NGT6 1315

Cheers all. Clouding over after a hot and unpleasant day, so maybe I should do a rain dance to ensure the forecast does indeed materialise! And in ze meantime, may I demonstrate zat us Germans do haff a highly refined sense ov humour indeed… 😂🤣

A'noon all. Scorchio is the motto of the day and I don't like that one bit!

I do concur that new trains have a smell not unlike that of a new car. So did our NGT10 trams when they were new (and when nobody imagined the kind of headaches they’d eventually give us due to iffy reliability!). Though I also remember the 185 and 189 I inspected during an open day at Mannheim and the 401 I footplated on had a peculiar smell, even though none of them had been fresh from the factory at the time.

A'noon all. Been out to Gotha for an exam and just got home shortly past 1500 hours. Need some coffee ASAP, but while I'm having one, may I regale you with some forbidden footage...

Moaning awl. Still far too warm a night for sleeping comfortably. Also, some indigestion had struck last night. Though on the upside, it's raining at long last, so, ajar did the windows go! 😇 Enjoy whatever you're up to...

Cheers all... As I like to say at this time of year, scorchio is the motto of the day. Outside thermometer read 36° a few minutes ago, though I gather precipitation is forecast to commence in the early hours of Monday. I'll believe that only when I see it! I relocated my modelling table to the basement, where it is nice and cool. I'm sure I'll gladly exploit that as an excuse now and then when it's so hot. I do want to get a proper workbench too, but I don't feel like doing major DIY work in summer. There's no rush to it, of course. Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!

Cheers all. It's just to frellin' hot! Need to complete a bit of coursework. but other than that, not a lot to mention. I'm really slowing down when it's warm. Be safe, everyone. I'll try to catch you tonight if I haven't melted until then...

That would indeed be an example for parents putting their own ego and craving for distinction above their childrens' well-being!

We had a Leena in our class in secondary school, which was about the extent of non-standard and bizarrely spelt names we ever had. Her younger sister was named Liisa.

Almost forgot to second the congratulations to Jamie, Beth and BR, so if I still may… 😀

If they were the proper kind of bird, would that make them Millennium Falcons?

That reminds me of a quote from Andromeda: "What does a Nietzschean mother hope for her son when she names him Genghis Stalin?"

Moaning awl. Bad dream by the end of the night, so still sorting myself. I seem to have either misplaced or discarded several items that could have been useful for RTR modding. I suspect this happened when we de-junked the basement prior to the renovation. In any event, this meant that I had to make a number of purchases recently, but I think I now have everything back together. Nothing like wanting to get going with a project and finding you can't because important tools and utilities are suddenly missing, eh? Though on a more upbeat note, I managed to snipe the following in The Bay last night for far less money than I expected this now-rare model might fetch: This being the Class 410 ICE-V prototype from the 1980s. I used to have the Märklin model on my toy layout back then, so this train certainly brings back fond memories! From what I know, the Fleischmann "V" is more accurate (dimensionally, in particular) than the Märklin one, though the latter with its dual coreless motor layout was actually quite advanced for its time. The Märklin model sold from 1985 until 1989 and the Fleischmann one from 1987 until 1992. I found out there are several upgrade options to retrofit the Fleischmann "V", which has a conventional ringfield motor, with a coreless one, so that will indeed require serious consideration. There are a few other items I'd like to address as well, especially better pantographs and possibly some interior detailing. Though the latter might be sensible only in the cabs as I seem to remember the coach interiors are barely discernible. It's still odd that no accurately scaled H0 models have ever been made of the ICE 1 and 2 for as long as these types have been in service. I know Lima have announced a new ICE 1 model for this year, so I'll certainly have a look at that one. Given the significance of the "classic" ICE types, they'd certainly merit proper representation! Enjoy whatever you're up to...

I can give it another try later. I even tried going via mobile access through my iPad rather than wi-fi in case my router filtered out anything important but that didn’t help either. In any case, thanks in advance. Much appreciated!

Hello Andy and crew, Are there currently any issues with the payment function? I tried obtaining the subscription several times now and using both PayPal and credit card, but am receiving only error messages. I can make payments without problems elsewhere, so it seems to be specific to WOR. Thanks to all and cheers!

Moaning awl. Quiet holiday here, which is just as well. Hayfever's a right pain these days, though... Thoughts with you and yours, Dave. I'm sure your mum will continue to appreciate everything you've done for her, wherever she may be now.

That’s a real loss indeed. His legacy is but something to be proud of and I’m sure it’ll be kept honoured… RIP, sir.

I only just noticed there's a thunderstorm warning in effect right now and that it is, in fact, raining a bit. There's also an advance warning of severe thunder beginning in the afternoon tomorrow. We shall see, I guess. And I also just learned that Vangelis has passed away two days ago. That is a real loss indeed... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61514850

Cheers all. Will be getting Annika to bed in a few but just in case you might have been looking for some inspiration for a weekend modelling project… 🤣

Yes, it really should no longer be a matter of contention nowadays. It really has been that for far too long and with far too dire consequences for those being targeted for their orientation. Regardless of whether one subscribes to the religious notion of the saying, I do like to think that we are all only here, and the way we are, by the grace of God. Edit: Happy birthday, Rick!

Moaning awl. Raining on and off, which can only be a good thing for the garden! Livia had to see the doc due to a persisting cold. It's not COVID, I hasten to add! Doing self-tests has kinda become a routine when you have kids who've caught a sniffle... I'm planning to cook yakiniku teishoku for dinner. Other than that, not much to report as of yet, which is just as well. Later...

Moaning awl. Calm so far, which is just as well with my nerves being as frayed as they tend to be these days. Trimmed the hedges a bit yesterday, but that was about the extent of excitement. Again, not that I mind… I certainly hope I'll be able to find some recuperative loco modding time soon. There's a bit of a backlog by now! Generic congrats and commies and please do enjoy whatever you got planned...

Moaning owl. Appointment scheduled for 8 am, so up already. Migraine severely restricted me for about the past three days, too. One of my uncles has been living in the California wine country for about thirty years now and seen a number of wildfires over the years, too. I myself have also seen a stretch of land on the Spanish Costa Blanca devastated by wildfires near where my aunt used to live, so I certainly feel for everyone affected. Later...

Moaning awl. I sure did sleep like a rock but I'm still exhausted after this week! Thankfully, I now have a week off. SiL's birthday today, so she and her entourage will come over for a barbecue. Not a lot else I can think of as being noteworthy right now, so, enjoy whatever you're up to!

Moaning awl. On the train anew. Weekend's approaching, thankfully. I feel like I'll be sleeping like a rock! Going to doze a bit, so, later...