The Fatadder

I use Smiths 3-links more or less 'as they come', Robin and their screw links, albeit I make my own shackles, using an annealed brass lacemakers pin as the basis. I might reduce the size of the hook slightly, if I'm in the mood for it, but for exhibition use, I find that I need a reasonable 'target area' to get the loop of the adjacent coupling over.

I started off with PC Models couplings which look nice and are an appropriate size. Since I ran out I've bought a few Smiths- the Smiths are oversized but at least I can see them. The only thing I wonder about Smiths is that the hooks stick out as far as the buffers and I fear when sprung buffers get compressed I might end up with a locking problem when pushing wagons

I like the smiths 3links / instanters but always found the screw links looked really wrong. Will have a play with these Masokits ones this evening and see how I get on. The only coupling needed witll be between the loco and lead / last wagon as the rest will stay perminantly coupled in the fiddleyard

Awesome! Congratulations

Congratulashuns!

Thanks for the congrats, will pass the messages onto my wife.

As for a trainset how well do small children get on with p4.....

I remember having travelled 60k's to go to a shop, turn the corner and it is shut.

It's a 2 1/2 hour train ride either way as well!

I'm almost tempted to build a layout around that signalbox!

Having now got the kit it really is rather nice, will start a blog on building tonight...

Shame it didn't come with an interior so that will need ordering, along with ensuring the roof can be removed.

Dear oh dear, you'll never get that layout finished now! ;-) Congratulations.

Congrats Rich!

Thanks for the congratulations, No worrys about not finishing the layout. The GWR Cheddar project is all Helen's fault anyway!

In the end they were wrong. Sounds like it was actually a DBS freight stuck in a tunnel....

....so it refused to leave the tunnel?

Horrocksford.

Could have gone to Swindon after all

Sounds to me more like it's taking arrival advice from the TfL dot matrix indicators...

Hope all goes well! :-)

I want to know more - the tension's killing me....

Give it a couple of minutes and take it easy mate...

She got hold of the box from the Ratio 5 plank I built last night, the bits for the tension locks were left in there (best place for them!) Naturally having eaten the box the little plastic "treats" went down well

The problem I have is forgetting what it was I was looking for before I find it. 

I think this weekend I will need to do a thorough tidy of the railway room/study to try and find it.  The glazing fell out of a voyager I was fitting new lights to (over the past 6 months or so) and was put away somewhere safe until I was ready to reassemble...

My garage is full of all sorts of stuff  " put in a safe place " trouble is I don't seem to have used that place on a regular basis .

My F-I-L was excessively tidy.- In his workshop /shed even the spiders knew their place!

At least you saved some money.

Not really, now I have to buy the kit, motor, wheels and name plate separately which will no doubt cost far more....

.. and buy a consolation lunch!

I'd still double check with the Train Manager or whatever they are called these days

Provided it is valid on any service, rather than a particular one, you can break your journey.

Go to

www.brfares.com

Put in your journey, click on the ticket type you want and it will give you all the restrictions.

Now thinking that if I add a fill it of micro strip on the inside of each "rail", it would narrow the gauge to something closer to that of the bogie. Or I can stop over thinking it.....

Yeah, you have to go Brio.

My daughter is 4 week old but long before she was born I got her a brio. I can't wait to play with it

Nice one, congratulations.

Well done to you both!

Here's to one final night sat downstairs with some Metallica bleating out of the HiFi and a bunch of wagons to paint

Tomorrow hopefully I pick up wife and baby and the sleepless nights start

Did you turn off the gas? Electricity? Cancel the paper?

I get that feeling on a regular basis about locking the front door. I think I've only actually forgotten to do it once.....

I have forgotten once before...

I wouldn't be so worried if it wasn't for the high chance that the stand will fail at the glued joint due to the heat resulting I'm the iron (set to 300*c iirc) subsequently falling on the floor

Are you using a fume extractor? Not too expensive and makes a big difference...

Open a window if you can. That way hypothermia will get you before the fumes today!

The milk made a huge difference thanks, opening a window isn't really an option. Workshop is the room next to the baby's Nursary and I wouldn't want to risk the Nursary getting too cold

Don't do it Rich!

Try a little bit of both, Rich. In my view, life's too short!

That's what I'm currently thinking, one day I will find the time and inclination to get the points finished on the small branchlike layout, and all the stock for it will remain in P4 no matter want. There certainly won't be a fire sale! It's just at the moment all I want is to sit and watch mainline trains run, and the thought of converting all those 4-6-0s is a bit daunting (in cost and given my previous failings getting outside clyinders to work.) If I do move away f...

If your axles are 3mm dia., and there's a gearwheel on one, then you have a conversion pack. The normal crankpin tubes are supposed to be 1.5mm dia. - or at least the ones I have are all of that size.

Thanks for confirming it. Time to contact ultrascale and get some of the standard ones I think

Hopefully you won't have to wait six months....!

She's a lucky girl, on the way home she has a pacer from Teignmouth to NA

At last,a HST back to Plymouth. Could have done with it slowing down through Brent though...

Pacer and a Voyager in one day. Combined age less than the age of the only decent train in the itinerary.

Hard to tell given the smell i want to be as far away from them as poss

No coffee, no need for toilet.

Train back is even worse for food / drink choice, though at least it's a hst so no smell and more comfort

True, got back home today to find an Amazon parcel left on my doorstep, at least RM took it round the back!

Its usually Yodel or Hermes that play that trick, though they usually consider the wheelie bin a suitable location...

My postman scribbles something indecipherable on one of your letters which is meant to read "Parcel at number..." or whatever. Have the red cards been abolished as a cost cutting measure?

What a fabulous image you painted there Rich.

Nothing more heartwarming, when I take the train to Torquay I always wave back, there's something old fashioned about it.

Off to the South Devon tomorrow to show her some proper trains...

In my experience, no...

(Iberia provide something edible, that is)

Oddly enough the answer to both was no, Iberia ran out of the meat offering leaving cheese and apple pasta. And the GWR wifi had died before the train even reached Swindon...

If that doesn't work try a 37/9 ?

It actually worked,

Now thinking about trying to find a couple of 37 recordings to play on the HiFi when trying to get her to sleep

Or a local farmer could assist with his tractor.

Isn't it always the way! Best wishes for when the new arrival does appear!

No. If you had gone .........

They run to their own timetable. Get used to it. This also applies after they are born

*gwrrob makes mental note of eBay anonoymous ID for future reference*

You should be glad you missed it, the semi circular support under the boiler is broken!

Sorry to hear that.I'm glad you asked for a discount for the damage.I'd be well p***ed off with the seller for not mentioning it.

This is what happens when you have a burning ambition to be an accountant. (See Kenton for more details....)

SWMBO just doing the same. I just tend to hide somewhere until it's safe to come out!

The odd thing is at the moment I seem to be spending more time looking at engineering drawings at work than anything financey

Still, get these 3 out the way in November and then there is only one more exam to go in march!