Dave Hunt

I' m with several of you on the notifications thing. Additionally, the items followed list, which for a short while actually did display items I followed, has now returned to showing quite randomly things I've never visited or even been aware of. A mixed day today. Jill's hospital visit resulted in an appointment for an MRI scan for further analysis so still a bit in limbo land there. Then when I tried to use my centrifugal casting machine the bl**dy thing wouldn't run properly and I spent two hours trying to sort it out. The fault seems to be with a careworn potentiometer on the speed control knob, which I kind of fiddled with until it actually runs but with a fixed speed of about 60% or so - I'll have to see if that is sufficient over the next few days and am keeping fingers crossed as the alternative is liable to be a drag and I need to get some castings done. But it then came some good bits - the lurgy seems to have gone into retreat, I can clear my ears, breathe through my nose and go for several minutes without coughing my guts up, although walking up a flight of stairs is still knackering. But best of all, I spray painted a small replica of a transportation device without producing runs or orange peeling and ended up with a half decent finish!!! And that was before I'd read all the good advice people have given here, so I must have been lucky and guessed about right on the mix. Grrrrrreat! But thanks for the advice one and all, even though I'll have to spend a fortune on various types of milk to be sure to get the right one. Tomorrow I've got to take my Dad's car to Crewe for servicing, as he still isn't up to driving after his hip operation, and go to a charity committee meeting so potential workshop time is limited. However, if the ebb tide of lurgydom continues I'll be a fairly happy bunny, casting machine permitting of course. Night night everyone. Dave

Thanks Richard - and for the PM. Dave

Pete, no I don't have DCC, it's just that I've never wired a 3-way before and was having difficulty getting my head round it. RE6/6, many thanks for the diagram. I've had two others via PMs that are closely similar so even an electrical numpty like me should be able to sort it out now! Isn' t RMW a great place for getting instant help? Cheers Dave

That's my real problem - getting the viscosity right. I sometimes end up either with runs or 'orange peel' despite having used the thing for years. Maybe it's because I don't use it that often to be able to judge the mix properly every time (or maybe I'm just a numpty). Thanks for the tea strainer tip though; the paint I'll be using is quite old so the lump issue may need attention. Dave

Can anyone give me guidance on wiring a 3-way turnout for DC? I'm hoping to start a 7mm layout based loosely on Hellifield loco shed using Tortoise point motors and am struggling to work out how to wire the two 3-ways it requires. Thanks Dave

Does that mean it takes a long time for you to get p***ed on it Jamie? Dave

Despite still being more lurgy-stricken yesterday than I thought I was early in the AM, I actually got a bit of workshop time in and got the first steps done in making a silicon rubber mould for the Centricast white metal casting machine so that I can make some loco spring and other castings. Today is starting more promisingly as my inner workings, whilst not yet what you might call cheery, are a bit closer to the bright, sunny and spring-like outside world that greets the Salopian eye than of late and the light at the end of the tunnel probably isn't the 7.45 down coming the other way. First event of the day is that Jill has a hospital appointment for an ENT related issue then with luck some more workshop time will follow and the mould making will progress along with the job I dread more than anything to do with modelmaking - painting. I have a DeVilbiss airbrush that my parents bought for me years ago but despite long practice I still can't guarantee to get a good finish with it first go and it is far from unknown fora model to spend the night in a bucket of Nitromors following one of my efforts. Ah, well, we shall see. I'm also aiming to do a bit more Templot wrestling some time today and trying to apply some of Martin's guidance, although the Hippo is fixing up a teaching session for me with someone who knows what he is doing. The downside to that, as will now be common knowledge via this thread, is that my allegiance to a certain international rugby team who play in white shirts will cost me considerably. Anyone who attends model railway shows wearing a Wales shirt is not likely to let a chance like that pass by. Mention of Templot brings another thought to mind - anyone know how to wire a 3-way for DC? Have a good day everyone and have a thought for the afflicted. Keep smiling. Dave

Hippo, I'm afraid that my avatar isn't a Welsh dragon, it's actually a wyvern (if you look closely you'll see that it hasn't got any legs) and was copied from the Midland house flag used on its ships; so I'll be sure to practice my 'not bovvered' face before we meet. TTFN Dave

Welll, the one good thing about yesterday's disaster is that whilst watching the game my lurgy symptoms seemed to recede a bit. I suppose that the same thing happened to people on the Titanic. However, this morning, which is fisty and moggy here in top end Salopshire, the lurgyitis seems a little less debilitating and since SWMBO is off to Derbyshire with a friend to visit No. 1 son and offspring for the day I may even get in some workshop time. Once I've had got a couple of sudafed inside me to dull the headache a bit and spent some time with Mug O'Coffee that is. Of course, if I admit to feeling a bit better there is the distinct possibility that some domestic duties may be found to occupy my time but since the hacking cough is still apparent I may get away with it. Of course, I still have the gloating of Welsh friends to look forward to...... Cheers everyone and have a good day. Dave

I too am a member of the bionic meccano man brigade, in my case the left foot that was heavily rebuilt about four years ago. The surgeon said that I could have the screws and bits taken out eventually if I wanted but there was so much stuff in there that it would be quite a prolonged procedure and unless it was really bugging me he recommended leaving well alone. When I went for a check-up last year the x-rays showed that one of the screws had come loose but he said that it wouldn't cause any trouble so we've left it alone. The only downside is that my feet are now of different widths so buying shoes is a pain in the butt, or, rather, foot if I get it wrong. Since I also have two false knees and a replacement hip (my eldest son says that if any more bits are replaced I'll qualify as the first independent android) getting through airport security can involve setting out the day before the flight departs to leave enough time for the scanning process. Dave

Anyway Bob, the chap concerned wasn't even scratched so it couldn't have been you . Dave

Thanks Martin. I've actually got to grips with some of the basics and managed to produce the start of a track plan but I don't think I'm going about things the best way as although the tracks and turnouts actually line up it takes me a lot of fiddling to achieve it and the timbering is a mess. Anyway, I'll persevere and once I've read the link you sent I'll see if I can do some more somewhat less laboriously and with better results. Regards Dave

Greetings ERs from a bright and breezy N Salop. Unfortunately I'm not in the same category as the lurgy is still doing its thing albeit having moved on somewhat with less dribbling but now painful inner ears to go with the sore throat, headache and hacking cough. For a bit of light relief yesterday I tried to get to grips with Templot and to start designing my layout but I seem to be a complete numpty and even with the guides written by various people to say it's slow going would be an understatement. Is it just me, an age thing or has anyone else struggled to reach Templot nirvana? Anyway, before it made my headache a lot worse I'd sort of done some constructive work but the end result would, I'm sure, be laughed at by anyone competent. The main event today will, of course, be England v Wales; the outcome too close to call but it should be an exciting game. I just hope that the excitement doesn't make my cough worse. Hope that those who are fit and well have a good day and that the lurgied ones get better. And prayers for the more unfortunate. Dave

Blackrat, welcome to the club and commisrerations on joining. So far (3 days) I haven't found anything to relieve the symptoms and my throat still feels as though someone's attacking it with hot razor blades. As far as age is concerned my 43 year old son, me at 71 and my 96 year old Dad all seem to have the same symptoms and severity so you seem to fit right in there - bad karma or what? Not much else going on here at present so I'll just settle for good morning all and thoughts for the afflicted. Dave

Once in the Falklands a Wokka (RAF speak for Chinook) pilot thought it would be a really amusing idea to hover over the building in which our crewroom and offices were situated. It was............. until the roof started lifting off that is. Fortunately we managed to call air traffic and get them to move him before it became a real disaster. Boy, did he owe us some beers! Dave

Isn't that one of those things you play on a guitar? A bit grey and murky this morning - and the weather isn't much better either. Still lurgified and feeling 'orrible, ODing on Lemsips and anything else that promises to make you feel better instantly but to little effect. Wonder if I can get one of these compensation law firms on the case and demand payment from the manufacturers for not making me feel like a box of birds? Not much else to report really except shares in Kleenex on the rise. Have a good day awl and thoughts and prayers for the real sufferers. Dave

Yes, it means the murky depths of humour.

Howdy Hippo, No, I didn't see the GR4s yesterday but heard them when I was in the vicinity of Cosford. My own Tornado variety, the F3, disappeared a while ago of course. As you say, a pity they didn't pay a last visit to the Mach Loop - always an enjoyable ride and our preferred route to Anglesey when transiting from Coningsby to Valley providing the head shed would sanction low level. Thanks for the sympathy. Cheers Dave

There's one about ten miles from me - will that do? Pretty much all of them Good morning from a grey Salop borderland. During the night the dreaded lurgy struck and I now feel like sh mark 1 t - throat like sandpaper, head throbbing, nose like a tap and even the bits that don't usually ache in the morning these days do. SWMBO has rallied round, though, and is being quite solicitous, plying me with Lemsip and Mug O'Coffee. I'm due to go to the medical centre for a blood pressure check this morning but will call them in an hour and cancel. One bright spot - when we were seeing our friends yesterday the subject of the Kettering GOG show a week on Saturday came up (quite accidentally you understand) and I was granted leave to attend so may well see some Webbers there. Haven't managed to get much sleep during the night so I think I'll try and doze for a bit now. TTFN Dave

Again in pre prat nav days a friend of mine was setting off on a journey with his SWMBO who queried why he had turned left at a particular road junction when she thought they should have turned right. "Because we need to go west," he said. "Well, I think we should be going the other way," she retorted. It was a bright, sunny morning and the sun was directly behind them. "Where does the sun rise?" he asked patiently. "Usually over next door's garden," came the reply. Dave

When I worked in San Diego my USN colleagues were intrigued by the fact that back in U.K. I was living in Boston and my 25 minute drive to work (at RAF Coningsby) took me through New York.

As the old saying goes, "If God had meant the Army to fly he'd have painted the sky brown."

I agree totally. Unless he gave a very good reason, if the man can't be relied on to turn up as promised what chance is there of him doing a good job on time?

A bright and sunny land fit for hippos greets the eye here in N Salop this morning whilst Mug O'Coffee kick starts the still dozy system. We're off to see some friends today who may be familiar to some Webbers - Pete Kibble who some years back had a lovely little S7 layout called Severn Mill on the exhibition circuit and his wife Jackie who used to run Modellers' Mecca in Kingswinford. We'll probably have lunch in the old station at Codsall and at some stage SWMBO and Jackie may well go and do some of the retail therapy thing much loved by the fairer folk and disliked by my wallet. Have a good day everyone; thoughts and prayers for those in need. Dave

Not over and over but a couple or so times.