Crisis Rail

If your able to travel - you can always blend it in with the local environment?

Some good card kits out there but are susceptible to the elements and soon turn to compost - the Laser MDF kit range are coming on well - good to see your trying - I generally use 2 side tape but you have to be accurate. And yes see my userid my missus christened it. Ian

Good news this. I still have one - the Wife.

He used to do - quite often.

Some sort of a return Jon? You know it makes sense.

Testing rail bonding to MDF. It's a junction box from a house pendant lights wiring kit - I didn't need them when I fitted the lights. Useful and they just keep things tidy I suppose with a closing lid. Ian

These CX3 can pull some. We were struggling on the gradients near Barnoldswick but thankfully got there in the end. Ian.

And potentially 18 hours of snow forecast for Cumbria - mind you it is something called Winter.

I'm quite sure he is Mick and he's very lucky - but definitely sounds a little bit frustrated too like a lot of others that normal service won't be resumed as soon as. The problem with the Covid as well as being a particularly serious illness - is it's ability to create tensions divide opinions - and from a social aspect really diss everyone off.

Yes - Preston it was too. Should've been Kendal MR this weekend always one to look forward to a quick Avanti blast up on the WCML to Ox. The exhibition then "refreshments" in the Station Inn a short walk up the hill on the Sedbergh road. Then Stafford - then York - then the DEMU and a good bit of Traction mileage days on the ELR in between. We miss days like these - for some of the (even) older generation this hobby is their life and an only means of social contact "every year is getting shorter" obviously sooner the better things return to some sort of safer normality.

Been a bit busy during lockdown then?

Well it's all getting a bit self righteous as if the snitching isn't bad enough. Get the feeling that one or two on here haven't brought up teenagers - never had some sort of a youth and don't know how to enjoy themselves. If it's not your bag fair enough - there's more to life than baseboards and ballasting.

Claggies Avatar is a kettle OD An unfortunate by product with both modes of Traction I suppose but nevertheless always spectacular

…...neither do I

Will June 2021 be too early for the showcase - like others assume off until whenever?

….….fast forward a decade. Still completely nuts?

I think one or two "slightly outs" were mentioned to Ben a while back not heard much off him since..... like I said optionally release it as a kit so everyone can have a go at one - do all their mods to whatever standard they think they should be and post up the resulting efforts on here. Everyone will be happy with their own perceptions and wait for the replies

I have to be careful here and see your point in a family orientated forum such as this but didn't Preiser release something high on the smutometer with x rated office goings on*? (*Not suitable for Era 7 and below)

Maybe Heljan should release one in kit form? and the resulting builds shown on here now that would make interesting reading Manufacturers shouldn't become complacent the Hattons 66 project and pitfalls being a perfect example but sometimes we should be grateful for what we have considering some toy train intricacies are nearing watch making territory.

An easy fix for you Ray as I know you are capable. But really it's not a major issue is it?

All well and good - yes definitely some valid scrutiny by prototypically clued up professional Duff enthusiasts which this is their ""bag" but some really not so - in as much as being that insignificant it borders on obsessive rivetty pettiness. I'm trawling over the same old ground again! and yes if media platforms like this didn't exist and it was good old snail mail and stamps things wouldn't get highlighted and a half decent model wouldn't be produced - but I really wish this thread could be filtered out summarized and passed on to Heljan for the things that really do matter leaving individuals to glue on 0.002" strips of Evergreen on lamp brackets or here there and wherever they want.

Slow. The loss of Transport Models closing for good and the backup of no exhibitions for sourcing materials isn’t helping. I have to make do with scraps from the bitsbox. Ironically might have a look at it today with a few changes in mind. Cheers. Ian.

Alex - I was going to give my yearly Boxenby *Bump* a miss for fear of ad nauseam. You beat me to it - no rush and all the best. Ian

I think the list of Music Industry types has softened the perception - we all know who these are but to my missus Jools Holland came as quite a surprise - she likes the You Tube clip of Pete getting stuck in to his layout with his mates round doing a bit of ballasting like an ordinary old bloke - excellent and worth a view. Ian

Good and a funnily prickly subject. I think my missus sees the technical side of it all from here on RM Web - she realises that away from the nerdishness there is quite a bit of real talent and expertise not to mention the fact that the "hobby" is an industry in itself. Sold a few Micro Layouts years back which helped pay for a few decent holidays one of which was (conveniently) near Pecorama Devon where the gardens are exceptional. She didn't get the "trainspotting" side of things at all although explaining Bashing still doesn't go in - not even the camaraderie and adventure of being stuck on Todmorden in the drizzle at 4am The only problem is the Preservation side of it at well known venues in the North West and South West of England when copious amounts of beer is involved Ian