SamThomas

EV vans are certainly a growth area, especially with the courier/RM type fleets. Certainly an area where EV's are absolutely ideal.

But that would mean the trailer blocking up another charging bay even if I could manauver a Transit sized vehicle & 18' trailer into a suitable position. Not too sure if a Tesla is legally able to tow a trailer with a MGW of 2.5T & then carry a payload (in the Tesla) of around .75T Dread to think what that would do to the range.

As someone who does a fair amount of towing I can see it being an issue using a public charging point with a trailer attached.

Somewhere, I have an old (1950's ish) OS map that shows "cse of old railway" intermittantly between the western end of the runway going toward the area known as "Plum Pudding Island" away frtom Margate. As an aside if the airport was reopened it's would probably only require a mile or so link from the terminal to the Ramsgate/Ashford line & onto HS1 & just over an hour from St P.

Be interesting to see how this works out in practice.

Interesting thanks Ron. Would not want to travel far in/on one of those personel carriers. The guy with the broom was a bit low tec !

Not a store I was familiar with but on the few occasions I visited always came away with something. A shame another one may dissapear, but the logistics of taking any existing store on probably too daunting for many.

Excellent point regarding the movement of the sun & shadows. Shadows can be diffecult to "get right" so I use the "if you can't get it right then maybe leave it out" principle here. We see more and more layouts at shows with lighting effects somer good, some not so good. And with the LED lighting strips available for little money it's worth experimenting. Anything that can add to the atmosphere such as sound (within reason) will help to create a lifelike scene in which a lot of objects that would normally move are stationary. How far to go with lighting effects ? We could illuminate the road vehicles (how many of them on layouts are driverless ?), passenger trains too - & then we have to populate them - nothing like an illuminated (even to oil lamp levels) coach to highlight the lack of passengers. And then what about features/set scenes that are fine for the day but not at night (talking of night, not evening) - schoolchildren or people enjoying their garden *** for example ? We can get it close, but not 100%, it's all about compromise & what is/is not acceptable to the builder(s) of the model. *** Could be updated to a barbie complete with patio heaters.

It's a great shame that the "Hornby International" Brands are not promoted as well as they could be. The current HO models (where available) are superb & up there with the very best. Back on topic - does the International Range come under the "tier" system ?

I remember that - IIRC it was an advert for a wallpaper paste called Solvite. As for the purple WC, no thanks, I don't like it but then I have a choice to look at it or not.

My layout is basically daytime during the summer months although I am eventually moving towards full illumination of buildings, street and trains so that I can recreate a scene with a "night athmosphere".

Now theres a good idea, it could be accompanied by a pedantic emoji & one for spelling errors.

Best to replace any 12v bulbs with 24v bulbs anyway. (12v bulbs will be far too bright anyway, even if the decoder will handle the current). During my early DCC days with Fleischmann Equipment I recall that they recommended replacing bulbs & they did supply higher voltage (believed to be 24v) for this very purpose.

There are many measures available today that will help with maintaining a layout, such as ; All metal wheels on rolling stock. Treatments such as Track Magic. Various Track "cleaning" wagons***. Those axel hung pads that GM sell. Frequent running whilst not new helps keep track clean. Dust/draught free environment & even better a positive filtered air system. Dust control mats. Care when creating dust anywhere in the same room as the layout. Abrasive track "cleaning" rubbers consigned to the bin or left on the shelf. & of course operators could refrain from wearing clothes that shed fibres. *** very few wagons actually clean dirty track, but they can help to keep clean track clean. LUX make wagons that will clean & vacuum up dirty track (they work similar to the Dapol ones, which are IMHO a poor principle copy of the LUX ones).

I'm fully aware that websites like those are not for the general public & will be overflowing with corporate bovine excrement. Lets just knock this on the head shall we ?

The homepage was initially uninspiring enough to discourage me from looking further. I now have a better idea of what "digital sdvisors" purport to do. IMHO Hornby would have spent their money better by looking at forums such as RMW & the magazines supported by them than to indulge in a load of corpospeak twaddle. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Thank you Mr York - I'd already checked out their very basic one page website & I'm still not much, if any wiser. Although for just over £1.5m (not my figures) over two years they could do something with Hornby's website, I found it very diffecult to track down a Rivarossi item I'm looking for (& then found it not currently available or to pre-order).

Pardon my ignorance but what exact function does a "digital advisor" have (apart from advising on digital matters) ?

Pehaps, if the local authorities paid some of their overpaid hjigher echelon dead wood less they could pay for some foot soldiers. As you have brought up academisation the CEO has a duty of care when he deals with bus (& other companies) - if he/she does not have measures in place to safeguard the people under his care then it's down to them if/when it goes base over apex.

You can if it is done properly, but no point in going into details now.

We used to be with NumptyPower - we thought they were bad until EonNext took over. Without consultation or warning we were switched from quarterly to monthly billing (which is actually fine with us). NumptyPower used to send us an email (with 10 days grace) to send a meter reading & we would get an accurate bill which we would pay on line. How easy was that ? Far, far too easy for eonNext of course with the inevitable deluge of inaccurate bills garnished with unanswered emails. We sent them an email with the subject "Change of Terms & Conditions" (if they can do it then I reckon we can too). We stated that we will send them a meter reading (gas only, ther other stuff is with a bunch of robbers the other side of the channel) on the last Sunday of each month. They will send us an accurate bill. We will then pay it withing a week on line. Do not send us an estimated bill - these will be ignored. Last we heard it had been referred to their legal department.

It probably could do with an upgrade (if not complete rewire) by now even without an EV charging point. My own house was rewired mid-80's to a higher than required standard and due to be upgraded this year (new DB's, sockets, switches & full inspection).

Yet to see an electric car with such an attractive seat cover.

How longe before dodgy extension lead/adaptors are on the market (if not alreay) ?

Nor me either, but I do hope there is no damage to the frames - only needs something to be a fraction off line.