Chris hndrsn

Hmm, though I agree with you on that every armoured vehicle design is based on those three factors, saying that there was "a lack of concern about protection" would be simply untrue. Every AFV is a balance of the three factors based on the role and need, you sacrifice mobility for armour protection, most commonly on assault focused tanks like the Churchill. You describe why the Cromwell wasn't armoured as well as the Churchill in your description of it being a reconnaissance tank, which needed speed and manoeuvrability, with firepower to get out of situations, rather than protection (armour) to fight it out. That is clearly not a lack of concern.

Hi, I have been trying to access WD Models Website, but it does not load properly. I have also tried to email with no response. Does anyone know how Barry Williams is? Cheers, Chris

I suggest the RECtank’s were only used in the UK for movement of tanks from the factories to the Fit out Depot that fitted out tanks with their stores and tools, followed by the ports until early 1918. They also would have been occasionally been used to move tanks to Bovington, to replace training tanks with newer models, or replacements for vehicles needing major repair. The RECtanks were not suitable for use in France as they did not have the extra chain points for the French/European coupling system. Secondly, there is no evidence of any Parrot wagons being sold to French or Belgian railways, many other British wagons, including the Parrots and other WD specific designs were sold, or gifted to Belgian and French railways post war. In early 1918 when the train ferry service was instituted movement From the Depot to the ports and France was by the Parrot wagons. Parrots had been in France since 1917 as some were used for Cambrai. Note also that the Parrot was selected by the US Army as their tank wagon, these were British built. There are images of knocked down US “Parrot” wagons being unloaded at a French port, and later their version of the wagon carrying three FT tanks. By late 1918 I believe the Parrot was being supplemented with a well wagon (see below) ready for the MkVIII Liberty Tank, which appears to be taller than the MkI to Mk V, the UK and US were going to make for the planned 1919 offensive. This 1918 well wagon was probably the design resuscitated during WW2 as the Warwell. Cheers, Chris

I ended up emailing Bachmann, and was told that there are no jacks in the accessory pack for the LMS Parrot (I believe the LMS actually named these wagons "Quad"). I realise that Bachmann priced the OO Gauge Parrot wagons based at the same price of the WW2 Warflats, which have quite a good Cromwell MkIV tank. But, I must say that I am amused by Bachmann's recommended price of £56.95 for #38-740 WD 40T 'Parrot' Bogie Wagon WD Grey With Sheeted Tank, compared to the LMS "Quad" wagon version minus end jacks for £41.95. There is not £15 in the "sheeted tank" resin blob, which others have pointed out doesn't match the profile of a WWI MkIV or MkV tank, and is poorly represented by the covering "sheet", which has the weave of a fishing net. A great pity Bachmann didn't also release a WD Parrot wagon with jacks without the tank load, as there are a few 3D printed and resin MkIV and MkV tanks that would make much better loads available from small wargaming manufacturers. Cheers, Chris

I use Paypal here in Australia, and for over two years they have at times sent passcodes to my mobile via SMS to confirm my payment request. As another has mentioned it is part of a Two-Factor Authentication process to make sure your Paypal isn't being used fraudulently. As we are increasingly being pushed online for banking, my banking service providers also use Two-Factor Authentication via SMS occasionally. With less and less people having landline telephones be aware that your telecommunications company may stop SMS services to landline, as they (Telstra) did here in Australia about two years ago.

Does the LMS version come with another headstock and the tank stabiliser end screw jacks?

Smokebox you are certainly quite right that the range of spare parts is quite limited. In comparison Bachmann US sells every part used to manufacture a locomotive. A good example is the Alco 2-6-0. They stock painted and unpainted examples of all the loco body shells which helps with kit bashing a loco to create a specific variation.

G’day all, Do the UK manufacturers provide a spare part service? The US manufacturers, Athearn, Atlas Bachmann and others, each have a webpage where you can find and order the spare parts you may need to repair, customize, or create a unique model, and I was wondering if the UK companies provide the same fast service. Cheers, Chris

Rob, Thank you, Chris

It is the ones hiding under the seat that you have to worry about. Thankfully for those in North Queensland they usually have to move a green tree frog out of the bowl cooling off, after eating any nasty biters hiding there.

Though I agree with your thoughts about The Australian being far more useful as bog rag/dunny paper, the sewerage authorities don’t really like it as it doesn’t break down as quickly as your normal two or three ply.

Joseph, Thank you very much for your post, I have since been told that he was given coaches by the British North Eastern Railway. Hatton’s seem to have NER examples on their list for future release. May I ask what era the Encyclopedie des Voitures covers? Regards, Chris

It used to be quite common for G Scale to be used overhead in stores and sometimes pubs and restaurants. The suggestion about opening “your” track to local enthusiast and clubs is a good one, as it brings customers, you never know your pub could become a must meet at site on weekends for garden railway enthusiasts.

More importantly, the crew are all too old and well fed!

We need to be mindful that only those who are ill enough, paranoid enough, or required to give a sample will be tested, and as we know, not everyone gets symptoms serious enough to notice. Those who are not showing symptoms, that is those who are asymptomatic, most likely are unwittingly passing the virus on, which is why we are locked down here in Australia, as you are in the UK. Mobile phone apps like the one discussed are an excellent tool for the public health officials in identifying and predicting hotspots and as an aid to contact tracing when someone is later identified as contagious. Even though the user contact data is anonymized it helps the virus carrier/patient during their contact tracing interview/s, confirm their movements and likely contacts. The BBC4 program from 2018 “Contagion” was an excellent predictor and example of how a pandemic spreads so quickly and the use of smartphone apps with Bluetooth. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p059y0p1 Cheers, Chris Edit: My apologies, I conflated this Kings College app, which is solely self reporting of health conditions with the Imperial College app used in the BBC4 program Contagion: Pandemic. You were right in addressing your issue of lack of desktop/laptop reporting, they understandably based their decision on the ubiquity of smartphones. The BBC/Imperial College app was a tracker using Bluetooth to record the Bluetooth handshake when two or more phones are in close proximity, which can show potential growth and spread of a pandemic very well and “live”. Our government here in Australia are trying to sell this sort of app to the public at the moment and understandably are having trouble.

Hi, I recently read, on her I think, that during WW1 when Sir Eric Geddes was appointed DGTpt for the BEF Railway Operating Division, he was given, by the French, three axle coaching stock. I would like to model this train, would anyone know what coaching stock Geddes was given? Was it German stock? Cheers, Chris Henderson

They apparently didn’t factor in everyone using them at watch changeovers

The US Navy has more fundamental problems with the two new carriers than any possible aircraft killer missiles or ammunition lifts that don’t work: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/unclogging-toilets-at-400-000-a-flush-among-navy-cost-overruns

This and the other photo's of tanks in 1917 were mainly taken at The Plateau before and after the Battle of Cambrai, the yard at The Plateau was built by a US Army railway construction battalion. As for how the tanks got onto the wagon, they drove onto the end wagon via a sleeper ramp, much like cars and trucks have for years. Later in the war, 1918, the four wheel ramp wagon was introduced. The ramp wagon significantly improved the deployability of tanks as a stub siding with end ramp, or a siding with a side loading ramp wasn't needed. Similarly, the ramp wagon most significantly improved the 'operational security" of tank operations, as they didn't have to spend a day or more building ramps that may be spotted by German aerial reconnaisance or balloon surveillance.

1917, a number were photographed at the "Plateau" tank loading/unloading site after the Battle of Cambrai.

An excellent idea you are working on there. The forced perspective models you are creating would work well in dioramas and layouts. I particular background building facades would be very useful using this technique. Chris

Well actually, No. The Wikipedia article is badly written. The War Dept, which was renamed the War Office in 1857, was responsible for the Army, whilst the Admiralty was responsible for the Royal Navy, and in 1918 the Air Ministry was created to manage the newly established Royal Air Force. The War Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry were amalgamated in 1964 as the Ministry of Defence. Despite having had a name change in 1857 the term "War Department" continued to be used well into at least the 1960's. The "broad arrow" /|\ was the symbol of crown ownership, and was seen on everything from convict uniforms, tools and screws to survey marks. Therefore the W/|\D, was the British Army symbol of ownership for equipment, apparel and so forth. Back in the 1850's, the use of the WD symbol and not changing it to "WO" was probably highly logical, the army had a lot of artillery, other weapons, equipment and uniforms in storage with the symbol and all of the governments suppliers already had stamps, punches, printing templates and masks to produce the symbol. It would have taken time to change the punches, stamps, templates and masks across every UK supplier, and recover the old symbols to prevent counterfeiting, therefore why bother changing. Each of the Empire Dominions also had a version of the /|\, Australia D/|\D (Defence Dept), Canada C surrounding the /|\, India an I below the /|\ and so on. The term WDLR was never officially used, and certainly didn't apply to each of the light railways in Army zones of the BEF during WW1. The first time I have found it in literature was in WJK Davies 1967 book "Light Railways of WW1' where part way through he started using the term. Though it is not historically accurate, it is understandable that hobbyists started using it as the W/|\D was on one side end of the wagon, indicating army ownership, and the registration code and number, LR xxxx, were on the other end. Cheers, Chris

The pretentious young Australian male now drinks cat's piss from a Mexican brand brewed in Australia that comes in a clear bottle and needs salt and lime added to it to make it palatable

Yes, they both used to be produced at the same wort processing facility in Melbourne and despite its name VB is actually a lager.

I haven't seen Foster beer in Australia for at least 25 years.