fulton

Lots of nice places in Poland, I think generally you feel safer than in the UK, but obviously there are bad areas to avoid, this years holiday was driving to Swinoujscie on the Baltic coast, some years ago we travelled, by train, to Bielsko-Biala, in the south of Poland, started our trip in Hamburg, changing trains in Katowice, not a city to recommend, at that time lots of EU investment in roads and railways, we did a couple of train trips to Zywiec and Cieszyn on the Czechia border. One day we took a walk to the next town, planning to take the train back, did not look too promising, track overgrown, platform was also, with a timetable on the one lamp post, anyway the train did come, the driver and guard looking very surprised, to see passengers, we had a hand written ticket back to Bielsko-Biala.

Correct, need to be soldered, the plug in particular needs to be done carefully, I use the clamp on the plug to grip a piece of heavier wire and the other end fixed to a screw on the baseboard, so that if the lead gets yanked this takes the strain rather than the soldered joints, I finish with spiral cable wrap, I also glue a wooden cloths peg to the baseboard to hold the lead when moving the boards around.

Just a thought, has anyone tried any of the self adhesive sound proofing made for cars, stuck to the underside of the board?

Also normal practice for the trams in Dusseldorf, a gong rather than a horn, for that reason.

I meant to say 5 pin DIN plug and socket.

Makes me smile at exhibitions, people comment on how quiet my trains are, how did I do it, of course its the back ground noise masking out my noisy layout, you should hear it at home! Have not tried it but would sound deadening quilt filling the hollow baseboard work?

I have used on several layouts, home and exhibition, simple 5 pin D connectors and switches from Gaugemaster, readily available, good enough quality, in my view, for a model railway.

I agree, as a visitor I do not want to see stands packing up early, as an exhibitor I also do not like it, I wait until close of show, just seems the right thing to do, why rush, ( I remember at a show in Germany, we British appeared very slap dash in our packing up, compared to the care and time the Germans were taking) I take it steady, when I am ready to load, most of the rush is over and access is a lot better. Can see that layouts with a lot of stock can take time, so I except an early start packing stock maybe required, shows closing at 4pm or 4,30pm is a good step, for some even that seems too late.

An observation at my local large B&Q, there seems to be less pure DIY stuff, squashed in to a smaller area and low stock, but the kitchen design area is twice the size it was, also an area selling, what I would describe as furniture nik nak stuff, maybe they want DIYers to go to Screwfix instead.

There was, an American built, reproduction ME262 jet flying at the RIAT air show this year, first time in Europe, apparently one of several built, the Americans are really into military aircraft. How can I move this to a more correct thread?

My nephew, German/UK citizen and his partner UK citizen, are both working in Hamburg, for one and a half years, work permits, health insurance etc. seemed straight forward, hardest part was setting up bank accounts, so they could be paid!

Sorry not the hassle of passport control, I normally use the tunnel no problems, Dover seems to have a can't do attitude, always predicting problems, I mean the 90 days in 180 rule, which I have come close to at times, the Irish EU passport gets around that, we have a house in Strood and a flat in Dusseldorf.

Seems to be a UK/French thing, to save hassle I now travel on an Irish EU passport, like around six million UK citizens I was eligible to have one, hopefully will help when the extra restrictions come in, as I travel in the EU every couple of months.

Cannot think of the show, I was exhibiting my small American layout, was by myself on the Sunday afternoon, the show was very quiet, I looked at the layout and started writing a list of all the things I did not like, or could be better, quite a list from replacing the noisy point motors to drilling out the chimney pots, started the list soon after, I think the layout is better after the overhaul.

As I posted previously, this whole situation needs to deescalate, as for suggestions to follow them home or report them anonymously to the police reference white powder, do not even think about it, cool it down, they will soon get bored, in my previous work I have seen how these things can get way out of hand.

Add modern timber framed hotels, first floor function rooms, NMRA Crewe, you could feel the spring as some people walked pass, no packing at one end against a wall, 15mm the other end near the room centre.

MSE ones from Wizard, on the right.

Good point, but when I was staging exhibitions and when I exhibit, I view the show as a showcase, or shop window on the hobby, I build what I like and present it, generally to good comments, I will not compromise the prototype (except have more trains running) or add gimmicks to make my layouts more entertaining, I think it is good to have a mixture of layouts, show layouts that you could build at home, and layouts just for exhibitions. As to the OPs question most layouts are up and running by opening time, damage does happen in transit, so be prepared with tools and touch up kits, I once mixed up my power supply to the points and DCC, points did not work and lots of flashing lights on the DCC, fortunately no damage done, when leads swopped over, but now leads are very clearly labelled and I carry a spare DCC base unit just in case.

4mm/1foot 1/76, Modified Langley Models white metal kit, on my model of Janes' Creek, Strood, but this brick lorry really built for my, as yet unbuilt, model of the Smeed Dean siding at Murston near Sittingbourne. Photo of Janes' Creek layout under construction.

Sorry to hear of these problems, with ignorant and inconsiderate drivers, but maybe you need to step back, take some deep breaths, and think what is the problem here, you live near a school, twice a day for part of the year, parents park, there is noise and more traffic, the real problem parents will move on in time, you cannot reason with some people, doing battle with the parents or the school, in the long run will only effect your well being, what are the solutions? you move, the school shuts or you accept the situation. When I am in Germany the entrance to my underground carpark, is sometimes blocked with parked cars using the supermarket next door, fire access signs are ignored, they move after a few minutes, a fact of life in a city centre, no point getting angry about it.

I understand it was due to personal reasons, of the organizer.

I think you are well out of date, maybe years ago, you are not to have known, most were of his wife, who has since died of cancer, he now runs a memorial charity in her memory.

Have found their "Solution Box" sets to be very usefull, they come with a book, in english and spanish, and most of the materials you need, step by step instructions, I found them a good way to learn new techniques, lots of cross over from the military modelling world. I normally order direct from Spain to the UK, no problems.

Have used AmmoMig acylic matt and ultra matt, with good results, by brush or sprayed in a number of very thin coats.

While this thread has moved abit to problems with long distance rail travel in general, will add our very recent experiance, starting and returning to Dusseldorf, we have just spent two weeks touring independantly by train and bus, mainly in Switzerland but dipping into Italy three times, only problems were with German parts, going we were due to change at Bonn Seigburg, for Basel, annoncement that as we were running late we might not make the connection, in which case we should remain on this train to Frankfurt Airport and change there, but they would let us know! as we arrive at Bonn no annoncement, lots of confused passengers, my wife could see the platform indicator which showed the Basel train was also late, so we got off and did make the connection. On our return from Basel we chose a train that did stop at Dusseldorf, nearing Koln there was an annoncement that as we were running late this train would not now be stopping at Dusseldorf or Dortmond, we should now change at Koln Messa, to a local train, all OK except, Koln Messa is an awkward station on two levels, with I think 12 platforms, Europes biggest Gamers convention was also closing next door, in my view all the platforms were dangerously over crowded, DB staff were on all the edges keeping people behind the white line, what the station did not seem to have was any trains!, ours was due to be 45 minutes late, not much happening on the other platforms either! there were also fully kitted Riot Police on each platform, they looked very out of place as most of the passengers were either teens or early twenties, all in good humour, considering the overcrowding and delays, I was pleased to get out of that situation, we are both retired but fit enough physically and mentally, to deal with these events but lots of other older people could not. The rest of our travelling in Switzerland and Italy went all as planned, was particually impressed with the train from Lucarno to Basel, so modern and well laid out.