County of Yorkshire

I am sorry but this is simply not true. All business premises in the UK have their rateable value (RV's) set by the national VOA (Valuations Office Agency), and the subsequent business rate multiplier is also set by Whitehall. Any business failing to pay its rates bill without legitimate reason is tax evasion, pure and simple. Local councils therefore have a responsibility for two things: A) Collecting the business rates owed (thus, a business tenant in a £50,000 rated premises, and with a rates multiplier of 47p in the pound would pay £23,500 in business rates to the local council every year, and you'd be surprised how large a £50,000 rated premises can be). B) Administering rate relief to eligible organisations such as charities and small businesses who qualify for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). SBRR sees 100% rates relief for all businesses occupying premises with a rateable value under £12,000, and a sliding scale of relief up to RV's of £15,000, and believe it or not the vast majority of independent small local businesses - newsagents, hair salons, pet shops, DIY shops - tend to fall into the SBRR bracket, much to their satisfaction. A business can still have more than one premises and claim SBRR but if the cumulative RV's across more than one premises is over £15,000 you don't get any SBRR - this tends to protect the small independents and doesn't give a tax break to the national chains with many small outlets, which you have to say is fair and reasonable. Your inference about special treatment for big business is not grounded in any reality that I've been in. Yes, there is occasional rate relief available via designated 'Enterprise Zone' status but these are typically reserved areas for businesses investing in big capital projects to establish a new or expanded manufacturing facilities and logistics hubs (think docks, airports and railway hubs) and who are thus creating long-term job posts that number in the hundreds and sometimes thousands. Whether business rates are a fair, logical and progressive form of tax in 21st century Britain; who is to say? Personally I am of the option that they are often a blunt instrument that resembles the infamous window tax, but one thing's for certain and that is that I am sick to the back teeth of business rates being used as a stick to beat local authorities with. CoY

DO NOT, under any circumstance, place an order via that site. It's essentially a fraudulent e-commerce site and this cannot be repeated enough. CoY

TOPLIGHTS! Well if you say it enough, it's bound to come true...

A bit inappropriate? CoY

Well, looks like someone's had a rush of blood to the head with this and this. Both are available, with a full kit price of £45.50 & £47.50 from Comet/Wizard models here and here... CoY

If anyone's interested, all of three of these have reached a ton, with three days bidding left to go... CoY

Arghh, it's a fbloater!

Whilst I see your point, you do get a full kit of all components required - the bogies in particular and the elliptical toplight roof are frequently a sod to source these days for the scratch builder. Moreover, for the modeller, the materials of manufacture shouldn't bother too much -yes brass coaches seem to appeal to collectors in a way that plastic absolutely wouldn't, but the finished article - albeit in plastic - are very nice indeed. I'd happily pay £60 for a fully inclusive kit; and indeed until my soldering skills mature I'm more likely to knock-up a plastic kit than a brass one; I just know the three Geen concertina kits that I picked up at Scale Forum North this month will sit in the 'to build' pile for many years to come! CoY

Well, there is an absolutely visible, pent-up demand for the Slaters GWR toplights. Whoever has sat on the tooling twiddling their thumbs for the last few years is a buffoon. CoY

Dare I say... Bump? Been a long while since we've heard a peep about these. CoY

It's currently going through a redesign after it failed its HSE inspection. The key failing was that any persons entering through the Goods Office door on a cold day would be immediately immolated in the fireplace. CoY

That's not the new AA15 release - the handrails are moulded, not seperately fitted, and the couplings are from the neolithic age... CoY

Pray tell, any progress with these? CoY

The Mainline GWR Siphon's G & H are, bogies aside, admirably good for their age. The Replica/Bachmann GWR Collett 'sunshine' coaches are also not too bad but I wouldn't say no to a retool with a few extra diagrams (a CK and BTK at the least). CoY

My first visit to a dedicated finescale show was an impressive one, given that I'm more of a Donny - York - Hull show kind of guy. The trade support was better then some bigger counterparts and I sank some life savings into a stash of David Geen coaches before he retires - which was worthwhile as I don't think the sale of his range is anywhere near. Also pleasing to see Model Railway Developments as I needed some Dean coach buffers. The quality of modelling was sublime - the finescale moniker more than living up to its name. What shone through for me though was the quality of the rolling stock; much of it kit and scratch built. One can often see sublime scenic modelling at the more mainstream shows, but often these gilded stages are populated with RTR actors - not here though. Andy Y did say to me at the 2016 Donny Show that I would probably appreciate attending a fine scale show and he was spot-on. Now for the pictorial: Faringdon A sublime kit built F13 slip, built by the hand of Stephen Williams himself Kettlewell Lee-on-the-Solent Picton A work in progress but some sublime NER rolling stock. Pulborough The show award-winner! Clutton I was very taken with Clutton - almost Pendon-esque in its scenery and scope. Hope some find these pics of interest. CoY

Well this is disappointing... Heljan steam locos never seem to reach the bargain bin either! CoY

Are you joking? Swindon have sent out the reconditioning squad... they will be with you within the hour. CoY

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My eyes! They bleed!

Where's the fall plate? Why is the moulding seam on the steam pipes very prominent on what is an expensive model? This will be the only game in town for the 47xx, and it's not great... sloppy. CoY

Sounds a bit ominous. One would think that commercial partnerships of this nature bear much lesser risk than going it alone on a new tool/relivery? Hmm. CoY

That's an all-third seventy footer behind the Prairie Rob; pray-tell if you have plans for one of those?! CoY

I like the logic but I doubt it as Heljan stock almost never seems to enter the bargain bin. I've been waiting about 18 months for a reduced GWR 1370 and I've yet to see one south of £120 or so. Given the quality issues and lack of finesse I don't want to pay much more than £80-90 or so for a small tank loco. CoY