rob D2

11 hours ago, westernviscount said:

Agreed. I don't know the motivation behind why some minimise model railways as playing with toys. 

 

I have every sympathy if it is in some way related to how they have been treated for loving trains and honouring that love through making models of them. Sometimes we want to denigrate ourselves before others have the chance to. I would hope that in time we find the courage to stand up for our hobby. Personally, the minimising of it is at best uninspiring.

I think it’s called not taking yourself too seriously.

The hobby grows out of trainsets - trainsets like I got when I was 5 .. then grew out of it . The public perception often is of Peter Pan individuals who never grew up - I’m not in the business of educating them , I’m confident enough to persue my own interests  oblivious to their opinions … let’s face it , a large percentage of the population find thinking difficult .

However , we are in danger of over analysing a pastime that we enjoy . So just enjoy it in whatever version it takes - whether you  are running a Lego train set round the dining room table or waist deep in white metal parts to make a narrow gauge engine from Outer Mongolia in P4 

3 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

No I wasn't, I was explaining that we've had enough comments sneering about "playing trains" from people who think watching football or getting drunk is normal, despite both those activities being somewhat odd and creating costs to society in terms of extra policing and health costs which model railways do not.  I've had rabid, season ticket holding, footy fans sneer at me for being into model railways in the past and the arguments I've used here were thrown back at them with some force, so fighting external sneering with some acidic responses was not only justified but also achieved the objective.  If they want "bants" they chose the wrong person, it's a form of bullying so being patronising back to them is frankly the lesser of two evils

The real point is the fact we can do without snotty attitudes from within the hobby when we all know there is still enough external commentary on the hobby from people who think it appropriate to diss our hobby.  I couldn't care less if they choose to waste their money on football or getting liver sclerosis so long as they keep out of my face.  What I find more difficult to accept is sniping from within the hobby.

The problem is what % of the population is either into drinking and/ or football ? Way way more than model trains….that makes us the odd one …the odd one out . Thats just life . 
 

I’m tolerant of other interests , as long as they repay the courtesy 

Coco pops ?

35 minutes ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

Perhaps it is referring to playing with toy trains (as you said in your earlier post) that has caused the hobby to be looked on by some other sectors of society. Shouldn't we be promoting railway modelling as a creative, worthwhile activity rather than disparaging or lessening it in the eyes of the general public or media?

They’ll always be a section of society that finds grown men playing with “ toy “ trains amusing . You won’t fix that regardless 

Thank god for the Ferraris having a scrap. At least something interesting 

1 hour ago, wombatofludham said:

Hell's Teeth, I thought I could be patronising but this is Carlsberg level.

We have just managed to change public opinion on the "playing with toy trains" snottiness we used to get, thanks in no small measure by celebrity modellers "coming out" without the need for blue on blue gunfire from within our ranks.

Let's get one thing straight.  We play with toy trains.  Adult, very expensive toy trains but toy trains none the less.  There is nothing wrong with that.  After all, it is less bizarre than choosing to spend hundreds of pounds for a season ticket to sit in a draughty, unheated shed watching 22 multi-millionaires kick a bag of wind from one end of a lawn to another, whilst consuming reclaimed meat products of dubious origin and with the added thrill of possibly being beaten up by the other tribe.  Or spending hundreds of pounds destroying your liver with alcohol only for you to wake up the next morning with no memories of the night before, thereby wasting the the whole evening's expenditure and with the potential long term prospect of needing dialysis at some time.  Playing trains by comparison is positively sane.

I also take offence at the judgement that you need to "put some effort in" to justify the label "modeller".  I enjoy making scenery far more than hand knitting my own trains, but even then I'll use a combination of ready to plant, kit, and home designed and 3d printed items to achieve the effect I want.  However, those who exhibit collections of Triang models creating layouts typical of what used to be shown in the old "Track Plan" books with contemporary items shouldn't be sneered at, and given they are often knee deep in visitors at exhibitions, clearly the modelling fraternity share their passion and nostalgia.

It's about time we started to support each other and stopped being so judgemental and snotty about what is after all a hobby, a pastime and not international diplomacy or politics.  And yes, I know I can sometimes be dismissive about steam enthusiasts but when I use the term "kettleistas" I do so in response to just the kind of dismissive, holier-than-thou attitudes I've just described safe in the knowledge that I am planning a steam layout as well as one for trains with coathangers so am a kettleista myself, but don't intend to elevate my interest and passion to religious zealotry.  Life is too short for that.

I get your point , but you’ve been as patronising about other interests - IE football and drinking .

To validate your opinion you’d have to be as accepting of other people’s choices 

( no I don’t follow football , but a truckload of people do , that’s up to them …one man’s meat is another man’s something else )

9 minutes ago, JN said:

 

I ordered from Ultimate Model Railways, so getting the pipework prefixed was not an option. I do not mind trying, but is something I have not been successful in this instance. Still, better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Best to have succeeded, but some worth in trying. I do get easily demoralised and I was also annoyed with myself for not being as good as other people. Due to my autism I also have a very binary worldview - in this case: pass or fail. I look at the Doncaster layout and am impressed by that and would like to be able to produce something of that quality myself. I am my own harshest critique and being a perfectionist means my goals are often higher than my abilities.

 

Thanks, but I was not complaining I never got help. Someone had advised me to use blacktack and that seems to have worked for the nameplate. I get you are busy and I am not the centre of the universe. Also, my point was more about critics who do not help, but I get people have other demands on their time than the latest post on a forum.

 

The depot plaque and double-arrows I used glue for as the 'tack was too fiddly for me. The depot plaque was really easy as I just put a blob of glue in the centre and I managed that as soon as I got the glue home from my local newsagent. I used a cocktail stick for a small blob of glue as using the nozzle would have wasted glue even if the glue does dry clear. I used a moist paper towel to clean up. The jig was easy to use for the plaque and the plaque's shape and look made straightening easy. I had difficulty lining the double arrows and nameplate (especially the double arrows) up straight and put the jig hard down to the roof to make sure the nameplate was straight and used the grey line to make sure the plate is on as straight as possible. I did try the two-sided tape provided once I realised that the two-sided tape is the two sided tape, but the blacktack seemed to work better for the nameplate. Just really thin sticky stuff and used the technique as with the PVA glue.

 

However, I was struggling to get the pipework in the holes just because of my shaky hands from anxiety and such. For the three I have done so far (the coupling chain and two pipes to the left) I just held my tweezers near the grab and put them in. The pipes have stayed in, so I will not be messing with them. I just need to put the remaining two pipes in. As much as I would like to use the chain coupling I will be best using the tension lock coupling, so I only really want the piping at the one end. I have no idea . I can barley tell the contours of what the model people are wearing, so I am going to struggle painting the crew. I have got a set of very thin brushes, but the detail is looking too fine. I joked with my dad about me probably needing a magnifying glass to see the model let alone fixing pipework to the model. Not, obviously, so, but I was using the exaggeration and humour to make a point. I prefer oo-gauge just because that is what I already have.

 

The HAA wagons I ordered came today and I want to get on with making coal load mounds, but I will pop some advice request on the HAA wagon thread. My dad gave me a copy of The Guardian on Thursday, so I have some papier-mâché material and I have thought I could use the cardboard the wagons came in as the base for a papier-mâché base (I did not ignore everything on Blue Peter!). I just want to have a go at a different task. I have no deadline, no exhibition, to get everything done by/for.

 

I had a quick look at the wagons and, well, another excellent model. I do not even know where to begin with making a model, so thanks for making a well-made model. Thanks to Trains4u, too, for sending quickly - I thought the wagons would be coming early next week. Not as exciting as a locomotive, but still high quality.

 

Sorry to AY. I was a little over the top. I tend to keep silent until things get too much. I also have the sensitivity skills of a sledgehammer at the best of times.

 

Before I sign-off on this essay, I found a website about coal mining: https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/yorkshire-coalfield/. Some of the details are a bit much as I only really have a railway interest, but people with an engineering interest might be interested in the technical aspects of the pump house engine details. I checked out the website for dates of coal mine closures, so I would not create a timetable for a colliery/power station run from a closed colliery. If people are interested in the operational side of things I have found:

http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/w/wag1.shtm. I cannot state to the accuracy of the website, but a useful guide (the order is correct, but the measurements might be incorrect - I am using the information as a standard). My dad uses the guide of eight revolutions of his six by four layout as about five miles. In my flat I have a six by one alcove for a shed layout. I could probably do something such as the foyer area of Knottingley MPD

 

Use as a working diorama as well as learning to weather, scratchbuild and put together kits etc. Maintain the locos with a rolling road and join a model railway club to talk trains and life more generally. I am doing this, amongst other reasons (such as: I like trains), as something to do other than watching YouTube.

Relax mate, take it easy . It’s not a competition it’s a hobby . If you struggle with the pipes - we all do at times . By design they have to be scale which is small ! As long as you are enjoying yourself everything is good 

Forget the announcements .

For the modern ones , you could have Francis Bourgeois  laughing manically at the 56 ….like he did at the Colas log one 

24 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

Must be difficult to do any modeling yourself whist looking down your nose judging others!

 

Everyone is entitled to do what they seem fit to do in the hobby it's all toy trains at the end of the day

The rtr loco you buy at shops was a box of kit parts back in China or Wales! Just some one with skill and dexterity mad it for you

Never thought of it like that !

” I have outsourced my loco construction to shenzen “. Good decision .

” I have outsourced my loco construction to Romania “ - BR , bad decision ;)

Disregard - didn’t notice you can pull the hook out and replace with another full detail one …..

as you were ….

Anyway here’s my renumbered 20015

It’s getting a bit boring isn’t it ?

Despite Mr Horners attempts to liven it up with off track scandal 

White paint pen and some masking tape , I’ve done a few 

1 hour ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

Loved my 56008 so much that I've given in and grabbed a second. 56070 in blue just arrived from Ultimate Model Railways👍

Would have loved an “ electric nose “ style review ! 

On 27/02/2024 at 17:48, Krieghoff said:

Photo credit Grosmont MPD.

 

CANT WAIT FOR THIS BABY. My local line as well. 

Saw it at Toton open day in 98, you could smell the paint….ah the glory days….

The phone number is Italy .

I was expecting Nigeria for some reason 

The irritation is all the stuff I have to un tick .

Suddenly find myself offering evri next day delivery to Outer Mongolia for £2.99 , accepting offers above 10p

I accidentally left offers on a couple of things , within an hour of listing I get offers about a quid over the starting price - why would I accept that ? 7 days is 7 days 

1 hour ago, atom3624 said:

Can we start a countdown - to arrival / possible delivery yet?   ....

 

Just asking 🙃

 

Al.

Please god no .

42 minutes ago, treggyman said:

HI Halvarras

 

Thanks for the above.....

Does that mean that Clay slurry & bagged clay are no longer transported by rail.....

Bagged & slurry used to go from Parkandillack/Treviscoe & bagged from Par docks as well as the powder form from both.

Cheers Bill

 

Bagged clay, I think you’d have to go back 10 years or more…there was sometimes a cargowaggon added to the stoke train but along time back and par docks has been the big powder wagons for years, no idea when anything else came out .

the whole scene is super dull compared to the 80s and fairly dull compared with the 90s !

Yes in this  day and age there’s not really any excuse for taking naff pictures.

I've sold a few things on eBay recently - I find the app overly helpful. Often suggesting postage options I then have to edit out .

One thing I had to watch - I only sell stuff on the 80% off variable fees weekend. It auto relists ( another thing I  didn’t ask for)

If it then sells on relist it’s not covered by the 80%. Argued that one . And becuase , apparently , I’m a “ loyal customer “ I got £9 back .

28 minutes ago, 97406 said:

 

The problem I find with superglue is that you don't get a second chance and I'll spot and fail to not notice any imperfections

Also some of my locos have been through several different incarnations - I don’t want the identity to be irreversible 

I think cavalex are to be commended for name plate guides, I’ve not seen that before .

JN, I use tamiya low tack masking tape as a guide on cab sides . I then use 2 tiny dots of “ glue and glaze “ ( cos it dries clear if I really cock it up ) and place said item on top. Can also use tiny drops of varnish - always applied minutely with end of a cocktail stick 

2 hours ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

If you look up the definition of modelling. one answer is "the activity of making three-dimensional models". So the purchase and use of RTR/RTP items isn't "modelling".

 

The creation of a layout or diorama. which may enable those purchases to be used however, could be seen as modelling. It depends on how much effort you want to put in. 

We’ve had this debate before , many times , and suffice I’m not going to start it again .

With a large number of members touchy about “ labelling “ , “ pigeon holing”, it’s not where I want to go at all…because it requires such , ill self label myself.

What it comes down to is …time…money….both are in short supply. So in modelling you choose what appeals to you and what you can afford.

I build wagon kits - I don’t enjoy it much. I find it fiddly , frustrating and annoying. The only reason I’ve done it in the past is the wagons I wanted weren’t available RTR, then they were and I stopped ….Am I a “ real “ modeller then ?
 

I change decals, I have done resprays , I change numbers - this is the part of the hobby that appeals to me …am I a real modeller ?who cares…

I build layouts , mainly small. I get diminishing returns TBH. I only build them to have a realistic back drop for the fantastic RTR we have. I don’t have time to build everything …

So I label myself as a collector , who likes to customise models , and run them in a semi realistic environment .

At the end of the day if I enjoy it that’s enough , that’s the whole point of it and the only point .

Fleet looks good , although the grey and yellow wagons would not run together as a clam is vacuum braked and a Rudd is air braked 

34 minutes ago, Not Jeremy said:

So make a kit, or scratchbuild, this obsessing over what is and isn't produced by XYZ manufacturer is, to my mind at least, desperately uninteresting and even depressing.

 

Are we railway modelling or railway model purchasing?

 

I know which I prefer....

That debate has been done to death . And as we’ve just had a debate on “ labelling “ I’m happy to say that both RTR and kit building is modelling in my eyes .

I tried to get the only train kit of a 12T crane before the hattons thing but it was sold out - am now on waiting list fir next batch