edcayton

Early Metros with the A series engine used the AP gearbox, I suspect the later cars with the K series engine didn't, but I have not had anything to do with a late auto. Ed

My Dad was impressed by a Harley at Exeter services with the number P15 OFF. It's lovely to remember him for a moment. Ed

I would suggest that they went through carriage washers a lot. Ed

FFS can you two stop willy waving. Ed

An HST derailed a bit further down the hill on the Newquay line a few years ago. The curves are pretty sharp, so I'm guessing the check rails are to mitigate the effects of another derailment. Ed

I started dabbling in 7mm to try to avoid too many compromises (and because of clumsy fingers/failing eyesight!). Ed

They have brought out a special edition of the Mazda MX 5 called the Icon. It's only some sticky tape and some items on the options list but Boy does it look good. I want one! Ed No idea what happened there, it looked OK before I clicked "post".

Accents. Big son (the Paramedic in Cornwall) frequently lapses in to a Cornish accent. I think it's rather good. The other day he went to a job where an old person had fallen, so to comfort her he used phrases such as "how you doin' my 'andsome" and "pain will be better dreckly". The lady's son said "thank f... you're Cornish, I'm sick of they f.....g incomers". The son accompanied them on the ambulance, so Ken stayed in character until the lady had been handed over.So far I haven't noticed Hayley developing the accent but I think Ken won't be able to resist much longer. Ed

I think the problem is that many people (myself included) have pre-ordered one to make sure of getting one (and possibly give Dapol an idea of how many to produce) making various assumptions which have turned out to be incorrect. Right or wrong we are not going to get what we wanted. So our options would appear to be: 1) Cancel the order leaving retailers wit a large stock of hard-to-sell models. This may result in some bargains for the vultures, but won't encourage further rtr 0 gauge or 2) Start hacking/re-painting a (hopefully excellent) model which has cost the thick end of £200. I know this is a bargain, but it is still a lot of money to me. btw in any case I can't find any green/stripes (preferably early crest but not too bothered) so perhaps as Mum was keen on saying "We'll have to do without". I'm 62 and in poor health, and my kids would rather inherit money than more toy trains. Ed

So, are the Nissans, Hondas and Toyotas built in the UK "Japanese"? Ed

I dislike the term "Brit". Ed Unless it's short for the loco class

Can I get a black one with a grey bonnet? Ed

DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! i WISH I WAS CLEVER ENOUGH TO DO ONE OF THOSE SUB-TITLED HITLER VIDEO'S! There, that feels better. Ed

The bonnet is GREY on that diagram, no matter what the key says. When I ordered my green with stripes version I must confess it never occurred to me that the bonnet would be anything other than green. Yes, I know, never assume. If they really supply them in that bizzarre livery I wonder how many shops will have cancelled orders and be stuck with models they can't sell. And no, I can't make the correct shade of green and paint it on top of black so it matches the rest of the model. Ed Perhaps Mr Webster should turn his attention to this matter ASAP.

I have always used Colgate to brush my teeth. Now, when I go into Tesco's I am faced with a wall of different sorts of Colgate. I can get cavity protection, whitening, sensitive and Lord knows what. I am sure all of these things are desirable, so why not include them all in one? They could call it Colgate. Ed

I'll say no more about it. Ed

Would it be difficult to include the photo that they worked from, together with the date? It would then make the model credible. Ed

Good morning all. I haven't been away long but I am astonished by Ian (OD)'s revelations. As I read it he was on the phone to his wife in the nuddy, but was tempted away by his cleaner, pausing only to put on a pair of open-crotch pyjamas. Is this what living in France does for you? Best wishes Ed

Bike engines do nothing like the mileage/engine hours/total number of revolutions that car engines do. In general they do more rpm, but piston speeds aren't as high due to the short strokes. I think it's fair to say that they are better maintained than car engines. Ed

All disability aids are VAT-exempt if you claim it. Specialist mobility shops may give you a form to sign, although we were looking in a furniture shop at reclining chairs and the electric ones were VAT exempt. I don't know what the criteria are, but these buggy things can cost thousands so you can save a lot of money. Ed

Does anybody know what the second vehicle is? It looks like a class 73? (electro-diesel) to me, and I understand some have been sent to Scotland. Why is the 66 there? has the 73 broken down, or is it just not up to the job? I thought that these loco's were primarily third-rail electric with a diesel back-up for shunting etc, so why were they sent to Scotland? Best wishes Ed

My friend's parents travelled from Welwyn Garden City to Keighley to buy a new Chrysler 180. Was it Clock Car Sales? had large adverts in the local papers, offering low price, minimum trade-in and even things like travelling expenses and a meal. Their old Wolseley 15/60 nearly died on the way, using about a gallon of oil and more water! They loved the 180 so much that they "up-rated" to a 2 litre which enabled them to get a caravan, which they had always wanted. Ed

But I don't want a black bonnet on my green/wasp stripes 08! Ed

Good morning all. At the risk of being controversial (again) I am fed up with people with plums in their mouths talking about apprenticeships and vocational education/training. I do not believe that they know what they are talking about, and to me there is an implied "but not for my child of course". I leave this for people to shoot me down in flames, I think I may be able to forecast the few people who agree. No friendly/supportives please! 3252 likes. Am I bovvered? Ed

Morning all. Robert, good luck with the test. Was it the referendum result that prompted you to take it? My ex-wife (Italian) was frightened by the result and has done the UK test and now got UK citizenship. She was really scared of being deported. A visit to the podiatrist this afternoon and an INR blood test. Nowt else to report. Best wishes Ed