Simond

50 years ago, a bunch of lads on a Friday night, in the pub til closing time, across the road to the nightclub, til closing time, and then down the road to the curry house. It’s about 3:30 am. Geoff falls asleep in his curry (well, it was pilau rice, sorry…) and it’s time to go. The waiter, who knew us well, does fingers to the lips & big grin and beckons us follow him, back to the entrance hall, waiting area, where we watch through the fish tank, as with a completely changed & rather threatening manner he shakes Geoff and gives him the bill for all of us. Geoff had nowhere near enough cash, and was desperately making excuses when the waiter started laughing. Classic. I wonder where they are now.

My Dad told tales of his Dad selling fuel around Donegal in the thirties - by horse drawn cart, and, I believe, by horse drawn tanker too.

There are four dogs, the smaller is in the co-pilot’s seat, and the ladies appear to have one apiece. The chauffeur has the look of a man who knows his place is to sit still and keep his opinions to himself. The ladies look rather stern, stern as in the arse end of a ship. I think the big dog in the front looks less fierce. I presume this was from a day before photographers learned to say “say ‘cheese’!”.

There are four dogs, the smaller is in the co-pilot’s seat, and the ladies appear to have one apiece. The chauffeur has the look of a man who knows his place is to sit still and keep his opinions to himself. The ladies look rather stern, stern as in the arse end of a ship. I presume this was from a day before photographers learned to say “say ‘cheese’!”.

I did wonder about securing the frames, Mike, but a packing case (full of glass :) ) would make perfect sense. lovely as ever best Simon

I see they have Buster Keaton at the controls too!

Senor Gomez is clearly a clever chap. Most impressed!

Ah, Douglas Adams, a very talented chap, lost far too young. thanks

Thanks Mikkel. I can’t recall who originally said it but “that’s a definition of the word of which I was previously unaware”. :) cheers Simon

Hi Mikkel, I may be wrong, but I think the term “clasp brakes” refers to an arrangement with shoes on both sides of a wheel, thus the clamp force is reacted directly on each wheel. typical wagons (and many locos, of course) have brakes on one side of each wheel only, thus react the brake force into the suspension (hence the need for a tie bar between wagon axleboxes), but I’m not aware of a generic name for such an arrangement. (Brake forces are large, think pushing the shoe onto the wheel with a force of a ton, or thereabouts) I’ll try to have a look later. atb Simon

It’s a lovely model. Exquisite! Your comment about the ”tread plates” in the deck prompted a brief ponder. Hypothesis; they were fitted to allow access to the inner brake shoes when the vehicles were converted from one-shoe per wheel to clasp brakes. I have not researched this!

perhaps a little cavalier with the scale there... So let's imagine modelling Italy in Z, you could model Cornwall in LBG...

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=5961 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Melmore_(1892) https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/SOTON_Documents/Plimsoll/18561.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjE9aq4gtaGAxX4VUEAHVXFAAEQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1Xy5VTkXUe-nxrlc9tijza can't find any lines plans...

Just over a metre long (1094mm...) in 7mm must have been an interesting voyage around Ushant on a rough night...

Hi Rod, Can’t answer that with conviction! I don’t think it did, but as I scrapped the boards with cork, etc, still glued down, I really don’t know. I wanted the track, undamaged, and I think I got 100% success (if not, it was close!) atb Simon