Philou

Cor ........ I just came across the tail-end of this thread. In my working life, I too was an engineer, but in highway design. We had to know about transitions and super-elevation (cant) and maximum/minimum gradients and curves, oh and the difference between 'hogging' and 'sagging'. That has never stopped me 'modelling' within the limitations of what we have in RTR and the inevitable compromises of gauge (00) and compression. There is another thread on RMWeb where someone has taken a lot of time to establish the radii of Peco points and IIRC the large radius point is only slightly bigger than 3' and not 5'. It may well be that overall, the medium point is the best of the bunch in terms of looks/usability. I wonder if Bebbspoke has been 'charged' with redoing this layout and is applying his engineering nous in a situation where too much knowledge is not necessary, and is finding it frustrating. Cool man, just chill out. I'm sure the RMWeb collective would only be too happy to give hints and help - but you've got to ask nicely ..... Cheers, Philip *Reduced mobility would be a better phrase, no?

Thanks to you all that gave the detailed reply - I was unaware of the SET, it was the first time that I had seen it mentioned. I was, however, aware of the 'joggle' beloved of the GWR which achieves the same result, but in a different manner. Seemingly, the SET is easier to recreate in a model form! Cheers, Philip

I was being naughty, I know. It's just that you've been waiting soooooooooo long for the loco, young @The Johnster, and it's just a bus ride away from you. Peter might have delivered it personally, too. Cheers, Philip

For someone curious - what is SET? Thanks. Cheers, Philip PS: Copper-clad, pah!! Beechwood strip and cobbler's snobs, that's all we had when I were a lad ................

@Hawksey I permitted myself to download your .zip file. Windows 8.0 gives the same message but in using 'Run anyway' it won't open directly as Norton then says 'Not safe - don't do this' (my words), again, hit 'Run anyway' and Ta-daa, it opens. Quite good, the only thing I found is that there is quite a lag in the nice lady saying the time: 'The train blah blah is the (very long intake of breath) 08 (very long intake of breath) 25 Great Western ....................' Also, I note that there is no Platform 0 - a few UK stations have them. I assume that the third icon along the top is for creating a set of custom announcements - is the number of announcements limited to the page (10/12 - I didn't count) or can you add more? I thought it was quite good - and some of the ambient sounds were quite fitting for S.Wales - rain/thunderstorm and sheep - oh yes, lots of sheep . Is there a time limit on purchasing the package? I note there are a number of 'free goes' in the trial pack. Cheers, Philip

Banking. So far so good (at the moment) as my Lloyds account has remained unaffected. However, I am given to understand that certain Lloyds customers living in the Nederlands have had their UK accounts closed as they are in insufficient numbers to make it worthwhile for Lloyds to register a branch there. I shall be keeping a close eye on the banking scene as I expect the service industry is going to have a hard time negotiating. Cheers, Philip

Psst @The Johnster ...... don't tell anyone, but that nice friendly model shop in Penarth Road has some. I believe that one may be winging its way to la not-so-belle France ..... My precioussssssshhhhh (with ssssssound) Cheers, Philip

An update: There is a loco that is arriving unexpectedly into stock and will be sent from the UK - here. As the value exceeds £135, we shall see what happens. It won't be here until late next week - if anyone is interested, I'll post up when it arrives as we'll be nearly four weeks into the new world order. I know it won't be too helpful for those that want goods EU - UK, nonetheless, it may be a pointer of what to expect. Edit: My new UK passport arrived today - only did the paperwork and posted on the 23rd December - by DHL, and no hassle. I was pleasantly surprised! Cheers, Philip

Slight problem in using Norway and Switzerland as examples - they're in EFTA - we're not! The issue I have with all this B****t malarkey, is that a number of prominent 'Leavers' moved their money out of the UK into the EU and others got themselves a Euro passport - funny that, eh? Still doesn't address the issue of how I can get UK models into the EU without having to make additional payments ....... Cheers, Philip Edit: Joe Biden isn't too warm about the UK being outside the EU either - allegedly.

Another one for Granville - the loco is in the 'Voie Pont Saint-Jaques' coming up from the port, waiting to enter Place General de Gaulle and then Cours Jonville, rue Dubosq and onwards into the station. Seemingly steam was replaced by diesels in 1963 (passenger services - no mention if goods were still steam-hauled for a while afterwards). According to Google Maps Streetview, the rails were still in-situ in 2019. The shops have changed and the 'modern' road signs have gone. The road signs in the photo were quite common when I were a lad being lit inside with neon tubes - reflective signs didn't exist back then. Cheers, Philip

Would Accurascale consider using the magnets as a means of providing continuous power between coaches? I'm thinking a DCC chip in one coach and operating Door Lock Lights in all of them - or am I over-thinking this? Cheers, Philip

Start of my third year's subscription - no problems so far and the February issued arrived yesterday in its starch flavoured packing - no significant damage to the wrapper and the contents were fine despite being posted from Sweden (last month was Sweden AND France - but not delayed). Cheers, Philip PS: Pre-Brexit, parcels were taking three days UK-FR despite being in the sticks! No complaints my end.

@JeffP Regarding the film - apparently 85% was re-used - it was in the final end titles. A question if I may? What prevented the recovery of the loco? It was a little way off and down from the track, but some locos have been recovered from worse situations - or was it too damaged and too old? I expect I shall answer my own question - it was an insurance decision? I know my perfectly good car was scrapped following an accident (not my fault) because the cost of repair was greater than its value. Cheers, Philip

Keep calm Johnster, and carry on. Even I can feel the throb ... er ... heat of excitement here. Cheers, Philip

I do have a supplementary question: Will magnetic coupling hold a full rake of 14 without coming apart? I assume there will be at least the possibility of exchanging couplings (at one end minimum) to bog-standard ones? Cheers, Philip

@Accurascale Fran They do look rather good - do you have a tentative ETA for painted samples (and TPE, too)? Cheers, Philip

@Joseph the L&YR lover Oh ... I must have missed that, sorry. Right chaps and chapesses, as you were.

Meursault south of Dijon late 2019 where I met Andy Hayter of this parish. Our own show that would have been the next one for me, was cancelled due to C-19. Cheers, Philip

Perhaps this ought to be in its own thread .......... we have the 'generic' coaches, but what about a nice 'generic' loco to pull them? I'll start with No6699 - H/D GWR 0-6-2T that I converted to 2-rail and has flanged wheels all round to go with my 'generic' consist (I'm at a bit of a loose end at the moment ................). Here it is - bottom row, right: Cheers, Philip

Depending on the speed of the cut/filing, it may well be that the plastic has melted onto the surface - found out the hard way in sawing perspex sheet with a fine toothed jigsaw. Slow cut with a large-toothed tenon saw worked the best. On another thread (Mr Wolf?) uses a large cut file (8" IIRC) on his plasticard. I don't have a solution other than 'pick' at the residue, if it has melted, with a brad or other such hard pointed implement. Cheers, Philip PS: I see Dagworth has a more sensible solution.

@Dunsignalling Well, there you go. Something I've learned today as I never knew the provenance of the GF coaches. I don't even recall when I bought them - though I think one of the packing boxes (very flimsy) still has a price ticket that may give a clue. Only saw them the once - perhaps being 'generic' that's why! Cheers, Philip PS: Out here in the sticks of eastern France, I would be exceedingly surprised if anyone would spot that it was a complete consist of 'generic' coaches - schtum is the word.

@RJS1977 I say 'unmodified' clerestories in that no coach was harmed in giving it newer lease of life. I haven't replaced the bogies, but I did change the wheels to pin-point Jackson discs (remember them? Are they still a thing?) drilling out the axle boxes to take some Peco brass cup bearings - top-hat ones hadn't even been thought of back then! Here's a picture of them with some Graham Farish GWR stock behind. I don't know what period those are but could they go with the 4/6-wheelers as well? Cheers, Philip

Hmmmm, you're right regarding slates. It bugs me that a perfect plasticard model can be spoilt with a slate roof that shows grooves all round - as if there was a mortar joint all round. Slate is very thin and each course is overlaid on the one below, therefore slate should be stepped - tiles likewise. It shouldn't be too difficult for the plasticard manufacturers to get the moulding right. Otherwise make your own using thin card or paper strips. Sorry, OT. Cheers, Philip

I'm probably committing heresy, but I'm looking forward to a rake of GWR coaches (4 and 6-wheelers) to run with my unmodified but repainted shorty clerestories, at a distance it'll pass muster for a quick (and probably dirty) solution. It will all be 'generic'. I shall get a rake of LNWR coaches as apparently the distinctive livery is not simple to do. Just maybe, if I like the overall look, I might, just might, be encouraged to have a go at some kits as well. The generic ones can then be cascaded down to branch-line workings - or even workmen's trains. I have a photo of some GWR 'brown' ones at platform with what looks like workmen waiting to board. I don't know the date unfortunately. Cheers, Philip

@John ks What a good idea! Thanks for that - noted. The only difference was that I was going to have four ball catches exit road side and each rail opposite the exit road rails fed separately - your proposal simplifies it, and it means making best use of the track spacings - I like that! Edit: To avoid too much jerkiness in moving the sector plate, I suppose it would better to separate the distance as far as possible between the catch and the striker plate, without introducing slop. Cheers, Philip