salmonpastures

Who'd take the P out of Thompson,,,, & if we did we'd still be left with Thomson,,,, personally I have no time for the man,,,,probably for the same reason the Dutch wouldn't have let some 2nd rate DAF mechanic have a go at improving a van Gogh!!! How very dare he!!! SAD

Evening Graeme, You've just confirmed why I need one,,,, perhaps we can all have too much of a good thing. I can see the Zeppelin connection with 1914 and all that hositility,,, but Crabs,,, if it was Mr Thom's baby perhaps he was recovering!!! Tony apologies for hijacking your thread,,, any further updates I'll put under Salmon Pastures,,, which I haven't updated for some time!! SAD

I didn't miss it 69843,,,, A stairway to Gorton,,,,, or perhaps Black Dog/Pig. So even Roger Plant had Gortonaura,,, or perhaps that should be Doncasaura!! SAD

Baz,, Thats the beast and for once beast is just about right,,, I like my freight engines to be big, powerful & hopefully as ugly as sin,,,, and anyway,,,stopping and braking is for whimps!!! Atlantic 3279 turned up with a beauty when we had the layout at Barrow Hill last year and again BEAST really is the right word. As Tony said it is hard to imagine how the same guy could produce A5 Coronation tanks,,, Imminghams,,, Fish,,, Jersely Lillies and then produce this monster and the 0-8-4t Wath banker,,[luckily I got that the right way round] but for me I think they look wonderful in a meaningful sort of way. Somehow it's Gortonaura is still up there. What really appeals is the fact that the front pony truck obviously fell off the previous train and seemingly attached itself somehow to the front of the L3 as it ran over it. If you look at the LDEC Kitson 0-6-4t I really think it could have happened!!! Thanks for the interest and I'll attempt to keep you posted on progress,, but I do prefer modelling to blogging/foruming. SAD

Jonathan,,, you really need to know that I do my scratch building at a very leisurely pace!!!! in fact probably too leisurely,, Valour has recently had it's first coat of primer applied and I started that in Jeddah in 1982!!!! Now I'm almost retired however I do find I have more time to enjoy myself in the shed. Lets pray for a mild winter!!!! Ref The Zeppelin,,, so far I have the frames cut out and have a folder full of pics and 3 versions of a decent drawing to work from and most importantly am full of enthusiasm,, but to be realistic it will probably be at Ely but I doubt it will be "finished" Mind you to tempt you to come I am "hoping" the D2, D9 & Valour will be finished. Regards, SAD

Many thanks Jonathan,, they will both be coming to the Ely show next year,,, and I'm making no promises but I'll try to get them both finished,,, and maybe even painted!!!. I know I'm repeating an earlier message but many many nights in a poorly heated shed all became worthwhile when they behaved at Little Bytham on Friday. You suddenly remember why we all do what we do,,,, and as they did behave I can now say I find it all very therapeutic and extremely enjoyable,,, even the tingle-finger. It won't be long before the shed is freezing again and I'm out there like some Siberian Yeti doing it all again,,, only this time it will be a Robinson L1 Crab/Zeppelin Nelson,,,, good news,,,, the benefits of the web jump out and hit us again,,,, it looks as though you might be able to get a Fowler with the Limo-Cab!! SAD

Nelson, I was just going through my pics file looking for something and found a pic of the Fowler before paint,,, it shows what you get/got in the Crownline kit from a side on perspective. Regards, SAD

Tony, Many thanks for Friday and being allowed to play with your wonderful train set!!! Even more thanks for your kind comments on what we brought with us. I know I was decidedly chuffed to watch a couple of my 4-4-0's holding their own & gliding through your lovely pointwork. An inspirational day and although in my opinion the word "quality" is very overworked, especially by the media, on some occasions it is very fitting. Many thanks to Mo for the copious quantities of refreshments,,,, what a wonderful day out!! SAD and everyone at Salmon Pastures.

Good Morning Nelson, The Fowler tank is a highly modified Hornby original using a Comet Chassis and valve gear and the conversion kit to Limousine Cab was from Crownline. Unfortunately I don't think you can get Crownline kits anymore,,, but looking at an RMweb thread ealier which was "what happened to crownline" it appears one of the guy's from Crownline is now PDK kits and he took some of the old Crownline kits with him,,, I don't know if the Fowler is one of them. Crownline kits do appear quite regularly on ebay in fact there are a couple of original Fowler without the lime cabs on at the moment. The conversions were interesting and entertaining,, especially the drawings of where all the bits went,, long before the days of computer graphics but they worked for me. Many thanks for your interest in the model. SAD

Apologies for the delay in: a, finishing this off. b, posting any progress,,, which I have to admit has been painfully slow!!!! We've been very busy!!! Anyway apart from siting and a couple of door knobs, leading round the chimneys and dulling down some of the brickwork we are just about there. Why not come along and join in the fun at Chatham exhibition next month,,, if you do make it please make yourself known and join in the fun.

Couldn't agree more John, I recently glimpsed my Bec J52 still on its original Triang Jinty chassis and convinced myself it was well overdue for a rebuild,, and it was,,, it used to be the pride of the line for slow running but recently it had become a bit of a liability. I even had a J52 etched chassis, motor and gearbox lined up as replacements. I nitromorsed the body which enabled me to look at my early 70's soldered joints which brought an enormous smile to my face,,, crickey it was rough!! but it was in one piece. I then went through the "planning charade" and offered the etched chassis up against the wrongly spaced lumpy Jinty offering,,,, and I just couldn't do it. That tank has given excellent service on track nights and at exhibitions since 1972 and it suddenly dawned on me it had become a member of the family!!! Crazy but true. I remember building it in my RAF married quarter and in those days I had hair,,,so in an attempt to give the old stager as happy a retirement as I am about to move into I replaced the Romford Drivers,,, improved the coupling rods profile, cleaned the X04 replacement 5 pole armature and fitted new brushes and a neo-magnet. After running in for a couple of hours the smile on my face was even bigger,, it was almost back to it's old reliable self. I can remember when Triang released the original Brush type 2 and in those days we really thought we had reached paradise. [ heavens I sound just like the old man!!] I have the latest offering from Hornby of the same loco but luckily I haven't felt the urge to run a micrometer over it as in my opinion it looks just like the things that used to trundle through either Sheffield Vic or Midland in about 1964,,, for me it's wonderful. If people recognise my models for what it is supposed to be then I am happy and almost there,,, if I can improve on it as against modifying it for the sake of it then I am even closer. Thankfully we are all different and therefore standards will vary but if you get enjoyment out of working to your own standards, whilst constantly trying to improve where possible , then surely that's what the hobby is all about,,, well it is for me and I'm in it to have some fun. Where would we be without forums,,, I know my standards have risen drastically since I got involved about 6 years ago. One last tongue in cheek comment,,, for all those that think the end of the world is nigh because Chinese workers want either a pay rise or a share of the profits then I say bring it on,,,, we can all start modelling again and getting some fun out of it as against opening boxes and carping on about the fact that the noddy ninge wheel is 0.003 nano millimetres higher than the big ears cam!! SAD

Not wanting to upset the "Wencombe Preservation Society",,, but,,, I know for a fact that last weekend the honourable Westerner bought his first scale seaside hotel!!! Watch this space!!! SAD

As the bloke who built the D9 & B3 & unfortunately couldn't make it last Wednesday can I add to the thanks for getting a mention. If you ever fancy an away match in North Norfolk we could entertain you for days and show you some real quality modelling which has all been achieved by a handful of individuals who as well as helping each other were prepared to do just one simple thing,,,, HAVE A GO. One of the beautiful things about North Norfolk is you have to make an effort to be here,,, very few just pass through!!!! Regards, SAD

That would be useful,,, and they are sure to be better than my efforts posted this morning. If I could just add that the building is progressing slowly,,, took a back seat to sorting out a clunk on the D9,,,, and we will be at the Norwich exhibition on 12th of April,,, cripes that's next Saturday,,,and the Chatham exhibition in June. Come along and say hello. SAD Not a good idea taking a photo of a brick building against a backdrop of a brick building but you will probably get the idea of progress to date!!!

I can categorically state that the dairy is listed,,, I managed to sneak a preview of the "development plan clipboard" last night. "Westerner" was flicking through some dusty old Devonshire bus gazette's/magazines,,,, and I really can confirm the dairy is definitely top of the list to be creamed into eternity,,,or perhaps even get the chop!!,, To be replaced by a Bertram Mills type-circus- type thing,,, full of hippo's,,, pythons,,, and truncated Syphon B's,,, [well I think that's what he said],,, he also mentioned something about "milking the art deco obelisk to maximum effect,,, then whey-ing it in on Ebay to generate revenue for some Concretus Monstrositus dwellings and if we all try hard enough we REALLY can milk the fete/fate of our favourite Devon bovine squeezing parlour until the cows come home!! If he carries on like this it won't be long until he is seriously looking at even more chimneys and grime and muck and trying to get back on board with the real world!!!! Now that's what I call progress,,, there's far too much flocking going on!!! SAD

Alan Just let me know when you are expecting this visit from these "Old Slappers" and I'll make time to come round and appear knowledgeable!!!! SAD

Another productive morning on the replacement entrance building. Chimneys and window sills now attached,,,, all I have to do now is the windows and doors,,,, and a quick lick of paint!!! Good Oh!!! SAD

Was making great progress in't shed this evening until it dawned on me I was losing feeling in my fingers,,,, time to stop and retire to the kitchen and warm up a bit,, by the time that had taken place I decided it was'nt worth going back up there and getting cold again so decided I'd post a couple of progress pics of the new entrance building. It already looks better than the foam board effort,,, at least I now know which is my preferred option. SAD

Many thanks for the comments Sam, As fish have now returned to the Don that is a pretty good sign of what has happened to the steelworks,,,, most of them were flat packed off to China or India,,,, as a trainspotting kid such filth and industry is just about all I ever saw,, although we did occasionally go to relatives in Nottingham and I distinctly remember fields and lots of green bits and singing birds!!! If you want any more detail then the early pages of the blog explain the why where etc etc. I will be posting progress reports as we go along and again many thanks for the response. SAD

I will I will,,, honest!! I am pleased to announce that I have spent most of this morning keeping the cat company in't shed whilst "plastikarding" the new entrance building!!!! Progress so far not really worth taking pics of,,,, [[pencil markings on virgin white sheeting perhaps essential for MRJ but really not my scene!!!]] but we should soon be able to pictographically record some mediocre progress,,,, [i hope!!,,, it really was a lot easier when I was posting to please myself!!!d!] SAD

Thanks for that "westerner",,, that picture was taken some time ago as the prams and Mr Murdoch are not in evidence!! Talking of buildings I copy a pretty poor picture of the foamboard mock up of the new entrance,,, which will hopefully give an idea of what I'm trying to achieve. Am hoping to get cracking on it this weekend,,, although I haven't got planning permission for that yet!!!! Pleased to also announce that the layout is up-running-snag free after a good session this afternoon.

A NEW ENTRANCE. I decided some time ago that I needed to build a more fitting entrance for the workers to enter the shed. And then browsing through a book on LNER country stations one day I found a drawing for a Great Central weighing office. So I thought to myself if I doubled the weighing office length and gave them a central passage to enter the works,,,, it would do nicely & also keep the local band of railway enthusiasts out,,, and this is well before H&S had been invented. One of the joys of modelling,,, you really can do what you like,,, within reason. In my discussions with Westerner he advised that people really do like to know how he does things SO,,,, here we go. I offer a couple of images of the layout and the proposed site for the new entrance,, it will go where the Ratio grounded coach has been for far too long,,, that was put there in haste to fill a hole before our first exhibition in 2005,,, and after siting it and doing a few exhibitions it dawned on me that just about every other 4mm layout has the same archetypal scene on their layout as well,,, and mine was CENTRE stage. I have already done a mock up of the building in foam board,,, which wasn't a staggering success as the walls appeared to bow in just about every dimension,,, so the real thing will be built in Plastikard and I will offer progress posts of how we go.

Ray, Many thanks for the positive comments, & I would be delighted to see some different photo's of the layout. We remember "the challenging conditions" of Barrow Hill very well,,, the first time I have ever had blisters from cleaning track!!!! But,,, we still enjoyed ourselves,,, for sure it could have run smoother but there is a price to pay for being positioned a few yards from live steam and diesels and it was a privilege to be only 20 yards from the real Mallard!!! The atmosphere was amazing and we really felt at home amongst all the grime!!! SAD

The tirings could have been worse,,, we could have driven back same day!!!! Have investigated the shed isolator and as discussed it is down to me,,,, surprise surprise I now remember why we slide the layout into the back of the van on a blanket,,, it saves wires getting snagged,,,, or it would if we did it!!!! Doh my brain hurts,,, still no real harm done,,, and there is usually something going on in the shed!!!! oh and the garage door is now fully operational!!!!!

Thanks for that Jack,,,, your comments are very timely as there is ongoing discussions on other webs about the importance of movement,,, or not. At the pastures we are definitely in the camp which says "as folk have paid to get in they ought to be entertained by movement,,, or they just might as well buy a magazine and look at the pictures" I'm pleased we managed to entertain your future modeller,,, for us that is quite important,,, I just hope it was the railway and not the tram!!!