leavesontheline

It wasn't an unreasonable request. I genuinely don't have time to read through the whole 28 pages (31 now) to find out what has changed at RMWeb recently and why my forum experience has become less pleasant. If the only answer is "pay for gold membership" then fine, that's the answer. I don't have a problem with that at all....... Except there seem to be lots of people who do pay for it and still get the ads. I don't get the 'superior tone' comment though? A bit unnecessary really. Like others, I also pay for a BRM subscription so do wonder why this doesn't seem to 'count' towards anything on RMweb?

To save me reading through 28 pages of this thread, which unfortunately I don't have time to do, what is the easiest way of getting rid of the annoying video pop-up that appears every time I change page?

I think the same has happened to my account Chris. Won't let me log in and when I use the 'forgot password' option it just tells me that my email address is not recognised!

An inspirational thread. Hats off to you! You will obviously have to re-do the Modelu 3D scan at some point in the near future! A 'before' and 'after' 3D model will have so much more impact than a 2D photo! Perhaps the best thing to see in this thread is a bunch of blokes (apologies if there has been a female poster, I couldn't see one though!) talking about health and exercise and sharing tips and experiences! So, even more 'hats off' for facilitating that! When I lost a bit of weight a few years ago I initially found it quite easy to shift the pounds by changing my diet slightly, moving my main meal to lunch time (giving me more of a chance to burn off the calories during the day) and sticking to something lighter in the evening, also by doing a little bit more exercise than I already was. Quite small changes seemed to have quite big effects, but the body quickly adapted I found, so it was all too easy to put the weight back on with equally small changes like increases in calorie intake e.g. through 'healthy' snacks, or alcohol and other 'hidden' calorie sources. Whatever changes you make, they have to be something you can sustain indefinitely, i.e. a lifestyle change, not just a short term 'diet'. You also still need to be able to enjoy the things you like, such as beer, wine, pizzas, chocolate, cake (sometimes all in the same evening - for me anyway!), but in moderation, otherwise it will just make you miserable. The mental battle is often more of a challenge than the physical one! When you see the weight go down, the exercise and fitness tracking apps can become quite addictive! This needs to be done in moderation too though. I initially started doing alot more regular miles on the bike, so my calorie needs went up. It was all too easy to think that I could 'out-exercise' a bad diet though - you can't! I assumed that the odd packet of crisps here and there wouldn't really matter because of all the exercise I was doing - wrong! You still have to get the 'right' sort of calories in! Simplistically you just need to burn more calories than you put in your mouth but there is so much more to it than this to ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. Good luck with this! I will be watching with interest and cheering you on!

Don't underestimate the silent majority who probably don't generally post about their problems with models on here (unless they don't get an acceptable resolution from the retailer/manufacturer). I haven't posted about all the problems I had with mine (until now) because a) it didn't add anything new to what others had already said and b) I was still in the process of getting acceptable replacements from Hattons. I pre-ordered five of these - I would never normally pre-order so many of a new model but all other 'Hattons Originals' models I have had have been pretty much faultless - however, six months after the original delivery I now only have one. All of the original models suffered badly from the 'wobble', some had small parts missing completely, or loose in the box or damaged, some had sound/speaker faults, a couple of them hadn't even been assembled properly (body not fitted - I was assured these weren't customer returns but it seemed to me like they were and that a previous 'owner' had investigated the sound issues and not fitted the body back properly, damaging the cab steps in the process). On first test run around the track assorted other parts fell off including some of the axle covers. All were returned and all but one (which was replaced, I wasn't told why) were 'repaired'. However, the repair only consisted of gluing back on the bits that had fallen off and hadn't addressed the much more fundamental sound issues or the wobble - one of the worst 'wobblers' was so bad it couldn't negotiate a third radius setrack curve without derailing! On a flat surface it would rock about 5-10mm (at the roof) side to side. So to cut a longer story a little bit shorter I now just have the one that was replaced, which is still by no means perfect, with a couple of parts loose that I have refitted myself and a very noisy transmission in 'reverse', but for the others I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of further returns, which may or may not have been previously returned by other customers, and seemingly wouldn't be checked before being sent out. To their credit, Hattons have been very quick with their responses and refunds but if only they hadn't been so quick with their supposed repairs! Throughout they also seemed confident that there would be replacements available for sound models, even though these weren't available on the website. So yes, this could be a far superior model to the other options but I like my models to run properly (and sound good, where fitted) as well as being nice to look at and I also don't want to be afraid to handle them for fear of losing various bit each time! I already have a few Bachmann examples but since the disappointment with the Hattons one I have actually taken a punt with a couple of the recent releases by Hornby (the ex Lima model). Yes I know these models are poles apart but with a bit of detailing and modelling by the time they are weathered and running around the track you'd struggle to tell the difference! For the money, I have actually been more impressed with the basic Hornby offerings than I was with the Hattons version - probably because I had set my expectations that much lower. Maybe at some point in the future I'd consider a 'Mk2' version of the Hattons 66 but only if I could be sure that all the problems with the first batch had been addressed.

Good shout. Have you notified her that you have set this up? RMWeb can be a confusing place to negotiate for a beginner! I still can't find all of my old followed topics!!

I thought this was going to be a thread about the US TV show Cheers.....

Same experience here. Placed order with BVM Monday night, dispatched Tuesday, arrived Wednesday. Prices cheaper than the 'big boys'. Very well packaged. Also placed an order earlier on Monday with Rails Of Sheffield (who are normally very good to be fair) and it it still 'pending' five days later!! RoS prices were higher than BVM too and BVM would have got the whole order had they had stock of the items I wanted. It often pays in more ways than one to support the smaller shops!

I'd agree with others that there were perhaps fewer layouts versus traders this year but as always the high quality of the exhibits more than makes up for this. As most of the traders were offering something different (and not just stand after stand of RTR models) I'm sure for many people this was an in-frequent opportunity to catch up with those traders! Same with the 'demonstrators' - there were quite a few of them, but for those at that stage in their modelling who want to pick up a few tips from the experts, an invaluable opportunity. Standouts for me were Totness, Faringdon and Llangerisech. Great show as always, thanks to the organisers and exhibitors.

A money spider?

Keep all locos and rolling stock in their original packaging - much too big a project to change all of this for another solution now! But for most 'low value' items once the item is used/installed/fitted/etc with little or no chance it will ever need to be returned, the packaging is recycled.... just to make space if nothing else.

You never know though! When I was small I used to think that HST's were a boring shape and so noisy I used to have to cover my ears. Now, some forty years later (and somewhat incredibly) they are still around and in active service .... for a bit longer anyway .... I actually do view them with some fondness (not just due to the supreme comfort of the Mk3 coaches) and it will be a sad day when they finally stop running! Okay they are much quieter these (non-Paxman Valenta) days but there is something pleasing in hearing two large powerful diesel engines spool up as they pull away. We still get this to a lesser extent with the Class 800's. So I believe one day when everything has been fully electrified and all locos just make a household-appliance-like whirring noise, we might look back on the IEP's as I look back on the HST's now!? You never know ......

Erm ... all of these things already exist! Even from Hornby themselves in the case of the 'sounds for stations' which they have done in the form of the excellent little Vent Van which featured on the show. As someone else has already mentioned Hornby have pulled a blinder with this idea and it is surprising someone hasn't mass-produced something similar already (easy to say with hindsight!). I have one but am also looking forward to the next one (2019 catalogue) which will apparently feature different sounds. Hornby are also steadily pushing more 'main range' models into the Railroad range as and when they bring out new-tool models. I agree on the 'track' side of things though - and as was noted on the show - whilst Hornby have focused primarily on rolling stock and more recently ready-made buildings and now scenic materials they haven't really developed their railway infrastructure range at all, like track, signals, points etc but maybe they feel that this isn't their core business and that other manufacturers already have this part of the market wrapped up? For the average 'train-set' for the children though (or the big kids!) their set-track range (and 'extension packs') is still fine and fit for purpose.

'Passion for Pecketts' - playing tonight at the Dublin Castle, tickets on the door only, concessions available.

If no-one got excited about products that don't exist yet (and in some cases never do), then RMWeb would probably have about 50% of the traffic it currently does!!

Interestingly, I found the Hornby website very slow this evening after the show - hopefully all the new-found customers they now have browsing their products?

Great photo - looks like the HST is coming around the corner and up the lane!

I must say, the quality of DCC sound used on WW is getting pretty good these days!

My advice: Keep doing what you are doing! It looks awesome! At the time I wondered why you would want to rip up the old layout, it too was fantastic, but I must admit this latest incarnation looks even better!

Would this do?

Interestingly (for my psychiatrist, if I even had one) my gaze was directed first to the clean looking Hillman Imp in the background, then to the bike.....

Very nice thanks! Were they painted EP's? They look like the finished product to me!?

Pretty sure it was one of these ....

In this shot the sky background is very convincing, as is the puddle effect on the concrete but the concrete needs more weathering, oily patches etc and that big slab side of the building needs blending/weathering in a bit. If I was to be very critical the Fellowes HGV tractor/trailer at a jaunty angle looks a bit too staged (also, is it actually 2mm scale to give a bit of forced perspective?) and the container handlers would never be lined up like that but otherwise this model looks like one to watch ............

Well I took the plunge and ordered one (4705), not without some trepidation I must admit, after reading the feedback on here on all variants released so far. I have to say I am very pleased with it so far. Only one slightly loose part in the form of a tender handrail that needs a bit more glue on the bottom bracket. No wavy frames or ski-jump front running plate. The colour of the lining and the BR green, and also the prominence of the rivet detail, is somewhat subjective and can look very different in different lighting. Colour-wise I also think this is very close to recent Bachmann releases with both the BR green and the yellowy/orange pale lining being quite 'in your face' in direct sunshine daylight conditions (or similar bright lighting) but in normal house-hold lighting and/or normal natural UK daylight (i.e. cloud!) the colours are much less garish and more importantly, at normal viewing distances running around the layout I think this effect will be toned down further still. Same with the rivet detail. No model manufacturers seem to get all colours 100% right, and what is 'right' anyway? (as has already been the subject of numerous topics on RMweb!). I am pleased to say that I am too young to remember such liveries and colours in the flesh but then again could I tell you from memory what exact colour blue or sectorisation grey was used in the 80's and 90's when I grew up? No I couldn't! I'd just look it up in a book or the internet and accept that both of these media also have their own impact on the presentation of colours! Maybe I'm easy to please but I really like the look of it! I will be keeping mine in pristine condition for now but the only change I will make is to paint over the silver axles in the centre of the driving wheels. Otherwise, top marks to Heljan for a very weighty, smooth running and aesthetically pleasing model - certainly on a par with the best recent offerings from Hornby and Bachmann, if a little more pricey (certainly compared to Hornby). I am actually tempted by one of the older GW livery variants now, if I can find one at the right price!