Buhar

I do think the woman directing the ship into its berth could do to be a little less vague and the one on the camping chair isn't helping at all. Alan

Well, yesterday was a day to be scrolling the news feeds! Alan

Like as not, always a problem with snatched conversations. Alan

I'm sure I heard "how's the Kirtley goods coming on?" in the background chat. Alan

They were certainly not common in Britain. I can only think of one off the top of my head, the one-off North Staffs 4 cylinder that was rebuilt from an 0-6-0T and had a very short life. Others will no doubt emerge. Alan

The forum view I use doesn't show signatures at all, so I and others making a similar viewing choice would not see that. That's not a criticism or accusation of subterfuge, just an observation as to why we missed your declaration. Alan

Interesting, it's got a decent towing capacity, especially the heavier long range version, although you're knocking on 40 grand for that. 2024 for delivery. Alan

Is that the implement required to get you out of the pub on a wet and windy night when rostered with a miserable driver? Alan

You need to have some pressure or else the hammer function doesn't kick in, but you don't need (or want) to lean on it. Let the bit do the work. That said, mine (Makita) is pretty heavy and gets tiring on long or successive jobs. Alan

Reading in an old Railway Modeller in the Exact Editions archive that is exactly how they were described by the originator of the range. Down the line of ownership and as more developed kits emerged in competition that key bit of information got rather lost. That said, getting frames and coupling rods mismatched and wrong isn't an aid to anything except disappointment. Alan

I think it might be related to the drainage function it also served, as in cesspit. The etymology of cess in that context is uncertain but some options would appear to relate to the railway usage. Alan

Amazed if you weren't, but out of context danger lurks. Alan

Dinghams via the 0 Gauge Society including the 4mm version or the new variant Flippems (I think), there is thread on here. Alan

is a variety of coal, at the cheaper end of the range rather than a colliery, Stephen. But in our worlds it could easily be a colliery. Out Wigan way, probably. As could F. Roth of Overwhinge. Alan

If the Grumpy one had been a bit more subtle I might have succumbed. Something like GRUMPY then Oldbloke Colliery. Alan

Thanks for your comprehensive explanation. When a firm produces useful items I want to support them. I'll email Mike when I've worked out which version to get. I've got the DJH kit so I could use that for early LMS and a Rapido for a later variation. Alan

I was fairly certain that would be the case, although I didn't know wingplates were sometimes regained. Choices have to be made and while the Big Goods was photographed a lot some are not great quality and would not have helped to ascertain details across the whole locomotive and tender. Looking at my own collection, the livery style is sometimes not discernable let alone tender type. Alan

Is there yet a view on the best way to buy Rapido models? Is delivery to local shops secure enough to rely on an order placed there (I might be being influenced by some of the recent issues with Hornby here) or is it better to order direct? I prefer to order from C&M (happy 20th anniversary btw) but I've not ordered any Rapido stuff from them before. Alan

If you mean the "coal" load, hopefully it will be removeable. I I'm not sure about the choice of varieties in terms of the front end, especially wing plates eg missing on the early LMS version but present on the post 1928 one. I'm sure each version corresponds to a researched locomotive but seem out of synch with the general trend of modifications to these locos. Looking through photos of the class, wingplates, louvred chimney and HR safety valves in the first LMS livery would appear to represent the condition of most of the class at that time, although wingplates were removed on some locos before 1923 (including 103). To be fair, there are a lot of variations to accommodate but to my eye the wingplates and chimney evoke the Highland railway but I don't fancy picking the first version and then painting it black. Alan

My Lancastrian grandfather when asked if it was "eether" or "eyether"... Orther'll do. Alan

Markets do 1/8 and 3mm. They are not the same, work out which you need. Wizard may stock them. Alan

Apart from the 5 "proper" ones, according to Stanier. They were ordered at the same time, although in terms of production, you are correct and until casings started being removed they remained the exception. Alan

According to the AA the pile of tossed teddies near Bourne should be treated as a roundabout. Alan

Car park prices in Ayvalik, Turkey. Not particularly whacky, but it made me smile. I've just arrived - 30 lira I'm waiting for someone- 30 lira I'll just be 5 minutes- 30 lira I'm on official business- 30 lira I'm a friend of the owner- 37 lira Alan

That has the whiff of the French engineer's comment:- "that's all very well in practice but what about in theory." Alan