fulton

After lots of good discussions on here about paperwork, I have just realized I did not have a valid Driving License, to use on my regular trips to the EU, I still have the old paper Driving License, I need an INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT to go with it, not required if you have the current photo license, so this morning, a trip to the Post Office, with Passport, Driving License, passport photo and £5.50, I now have the Permit that lasts three years, which is when my License runs out anyway. So if you are one of the few that still have the old paper License, you generally need this Permit to drive anywhere outside of the UK, not just the EU.

Looking at my post again I can see where I am getting mixed up, most of us use PECO track which is actually HO scale, so of course an ex BR sleeper, which in reality is HO scale , would be the same size as an ex German railways HO scale sleeper.

The ones I bought were from "Costello" but I see now are out of stock, lots of similar alternatives, these have a heavy metal base with the post bolted on, would be better for transport if the post was easily removed, seemed to work well, but like similar free standing barriers may need moving back. I like the idea of the front display boards to keep some distance, but never tried it myself.

They look just like the ex German railways sleepers we used to use as "mats" for a piling rig, they were imported when the supply of ex BR wooden sleepers dried up, I think they are relatively modern, I have seen them for sale in Garden Centres. It always surprised me that they were no smaller then the ex BR sleepers, what with then being HO scale, or am I mixing things up?

I bought some post and belt type barriers from Amazon, I do prefer barriers, but have done a few quite large shows in Germany and Holland, no barriers, thought would be a problem, but was not in practice, better behaved visitors maybe?

Yes just checked Ammo Mig, out of stock, but Scale Model Shop, another military modelling shop, shows in stock.

AMMO MIG now do an own brand "Alclad" range, A-STAND made in the UK, supplied to Ammo Mig in Spain, including the water based Aqua Gloss Acrylic Varnish, which they say is the same as the Alclad 600 Aqua Acrylic Varnish, I regularly order from Ammo Mig for delivery to the UK, postage cost, to me is OK, normally takes about five days, not, so far, had any tax to pay, last delivery was last week.

Just a correction, Tonbridge show is Saturday

My experience of static grass on an exhibition layout, which gets a fair bit of moving around, plus little and large fingers at shows, is that it stands up to very well, to abuse.

I have had three garden buildings from Passmores of Rochester, have been pleased with the products and service, did improve the standard felt roofs, one with cedar shingles, one with corrugated steel sheets and one with slates, handy that their show ground is only a ten minute walk away, I have no connection with the company.

Better still, a link to photos, some shows do, I like to have a preview, most people have a smart phone, a photo may just tip the balance for joe public and modellers alike to go.

Just a word of warning, have heard of a case, where the boiler was filled with shot, do not know if steel or lead, fixed with PVA glue, over time there was a reaction, the filler expanded, splitting the boiler.

16" Bagnall, on the lower level of Janes' Creek, Impetus kit, EM gauge.

A bit away from mainstream, and a bit off topic, but I have been surprised how small some sections of the hobby are, quite a few years ago I bought an Impetus etched locomotive kit, really excellent kit, had it running on a friends layout a couple of months later, Robin, the Impetus owner seen it and remarked, that it was probably the first one built, and that he had sold one other kit, I asked how many kits he had produced, thinking 50, 100 maybe 200, no he had produced 12 kits.

Reminds me of this little saying from the building trade, He who works hard and does his best, will go down the road with the rest. He who skives and f**** about, will get to see the job out.

Chatham Goods Depot, actually in Rochester, had five tracks crossing Blue Boar Lane, complete with a long foot bridge for when the crossing was closed.

Have been checking Railroad Crossing, last operated pre covid, last time at Tonbridge 2014, all running well, happy to help out.

I had one of these, very pleased with it, until it played up, back to ECM for repair, the company then went bust, new company emerged, the old/new owner did not want to know about my controller, said it was the old company, shame really good controller, never dealt with ECM again.

Thank you everyone for advice, downloaded Libre Office today, used for first time to fill out forms for Alexandra Palace Exhibition, all worked just fine.

Yes I see race day vehicles are noted in the regulations, and a ATA Carnet is required for them, accepting that it would be prudent to have one for your model railway, as you are in the business, how complicated is it? how much does it cost?

I sometimes receive forms, as attachments to emails, to fill out for exhibitions etc. how do I enable editing to do this, without paying for Word, have used the free online office.com, but some files will not upload to it and if I do manage it, not sure how I did it! My first laptop came with a basic word programme included, which did everything I wanted, also came with a basic paint programme, which again did everything I wanted, what are the alternatives?

I still do not understand, when I, travel to the EU, I have personnel possessions with me, worth far more than my model railway, there is no question of paying tax, HMRC considered my model railway to also be a personnel possession, my vehicle, the most valuable single item, is imported, temporarily, then exported, there is no tax to pay.

Have today had a long conversation with two officials on the HMRC, import/export help line, this is what I understand from what I have been told, in their view taking your personal model railway, to an exhibition in the EU and back again, would be treated exactly the same as taking other personal items to the EU on a temporary basis, such as going on holiday, no need to declare anything, in effect you are declaring items by "Conduct" by driving pass the check point, does not matter if car or van, private, hired or leased ( if hired or leased you may need written authorization from the owner that you can take the vehicle out of the UK ), Carnets only apply to business/commercial goods, even if the exhibition was a business/commercial one, your private personal status would not change unless your were making financial gain, such as, if you charged an appearance fee, sold items or received unjustified expenses, expenses should be supported with receipts, would also be prudent when travelling to have proof of your return ticket, and invitation,. This is how I have understood the situation from todays conversation with HMRC.

Have used MIG Ammo varnish, with good results both with airbrush and by hand, found the gloss one never really got glossy, use the Alclad one if I want a high gloss.

If you have not driven in France for a while, some cities now require a vehicle clean air sticker, Crit'Air, I applied on line, very simple, cost only 4.52Euro, on the spot fine if not displaying when required, posted to me, I have a yellow one for my euro6 compliant van.