Huw Griffiths

That's interesting. Obviously, I might be reading this incorrectly - but it sounds like they've got a tunnel known for flooding - so they're planning on lowering it (which is unlikely to improve the flooding) and running track powered electric trains through it! Even if the trains are powered by batteries through this tunnel, a move like this sounds rather strange, unless they're also improving the drainage. Huw.

That's a relief. All I knew was that I applied - and was interviewed - a number of times. On one occasion, an interview at Bush House was immediately followed by me being invited to visit Broadcasting House a for a hearing test that afternoon (two hours later) - which allowed plenty of time for the short stroll between the two. A short while later the standard rejection letter followed. A few weeks after this rejection letter, I was phoned up out of the blue - and recalled for a further interview, this time in an office block close to Broadcasting House. By now, I knew the drill - turn up smartly dressed, in good time - give good answers to loads of technical questions - all very civilised. Yet again, this was followed by the routine invitation to take up cycling - a ritual quickly followed by a despondent 23 year old wondering what he needed to do to actually be offered the interesting job he desperately wanted. Strangely enough, I never applied after that - as there didn't appear to be any point in me bothering to put myself through this, yet again, when I was clearly never going to get in. Thankfully, (although the people who interviewed me all sounded a lot posher than me) it seems like class was not a factor. I was probably just an inferior candidate. Huw.

Don't worry - I knew it was a joke (the clarification isn't needed). I also wasn't suggesting for one second that the site could come under threat - far from it. In the past, similar jokes have attracted responses along the lines of "too much information" - with nobody taking things seriously. Also, I'm not aware of an icon on this site for "too much information". Some people might have noticed that I recently signed up for RMweb Gold - and needed to ask questions (in the RMweb Gold "members lounge") about how to access some of the stuff. As I suspect that other people are likely to "go for gold" in the future, I wondered if there might be some value in having a visible pointer to access instructions. However, creating such a pointer might also generate extra work in the short term - work for which there might be no appetite. In other words - far from suggesting that one joke might put the site in jeopardy - I was actually making a joke, which I was certain the people who run this site would see the point of. Of course, any attempt to explain my "joke", also destroys it. Huw.

This probably explains why I never got accepted for training as a sound engineer: I never studied at Oxbridge - more like a (then) Polytechnic. Also, I never went to a fee-paying school - my parents could never have afforded that. Probably a bit of a cheek, really - imagining that they might actually consider hiring someone off a housing estate in a "new town". (Terribly bad form, old boy - just not cricket.) Of course, I don't have any shortage of ties at home - it's just that none of them come from posh schools or colleges, that's all. This post would probably be enough to get a lot of people seriously worried. Certainly enough to get me worried - as I can't find the "too much information" icon - and I don't think any of the people who run this site are exactly looking for additional work right now. As for cable ties, I've always thought they're wasted on anything other than keeping wires in their place. Huw Griffiths. (Working class - and proud of it.)

"Lesson #1 - make sure you're holding the correct end of the soldering iron." Who can forget this timeless image from the August 2018 BRM? Don't worry - I'm sure he does know how to use a soldering iron. Huw.

Quite possibly.

Lesson #1 - make sure you hold the correct end of the soldering iron ... .

Probably for the best. After all, how many toddlers have learnt how to build etched brass kits?

Unfortunately a generalisation that's found its way into a number of adverts over the years - sometimes exploiting it - sometimes appearing to debunk it. I can also remember a talk on Radio 3 in the 90s - in which Andrew Sachs explained how a lot of German humour works. Apparently, it tends to be nice and dry. Also, the "punchline" never actually gets mentioned. It tends to be an "elephant in the room" - of which everyone present is only too aware - and there are also plenty of unsubtle hints. For some reason, this brand of humour doesn't always "travel" very well between countries ... . I don't know. Perhaps some people might like picture postcards showing ring roads ... . I never saw much of "Colditz". As for „Das Boot“ - that is excellent. I can't help wondering if the real reason I haven't since seen lots of submarine based dramas is because they'd be measured against it - and they'd probably fall short. Huw.

Sounds fair enough - probably of interest to some people. Any plans to flag this in the advertising, during the lead-up to future virtual shows? Huw.

When I installed strain gauges as part of a job, it was common practice to use masking tape to hold down thin wires for soldering. If you're using masking tape (or indeed paper, backed with adhesive), you're probably best to be careful (and quick) when soldering. Incidentally, after soldering a few strain gauges, it was standard practice to run over the gauges and the solder joints with some varnish, to protect against tarnishing. You won't get exactly the same varnish in the shops - but cheap nail varnish would probably work - although this could be clear, coloured might be useful, as you'd be able to see the areas covered (and those missed)! Huw.

As long as it isn't called a Stein, I'm not worried ... . Seriously though, there are limits to how much Port anyone's going to drink (and I should know - I like the stuff). It's definitely possible to get too much of a good thing - even something as good as Port. Huw.

Sounds scary. Anyway, I understand that the Douro Valley's finest product sometimes comes in cases of 6 bottles. Huw.

Only four? Some people would admire your restraint. Huw.

In view of other stuff I need to deal with, it's probably just as well that I haven't started my own thread. This might sound like me making excuses - but it isn't. I'm just being realistic. Following some family bereavements, I've had a number of things to sort out - and my mind just hasn't been on stuff like modelmaking. Although I've tried to push myself, this hasn't worked as well as I would have liked - instead of a complete build, I've got lots of bits and pieces, which need a relatively small amount of work to pull them together. Unfortunately, this would mean being able to concentrate on drawing some stuff up on a computer - probably for several hours at a stretch - and I'm finding this impossible at present. By ruling myself out, I'm also removing any deadline - which will make this easier for me. Doing this might also allow me to make progress with clearing some space etc in the house. This needs to be done anyway - but I'm hoping it might also allow me to make a start on a long-planned layout. Anyway, returning to the "cakebox" stuff, I don't honestly think my efforts would have fared too well against some people's work here. It's better if I stop "beating myself up" about this stuff - and just return to it when I'm ready to. This will probably mean my "cakebox" stuff moving back in the queue. However, in time, I'll probably include this stuff in a workbench thread (as long as nobody minds), just in case there are any ideas that somebody might be able to develop into something they might be able to use in their own modelmaking. So that's me out of the running (although I'm not sure I was ever really in the running). This leaves everyone else - and I can already see that there will be a number of very credible entries. It only remains for me to wish you all well - and look forward to seeing your completed builds. All the best, Huw.

"RAF Inner City Redevelopment Team" - priceless. Edit: Saying that, I can't help wondering if people from certain UK cities would really make similar comments about the Luftwaffe. Politics aside, during the war, a number of cities and transport networks - in a number of countries - were carpet bombed, by both sides. Afterwards, the "powers that be" were left with little choice but to rebuild, often from scratch. In some places, they did an excellent job of rebuilding - in others, they did not ... . Huw.

I think I've mentioned elsewhere but, for some of 1987, I was in the area - doing part of the industrial training component of my HND at Heysham power station. I was lodging in a B&B, at the opposite end of Morecambe sea front. I'm not sure there's an enormous amount to do in the area - and I don't think the new Morecambe station is anything special. The old station (which Tim was filmed outside) is an extremely attractive building - looks great from the outside - and it was on the inside when it was used as a station. As a pub etc, I'm sure it would still be amazing inside. There also used to be some covered platforms attached to the station building - it's a shame they're no longer there. Another building I liked was Morecambe Town Hall - which, confusingly, was used by Lancaster City Council. I only visited this building once - a summer Sunday, when I was walking past and became aware of a bit of a "buzz". I quickly realised that lots of Bond Bugs and Morgan 3 wheelers were being shown. Anyone interested was welcome to pop in - and see some owners driving round a "handling course" (plastic cones in the car park), whilst loads of cars were lined up in a "concours d'elegance". It would be fair to say that I wasn't alone in enjoying this event. Whilst on the subject of attractive buildings, Lancaster also has a number. (Lancaster is a few miles away - by road - by train - or by the former trackbed of a pioneer electrified line, now converted into a foot and cycle path, which I walked a number of times.) When I was based in the area, summer Saturdays generally saw me catching a train. (My Young Person's Railcard wasn't going to use itself!) I particularly enjoyed the run to and from Barrow-in-Furness - the scenery (and some of the stations I passed through) had to be seen to be believed. As this line was, at the time, the preserve of proper "heritage" DMUs, it was actually possible to see this scenery - especially through the windows behind the driver's cabs. When the "heritage" units were replaced by Sprinters - and particularly Pacers - with no front view, I know I was not alone in feeling cheated by whoever specified the 2nd generation BR multiple units. Anyway, I don't think this thread is supposed to be about my memories of my early 20s ... . Huw.

I can imagine a number of people thinking along similar lines - I certainly seem to be at present (and I wasn't expecting to). I seem to recall plenty of time being allowed for the first cake box challenge. For subsequent challenges, I think it's been 3 calendar months - with the way things have gone recently, I wouldn't mind another 3! I never thought I'd say this - but there's been a lot of starting stuff, probably getting most of the way (with little to show for it), but being sidetracked and not getting the relatively small amount of time needed to finish the job. I've got a mental vision of completing a build a few weeks after a deadline - and ending up posting pictures in a workbench thread. Huw.

Another excellent episode - definitely nothing "shoddy" about today's programme or the buildings visited ... . (Yes - I know - Huddersfield station - construction probably paid for using money from wool.) Huw.

This should be interesting. I wonder how long it will be before someone posts about where the publicity photo was taken. Huw.

I think I know where you're coming from. I've also enjoyed what I've had chance to see of the virtual shows. Although I probably got to see most of what I intended to with the most recent one, I didn't get chance with last year's (for reasons over which I had no control). Again, not a "dig for victory" campaign - but I strongly suspect that a number of people who would have enjoyed these virtual shows might have welcomed the material staying visible / accessible for a few days longer. Just a thought for the future. Huw.

I wonder if this will mean with - or without - a filming crew. (Don't worry - I'm not expecting an answer ... .) Huw.

Now that's what's known as "modern image" ... .

As previously "threatened", I've now also ordered a copy of the new "Aylesbury" book - plus some other books - and some issues of MRJ. I'm not panicking about them - quality reading is worth the wait - but I know I'll enjoy them all when they arrive. Huw.

For example, it might help if they added signs with messages like: "You can change platforms here." "Use other stairs / lifts to change platforms." OK - I'm not exactly sure about optimal wording for this sort of signage - but something is needed. Huw.