Mucky Duck

Most definitely

A really nice idea Peter and the pic does help, thanks. Also looking forward to updates on your second unit which will have the same livery as mine… when I eventually return to work on it!

I would never have thought he'd do that, just shows how wrong one can be… although I do find his initial omission from the squad, and the manner of it, hard to fathom.

Erm… dunno where you heard that. Micah would almost cut his arm off to be in the squad. I read that he was phoned by Stuart Pearce and not by Roy Hodgson, to be told that he hadn't been selected. Richards, as with all top footballers, may be vastly over-paid but he comes closer to earning it than a lot of so-called journalists we have to suffer.

Flippin'eck! A Bacchie Jubilee - for only £56 - with DCC on board… absolute no-brainer even if it was purple with green spots! Nothing that a couple of decals, a lick of paint and spot of weathering couldn't sort.

8) Looking great Peter. Love the LED'd 3rd rail arcing and I may well 'alf-inch that idea! The Shawplan Laserglaze sounds very interesting too. Look forward to seeing more.

A bit of bed-time listening - to the recent stuff on this thread… some great music, thanks for posting folks!

I cannot begin to describe the relief of finally ridding that flippin' heavy monkey from my back after 44 long years. And what a climax to the season - think I need to lie down… again!

…nor red dragons in Cardiff

Another one here who hasn't seen this thread before but will be following with great interest

I wouldn't say that City are favourite. Newcastle have only lost twice at home this season and City's away form is still a worry, as is their perennial habit of not killing-off certain games. Had Nasri put his boots on the correct feet and with a little less greed from Toure, it could have (and should have) been 3-0 last night. Still, a very satisfying outcome at the Etihad… even if the resultant inner glow was just a fleeting one.

Quote, 'Nova veteran Lewis Parker, 60, added: "A lot of the players didn’t turn up so we expected to lose but not by that much."’ Does that mean a lot of players didn't turn up mentally prepared or that only a few of their players were on the pitch? That's more than 1.5 goals per minute!

Deservedly so, an interesting thread with some great modelling - particularly for me, the big loco mods.

There are two reasons why I would model this transition period. One is that I simply model what had the most profound effect on me as a boy and second, I'm another fascinated by the run-down, by decay and desolation. Whilst living close to ugly wastelands in Manchester or surrounding mill towns, the decline of steam was already well under way but decrepit, leaking steam clanking its way through a grim location was better than no steam at all – and witnessing that was better than only being able to imagine the 'glory days' of those fortunate enough to have been there. The day that steam was suddenly banned, a week before my 10th birthday, the railway for me went from hero to zero, despite Alan Pegler's ever-present and gleaming A3 4472 that I'd always yearned to see. As if removing steam wasn't enough of a blow, I also detested BR's new corporate scheme; not so much the blue - but definitely the yellow ends. A timely move away from our rail-side house helped to soften the blow of steam's sudden death and yes, after a few years the distraction of adolescent discoveries; girls, music, alcohol etc. all but erased steam from my memory but obviously the profound effectof its final years on me has remained. I agree with this in principle but I see it more like steam as a whole being on the point of death, having had a glorious and successful life, like a glamorous film star from years before I was born. What would fascinate me more is not watching the countless re-runs of all her classics but the last (and bravest) film she ever made or a candid and insightful (some may say cruel or moving) documentary about the twilight of her life.

Maybe another trophy tomorrow then eh? I've just spent some time reading this thread and I'm completely marmalised! It's one of those dream layouts… splendiferous work, my compliments to the team and the fact that you exhibit it is pretty amazing! And there are so many strands to this thread… the semaphore signals, the control systems for which, is mind-boggling - and the Faller tram/car operation… all clever stuff. Great team spirit of dedicated, like-minded friends on a project like this is something special; something maybe many of us who work in isolation could only dream of. However, it does confirm, in the nicest possible way, that Ron Heggs and Jim S-W – working alone on Manchester Central and Birmingham New Street respectfully – are both completely bonkers! Even if I make it to Ally Pally, I doubt whether I'd get to the front of the queue to see this.

I saw Copenhagen Fields a couple of years ago and was mightily impressed so it's great to see it on RMweb and that it's still being worked on.

Great Northern, I now have 59 pages to catch up with and until I do I'm afraid all that I can add is another 'me too' comment… how the heck did I miss this gem?

Glad you like the tread. I still need to build my Comet semi-welded tender kit, which is correct for 44890 so it's not finished yet… one day! Well done for getting your Brassmasters kit… lovely isn't it? Hopefully you'll be able to avoid some of the mistakes I made! Looking forward to seeing a thread on your progress.

This is another thread that slipped through my net although it has to be said I haven't been seriously trawling for ages. Fantastic work Larry! Now I'm itching to get back to some RTR fettling!

Based on your New year's resolution Matt, there should be plenty to look forwrad to

Peter, only now able to catch up with this. Thanks for the plug - my project has been laid to rest for the time being - but both of your 504s are coming along nicely, they look great on the layout! Seems the Bachmann 2EPB is definitely the way to go. A question though, what do you think about the feasibility of attaching the DC cab front plus sides (retaining the DC cab side window) just up to the leading edge of the first door and removing the corresponding Bacchie sides from the door forward? Without getting a very close butchers at the Bachmann in the flesh it's difficult to tell but from the photos I'm guessing that it would possibly be even more difficult cutting and matching-up, as the Bachmann body looks quite a chunky gauge whilst the DC's is anything but. Looking forward to more.

Top level football may not have been a 'sport' for years but it still keeps millions happy every weekend and even gets a look-in on a model railway forum. It has become the way it is due to flawed systems, not due to any single club or player - and 'moneybags' Manchester City is just the latest club to break the stranglehold of the 'elite' and is, in the process, at least creating a little more interest in the generally predictable Premiership title race… why is that such a bad thing? Now City are the team to hate - according to many, a 'small club' suddenly destroying football with a squad of thrown-together, over-paid mercenaries. We hear all this cr@p ad nauseum about 'no history', 'no class' and 'lack of team spirit' but that all seems to be ringing particularly hollow so far this season as those mercenaries have had impressive results and created moments of wonderful football worthy of 'the beautiful game'. Not surprisingly, little mention is ever made of the club owners plans for projects to help the youth academy and the local community and it wouldn't surprise me that the loudest anti-City complainers are those who would not mind one bit were their beloved team to be in the same 'privileged' position - or from those of the 'elite' clubs who clearly do not like it up 'em after years of domination!

Ron, not only is this a wonderfully ambitious project but you are detailing every step of the way with clear photographs. I really appreciate that, I know how massively time-consuming photographing and posting each stage can be… even if it is all part of the fun.

Comparing similar images of both, I don't think that Hornby has succeeded in improving on those areas, although to my untrained eye it looks every bit as good and possibly has finer gaps between the body planking… a feature of the Bachmann that bugs me slightly.

Steady on lad! I must admit to having a soft spot for green Class 40s as well and I'm waiting for the retooled Bachmann (the date of which seems to be an eternal mystery) before I descend on Shawplan. Quite fancy one of those brake tenders too. Some nice shots in that collection Mike.