BlackRat

Good luck with the new career Nick! Having family in teaching, I know what you have been going through, and what the last few years have been. I retire from the plod today ( again) after 35 years, I just can’t stand the environment now and what it has become. Best wishes and looking forward to the Launceston layout!

Very sad news indeed. Last saw Grahame at the small Cardiff show, prob the last ‘show’ before lockdown. Like many, I have been looking forward to getting together with the ‘gang’ in Taunton this coming spring. Such a shame he won’t be there but I’m sure he will be remembered by all of us attending.

A little gold paint and a very fine brush….. and you can add rank badges and good conduct stripes…… One for every 4 years for other ranks only. A Royal Navy 3 badger with a beard always looks good on a layout!

Merit ( now Peco) made a nice set of Matelots, tho they needed a repaint. You could also have Royal Marine’s….. there were quite a few ( dozens) of married quarters at Yelverton. Quite a few Marines from Bickleigh Barracks lived there…..

Top job there Trev, I’m looking forward to seeing them running behind something suitable…,, there’s plenty of choice for prime movers…

I could tell a few stories about ‘functions’ at Jethros place at Lew Down……

Everton mint?

Apologies for not being on much……..Lots been happening here, sorting retirement, electrical problems, decorating and now a special treat for Christmas……. Covid. Still could be a lot worse, as many are finding. To each and every one of you, may I wish you and yours, a happy, peaceful but most of all, a healthy Christmas and my very best wishes for 2022. Now back to unsplendid isolation in the spare room.

Just a quick note to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and hopefully a better 2022 for us all. Stay safe and happy modelling!

I’ve been lucky enough to follow the layouts progress ‘in the flesh’….. I can tell you that RM Web is in for a bit of a treat.

Can’t wait.

Generic greetings one and all! Apologies for being awol……. New ceilings, mucho painting and a nasty electrical problem have caused much consternation in the BR household. Booster jabs, flu jabs,……man flu….. meh…. etc etc etc! Still there’s almost light at the end of the tunnel…… Normal service will be resumed……we hope…… next week

Builder/ Plasterer nearly finished. Let the decorating commence……….. Oh the joy!

Greetings one and all, hope everyone is as good as they can be. Busy, nay very busy time, builder and plasterer in as we have had that Dreaded Artex stuff removed and skimmed over. Didn’t realise we had so many ceilings! Still most are now done, busy now painting, replacing lights, curtain poles etc etc etc. Oh the joy. Still just sat down for a cuppa and an overdue RMWeb catch up. On another note, I’ve put my notice in, it’s been accepted and I finish on the 16th February after 42 years Crown and Community service. I think that’s enough for anyone. I’ve done my bit, and looking at policing now, I’m a dinosaur with more than a sceptical eye on modern Policing. I don’t really want to be part of the organisation it has become so it’s time to go. Happy days indeed.

Nope, they were glad to see the back of it, having had hubby spend so much time on a hobby etc. Its never about the money, just the time spent on a hobby.

Everyone is different, so don’t worry about what others do, just think of yourself and your wife and work out what you both want. If you have any dreams, desires or ambitions then now’s the time, you’ve worked for it, you’ve earned it so now go for what YOU want. I’ve dealt with far to many deaths where the partner left behind tells me of plans, dreams etc which now go unfulfilled. As much as we don’t like to think it, the clocks ticking. I never ever met one person on their death bed, ( more usually the partner left behind) who said their biggest regret was that they could have worked for longer but didn’t. I have also encountered bitter widows whose joy was unbridled as they ditched golf clubs, fishing rods, and model railway equipment with the words…… he spent all of his spare time on these, such a waste, we could have done so much. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy it.

Man Flu. No words…….

Greetings one and all. Today I will be mainly fixing daughter’s electrical door mechanism on her Polo, let’s hope the left side goes better than the right side did. Still I allegedly now know what to do, where the fiendishly hidden Torx screws are etc etc etc. Any one else fed up with all these pop up adds, perhaps it’s just the new iPad, but I get them on every page or post now.

Well I’m back! New iPad was bought yesterday, few moments to set it up and wereeeeee off! Mind you, there now seems to be constant distractions with ‘pop up’ ads, which to be frank I’m fed up already. Anyone know how we get rid!? Generic greetings and best wishes.

Morning one and all......seems I have actually managed to access the site at last....... Probably because I am on a 'job' computer. For some reason, I cannot get past the 'I agree' tick box or whatever it is that appears now on my Ipad. I've tried everything I can to no avail, and as its my my source of t'internet access it means I cant get into RMWeb. As a bonus tho I seem to be spending my time 'doing' than 'reading' so its not all bad! Generic greetings etc to one and all till the next time....... I.T. allowing that is.

No one remember the legendary 'Aunties in Allegros' mag then?? I spray name boadrs etc the appropriate colour, then lightly sand them back using 1200/1800 grit till the letters and frame are free of colour.

I can vouch how nice this one looks 'in the flesh' having paid a visit to the local model clubs show yesterday. well done Alex, great work!

There's a nice article on weathering tank wagons in one of the recent MTRJ's by Martin Welch. Very difficult to weather convincingly, especially if any iron work, ladders etc are left on.

Greetings one and all, or should that be ...."What a grey day." Tis misty ere ... which in September bodes well for a bright and sunny day. Shame I'm working today, hah, but not for much longer, decisions and complex calculations have been made with regards to pensions and boss has been told where to go!! Finishing on or abouts the 1st January, in my 60th year and with over 40 years service to the country and community. Now for some me time. Happy daze, long may they last.

Bah, rain stopped play today, no kayaking or motorcycle riding ( at the legal speed of course) so it's the regular clean up the workbench sort of day etc. Cant beat a really good thunderstorm tho, ok not quite a tropical storm, but ok for Cornwall....... and lots and lots of rain!