johnlambert

The Graham Farish range included this livery on the recently re-tooled class 31 when it was first released. I think it's quite a pleasing combination.

I don't think so. Pretty sure the Iso Grifo was done by Giugiaro when he was at Bertone.

Wasn't the quoted power output of the Fiat 500 something like 18.5hp? You know you're dealing with low power when 0.5hp is a significant part of the total. Just checked, the original 497cc version was 12.5hp According to Wikipedia there was a "Sport" with 499.5cc and 21.2hp. Wiki also lists the power for the 500 D as 17hp. The later Fiat 126 in either 594 or 650cc versions had 23hp according to Wikipedia but I'm positive the factory quoted 22.5. I had a 126 as my first car, great fun when it worked. I'd love an old-school Fiat 500 but they are so expensive to buy.

I've just got back into the world of model car kits, check out Britmodeller (I think) which is a bit like RM Web for model kit people. There are some threads on building/detailing/improving Pocher models. Despite their size some models feature dimensional compromises (possibly to fit in fully detailed engine and transmission components). Some models even have crankshafts and pistons that move (not that you would ever see them on a completed model). Recently I've followed the build threads for a Pocher Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca. It seems like an odd beast because it is beautifully detailed but isn't a model of an actual car, the bodywork borrows elements of a couple of different coach built designs so there are bits that might be Barker and other bits that might be Gurney Nutting (not sure of spelling) and Pocher even modelled the scuttle too high (probably to clear the gearbox casing), which means the bonnet doesn't sit level. From what I remember, the rolling chassis from Rolls-Royce included the radiator, bonnet and scuttle so this should be the same on all Phantoms (allowing for manufacturing tolerances). Still, they do look great when finished well and you can add photo-etched bits, leather trim, wood veneer and whatever to your heart's content and your wallet's dispair. The cheapest Pocher model I've seen was a complete but very tired-looking Mercedes-Benz 500K convertible that sold on ebay for about £112, you can add a nought to that (at least) if you have an unbuilt kit. But it was collect in person and as about 24 inches long, 9 inches wide; and they are heavy (so I'm told) so heaven knows where I'd put it in my one-bed flat?

That Kernow GWR 150 looks so good I'm tempted to get one and I don't even model in OO.

If you are limiting your locos to specific trains, then adding the correct lamp codes will enhance the overall realism of the scene. If you might use the same loco on different workings (particularly if it might work both passenger and goods), then it depends whether you are more offended by no lamps or incorrect lamps. I've only put lamps on a few of my fleet, mostly due to laziness, and when I run a loco with lamps I always think, "I'm glad I did that, I must do some more".

Another non-clinical NHS worker here and it's interesting to read some of the experiences and perceptions on here. It's worth remembering that while nurses are quite well paid there are a lot of less qualified healthcare assistants on band 2 or band 3 salaries whose pay isn't great. I also used to date someone who worked in a care home, and I think the pay was even worse (for the privilege of dealing with all kinds of bodily functions, abuse and general unpleasantness). Of course his ambition was to get his nursing degree (there must have been something about healthcare that motivated him beyond money), unfortunately he caught COVID-19 and passed away recently. As for people being unpleasant to those trying to help; that also applies to some (and I stress SOME) healthcare workers towards the "backroom people" who try to support them. Thankfully, over the past couple of months pretty much everyone has been understanding and supportive; appreciating that this has probably been the most stressful time of my working career to date.

Yes, Holbay did the tuning parts to give the Hunter more performance. I remember reading about the Holbay Hunter in a copy of Practical Classics magazine about thirty years ago and can still recall the summary sentence along the lines of; the car had the heart of a 20-year old football player but the body of a 50-year old darts player. Funny what you can recall from so long ago.

I may have missed something but side valve and two-stroke are not the same thing. Some two-strokes breathe through ports in the cylinder wall and some have conventional valvegear but I don't think I've ever seen a two-stroke with a sidevalve layout like you'd see in an old Ford. I'd like to ride a sporting two-stroke 'bike although I understand the power delivery is very peaky.

As far as I can tell, the aircraft industry did go the same way as the motor industry. It seemed to misread what the market wanted; the Bristol Britannia was a good aircraft but it was a propeller aircraft just as the market moved to jets. I can't remember but I think the Comet disaster was the end of De Haviland and had an impact across the entire industry.

Wow, this thread has provoked a lot of comment and interest. I'm too young to remember the '50s and '60s but some of the themes are of great interest, particularly the motoring-related ones. Much ink and many megabytes have been spilt (and will continue to be) on what went wrong with BMC/BMH/BL/Austin Rover/MG Rover. One of my perceptions is that the Germans and Japanese took quality much more seriously than the British. Volkswagen made much of it's rigorous inspection and rectification processes in its advertising; i also recall reading somewhere that VW dealers had to carry an extensive inventory of spare parts before they could order a single car. The spares situation is a stark contrast to a damning report I read (in a British magazine from the 1960s) about the appalling attitude to customer service and spare parts availability from the British motor industry to its customers in the USA. As for the Japanese, there was a lot of attention placed on designing for manufacture in such a way that things simply couldn't be built badly. I remember reading comments from Austin Rover on the Honda-designed Triumph Acclaim that it was almost possible to "shake the box" and the parts would come out as a correctly assembled car; and the warranty costs for the Acclaim were the lowest on any vehicle Leylad/Austin Rover made at the time. Brilliant though the Issigonis designs of Mini ADO16 (1100/1300 range) and 1800 were in their way they also had some designed in issues that were probably the result of being so much one man's work. The Mini and 1100 range had plenty of deigned in rust traps including the troublesome rear sub-frame. The 1800 in particular was (as has been mentioned) almost entirely devoid of styling flushes and a lovely Pininfarina design study on the 1800 was rejected (and cut up) due to "not invented here" syndrome. Then there was the lack of provision for a radio because Issigonis hated the wireless and never listened himself; plus the almost inhuman driving position and probably other things too including a generally shoddy attitude to build quality. As for the much maligned Allegro being more aerodynamic in reverse; so is just about every car where the air intake is in the front. You can't blame that on BL incompetence.

I've been playing around with the backgrounds in Microsoft Teams, the best bit is being able to do "magic" tricks as you can make objects appear or disappear by picking them up. I was quite impressed that the camera would not show my coffee mug on the desk in front (and slightly to the side) of me until I picked it up or touched it. As for having a book case in the background, chance would be a fine thing in my small flat as the shelves are on the opposite wall to the sofa. It would be nice to have a little study, after all they say that with a little study you can go far!

Although of a later generation ('70s/80s) it wasn't as though we were ever given much of a choice about dinner and although fussy/picky back then I've learnt to eat most stuff. As a result, although It's been disappointing not to always get what I wanted from the shops, I've always managed to find something to eat even if I have had to get creative. Of course I don't have children to worry about, so my life lacks that particular complication.

Although not the target demographic I remembered hearing Mortal Engines being read on the radio some years ago and ended up buying the book. I'd recommend it to anyone.

It was a few years ago but I was driving an Armstrong Siddley with bench front seat and column gear change. I misjudged my entry speed to a roundabout and sent my passenger sliding sliding towards me. She found it amusing, thankfully.

A timely post. I used to go out with a guy from Glasgow and the first time I went up to see him I insisted that we go on the underground, or "shugglie (not sure how you spell words in Glaswegian dialect) orange" as he called it. This would have been seven years ago. I still fondly recall the narrow platforms and dated (retro?) decor of some stations. I also remember the section in the Glasgow museum on the riverside that was devoted to the underground system. Sadly we are no longer together, and even more sadly he passed away at the weekend as a result of the current virus outbreak. Incidentally, the word "shugglie" means "shaky" and is therefore very appropriate for the underground system.

When the Bachmann 117 was announced I mentioned to a Bachman Rep at one of the exhibitions (might have been TINGS) how nice a Graham Farish version would be. I got the impression that I wasn't the only person to say the same thing although the response was understandably non-committal but that they would think about it. Fingers crossed that it will be announced some time, it seems like a "no-brainer" in terms of pent-up demand, but I appreciate that these things don't just happen over night.

I did roast potatoes, not for the first time but I got them better than I'd ever done before. My previous failure was trying to cook them too quickly. This time they cooked slowly at a lower temperature, with a bit of a break and finishing them off in a dry tin so they didn't get too oily.

I'm an NHS employee, not front line medical staff (you wouldn't want that) and it's nice to think that the current situation has reminded people that the doctors, nurses and other clinical staff do not work in a vacuum. There are a lot of 'backroom' people who help keep things running. It is very nice to hear and take part in the applause. I'm not after any praise or awards, I'm just doing my job, but it is nice to think that I'm doing my (very small) part to help in a very strange situation.

I'm currently debating the ethics of ordering some fun stuff online. On the one hand it will keep me sane on the days when I'm not working (for the NHS) but I don't want to force people to have to go into work to pack my "toys" when they should be at home. And yet, i don't want to be responsible for putting people out of work. It's a tricky one.

When I lived in south Coventry I used the M45 frequently, it always felt like my private motorway as it was rare to see any other traffic.

It looks most like a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass to me. There were Pontiacs with a similar split grille arrangement but not with four headlamps and relatively slim bumpers.

I thought the same thing.

I think you may have a point. I loved the Railway Series books when I was about five or six, just under forty years ago. I think I got my first train sets (Hornby clockwork, followed by the Hornby Desmond goods set) at about the same age. Would I have wanted a Thomas set if one was available back then? Maybe. By age seven I'd probably have cringed at the thought, although I was quite interested when Thomas became part of the Hornby range, it was more of an academic interest (trying to work out which models they had adapted to become Thomas and his friends). So your target audience are probably only interested for a couple of years. But if it makes money for Bachmann that can be ploughed into new products (N gauge Class 117, for preference), then it can only be a good thing.

Yes. Left foot braking can be very useful when parking, filtering into traffic on a busy motorway or negotiating a twisting section of road. However, some cars don't have the brake pedal very well placed for left foot operation so in normal driving right-foot operation can be more comfortable. The left foot it perfectly capable of braking with as much sensitivity as the right one, with the advantage that it can cover the pedal so there is no need to move the right foot across from the accelerator. As for vintage Bentleys (and other, proper motorcars) the accelerator is in the centre and the brake on the right; left foot braking would therefore call for crossed legs and probably result in a frightful tangle in the footwell