of mine was also at Waverley on Sunday, and has invested in a model of the Scotsman based simply on seeing her. He does have a layout but has previously seen no reason to buy the model; the real thing changed that for him. To return to Sunday afternoon the variety of folk there to see the loco was quite impressive - singles (male and female), couples, families, and teenagers through to folk of indeterminate age. From observation, and engaging in conversation it was clear that most were not what you could reasonably describe as rail enthusiasts. Regards, Alex.

Hi Nearholmer, Many thanks for that information. The image is a big help too. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, As I progress form purchasing a Dapol Terrier to designing a layout for it, I keep finding photos and references online to the Hayling Island branch. I am now looking at the potential of modelling one or two of the buildings from the line. Although I can find plenty of photographs, I have not yet been able to find references to drawings. Can anyone point me in the direction of published drawings of any of the railway buidlings on this branch? Thanks in advance for any help offered. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, What appears to be the UK's favourite steam locomotive was out and about in Fife and central Scotland today. Here she is at Edinburgh having brought in her first circular of the day: As you can she she is surrounded by a sea of adoring fans. What's not apparent from the photograph is that there were quite a number of young women out to see her too. This is quite a change that has taken place over the last decade or so. Regards, Alex.

Status Quo AND a fourth chord - that's just ridiculous! (Privileged to have seen Quo live on a few occasions and venues over the years. Great entertainers who were respectful and grateful to their fans.)

Hi again, Three .... a cauldron - for a moment I thought you were talking of a party leaders meeting at Holyrood! Regards (and soon to be exiled for that last comment), Alex.

Hi again, Some interesting thoughts about age, competence, and flexibility have been shared in recent posts. Part of my current role sees me assisting with the teaching of ethics to school pupils in S4-S6, and I find them generally to be open to good arguments and alternate ideas. You do get the occasional one who has very fixed views but they are in a small minority. I also work with some incredibly broad minded septugenarians, and a small number whose ideas were cast in stone at the dawn of time. Regards, Alex.

We do the Hokey Kokey Jah Jah Jah! Try the 'Axis of Evil' with Chris de Burgh.

Hi again, We're all a bit vote weary up here, and with the potential of 'Son of IndyRef' ......... Looking at Torper's list (post 89) it looks like STV have moved from broadcasting to running politics; for the sake of balance do you think the next PR system could be reduced to BBC or S4C? Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Kraftwerk - nightmares! Considering they built some of their own analogue equipment that suggests the Fairlight was on a whole other level of complexity. Off to 'work' now, with Autobahn stuck in my head. regards, Alex.

Hi folks, Around here we received a small rainforest worth of leaflets; there were multiple offerings from each of the main parties, and a few independents. As usual there was the confusion between local, national, and international politics. At least one local councillor lost her seat due to the collapse of the party UK wide rather than any failings on her part. Politics here can be 'interesting' but that's due to the way Edinburgh can have patches of urban deprivation and comparative wealth next to each other in the same council ward (sometimes in neighbouring streets!). Mind you, since September 2014 folk have become a bit more energised around matters political though sometimes it can get quite 'ugly'. As our Council is now in a state of 'No Overall Control' I think it will be formalising what we already suspected. Thanks for reading. Regards, Alex.

Hi folks, A bit off topic, but I roadied for a mate's band on a few occasions; we used to dump big heavy things on the drum riser to try to discourage the drummer ...... ! Also off topic, when I first heard the original version of the song in question I seriously thought it was a rather naff cover by Lennon! Regards, Alex.

Hi Pete, Thanks for that. I'll now see if I can find online images of her as 515S (out of nothing more than curiousity). I'm looking online at a couple of books on Terriers as I have always found them fascinating. Again, thanks for the help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Further to the very helpful information from Pete and Chris, I Googled the word "terrier" and "32677" as a starting point; this led to photos of 32650. This, latter, loco seems to fit the Dapol model to the right level so this could be the one to do. The links to protoype images will make more sense than the words: First, just over a third of the way down the page is a useful view of most of the engine: http://haylingbillyheritage.org/engines/stroudley-terrier/terrier-locomotives-that-worked-the-hayling-branch-extract-from-the-hayling-railway-by-robin-french/ Then, there is the important rear bunker view: http://www.train-photos.com/picture/number8795.asp?c=ok Again, thanks for reading and for invaluable assistance. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, Many thanks for those numbers; I'll start searching for those specific locos. I must admit that I find the back stories and unique livery variations interesting too. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, I have recently been a part of a number of conversations regarding the potential reliverying of the 0-gauge Dapol A1x "Fishbourne" in IoW Southern Green to one of the same body variant in British Railways lined black. Having looked onlne at a range of sites and images I cannot see a picture that definitely fits (usually because I cannot see the rear of the bunker clearly). Does anyone know of a lined black example that fits the following criteria: extended boiler sandboxes removed from front splashers extended bunker with toolbox removed. I realise that there are a number of other details that may be different from W9 but these seems to be the most visible (and most difficult to alter from the others available?). Many thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Alex.

Hi again, First, thanks for all of the comments and ratings. Thanks, too, for the advice. Going forward from here I am fortunate to know what I like to model (industrial environment, and wagon kits), and have a fair idea of my limitations in terms of skills (brass kits, lathes, etc, are all a bit beyond me). That said, there is much that I will be doing in 0-gauge that will be different from 00 - track laying looks as if it will need to be done differently; buildings may require an awful lot more material than before; space will need to be more carefully thought through. Strangely, none of this is puting me off. When I first got into this hobby I had no choice but to do a lot more scratchbuilding and kitbuilding, and this is something I have not done in more recent years; I am looking forward to getting back to it. Anyway, here's the loco that finally led to the jump: There was something very satisfying, if fiddly, in using three-link couplings, and watching working buffers. As ever, thanks for taking the time to read this. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Thanks for all of the comments, etc. On 27th April 2017 I posted that I'd had a major change of heart and direction, and that this could be found in another thread. Since then the basic idea has hung around, and I keep coming back to it. Since the release of the Hornby J36 I have been tempted to go back and have another look but this time setting the layout in the latter 1950s as it's an era I particularly like. I also had another look through the Oakwood press book mentioned in the opening post. i have scribbled down a few more ideas, and will post some more in the coming week. (This update was done on 14th June 2019.) Again, thanks for all your comments and support. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, First, thanks for taking the time to read these ramblings (rambling is an occupational hazard). Second, if one of the moderators thinks this should be somewhere else, or incorporated in another thread then please lock this off and point me in the right direction. Thanks. At Christmas of 1978 I received my first tain-set; a Hornby 00 affair with a class 25, 5 wagons, a brake, and an oval of track with a siding. Lots of Airfix, Superquick, and other kits later it led to nothing of consequence, and what I would now call frustration. Fast forward a few years and it's a Farish set with a faked-up Caley 4-4-0 and coaches; various kits and years later and I'm in the same position as before. In the intervening decades I have tried 0-16.5, 009, 5.5mm scale, more 00, and further N, all with similar outcomes. Members of this forum can search out my own layout threads and see one project after another .... So, what have I been trying to do or accomplish in these last few decades? That I do not know! However, in the last few days my truly better half and I have realised that it's the lack of challenge that has frustrated most of my modelmaking work (I have also wargamed, and miltary modelled over the years). Whatever I do, especially in 00 or N, has failed to be rewarding to me. I have watched as others have created fantastic layouts, shown imagination, and encouraged others; I have watched as others have shared their knowledge, wisdom and insight too. I have also seen the odd dummy thrown from a pram! But it has only now occured to me what is missing; I need a scale and gauge where I have to build things using the budget and skills that I have to hand. For 00 and N it has been too easy to buy things, but for larger scales it has been too expensive to do this. That is until now! I think I may have found my mojo! Some scales are too expensive for me to just buy things; I would have to build stuff. That is, I would have to go back to my childhood. Okay, so I am not going to go back to that first train set but some of the principles, and the relative expense would force me to think and to be creative. The thought of using metal and wood to represent metal and wood also appeals. Having to create working drawings (somethig I did in a previous life) would also be a bonus. With that in mind I have disposed of all my 00 stock!!!! I have also begun to take up a lifelong ambition; I have bought a Gauge 0 locomotive (actually, my wfe picked it, and I payed for it). Have I just joined the "Dark Side"? Whatever the answer to that, I have now begun to look at photos, drawings, and ideas for a shunting layout using materials to hand ..... Wish me luck. Regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, Having been there a couple of times in the last three years I didn't realise just how big it was reading the OP. I seem to remember that in the station office there is a framed print of the original trackplan. I did have some pics of it but they're on a back-up disc that, at the moment, I cannot find! Regards, Alex.

Hi Les, This is brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I had a seriously 'bad' weekend at work, and this has really brightened up my day. Thanks and regards, Alex.

Hi everyone, This does sound an interesting idea. Here are some of my first thoughts on the matter: As an ex-military modeller, and wargamer I get the idea of cameos. When formerly a member of Cumbernauld Model Railway Group we tended to have small cameo scenes on each layout; yes, some were of a more 'adult' nature but most weren't. For example there was the man chasing the dog down the street (backtrack the chase to the butcher shop and the odd clothing of the figure made sense); there were the handful of foremen and only one guy working on the eternal hole in the road; the ghost on the roof of St. Casper's, etc. All a bit of fun, but had the desired effect of attracting attention and getting people talking about the main thing - model railways. I must admit to not being sure what constitutes a "natural viewing height" - at 6' 3" most exhibition layouts are seen by me from an airbourne perspective. Will I opt in to the competition - possibly, though I am not convinced my skills are really up to it. Thanks for reading. Regards, Alex.

Hi Julian, I don't have experience of running one of the Sentinel's on Set-track, but I have run them previously on Peco small radius insulfrog points without problem. They seemed to cope with even fairly low (realistic?) speeds. Hope that's of help. Regards, Alex.