C.A.T.Ford

The second motor is a Romford flywheel drive unit. The motor shaft has  ball bearing thrust races each end, take my word for it, don't remove them to check or you will improve your Anglo Saxon bad language no end during reassembly. The fly wheel is  balanced and the unit is very powerful, I've used a couple before. However you may find its current consumption will bring sweat to the brow of a Gaugemaster unit! The worm fitted is for a 30-1 gear.

CAT

I remember that the green shop you have modelled in Guildable Manor Street was once home to ABC (Alan, Brett, Canon) models. They moved there when their shop in Station Approach was turned into the walk way to Hays Wharf. They later moved back to Station Approach where eventually they closed down. My Father was a great user of there Chairway track. in the 1950s.

A model of a model shop? A bit early though.

CAT

Just back from setting up. What I saw was very good, I'm looking forward to seeing Medway Quay who set up in the morning.

CAT

Many years ago now K's (with whom I recall shopping in their Cecil Court shop) produced some cast whitemetal 4mm Lynton & Barnstaple couplings.  Is there anyone out there who might have some of these that are not required?  I would be most grateful if there is and will offer to purchase them.

Hamblings were in Cecil court did you mean they produced the couplings? K's were over in Willsden I think.

CAT

In my mind this program is not for Railway Modellers about Railway Modellers. It is however about Railway Modellers presented in a format the general  public know and understand well, a competition. It show cases the skills and ingenuity involved in solving the problems set by the organisers and has very little to do with curve radii, historical accuracy or even the number of rivets. I'm actually surprised that there is not a "People's vote" for best layout outed by the judges so that the final has an extra layout to introduce some audience involvement.

The end product is a show which is understandable for the public but causes certain of the cognoscenti to have heart burn. Shame about that and I have every sympathy for the Heart burn but the public have had a glimpse of how a Railway Modeller works and  an incite into how a model takes shape.

I can appreciate the reluctance of the bulk of Modellers to take part in the show, we have frequently been "manhandled" by the media and portrayed as virtually un-convicted Pedophiles living in a toy dream world. With this in mind I raise my hat to the pioneer teams who stepped up and were counted.

Will this program mean that thousands will take up Railway Modelling? I think that is unlikely but it will swing those who were considering the hobby but were reluctant to commit  to join the RM community. However in my mind the best end product of this series is that Railway Modellers can be seen as human beings who have a huge range of skills and problem solving abilities which are useful in everyday life as well as modelling, rather than weirdos. I'm sure that attendance at shows will increase in the short term and it is there that, if we play our cards right,  significant numbers of fresh faces may be persuaded to at least try the hobby. This will mean that we need to look closely at the way we, as a group, present the hobby at shows and although the number of rivets may be vitally important to you it may be worthwhile not droning on about it but take an upbeat attitude like this series.

CAT

It isn't a Westinghouse pump it's a steam reversing device. S.E Finecast do them. The pipe into the smoke box is part of the injector system possibly an exhaust injector. I've done a couple of L1 up dates and the worst part is removing the skirt under the boiler.

CAT 

I was at this show as it's local to me and was surprised to find it was part of the Deptford arts trail. While I was there several groups who were following the trail  went round and they agreed that Model Railways were an art form. Not only did they think it an art form but they were serious about saying so and why they said so. Made a nice change from the usual bigotry.

Perhaps we need to be represented on other arts trails?

CAT

How do you know?

 

Dave

Bitter experience.

CAT

I just obtained a copy of Model Rail and noticed the exhibitions for Dulwich and Arundel in there.

One is by Dulwich MRS, the other by Arundel MRS.....

I know one of the exhibitors attending at Arundel, so I'll go along and see what it is like.

 

Seeing neither show appears to have any traders, will be interesting to see what is on offer there.

I live close to Dulwich and there is no Dulwich m.r.s. It would be my local club if there were and I'd certainly know about it. A Google does not throw up an Arundel m.r.s. although there might be one.

I'd get your friend to ask to see the insurance cert before the set up, better safe than sorry!

CAT

             Although you may do as you wish. I would caution  against exhibiting with DD or Mid kent or any other pseudonym Mr. Dibben may use. You may well find that he will approach you, about mid afternoon,  and suggest that the show has not done well and tell you that he wants to pay one third of your reasonable expenses. none of which he has explained before hand. You will also find that lunch, normally provided in most shows or at least pre-warned as not provided is a variable feast, as in not, and tea costs. Parking for vans and cars is at cost of local authorities and not refundable ,you will find this out when you arrive.

Don't ask me how I know!

CAT 

While we rarely see bobbies on the beat round here, and haven't for a long time, this weekend is seeing us being treated to a new form of police patrol every day.   I'm not at all sure why but the Thames Valley police helicopter is spending a heck of a lot of time both day and night in our neck of the woods. Brings a whole new theme to 'community policing'

They are usually looking for a hot house using the heat imaging cameras on board. The house is hot because it is full of heating equipment and bright lights otherwise the Cannabis crop doesn't mature  properly. When they find one they hover and more police than you have seen in a year rush up and smash their way into the house arresting anyone they find gardening. Two winters ago they smashed the doors in on a friend's garage along with her front door to find her guinea pigs sheltering next to an electric fire. Exit very embarrassed MET officers. However we do get beat police with PCSOs and mounted patrols (they can see over garden walls and spot people travelling over them for nefarious reasons) as well as patrol cars.

CAT   

Sun's out, Garden's tidied, Hammock's slung in the shade. Got to be Spyra Gyra.

CAT

Cyril Birch who managed to inspire Bob Barlow to join the railway modelling scene, by his own admission. I certainly remember the layout  and its influence on my modelling . Ynys Gwyntog project  MRN Sept 1964.

John Allen I've not built a North American layout but when I do it will have his influence in it.

CAT

I'm in complete agreement with the previous post. An excellent show, high quality layouts and a good mix of traders. If you meant the main hall KDG the 00 layout  would have been Wellbridge a layout I have a great regard for.

If you are at a loose end tomorrow people try to get to this show if you are within striking distance.

CAT

If you know what I mean? Know what I mean? Then we will all Know what I mean? Know what i mean?

A Phrase common among sporting reports which drives me to distraction. Know what I mean?

If i'm listening to you and I don't understand I'll bloody well ask you to explain!

CAT 

Gordon Giltrap, Visionary.

Got my turntable up and running again YAY!

CAT

briefs on a counter 

Sorry far to frisky!!!!! now "XL briefs on a counter" has a certain je ne sai  quois ! 

Long boring encounter.

Lightly soiled Harry.

Magnum Force, the ice-creams revenge.

Beddington (have you been there? poor bear would have died)

Titanic 2 (two hours of icebergs?)

50 grades of Ply. Erotic railway modellers movie.

CAT

George Lloyd Symphonies particularly Number 4.

CAT 

Thanks... I thought it was a T-Something (4-coupled - it's good guess...

 

A T7 or an E10, same sort of thing but a tad later, were actually four cylinder 4-2-2-0s. All were considered "not very good" and lived in the dark corners of Loco sheds where nobody usually went. The idea was they would have the free running of single wheelers without the friction of coupling rods. They also had different valve gear for the inside cylinders (Stephenson's) and outside cylinders (Joy's), Drummond tried this again on some of his 4-6-0s substituting Walschaerts for the Joy gear, once again "not very good". It may be that Drummond wasn't very good with more than two cylinders but I doubt if anyone would have told him that!

 

CAT 

Is it because my hand is big or my T9's are far away?
Them bits is tiny!

Tiny they maybe but the result when the originals went was huge! I've had to do three T9s so far out of five and I expect to do the rest. I hope you ordered the rear mounting plate as well as in all of mine the rear plate crumbled to dust in my hands. As Hornby are now into me for serious money in T9 repairs I make a point of giving them their broken bits back in a plastic bag when I see them at shows along with a reminder how much Peter's replacements cost.

CAT

I've been running my set for some time and at at least one show. It runs well with no wobbling, the bar couplings are a good idea (I use the short ones). I've put it up against the drawings in Pull-Push by Mike King and there are a couple of differences. The main ones being underneath but these are difficult to spot without A: A drawing and B: lifting the coach off the track.

I don't know about you but anyone lifting my stock off the track at a show is definitely off the Christmas card list and even possibly in A&E.

The alternative is a kit and having done the Jidenco one, a Kernow and a craft knife is a quicker way forward. However I'd consider the extra damage you'd cause while moving bits around and make a good plan of action before starting.

CAT

George Butterworth "loveliest of trees"

CAT

Three LNWR coal engines to col. Stephens for the S&M

Cecil Raikes from the Wirrel to the coal board.