mezzoman253

Stratford- Class 321 heading for Southend.

Did they not appear in this livery anyway. http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20EMU/Recognition%20EMU/IllusEMU_321.html Or am I mis-reading this post? Rob

Most of shop signage is of a foamboard type contruction. You could ask at your local store if they have any that's being disposed of. It's where I get most of mine from. Rob

Hi, Thanks for the nice comments. This layout gets done in fits and starts, specially in the summer, due to other interests. Come the autumn things should speed up a bit. Couldn't resist taking some pics of the 37. I've been after one for a while at the right price, my favourite diesel class. Had a look at your Whitborough Quayside layout, very nice and functional, I specially like the water effects, hard to get realistic effects at the waters edge, but you seem to have got it spot on. Cheers, Rob

Only a few small bits done to the layout since last post. Re-jigged the yard back scene, now have to make the bridge and building cut outs more permanent. I'm going to put them on thin card to get some depth to the scene, a bit like decoupage. Once the autumn kicks in I'll start on the control panel and tidying up the wiring. New addition to the fleet 37 419 EW&S bringing in the oil tanks. Fuelling whilst 08 799 shunts the tanks to the fuel siding. Odd picture references That's all for now, Rob

Hi, Lee Dixon is to leave the BBC MOTD team. http://uk.eurosport....-110511472.html That's a shame, even though he played for Arsenal. I felt he was the best of the bunch recently. Alan Hansen is losing the plot and becoming a "David Coleman" type figure. Jumpers for goalposts anyone? Rob

Hi Dave, Thanks for the nice comment and wishes. I'll have to look up Wigan Wallgate and see how it compares. Regards, Rob Edit: Found some pics of Wigan Wallgate and you're right about it. I've copied some for further ideas, thanks.

Hi Sam, Thanks for the comments. Sorry you are "at the grindstone". The idea of Burnt Mills just popped into my head, based loosely in the north Midlands/NW area the mills part seemed a good name. BTW is saw your banner and had a look at your pics, very nice. Are you a member of the EGMC email reflector by any chance? I'm also interested in aviation & the stars. Small world. Best regards, Rob BTW Basildon MRC show 7/8th. See http://www.basildon-...Exhibitions.asp I'll be there early Saturday morning for a look round, not a member though.

Hello Bill, Thanks for the kind comments. Hopefully get round to doing a bit more in the next few weeks, and post a few more pics of developments. My other hobby (Ham Radio) takes up a lot of time during the summer? months. Regards, Rob

Not much extra done, just a change of tack on the yard backscene. Been playing with panoramas, this shows most of layout. Rob

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012 for details of the ball. Adidas Tango. It's always the same, major tournament and the sports manufacturers want to make a killing and bring out a new ball, which is usually detrimental to the tournament itself in that it performs differently to what players are used to. Rob

Google is your friend. I did find the answer, but that would be cheating. So I'll let someone who knows tell all. May come up as a quiz question sometime, so thanks for getting me to find out. Rob

He's been completely out of his depth the whole tournament, he probably wasn't taken off as Hodgson had Garry Neville chipping in his ear. I think it was clear to all he was having a 'mare. Unfortunately he never made it into the penalty area for a dive either. We can't keep the ball, we're not fit enough, and the whole system needs a shake up. Will it happen, no. Rob

Unfortunately that video has been with held owing to a UEFA copyright claim, so I can't show it again. I took a screen grab of a still of the video just as the ball is struck, which again I can't put up due to copyright, and I still maintain Navas is in front of the last defender, and Iniesta is level. Under current rules Navas is not offside, because the ball didn't reach him. subsequently Iniesta passes to Navas who is now behind him, so not offside. My point was Navas subsequently gained an advantage by being in front of the last defender, although not offside initially under current rules. Phew! We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. :0) Rob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3to3NFw_w&feature=related Have another look at time 0.44, even my missus said Navas was offside, Iniesta is level. Rob

Navas was clearly offside when the ball was played to Iniesta, that is he was in front of Iniesta. Was the ball intended for Iniesta or Navas, who knows. Just because it happened to get to Iniesta doesn't alter the fact Navas was further forward than him. Navas doesn't retreat past a defender and then come through to score, at no time is he onside, until Iniesta passes to him, he's been offside the whole time. I grant you under the current law he's onside, but that shows how stupid the "new" offside rule is. No ones commented on the MOTD scenerio. Fair play pH. Back for the 2nd half Rob

Under the present laws it was a good goal. There was a case a season or so back, it was on MOTD, but not raised by the "pundits", I just noticed it and it didn't seem consistent. What happened was in one game a goal was scored because a defender was standing way out by the corner flag, and playing the scorer on. In another match the opposite happened. The attacking team had a player way out on the touchline in and offside position, but the scorer wasn't offside when the ball was played, so goal scored. My point is if the defender in the first case wasn't near the goal, he could be considered not interfering with play, then the attacker would be offside. But that's not what happens, if a defender anwhere is playing the attacker on it's not offside. However when the attacker was offside but not interfering, a goal is allowed. Doesn't seem consistent. Another thing with free kicks into the box. The attackers usually line up nearer the goal than the defenders, in an offside position, and then when the kick is taken the defenders drop back and play the attackers onside. Why don't the defenders step up even more and play all the attackers offside, or walk up to the half way line. If the attackers stay where they are, when the kick is taken, they are all offside if they go towards the ball. You thoughts please. Rob

This offside rule is bizarre. Spain's winning goal is scored by a player who was offside at the start of the move, and is played the ball to score by his team mate who wasn't offside at the start of the move. The "offside" player never get's himself onside by retreating, only by the other player being in front when he passes the ball to him. That's hardly fair to the opposing side. How can he not be interfering with play if he scores? Don't mention phases!! Rob

IIRC penalties were introduced for the very reasons mentioned, a result on the night due to travelling fans and costs. I personally don't like them, but it's the only practical way, in the current game. Rob

Thanks for the nice comment Jack. Slow but steady progress. It's a bit like tiling, you do the bulk fairly quickly, then all the fiddley bits take forever. Rob

A few more pics, as a bit more scenic work has been completed, including platform faces, retaining wall detail and moss/greenery, and yard area. Platform ends. Fuel area. Yard, including old trackbed of siding. Rob

The new Arsenal kit is unveiled http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1174325-arsenal-reveal-new-home-kit-for-2012-13-season The guy on the left doesn't look too happy. Rob

Extra excitement for the owners of the clubs that get a second chance to get more money than they would have done if the play offs hadn't been invented. As for accepting it. it's a fait a complit, fans have no say in the matter. Playing the extra matches in empty stadia might make the powers that be take notice, but the "fans" aren't going to miss a chance of seeing their team win something, they might otherwise have not. Rob

Even worse in Rugby League, I believe, the top 4 teams at the end of the season play off for the title.The team that was best overall over the year, doesn't necessarily lift the Trophy. Now that is bizarre. Maybe someone with more knowledge of that sport will comment and/or correct please. Rob

The play-offs are actually giving West Ham a chance of Premiership football. Had they not been in existence, West Ham would still be in the Championship by finishing 3rd. They still may of end up there course. The exact opposite result would suit me. However both teams have yet to get to Wembley. Rob