Clearwater

Thanks Tony and agreed. Following frequent exhortations on the joy of brass on this and other threads, I've followed advice suggested on rmweb for a suitable beginner's level coach kit and have invested in a comet brake third to try and build. I have open a George Dent book on kit building at the soldering chapter and will be rewatching your demonstration in a recent BRM DVD. If I don't try, I won't find out what I can do! David

Aren't we back here to a variation on the RTR(P) vs kit build debate? I agree with the comments above that a good rtr catering vehicle should sell. To me an express looks 'wrong' without a buffet car of some description whether it is 3, 5, 7 or prototypical car length so I'd guesstimate that most people who buy brake thirds would also buy a catering car. However, if you are of a RTR(P) mindset, then even if you are aware that the car modelled actually isn't 100% technically correct! given you can't / won't make the correct versions, you'll live with the inaccuracy so long as the livery of the coach matches the rest of your rake or is within a margin of error (eg a crimson/ cream coach in a maroon rake etc). Copious rule 1 application. Obviously if you care enough to have a 100% accurate catering vehicle you have to either learn to build or commission. David

Images 2 and 3 are excellent. Real double take time to check whether real!

I'm also an Smws member albeit I frequent the London rooms. The everchanging selection is the draw. The Leith rooms are also pretty cool Personally, my preferences run to, in no particular order, Ardbeg, Caol Isla, Bruichladdich and Glendfarclas. I liked the 1930s/1940s Macallan used to do. Back to the OP, I did a tour once of Auchentoshen. The triple wood one was excellent but I came away with a bottle of one branded QE2 they'd don especially for Cunard and had surplus they were disposing of at the distillery post to QE2's retirement David

I suspect Santa is still more careful than Yodel. Also the National Air Traffic Service has issued the following bulletin: http://nats.aero/blog/2015/12/important-message-for-uk-airspace-users/

There was a question on another thread as to what the 'X' above the number plate signifies. Does anyone know? David

All I can say is that it's a good job Mrs c can't see my browsing history!

Thanks - I've had issues too which I've not had chance to resolve. Will try this. Also had dcc problems with 4073 when I chipped that. Was part of a faulty batch. Seems they don't always test locos for dcc when sold non-chipped David

It's such a shame that Elf and Safety insist Santa now wears a high viz jacket. However, Santa really shouldn't have let it get so dirty

Given the headgear, I'd suggest "it's cold up North". David (Who grew up in the next town to Kidderminister and therefore well aware it isn't actually the north however it is currently almost tropical down in London)

I think that's how Skarloey is shown in a flashback take in one of the books. Certainly shown without a cab. Will have to check the wheel arrangement

Agreed. I think my photo above is c1960

Indeed - it does today. However, see attached picture I think my father took in the early '60s. Also, from a quick google search (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=talyllyn&biw=1920&bih=946&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj245SkqurJAhWHMhoKHQUeDdAQ_AUIBygC&dpr=1) it's interesting how the loco has changed over the years. Quite a nightmare for the modelling manufacturer taking scans or photos for evidence! Some with brake gear on the rhs, some without, two boxes, one box etc etc Also, the same google search threw up pictures of Skarloey. Link to one with an original series picture http://awdrysrailwayseries.wikia.com/wiki/Skarloey. However, later fictional representations appear to have tracked how the loco has changed, eg the two boxes on the front! David

Duke would be excellent!

Sorry about that - I think the 13 is my mistake in copy typing but no Harvey in the other names. Are we in the right era though?

A quick search on the times archive has found an article from 14th September 1935 giving a preview of the first game of the 35/36 All Blacks tour. Their previous tour was in 1925. I'm guessing by the way you wrote your post that you're looking for closer to WW2 than the prior tour? The article gives the Devon and Cornwall team. If of interest, I'll try and print the article for you. It's a scan so not 100% clear on screen. The team was Knapman Matthews Ford Jennings Hurdern Jones Bone Ashford Gregory Brig stoke Scott Rogers Speare

Hi Have you tried looking in newspaper archives? The times has an awful lot of its archive on line and I'd have thought may well carry match reports on the Barbarians games, particularly against a touring side such as the all blacks. David PS - my father never quite got over his mother chucking his trainspotting books...

It's the first oo9 model I've owned so please judge my comments in that context. Some pictures below. For a small model, and I've pictured next to an oo Thomas for comparison, it feels a decent weight. It's predominantly die cast. Cylinders and plastic valve gear look clunky to me and, unsurprisingly, there's no back head detail. I've not seen any of the films nor any of the TV episodes featuring Skarloey so can't comment on how the representation is relative to those sources. I'd rather compare to the original series! Challenge a is, as most people know, that the Railway Series is inconsistently illustrated. I've open in front of me no10 "Four Little Engines" which is Dalby illustrated. P54 has a nice picture of Skarloey backing down on coaches. I've also got no14 "The Little Old Engine", illustrated by Kenney, open. P60 has a good view of Skarloey. Now as devotees of the series will know, Skarloey is sent for overhaul at the end of no10 which may account for some differences, eg the taller chimney with a copper band in book 14 which is closer to ehat Bachmann has modelled, albeit without a copper band. Front buffer of model is obscured by a coupling, I guess if they use that excuse for a modified hall, what chance does a narrow gauge engine stand! Most glaring point difference I can immediately see is both railway series illustrators show the loco with one tool box on its right hand side. Bachmann has one on each side. I've not seen the real Talyllyn and don't know if that's a change since the late 50s when the books were first published. Bachmann show the coal bunkers open. The books generally don't. Lining is silver on the model, both books are a shade of blue and the red of the model doesn't correspond to either the shade used by Dalby or Kenney. It's somewhere in between. The name on the saddle tank is printed on a red background. Both illustrators seem to have it directly on the tank and Bachmann haven't captured the font of the original. Edit: on the packaging, apart from the logos, it seems virtually identical to the Hornby Thomas boxes we're familiar with in the uk. Colour seems the same and there's details of the rest of the narrow gauge range on the back. If I was being cynical, I'd suggest the packaging is all made in the same place irrespective of whose products it's used for. There's a stamp on the back of "K151029" which I assume is a factory serial number For a whimsical purchase, I'm happy with it David

Well done to Tootally Thomas. I ordered Skarloey at 7am or so yesterday - postman has just delivered. Excellent service!

Agreed - just need to get some n gauge track and rolling stock. I couldn't resist either!

It's usually easy to spot them as they will A) be trying to sell you a hard left newspaper B) carrying placards with identically printed slogans C) be covered in badges from prior demos David

I hope with his "GF" diet and lack of Scottish alcoholic sustenance Duck isn't looking too pasty! Hopefully 46233 will have put some colour in his cheeks

Agreed however handbook contradicts itself! Personally, I expect to see a limited edition of the preserved 8572, tied to the NNR and owner group, possibly priced at a premium to the standard version. This will get announced a couple of months ahead of the actual release. I think this is what they did with the kings where the locomotion version of 6000 was announced later David