Dave Hunt

As I understand it, if you accused a Brummie of being from Dudley or vice versa, you could be in deep trouble. I once said to someone from Birmingham that they had a Black Country accent and it went down like a lead balloon. Have a peaceful night everyone. Dave

Had to take SWMBO's car to the VW main agent at Crewe today as the local garage can't make any sense of this warning light that keeps coming on. Even though according to the owner's manual it means something is awry with the catalytic converter, the agents have diagnosed that the problem is caused by something dodgy in the brake system triggering something that results in said light coming on (!!?). The wonder of modern cars. Hence it definitely needs fixing and will only cost in the region of 250 modelling tokens to put right. Bu**er. They'll have the part tomorrow but I'm blowed if I'm going all that way (about 20 miles each way) to collect it as it's my birthday and SWMBO and friend have offered to take the grandkids who are staying with us out for the day so that I can spend it in the workshop; and they say that true love is dead! Hence, when the call comes to say the car is ready I'll gently explain that they'll have to keep it until Friday. To add to the treats I'm also promised a steak dinner followed by chocolate mousse, all washed down with a Chianti Classico. I can feel my arteries hardening just thinking about it but what the heck, it comes but once a year. Have a good evening/morning/whatever it is where you are and thoughts for the less fortunate. Dave

You're right there Richard, the bond is certainly strong. I'm still mourning the loss of our 141/2 year old lab/collie Sam who died last year and so far have not had the courage to dispose of his ashes. As one relatively hard-bitten ex-military bloke to another, we can be quite soft at times can't we? I'll shortly be having a nightcap and will raise the glass to you. To everyone else, have a peaceful night. Dave

Which bit of you is muddy and hollow Richard? On second thoughts, maybe that would fall into the 'too much information' category? Can't argue with you there John. Just about my favourite composer. Not a lot to report today, the most energetic activity for me having been drinking chilled prosecco with an ex-RAF buddy on the patio watching the grandchildren wear themselves out tearing round the garden. Not a bad way of spending a sunny afternoon. Night night everyone. Peace and contentment to you and yours and sympathies if you are ailing or troubled. Dave

For the straw I use Humbrol Matt enamel (No. 71 I think) applied with a bow pen or fine brush for the curved bits and masked off with thin strips of sellotape for the straights. When it is completely dry I use the Rotring .2 mm pen for the edges of the black then fill in with black paint. Once everything is dry - usually at least four or five days - I then go over all the lining very carefully with a fine brush and clear gloss varnish. Boiler bands are ruled onto tracing paper that is then cut out with a scalpel and stuck onto the boiler with a tiny dot of Evostick or similar at the ends. I then carefully paint the bands with thin gloss varnish that is allowed to seep under the edges and completes the sticking down. A bit unconventional I know but I've been doing it this way for forty years and so far none has come unstuck. Hope this helps. Dave

I have recently had the same thing happen - bought a brand new .2 mm Rotring nib that when I tried it for lining a locomotive seemed to be no good. Then I bought some new Rotring ink and problem solved. When I decanted the old ink it was full (well, not really full but you know what I mean) of blobs and gunk. Hope this helps. Dave

It is if you are stupid enough to ignore the fact that it is obviously a level crossing with warnings etc. - unless, that is, you are wearing reading glasses of course..... Dave

Whilst going over the level crossing at Wem the other day I suddenly remembered that I'd left my reading glasses at home - does that count? Dave

I'm just sharing a few minutes with a glass of Scottish water of life before going to check the inside of my eyelids after a very busy day. This morning we made breakfast for No. 2 son, DiL and offspring, who have been with us since Thursday. At lunchtime there was the addition of my 96 year old Dad then in the afternoon No. 1 son arrived with his brood so altogether ten of us sat down to the evening meal, which was a roast dinner with all the trimmings. As well as the time spent in the kitchen there have been the fairly constant demands for grandad to get involved with a myriad of small people's activities, church attendance and a trip to the shops. I'm knackered. Tomorrow will see the departure of over half the above personnel, leaving just (!) two of the children for SWMBO and I to look after for a week. If I survive I'll let you know. Nightly good wishes to you all, may peace reign and your dreams be sweet. And sympathies for those such as Rick who have so much ro deal with. Dave

The birthday BBQ went well even though it brought back sad memories as the last time we had one was the night before we had to have our old dog Sam put down. It still hurts. Night night everyone. Sleep tight wherever you are. Dave

Morning everyone. It's another bright and sunny one here in North Salopshire with the promise of 22 degrees + later on so we're planning on the year's first barbecue for a friend's 65th. Hence, once reacquaintance with Mug O'Coffee has taken place it's off to market for the necessary supplies then unearthing the barbecue, which is somewhere in the junk pile we call a garage. Have a good day/night/somewhere in between depending on where you are, with sympathies for those suffering. Dave

Steve, I understand that your very realistic ash ballast is kiln dried sand painted various colours but what do you use for sticking it down? Dave

Pizza for dinner, which the children loved, of course, and No. 2 son and I have just finished a snifter of Scottish sunshine juice so in a happy mood I wish you all goodnight. Dave

Thanks CP. I guess I should be pleased that it was a famous author. Mind you, I'd like to have his sales figures! Dave

As (I think it was) Louis B. Meyer said, "Reports of my death are premature." Dave Hunt Author LMS Locomotive Profiles

Don't understand why it appeared twice. Dave

For the family outing today we decided to show the grandchildren what an outlandish foreign country looked like so we went to Wales. At a place near Oswestry we found a monument to one of Richard's forebears - Sir O. Horserivers. Thought you'd all like to see it. Dave

For the family outing today we decided to show the grandchildren what an outlandish foreign country looked like so we went to Wales. At a place near Oswestry we found a monument to one of Richard's forebears - Sir O. Horserivers. Thought you'd all like to see it. Dave

I set up a custom activity stream of new posts on threads I'm following then all I have to do on firing up RMW is go to Activity, My activity, Custom activity and select the latest post. A lovely sunny morning here in North Hippoland with muggercoffee being consumed before joining the rest of the mob and taking them all on a day out - I can hear a high-powered meeting going on to decide where so undoubtedly I will be informed of the outcome in due course. Have a good day/night as appropriate folks. Dave Dave

Everyone else in the house has gone to bed and I'm left in the living room with Vaughan Williams on the CD machine and a glass of Scottish happy water. Bliss......... Night night all. Dave

First tranche of the horde family arrived, watered, fed and the smaller ones in bed. I'm sneaking some time in the study to recuperate somewhat but SWMBO has just poked her head round the door to tell me to go and be nice. Before the deluge, though, I got i a few hours of workshop time making a revolving thing that arranges flanged wheel prime movers to point in the other direction as the first bit of my la**ut of a Midland MPD. I know that most people start with the baseboards but since I have to wait awhile for the wood I have to start somewhere else. Baz, Robin Hood's Bay was always a coasting in point in my time so I'm not surprised you can hear some aviation happening. Remember the old saying though - Jet noise, the sound of freedom (what we used to tell disaffected occupants of West Germany in the old days when they complained about low flying). Till later...... Dave

Isn't that a learner driver of a thing that delivers the mail in Germany?

Good morning one and all. I'm glad that the lurgy is finally fading for Chris, NHN and others as it did a while back for me. It looks like the timescale is about the same for everyone (seemingly forever at times) - been a b****r of a bug hasn't it? This morning marks the last chance I'll get to do anything in the workshop for some time as this afternoon the first wave of invaders family arrive and for the next two weeks we'll be infested blessed with the grandkids while the teaching profession takes one of its chances to indulge in some R&R before the long haul towards summer. Have a good day and if you can't, my thoughts and prayers go with you. Dave PS - Jamie, I will be at Doncaster after all so see you there.

Didn't she have something to do with hiding a big sausage? Night night everyone. Dave

Speaking of fences, a pal of mine recently told someone that they should back a horse in the National called Creosote because it was good on fences. The following day said person complained to him that he had given bad advice because there was no such horse running - she knew that for a fact because the bookie had told her so..... It's a nice day here. Now I've done the shopping etc I think I'll spend the rest of it indoors - in the workshop. Ta ta Dave