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I went to watch Jones School, West Mon play Neath GS in the late 60s. It was played at The Gnoll, cost everybody a quid each to watch a schoolboy match. Neath won 3-0, very tight game, watched by over 8000 people! Those were proper rugby days.

Let us know how you get on. I’m sure the bogie will come apart(!), but who doesn’t get nerves when you’ve forked out loads of shekels which could be wasted by one bad move. All the best with it, Dai

Believe it or not, but quite a few students, esp those from public schools, wore cravattes into the 70s. Didn’t suit me: short neck, and just grammar school. Hated the polo necks, made you feel hot; especially as many were made from nylon! Tieless for me.

Both ends open up, Mike. I don’t know if my batch is different from yours, but a flat handled screwdriver pushed into the tab did the trick. I wouldn’t call my bogie cover rubbery, but it certainly flexed quite a bit. I was more concerned that it would distort more than crack. I think my thoughts, fears and perspiration were worse than the actuality of working it loose. I also worried about putting it back on. In fact, it was a doddle. Just position the cover over the bogie, press down with your thumb over the middle; and, hey presto, the cover flexed to snap back into the tab area. Couldn’t believe it! Runs well, though I do find that this, and the Lima version, is a to put on the track: small wheels and overhanging bogie!

The bogie sides can come off completely, as they are a slide-on fit. To remove the bogie bottom (which is the bit you’re on about?) tabs at each end of the bogie. Try one end, and then you will find that the tab at the other end works like a hinge. Much easier to put back on than to get off! Dai

Great shots. What’s the website please? Dai

He’s not even looking for the signal! You can’t get staff like you used to..........

I’m a fan of their IPAs as well. They don’t appear to be discounted in price, but I still buy them as my special treat.

All this is good, as I have found over the last year’s modelling. I do not spend too much time sitting down and crouching over the desk. Nowadays, I stand as much as possible to model, obviously with a raised work surface. I’m short, but not that short! I think I might try out those head visor things with a light on as well.

Many years back, I was packing to move house. My very strong bottle of Russian Imperial Stout still had 5 years of maturation/conditioning to go, but I thought it would blow up with all the move. So I drank it that night. Needless to say, there was no more packing that night; and I have never drunk really strong beer since!

The problem with that derelict house is that no offcumden hasn’t come in and restored it to its former glory (and added a conservatory). I wouldn’t mind living there.

Yes. I hope that’s the right answer.

So was Darwin wrong? Or is this a cross-species instance of Social Darwinism? The world’s gone mad!

Come on Coal Tits, those Blue Tits are bullies!

Shouldn’t be in this thread really, but at least I am talking about two-winged animals. The animal in question is a bee-fly: looks like a fluffy, buff bee but with two wings and a very long proboscis. I have noticed quite a few in my garden over the last couple of years, but not in the 30 years before! Are they heading north with climate change, or what? BTW, Live near Hebden Bridge.

Any in Cwmdimbath?

Nice to have your little friends following you around the garden, so shame he’s gone. I’m surprise at how few dead birds you see, other than predator kill, etc. Do they ever fall out of the sky?

Too many of them. Out competing and eating hedgehogs.

Lovely day in the garden, self isolation does have some benefits! Spots in the garden today include: sparrowhawk on reconnoitre mission, buzzard, heron eyeing up pond, woodies, willow warbler or chiffchaff, plus others.

They don’t seem to fly into windows as often as previously, perhaps they are too dirty. But when they do, and get stunned, then I have some bubble wrap handy to act as a thermal comfort blanket for them, and to hide them from the local cats!

Yes, but that stands a chance of being successful in Co Kerry!

I’ve converted it. When I get back home in a couple of days, I’ll check this out. From memory, the wheels pull out on the power bogie, as do the side frames. More awkward on the non-power bogie as the side frames do not pull out. I think I replaced the wheels with Alan Gibson wagon wheels, squiggled round with the pickups, but tight fit. If I find any different when I get back, I shall let you know. Cheers, Dai just saw some previous posts - how did I miss them- and concur with process, except I just used a file to scrape the axle ends for the non-powered bogie. Not quite as professional as others, but it runs well enough! Smiley here

Had a good walk at Keyhaven, Hants, this afternoon. Plenty of birdie activity, and saw spoonbills, egrets, shovelers, pintail wigeon, Brent geese and loads of others. Good to get out.

They are the ones I worry about. We can forego seeing layouts, etc but this is their living, sometimes their social life as well. I hope the old status quo returns.

Hang on there. This may catch on and make proper exhibitions redundant before they come back. Be careful about getting what you wish for! Having said that, we’ve set up a Facebook virtual club (Rochdale) so that we can keep in touch with each other’s musings and model-making. But The virtual pint in the pub is nowhere near as good.