Dragonboy

I wonder if AIMREC would be interested in providing a retirement home for this layout? Brian

As do I even if it just means that I know when it’s Friday otherwise the closest I can get to the day of the week is Today. Seriously though, do take care of yourself and do as SHMBO instructs. Brian

Especially for carrying vegetables Brian

In the colour shot do I detect a bit of weathering on the sheep? Absolutely top class modelling and attention to detail. I’ll be ordering the book as well by the way.

Like so many I grew up with Buckingham as inspiration, and even down to having a copy of the Betamax (that’ll test a few memories) video which I played to death. Even now with the greater detail now put into models by manufacturers and modellers it’s still one of my favourite layouts. That said I wonder if it would be practical for that nice Mr York to produce a new video to keep Buckingham in the public eye as it has been a while since the video appeared in BRM following your becoming its custodian. Brian

I think A covers it

Silly Sod Brian

Excellent. It won’t be long before you’ll be saying “Is it grandads turn yet?” Brian

“E’re Bert. This manual crane maintenance for Dummies book is far too advanced for me. I think I need the For complete Nummties one” Brian

Loss of mojo is something I’ve suffered with in the past and to a certain extent am at the moment regarding my garden where my mojo disappeared when I realised how many plants I’d lost in the drought, but as regards modelling mojo I have successfully kick started it by picking something I enjoy doing. This is usually making or weathering wagon kits, or taking some I made earlier muttering “oh dear” a couple of times and giving them a dowsing in paint stripper and doing them again. Usually gets the gears turning. Brian

Some might say he should be “on” something

Sorry to be a wet blanket Kevin but I much prefer the barn. For me the windmill becomes the focal point of that scene as it totally dominates and so detracts attention from everything else. The barn seems much more suited and appropriate to the overall picture. Brian

Having seen Grantham in the flesh a few times it is an incredible layout Colin. A few years ago Graham had a professional video made at one of the shows and I was actually there wondering who the guy was taking up so much space with his equipment and blocking my view. If Graham has any left I can heartily recommend it - purely as a very satisfied customer. Brian

That also shows some incredible ballasting Brian

So sorry to hear that your still experiencing pain and you need to listen to your body when it needs to take things easy. I hope you see some improvement soon. Brian Mmmmmm I’m thinking that plans for at least 5 more layouts will be drawn up while your resting.

Verbascum perhaps?

Yes I can believe that and well done to them. It was certainly the busiest I can remember a Sunday morning. I went to the Hornby stand a few minutes after I arrived to enquire about their usual brochure to be told that their entire stock had gone on Saturday so even they had underestimated on attendance this year.

I’ve always loved this thread and the highest level of modelling achieved. Everything just “feels right” and blends with, and flows naturally into the next area. The great outage which wiped out all the pictures is an immense loss.

I was at GETS on Sunday as I usually am and while there were undoubtedly some fine layouts on display on the ground floor I yearn for a good pre grouping layout where shunting takes place rather than the block train roundy roundy layouts that are beginning to dominate with their toothpaste box liveries and where the same train appears 4 times in 3 minutes. As with many things in life these days I know I’m probably well out of step with the masses here. Because the lift was out of action I was unable to get to see the layouts on the balcony’s this year due to mobility issues which make stairs too much of a challenge now so there may well be some gems I was unable to get to which would have been more to my taste. As commented above the lack of suppliers for the odds and sods we all need is becoming a worrying trend. Only last week I was checking if one supplier was attending on his web site and on his home page there was an announcement that he is no longer taking a stand to shows. In reality my £4 purchase from his stand had to be beefed up to his £10 minimum mail order amount by adding something else which I don’t particularly need at the moment and with postage the item I wanted cost £13.50 - almost the same as GETS admission. From the traders perspective, and as a supplier of small sundries it’s totally understandable to discontinue shows as he’s clearly been able to keep his business flowing through Covid so for him the incentive is no longer there. I think that while shows are thankfully back, the shows we’ve been accustomed to as modellers have probably gone forever.

You beat me to it sb67 as I can never get a good finish with varnish. I use Dullcote which I know is no longer available and my can is getting awfully light in the hand so must be on its last legs. Brian

Is it Digital?

Do Porters do fast? Brian

Did I detect a faint “Is it my turn yet”

I was trying to convince a younger friend of mine that being retired wasn’t all plain sailing. I mean. We never get the benefit of a week end or a bank holiday. Brian

Friday is the only day of the week that I know what day it is 😂 Brian