Type 2

11 minutes ago, 97406 said:

 

Cool. I have Ableton Live and a host of plugins as well as a couple of Roland Boutique synths. TBH I can get as good a sound out the soft synths as the outboard ones, plus you can save all the settings.

Great set up you have there.  MPC Beats suits me for what I need though I did flirt with Abelton.

We could get together for a modern UK take on Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express, we could call it...

Trans Pennine Express

I'll get me coat

14 minutes ago, 97406 said:

I have 2 1210s hooked up to a Traktor S4 so can do vinyl and digital together, which is nice!

I use Serato via a  Numark Scratch with my 1210's, and have recently started using Phase MWM, alongside my Akai MPC & MPK Mini!

I find a good session on my decks, or building some tracks helps my modelling output, and vice versa

16 minutes ago, 97406 said:

Mine was a DOS-based sequencer, a Korg Wavestation and an Ensoniq sampler. I also learnt to mix records at Uni which was a challenge due to the booth being at the end of long dance floor area with speakers at each end! Had to mix through the headphones as there were no monitors.

I've been mixing since I was an early teen, had a couple of club nights, neither had monitors so it was headphones all the way which probably explains the tinnitus!!!!

Right, off to switch on the 1210's!

2 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

Aah that little disparaging voice that keeps butting in telling you that you can't do this or that. I've had it but I've been telling it to f**k off lately and it's gone.

 

I don't have a degree or the debt that goes with it (though there were still grants, just when I had a go at one).

My career, after taking a year out of uni (which I'm still taking) has been simply to find what was available at the time, so I worked on plant maintenance and electrics for a few years which I really enjoyed, then the well-paid work started to dry up. I had an interest in computers through music tech, so when on and HNC Computer Studies course and that got me into IT Support which is what I still do. I used to get a little imposter syndrome with the degree people at the start but that's gone. Since the Myers Briggs shizz, and the toxic relationship before that, I have emerged a lot more confident with the self doubt all but going. I have a stoicism that I've never had before and the MB test played its part for me at least pointing me in the right direction.

 

As per building layouts, I always go back to my approach of doing a little bit at a time and then getting something manageable that can get reasonably finished. That amazing layout on the Realistic Models thread is an example of this with its series of 'eyefuls' built up over the years and then worked on and revisited over the years. It's much less daunting than filling a room full of boards and track and the wondering what to do next.

 

Anyhow, good stuff with the healing, keep it up. I'm currently spraying the red stripe on a railfreight 37 so will give it another coat and hope it's straight when the tape comes off! Fingers crossed!

Exact same as me, minus the studying!!!  The SP-1200 is what got me going

9 minutes ago, Chris M said:

I am pretty sure its the council's job. All local authorities have a disaster planning team who would be the natural people to deal with activity of this kind. Your local authority might well already have a plan for just such an occurrence. I know of one of these teams who created a plan for dealing with a Zombie invasion. I knew a few members of that team and they had a great sense of humour about their work. I daren't say which local authority it was.

My local councils planning is an absolute disaster 

2 minutes ago, Phil Parker said:

I agree that paint supply at exhibitions isn't good. Unless Squires are there, you won't even find Humbrol, never mind Precision or any of the more specialised ranges. Shows used to be for the hard-to-get stuff that shops wouldn't stock, and that didn't include basics like paint!

I went to Model Rail Scotland this year, could hardly get anything because Squires weren't there.  Pretty poor for a show that size that didn't have a trader who sold all the modelling bits and pieces, but I guess it all comes down to the cost of the stand and associated costs vs the profit made

5 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

Having a dominant introvert personality, if there is too much going on and too much sensory input my brain becomes overwhelmed and shuts down. I have found the key is to regulate the flow of information coming in and enforcing the right amount of alone time to process this information, reminisce and reflect on past events and plan what to do next. My rediscovery of railway modelling has been an absolute bonus for this as it occupies the conscious mind whilst the subconscious deals with the above. Walks and cycle rides in the great outdoors also helps.

 

After leaving a particularly awful relationship with a lady with BPD a few years back I sought counselling to help get back on the rails, and I was made aware of the Myers-Briggs personality test. It’s a psychometric test and easy and fun to do. It categorises personalities into 16 main types, though these are often sub divided. The results were spot on for me and it has explained a lot about how my brain functions and why. If only I’d had this info when I was younger. It’s like having a manual for my mind.

 

The result: I’m INFJ-A - the assertive advocate and there are a lot of our community that have been diagnosed with autism. I used to be the more turbulent form INFJ-T - the overthinker! We’re a rare breed!
 

Here’s a link to the test.

https://www.16personalities.com/

 

 

I don't understand the need to for people to be labelled in this category or that category, unless we need specialist help to get us through life.  We are what we are, we are all individuals capable of our own thoughts and actions.  I personally think its damaging and sub-consciously encourages behaviour associated with the label given.

We are complex organisms with a range of complex emotions that make us have rational or irrational thoughts, do rational or irrational things, be compulsive or brood over things and a whole raft of other traits, we all have ups and downs and need a little help now and again, but that doesn't mean we need catergorised.  We are all in the same category, Humans.

I remember when some people just used to be called strange or weird.  I was one of them, and still am, and I'm proud of it.

I'm sorry if this offends anyone, it's not meant to at all, but personally I'm fed up with all this needless labelling which can seriously affect peoples lives (I have two people close to me whose lives have been wrecked after being labelled and medicated)

49 minutes ago, BR traction instructor said:

One example, as a modeller living in a remote location (NW Cumbria) and being reasonably I.T. savvy I have no reason to visit a model shop at all, which is part of the problem for the model shop owners. However, there will be many individuals out there who aren't sourcing all of their own stuff/don't have the time to look for it and who would value this service done for them, at a price.

 

BeRTIe

Then they would moan it was too expensive and spend the next 6 months berating them online...!

I'm off the mindset that we need to prepare for a world ran by the generation of absolute f**kwits that are being 'raised' at the moment

52 minutes ago, Gatesheadgeek said:

Closure of the local shops for exhibitions has happened several times already this year. It’s not a one-off. I’ve looked a couple of times recently wanting to go but have been foiled on the days I was able to. 
 

As I say, I’m not suggesting additional hours for shops. All I’m suggesting is that an experiment of opening on slightly different hours on one day a week (even one day/month), and advertising it in the modelling press, might just encourage new customers and might bring a higher return for those later hours than, say 0900-1100. If not then they can go back to normal hours.
 

There are lots of comments about modellers using the internet rather than bricks and mortar stores. The businesses I use in person, including small businesses, either have opening times that make it possible alongside a busy 9-5 job (e.g. late opening/reliable weekend opening) or are located centrally so that I and many others can visit. People DO want to use small businesses, but it’s very hard to do so when they’re not open at times they are able to visit. 

This then brings up the which day do that stay open late question.  Whatever day they choose there will be a group of people who that doesn't suit.  There is no quick fix for this, hence make a special effort to go visit the shop at the times the currently open.

Those shops who close for the weekend to attend exhibitions deserve a special mention.  They more often than not are extremely busy in the run up to the exhibition, getting stock ready etc.  They'll then spend a day packing a van, travelling, unpacking and setting up a stand.  The next 2 days will be spent trying to sell enough product to cover the cost of shutting up shop for a couple of days, fuel, accommodation, food and the cost of their pitch, and possibly van hire if they don't have their own.  Then they'll have do it all in reverse and re-stock whatever items into the shop, all outside their normal working hours.   

I don't think it's too much to ask to adjust your own commitments to arrange a visit to your local shop within their normal business hours.

6 minutes ago, melmoth said:

 

Indeed (my bold above). As both the proprietor of a small retail business and the part-owner of a school age child, a lot of thought has gone into how all my commitments have to fit together. Our current opening times are attached below. At first glance, opening for only around 30 hours a week might not seem a lot, but (for reasons I won't bore you with) it takes an hour to get the shop ready to open each morning, and I also have to allow an hour between about 3 and 4 to get our online sales processed and posted out.  Lunch and 'coffee breaks' happen at the till. Paperwork and anything else gets dealt with in the evening. Were it not for the fact that my flat is only 200 yards from my shop and that there's an excellent pub between the two, any possibility of a social life would be a vain and foolish hope. Still, it's better than working for somebody else.

 

 

My friend runs a small repair and second hand shop, his hours are 9.30 to 5.30 mon - fri and 9 to 12 on a sat.  He is in the shop from 8 and doesn't leave until well after 6 most days.  He doesn't make enough to cover employing someone else, so he finds has to work a lot of evenings/sat nights and sundays to keep on top of everything.

Thats a thing that lot of people don't realise about running a small shop, (or being self employed in general) the hours you have to put in would make most people weep.  Even the most miserable of shop owners deserve a life outside of work.

A 9v battery is what I've always used for testing locos, never let me down.  Except when it dies, but easy and cheap to replace!

5 minutes ago, MyRule1 said:

 

 

Last thought when @Phil Parker and  @AY Mod go on holiday could they be replaced by AI to see what happens?

 

9 hours ago, Gatesheadgeek said:

I’ve been out of the hobby for a fair while. In the North East, there’s a small family-run shop in Gateshead and a couple others slightly further afield. None are easy to get to without public transport and opening hours in some aren’t entirely conducive to visits when working 8-6 on weekdays. I don’t feel that any are particularly inclusive.

 

In what way do you feel they aren't inclusive?  Inclusive in what way?

9 hours ago, Gatesheadgeek said:

I’ve not been to an exhibition in ages as I’ve never felt particularly welcome at local exhibitions and the national ones are mostly too far away. I suspect there are a significant number of lapsed modellers waiting for their interest to be reawakened and I don’t think that’s being tapped into. I rather miss Rail Riders World and Hamburg is a bit too far away.

What makes you feel unwelcome?

4 hours ago, Gatesheadgeek said:

I do think this is a very difficult conflict for these stores; one that is shared by many niche retail sectors. Having an Internet shopfront helps, especially if that means the bricks & mortar shop is simply a second channel for sales while dealing with online orders.

They cannot reasonably complain at lack of in-person custom though if they don’t open at times that suit their customers. If they’re only open during weekdays and a short time on a Saturday, that leaves very opportunity for those with full time jobs and young families (for whom Saturdays can be taken up with taxi services to clubs/sport). 

The people who run the shops also work full time (and probably many more hours away from the store), they also have to fit in activities for families etc etc

There a plenty of things local shop can do to increase custom, but that requires time, money, and space which are all often in very short supply.

The shops are there for us to use, if we need to make a special trip, then do it.  Make that special trip, buy some items and support your local model shop

38 minutes ago, Typeapproval said:

PS.

 

Of course with my "Conspiracy" hat on, It could be a cunning plan to drive us to god awful 'Acrylic' 🤔😱.

 

David.

I used to think acrylics were rubbish paints, but once I learned how to use them properly, they are my top choice.

Easy to apply, better coverage than enamels, thinner coats, harder wearing, low odour, quick drying and easy clean-up.

I still have a stock of various enamels but I don't think I've touched them in a few years

3 minutes ago, resin001 said:

Hi David ,

I also changed from Humbrol many years ago due to the inconsistency of quality across the range . My preferred enamels are now the LP range from Tamiya or Mr Color from Mr Hobby . In addition I use Aqueous Hobby Color acrylics from Mr Hobby and the XF range from Tamiya - I find the Mr Hobby range are excellent for brushing. I am currently testing Lifecolor paints on my 1/350 scale Yamato build and find them to be ok ( 3 thin coats by airbrush to get a perfect finish ) . Note all these paints are readily available in the UK - Hobbycraft stock the Tamiya XF range and the other paints are available on the web or good plastic kit model shops

 

Regards

Bob 

I've most almost entirely to acrylics over the past few years, Mr Hobby and MIG Ammo are my go-to's , with AK Interactive and Vallejo next in line.  Tamiya XF's are great too, especially when thinned with IPA

I did try Lifecolor but didn't get on with them too well

I avoid Humbrol like the plague these days, it used to be my go to.

Revell enamels are very good

1 hour ago, Michanglais said:

Hi all,

 

I was wondering whether anybody knew anything about these Tillig points. 

 

My main question is - are they isolating (i.e. not live frog), so that I can store a train in a siding on a DC system without it running off the rails when I run another loco. 

 

Also, can they be hand operated or do you have to install point motors?

 

Many thanks in advance for any help someone can offer!

 

Cheers,

Michael

 

I believe they are self isolating and only route power to the track they are set for, and they can be manually operated

4 minutes ago, James Grundy said:

Funny that the lettering and symbols on each model is rather different. I wonder who's is right or if indeed its a case of which photographs you go off.

 

It really can't be difficult to get this right (actually, it's just not difficult) so I hope it's the latter.

 

Great to see resources of at least one company wasted on duplicating an obscure prototype. It's not like model prices are high and wasted investment is only going to make things worse, oh well.

For all we know Bachmann could have been well advanced in their design and tooling when Heljan announced their model, possibly too far advanced to cull the project.

Prices are what they are, don't like them?  Well go and start your own company and sell us models cheaper than what we are currently paying.

22 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said:

Oddly, most gradient profiles seem to show that it's at the other end of the station ! 🙄

I wouldn't know, never been there!

1 hour ago, Hunslet 102 said:

Anyway, going off topic myself, was St Enoch a through or terminus station. I know the lines north went to Queens Street, I assume those south went to Central?

One of the NIR 70 class sets also received that Sealink livery!

 I have heard about these blue trains, was there something special about them 

St Enoch was a terminus station, built by the G&SWR, later LMS.  The 'north'  lines went over the Saltmarket & Glasgow Cross to meet the NBR (LNER) lines out of Queen Street Low Level at Bellgrove which gave access to Airdrie/Bathgate and the High Level Edinburgh and West Highland routes at Cowlairs

The 'south' lines went over the Clyde to link up with the CR (LMS) Kilmarnock/Carlisle line out of Central at Strathbungo, and at Shields Road where the CR (LMS) lines from Central to Paisley/Ayrshire/Clyde Coast merged.

I recommend looking at the NLS website for an idea of the railways that Glasgow used to have

13 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said:

Upright lamp post ! 

26/7/87

I knew Miles Platting bank was steep...

2 hours ago, adb968008 said:

89 was never a freight loco, even if built, it would be in service today still as a passenger loco.

 

The closest ive seen to a slope front freight loco is the OBB Taurus loco (which equally looks cool).

 

(flickr url not mine)

 

if it had built built in number, maybe now we would have seen some in Grand Central running on Euston to Blackpools.

They sound pretty cool too...

I admire your output Darius, in all different subjects!!!