PatB

Hmmm....

As a matter of curiosity, when did winter tyres become a common thing in the UK? Up to leaving in 1996 I'd never come across it (though I was aware of the concept from other countries with more severe winter conditions). Mind you, I tended to be in an economic situation that meant I was grateful for four of anything with tread on that would hold air, let alone finding the money for (and the space to store) an extra set .

On the retention of cart springs for the Escort, I think the question is, did it really need anything more sophisticated? Even when the Mk2 succumbed to the fashion for FWD, the RWD Escort was still pretty dominant in stage rallying and successful in many other areas of competition. On the road even my well worn (1" shorter on one side than t'other and largely held together with bathroom sealant) example had handling (note: not roadholding; there's a difference) so progressive and predictable that even a bozo like me could chuck it around and opposite lock it on low friction surfaces and look vaguely competent. The cart spring live axle seems to have been good enough, and sometimes "good enough" is good enough.

The Trix track is interesting. Does anyone know if a compatible diamond (not slip) crossing exists? I can only find Marklin stud-contact ones. Also, does anyone know if the Code 83 rail would be OK with 80s Lima flanges? Being Continental flanges on Continental track I'd have thought it would have a reasonable chance of working.

According to the information appended to a drawing in the Model Railway Constructor Annual 1980, the telegraphic code for a piped BR 20 ton goods brake van was "Load fit". Treat with caution though, as it's obviously not a primary source.

The 2mm Association book "Track" recommends wet & dry paper stuck to wood for filing crossing vees and point blades. Cheap, effective and available in a wider variety of cuts than proper files.

It should be remembered that, for many of limited means, the choice is not between a Horbachjanpol loco and a Lima loco, but between a Lima loco and no loco. As a cheap basis to have a bit of constructive fun with they have their place. And, as teacup points out, modern models aren't exactly free of problems. A noisy, jerky Lima mechanism can be fettled. There's not much you can do about an exploding mazak chassis.

Ice. Don't do it kids.

Of course, even having built a prototypical model, there's no actual obligation to always operate it prototypical. Rule 1 and all that...

I don't think many people will enjoy an 80 quid bike . When I needed a reliable and cheap commuter while working away from home, i was lucky enough to find a half decent 1970s frame, attached to a load of worn out, budget components, and, over the course of a couple of months, built The Hard Rubbish Special (aka Frankenfixie) around it, using whatever came up cheap on Ebay or on offer from outfits like Chain Reaction. I then covered 15,000 km on it around Canberra for near zero running costs. It was great fun, once I'd developed a reasonable level of fitness, to overtake members of the lycra brigade, clad in raggy old cargo shorts and a t-shirt and riding what was, apparently, something that came out of a skip . OK, so I sometimes then had to find somewhere out of sight to bring up my breakfast, but most enjoyment has a price . I guess the model railway equivalent would be buying old 70s/80s models and following all those detailing articles in contemporary magazines. Something I'm starting to do at the moment, if I ever find the time. But then, in both cases, I'm starting from the standpoint of someone with a technical bent who likes building stuff and has at least some inkling of feasible ways of going about it. Mind you, the whole bicycle thing required me to learn much that I didn't previously know, most of which came from the Internet, o a lot can be done from a standing start given the initial desire/need to find out..

Pretty much the Oz Cresta, although the Australian 6-pot had some extra main bearings that the Vauxhall lump never received and so can be revved harder. An earlier Holden (the HD) was a pretty close facsimile of the FC Victor, in profile, at least. Aussie Fords have some strong similarities to UK models too. The late 70s/early 80s XD/XE/XF Falcons bear a strong resemblance to the Mk2 Granada, although I've no idea if any of the panels actually interchange.

Either I'm undiscerning, or I've been lucky, but I've had no problem finding perfectly decent sausages (and pies) in WA, from el-cheapo "BBQ" ones, to fancy gourmet varieties. The only real duds I've had were a handful of kangaroo ones, which were rank. Normally I like 'roo, but these were nasty. Mind you, I like pie floaters too.

This is pretty standard behaviour here in WA. To the extent that I will often seriously consider not indicating for a lane change if I judge that I can complete the manoeuvre without conflict.

Fair enough, although my recollection is that folk were (or had to be, at any rate) less fussy about such things back then, so a blue diesel hauling blue-grey stock was "good enough" for many . That might explain the reputed incompatibility then.

ISTR the Jouef offerings were pronounced incompatible at the time, although I can't remember if it was a braking or a train heating issue, or whether it was all 40s or just the one numbered as per Jouef.

I hope this topic hasn't been too done to death, but searching didn't seem to turn up anything quite right so here goes. As someone with a penchant for big BR Blue era diesels, and likely limited space should a layout ever eventuate, I was delighted to come across this pic when Googling for images of Class 50s on freight duties. A blue 50, four (presumably fitted) 16 tonners, a tanker of some description and three presflos, captured at Newton Abbott. A train that one could produce a budget representation of with a cheap Lima loco and a handful of Dapol kits and which could be accommodated in its entirety on a modest layout. Even better, its character would remain even if a 16T or two and a presflo were removed in order to compress it still further. Lovely. So how about a thread dedicated to short freights behind main line diesels, Class 40 and above for preference. And no, I don't really want a TMD .

I'm surprised Hornby were supplying battery controllers so late. Around then (can't remember exactly when, but 76 or 77 would be about right) a friend got a basic starter set ("foreign" outline 0-4-0, Norstand open wagon, Kellogs van) and, from memory, it came with a basic mains controller. The grey rectangular one with red speed knob and rocker reversing switch. Mind you, I didn't actually see it come out of the box and as his dad was an electrical engineer at the local power station maybe a little upgrading had taken place.

True, but even as a volunteer, having volunteered I think one has some moral responsibility to do the job to a reasonable standard. Not to do so not only lets down the public but it also annoys one's fellow volunteers. I do voluntary turns in a number of shops and nothing takes the gloss off the day like having to deal with everything the previous shift should have done in addition to one's own responsibilities.

To thoroughly mix the 2 part types like Milliput, squash the two bits together and roll into a sausage. Fold in half and roll into a sausage again. Repeat 20 or 30 times (doesn't take all that long) and the average size of any unmixed lump is getting down to the size of an individual molecule of stuff. Beware though, as the very thorough mixing afforded by this method can shorten cure time a bit, as I discovered the first time I used it.

Looks like the Consul's had the inevitable thermostatectomy, judging by the makeshift radiator muff.

The first three episodes, at least, have been on Youtube. I haven't had the chance to look for the others yet.

Just on the DCC being up to date thing, if we take the introduction of Hornby Zero 1 as being the dawn of practical (ie commercially supported and available to the average modeller rather than the advanced specialist) DCC c1980, and the introduction of the Rovex range to represent the same for 2-rail DC, it's noteworthy that DCC is now older than 2-rail DC was when its eventual replacement came along. The main difference seems to be that 2-rail became pretty much universal much more quickly than has been the case with DCC.

Sounds like Bredon. Lovely little layout.

I actually agree entirely. I'm a member of the 2mm Scale Association (although probably not for much longer as I need to be realistic about fat fingers and deteriorating eyesight) and it's not at all an elitist organisation. Nor was the G0G when I was first a member (no idea about now), and nor, I am sure, are the EMGS, the S4 folk or any other finescale organisation or the majority of their members. Some comments by (a minority of) individuals on this and other fora, however......

Those pondering the question of whether "the perfectionists" bear any responsibility for the state of the hobby, positive or negative, will find a rich seam of food for thought in this and all other GMRC threads, especially those not moderated quite so strictly. Whether there is a pattern to be found in those posters most negative about the GMRC and the type of modelling they espouse, I will leave to the individual researcher.