Hobby

Going back to the OP, you can model much of the narrow gauge stock in HO scale, using Liliput or the many brass kits that are around for the diesels and modern coaches. there's a fair bit available in TT scale as well, which seems to be still quite big over there if my visits are anything to go by. I have a couple or so threads going about Narrow Gauge, both prototype and model (HOe and TTe)... Marian, I have PM'd you as I need some help!

Well done Sunderland... Shame as I'd have preferred our lot met Utd in the final...

He's still there and produces most of those small "detail" bits you see at some of the other shops. The shop is well worth a visit, though be aware that he doesn't speak any English (or wants to!) but does speak German...

Yes that's the one, last time I was in he also took credit cards as well. He does more than just HO, and has a fair selection of secondhand. Also worth a visit, though an hour on a local train is ESPecky: 5.května 245, 289 11 Pečky

He is very good, I've bough things from him several times, last time direct using his website, he's also on a Czech forum I'm on. Buying from websites rather than from the shop can be a bit hit and miss, I've bought from four shops for my new TTe layout and have no problems but one particular shop I just cannot get the stuff from. Currently I'm trying to get some Czech friends to get the stuff from him! There's a small model shop in Ceske Budejovice which is not far from Tabor, just down from the station. I'm surprised no one mentioned the other model shop in Prague, behind the main station on Manesova which has a good selection of new and secondhand, the name eludes me at the moment!

It's worth remembering that many main lines in the Czech Republic are single line, so restricting yourself to a "branch" line is not really necessary... As most stations are just a series of loops (the bigger the station, the more the loops!) even a three loop station could be a main line... I model narrow gauge, but the main station of the JHMD at Jindrichova Hradce is alongside the mainline from Ceske Budejovice to Brno yet is single line...

Is also worth mentioning that he also does it in TTe (1:120) scale and also British TT 1:100 scale, though you'll have to sort out your own chassis for them!

But he's hinting that he may have her back...

Depends on who makes it! Peco HOe/009 track is also advertised as HOn30 track as well, as it's HO scale, 9mm gauge. Peco use code 80, but Tillig use code 83 for their HOe track, the difference is not worth worrying about, though the rail cross-section is different and you can't us Peco rail joiners on Tillig HOe track, though you can use Tillig joiners to join both. Personally I'd just use Peco as the new Mainline stuff is more robust than Tillig and just as good looking... 2'6" gauge is actually 762mm (approx) so ever so slightly different to the 760mm or 750mm gauge track seen in Europe, though in HO scale both use the same track.

Nice scenery and some impressive (for NG) viaducts as well... But I find industrial NG boring so who am I to judge!

This according to the Beeb: "What do City mean by holistic? A dictionary definition of holistic means thinking about the whole of something and not just certain parts. It is understood City are referring to all aspects of the club - for example the youth system and first team - pulling in the same direction." Didn't know holistic was management speak, but there you go! And as Pelligrini's denying everything we can assume he's coming to Manchester, then!

Unlike some people I have no problem congratulating the better side, so Congrats to Wigan on winning the FA Cup and United for winning the league... You both deserved it... As Ron said, I do now wonder about Mancini's future, he has built up a very good side but seems unable to make them play like they are hungry for the win unlike Fergie... We shall have to see what the future holds...

Not so sure about Moyes, RD... I may be proved wrong, but I don't think he's the best for you... More to the point, however, is whether Fergie can keep his nose out now he's gone... Too many ex managers who went on to become directors have spoiled it for the new managers by becoming more involved than they should be... Interesting times ahead! Congrats to Fergie on his retirement, I suspect every team in the world wished they had had a manager like him in charge!

Can I put my perspective on the Suarez issue... I work as a Railway Guard, from time to time we suffer a fair bit of verbal abuse, normally I can deal with it and we all move on... However in my job i do not accept that i should be subject to any type of physical abuse, the lowest level is spitting as it normally mises, however I would put biting alongside being punched and would expect the individual to be severely punished, a criminal record as a minimum. Now lets look at a footballer, it's a contact game so as a footballer I'd expect the odd bruise and possibly worse if a tackle went wrong... However I would not expect to be bitten, which in my view takes it well beyond the expected norm. There are serious implications when being spat on or bitten as some horrible things can be passed on... Now I'm not saying Suarez has anything nasty (except a temper), but we simply don't know, and so the punishment should be very severe. You may think I'm going OTT, but as the recipient of a punch from a rowdy passenger and knowing someone who was deliberately bitten and had to wait 6 months before getting the all clear I feel that I have some experience of the consequences of his actions.

Oh dear, RD, you don't half take things seriously, is it a pre-requisite of the United fan these days that they have their sense of humour removed? It was a JOKE, man, just like your's of Mancini... I laughed at that one when I first saw it, can you not realise that one I posted, whilst being a joke based on United's fan base is also one where you can have the last laugh because it's that very wide fan base that's enabled your team to get the money in to be the success you have over the past few decades... Ironic isn't it! Why is it these days that's it's ok to poke fun at someone elses club but then take umbrage when someone does it to your own club... I feel that modern fans should stop taking themselves so seriously and see the lighter side! (PS I take it that, unlike in the old days where a Manchester fan would pretty much always support their city's other team in a tournament in which they have no interest, you'll be supporting Wigan in the Cup? I suspect I know the answer, but please don't try to justify it if you are, just confirm it!)

Not coming from Stockport I wouldn't know about that! As the majority of United fans are not from Manchester, and that's a well known fact, the idea was a good joke even if the detail let it down!

Congrats RD! Thought you'd like this one as well:

Yes, I can see Mourinho as being one of the few managers around who could replace Fergie as virtually an equal, but I wonder how long he'd last... You've been lucky with the stability that Fergie has provided, the danger these days is that if the new manager doesn't perform clubs get rid and lose the stability... Interesting times ahead!

With regards to Rooney and the "City move" I don't think that there was any chance of him going then, it was just some stirring on his part to get more money and City's part to wind up Utd, during the whole of that saga I just couldn't see him crossing the city, it just didn't feel like it would happen... Come to that I can't see us wanting him now either but we shall see... How long do you think it'll be until Fergie retires, RD, or do you think he'll die in the saddle (of a heart attack probably going by the colour of his face sometimes!)?

I pity the poor staff who have to work the late trains off Euston on that day as both teams come from the same area... At least a normally timed kick off would have allowed the fans to spread themselves over more trains... Very poor planning by the FA, TV driven no doubt...

Surely there must be someone else watching the Conference Premier... Probably the most exciting finish to any of the leagues, following yesterday's results it's now going to the wire with the Harriers one point in front of Mansfield with the same goal difference but with Mansfield with a game in hand... Nail biting stuff!

It amused me as well!

Champion's League?!

The Blue Square Premier is turning into an interesting race for the title. I live in Kiddy and it's surprising how the Harriers have managed to get to the top as they had an awful start to the season, losing many of their early games! Very unpredictable, and despite other teams' games in hand I still wouldn't like to make a call as to who will win it, perm any one of the top 5!

Yep just a bit... I see he wants to meet Blackburn in the semis... So that'll mean our teams will meet again in the semis when you've overcome Chelsea! All Lancashire semi final lineup if all goes according to plan!!