Huw Griffiths

As far as I'm aware, I think it's based on a Jung RK20B. What surprises me though is a kit of a German outline loco being offered in OO, rather than the HO more typical of mainland European outline models. Saying that, it's still welcome (and I'd quite like to see both this one and the Sentinel kit in the shops in my part of the world some time soon - I'd also quite like to see that "cabbed + in cabbed" pair, but that's hoping too much). While on the subject of wishful thinking, there is another German outline kit which could be nice in OO or British O - a small shunter, some of which actually found their way to the UK. I'm talking about the Köf ii. Huw.

I seem to recall the DMS being fitted with a rear end which was noticeably different to the "standard production" model. I'm not sure if the engine cooling might have been uprated or something similar, but I could imagine this being an issue with 1st generation rear engined buses getting thrashed then stopped - thrashed then stopped - and so on, every hundred metres or so, without ever getting chance to get out of 1st and 2nd gears. Not likely. They would probably have introduced the caravan to the business end of a rocket - specifically, a large rocket, with a warhead attached. Other, equally subtle, methods of dealing with it are also available (and I wouldn't be surprised if they've tried most of them).

Very likely - especially in view of rear doors being a key design feature of the "Borismaster". While on the subject of the "Borismaster", I wish they'd fitted them with better seats - ones that go back more than 6 inches and provide some leg support would have been nice. On a more positive note, the ones I've travelled on seem to be solidly put together. On the other hand, if he'd done something similar with a Plaxton Elite i "interdeck", some people would have wanted him to get a medal. However, since the bus he actually blew up is of a type popular with tourists and preservationists, I suspect that some people might regard a "dedication" as more in order ... . http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/michael-gove-eliminating-literacy-like-our-forefathers-9238095.html Huw.

Probably not - they've already got several people in the TG team who are more than capable of filling that role. I wouldn't be too surprised if he were to appear as a guest - especially if he doesn't have to introduce some guy he's never heard of before.

I'm not sure he'd find this particularly satisfying. I can remember a number of years back, when Channel 5 pulled the plug on 5th Gear - Clarkson commented in his then programme that he was less than happy about that. He then went on to explain that having viable competition on another channel helped ensure that the channel he was on couldn't ignore the existence of a market for his programme - so they'd be more likely to continue to film his programme. And on that bombshell - sorry, "we don't do that here any more". Anyway, some cynics might be tempted to offer their own translations for CE's TG sign-offs: "You've been great. I've been grate Chris Evans. Thanks for watching. Goodbye." OK - he didn't actually say it like that - I'm not aware of him claiming to be some sort of stand up comic - but some people would never have accepted his brand of humour anyway. Regardless of what life was like on the TG set, CE got viewers used to the idea of the programme being presented by people other than the "3 amigos". He also got viewers used to the idea that there would be changes to the programme (I'm sure there'll be more changes now). I actually wonder whether there ever was the intention for him to continue to a 2nd series (although he probably wouldn't have complained if this had happened). Whatever happens with respect to CE (probably the less said the better right now), they've now "blooded" an excellent new team. This new team should be in a position to take the programme forward in a new direction - building on the good bits from the last series - and building on a lot of good stuff from "Extra Gear". I wouldn't be surprised to see Rory Reid doing a lot more studio interviews and slightly "off-the-wall" reviews. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Harris doing more "serious" reviews. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if some (not for transmission) pilot programmes were to be put together, based on composites of all this stuff, plus some ideas from earlier series (possibly much earlier). They could even generate alternative studio "link" sequences to footage which might really be intended for transmission at a later date. I'm not sure exactly what the BBC will do, once the dust settles. I am sure that they've now got an excellent presenting team, who will give us many hours of very watchable television - television which I'm looking forward to watching. Huw.

I'm not sure that everyone would recognise that area of London now - and some developer's plans would give most people even less chance. Just for information, a lot of people who don't know the area would probably be familiar with 2 large buildings which used to stand in the area - inside the triangle junction - and over the Underground line (and probably some of the depot). I am, of course, talking about the Earls Court exhibition centre complex - the demolition of which was the subject of a lot of protest - not that any of this made any difference, of course. A number of magazines have a similar effect on me, these days - far too many reviews of pretty, expensive, RTR models (which often seem to be little more than "tarted up" versions of existing RTR, at prices a lot of us can't afford) - far too few elevation drawings - far too few "how to build an interesting model, using repurposed bits from cheap, readily available stuff" articles. Well, I'm an engineer - and I worked many years in a university, helping to train the next generation of engineers and trying to encourage them to experiment and learn. I doubt if my viewpoint would come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. I wonder if there might be some merit in a further thread - about the sort of stuff we'd like to see in future model railway magazines. I don't think it would be too difficult for most people to guess the sort of things I'd be saying in such a thread. As for what sort of layout articles I'd like to see - some "switching" microlayouts could be interesting, especially if they include tricks to maximise the amount of action that could be packed into a small space - especially if the articles include layout plans and detailed information on how they were built (with emphasis on wiring and board construction - and how to build any "technical" bits, like traversers). Huw.

Some seriously scary individuals there, Tim. Coming to think of it, I also don't much care for their accolytes on the top row. Some people might imagine they'd been brainwashed.

While on the subject of car manufacturers not wanting their cars reviewed on the "3 amigos" era TG, I seem to recall that Rover didn't want them anywhere near their "City Rover". At the time, there were comments on the programme that they probably wouldn't have given it a second glance if Rover had given them the customary invite to review it. However, they had not - and they'd started getting very prickly over it - which prompted the then TG to wonder what they were trying to hide. The BBC then sent James May - with a researcher and a hidden camera - to a dealership, to do a "test drive" of this new "wonder car" - which (as expected) turned out to be anything but wonderful. A smart move - which would undoubtedly have left Rover bosses very angry indeed. Good - the Rover bosses brought this upon themselves.

I'm not surprised.

... or whether the same car is likely to appear on "3 Desperados hit the loud pedal", on Amazon Prime in a few months' time. If it does, I'd be inclined to suggest they might insist on the quick one - James May. After all, it's not as if they've got a tame racing driver in white overalls and white helmet.

I seem to recall Chris Evans making a very similar point himself, a few weeks back - something about being paid a lot of money to do something that a lot of people would be very happy to do for rather less. (I think he worded it slightly differently - but the basic point was very much the same.) I personally rate Matt LeBlanc, Rory Reid, Chris Harris and Sabine Schmitz - and I'd like to see these four people allowed to get on with presenting TG. More to the point, I'm sure that new series (preferably longer series) - with this team - could soon have all but the most fanatical "Clarksonistas" wanting to forget that TG was ever fronted by some tall guy, with dark curly hair, a large appetite and fists to match. And on that bombshell (sorry - we don't do that any more) - it's time for a tall, 50-something, guy to leave. Thanks for watching. Goodnight!

Saying all that, I can't see the BBC - or CE, for that matter - being too worried. After all, I'm sure they've got plenty of other programmes that need saving - might I suggest ####(censored)####? Seriously though, he's still got a contract - which I'm sure wouldn't see him lose out under these circumstances. Also, he's done what was really important - kickstarted the TG "reboot". His presence on the "ticket" has also ensured that potential viewers are familiar with the other presenters - rather good presenters, as it happens. I also wonder about EJ - to me, he appears to be mainly there as a "foil". In practice though, I wonder how long he's likely to stick around. The rest of the team strike me as excellent. Even though I hadn't heard of some of them until very recently, they strike me as the dream presenting team the programme has long been crying out for. I hope they're allowed to get on with the job - even in their current state, with "rough edges", I personally reckon they're a vast improvement over the last lot (especially that tall guy with the fists). For me, the real question for the next series is whether Matt LeBlanc or Rory Reid should be the lead presenter for the main programme - or should they take it in turns? I don't doubt that some people would disagree with my views - and be ready to express their views in a civilised, reasoned, manner. Fair enough.

At this rate, it won't be long before somebody suggests that "things can only get better".

I'm not completely sure - but I think you're probably right. Some say it's a load of psychological bunkum - and an excuse for some people to feel smug. All I know is that it seems to work with a number of people. And on that bombshell ...

I also think the programme has improved as this series has progressed - although it could be said that our viewpoints are slightly different. Until a few years ago, the "Clarkson era" TG used to be very much "must see" viewing for me - every time it was on BBC2, I'd make a point of watching it - I enjoyed watching it, too - and then something changed. The quality of the programmes went into a nosedive - on reflection, it could have been regarded as akin to a "death spiral". The "studio jokes" got more offensive - the filmed segments weren't as good as they'd previously been - the quality of the journalism went into freefall. Previously, we'd had a staged level crossing crash - showing the mangled remains of a car hit by a loco - with Clarkson repeatedly stressing the fact that the crash test dummy wasn't wearing a day-glo jacket. I was already familiar with this subliminal method of making people think about the real message behind the film - a number of people in colleges (myself included, when I worked in a University) routinely use exactly the same method to drive home important points. I know this method works - I also know quality journalism when I see it - this was top drawer. I was also impressed by another of the earlier films from the Clarkson era - in which the "3 amigos" drove across the South of the US in some very rough looking cars, exposing all sorts of prejudice as they went along. Their journey ended in New Orleans - a city which a certain George Walker Bush had declared completely sorted and back up and running after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, over a year earlier. Needless to say, the reality was rather different. The footage when they arrived there - and their reactions (especially Clarkson's reaction) - spoke volumes. In other words, I know that these gentlemen (including Clarkson) are capable of producing excellent, thought provoking, articles. Unfortunately, some of last year's output was to nothing like the same standard. I'd already given up on, even occasionally, watching that era of TopGear before things came to a head. The last straw for me had been a "package" about Peugeot - in which it was suggested that the company had consciously decided to deliberately produce cars which nobody would want to buy or drive. To emphasize their "point", the "3 amigos" drew cartoon "moustaches" on their faces - and spent a few minutes speaking rubbish in terrible fake French accents. They then deliberately drove some Peugeot cars - so badly that, if they'd been doing this on open roads, they would probably have lost their driving licences. I was also less than amused by Clarkson's spoof Volkswagen Diesel advert, with a strapline of "Berlin to Warsaw in one tank". I didn't find this rubbish even remotely funny - for me, enough was definitely enough. Fast forward to this year - and the new team burst onto our TV screens - to me, they were a big improvement from the first episode. OK - the first episode wasn't quite as good as I'd been hoping for - loads of rough edges - and the new team hadn't started to "gel" - but I could see that there was plenty of promise with the new version and the new team. With the 2nd and 3rd episodes, the standard has improved enormously every week. It's not yet to the same standard as Clarkson, Hammond and May at their vintage best - but, to me, it's a lot better than the final series of the old era. So what of the new era? For a number of years, Chris Evans has struck me as being one of those presenters TV channels turn to if they've got a programme that needs kickstarting or sorting out. They might want to make a few changes, while they work out what they want in the long term - they might see him as part of the long term. Whatever the score, I think it's probably fair to say that they basically want someone to "steady the ship" - something which he seems very capable of doing. Personally, I'd like it if Chris Evans - and the rest of the new team - were to stick around for a while. The new version of TG isn't perfect - but, from what I can see, I think it's getting to be rather good. I'm certainly not complaining. Huw.

I thought there were two of those - plus one (possibly more) to an earlier design. Somehow, though, I'd expect the new model to be rather more mainstream than this. Don't worry - the models will be on their way in due course. I'm sure it won't be too long before we get to see the Kodiaks - sorry, Kodaks. As for the models, we'll also see these - when it's OK to break cover on them - and they're at a sufficiently advanced stage for us to see them. All in good time - patience is a virtue - and all that malarkey. I'm sure the end result will be worth the wait. Huw.

The new team seem to be getting into their stride now - I thought they would, but I'm glad it's happening. Once this series finishes, I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next run - so the momentum can continue and the team are able to build on it. And on that bombshell - sorry, we don't do that any more ...

They sound like such a bunch of spoilsports. I guess that rules out other, equally subtle, measures - like a baseball bat, or generous offers for anyone who interferes with a layout to experience the business end of a pair of Totectors. I suspect there might also be scope for some electrical engineers amongst us to have a bit of fun here, with warning notices. (Fun - Schadenfreude - what's the difference? ...) I've never made any secret of my background - or the fact that I went for the "heavy current" options in the final year of my HND. I wonder how long it will be before the fronts of some layouts start acquiring notices along the lines of: DANGER!! All tracks and overhead line equipment are energized with 12,000,000.000 microVolts of electricity. KEEP WELL AWAY!! (... If you know what's good for you ... .) OK - perhaps not - but I'm sure the subtle approach would work with some people. All your comments about Perspex (and similar stuff) strike me as fair comment - and I agree with your opinions about the stuff. It can also have another problem - sharp edges. OK - I'm sure that some of the more ... antisocial ... layout owners might be tempted to run the top edges of some strips over a whetstone - to get a triangular edge and ensure that the sort of visitors who like touching everything learn a lesson they won't forget in a hurry. Well, some of them might be tempted - but I suspect that the law might have something to say about stunts like this. It might also have something to say about other, equally subtle, methods like the cattle prod, a snooker cue or even old hacksaw blades bolted (jagged side upwards) along the baseboard edge. In fact, I'd imagine that some other people might also have something to say about some of the more OTT crowd control methods - like the people who've got to transport and set up the layouts concerned. After all, if these methods could be hazardous to show visitors, they could also be hazardous to anyone involved in exhibiting and transporting the layouts concerned. I'd also vote for the "rope and springy doorstop" method. In fact, if I were ever to end up with an exhibitable layout, I'd be very tempted to adopt this method myself - either that, or "toughen up" the front of the layout, so it doesn't need protecting. To my mind, this sounds rather more inviting than the opposite approach - installing barriers a few metres away from the front of a layout - and expecting show visitors to view the layout concerned through binoculars. Unfortunately, keeping viewers too far away from a layout creates the risk of alienating show visitors - in extreme cases, this can also lead to some of us not even bothering to give all your hard work so much as a passing glance. (I can confirm that this has actually happened with a certain short sighted Welshman - and a well known small scale NG layout. I don't doubt that the layout concerned is modelled to a very high standard - but, unfortunately, I was unable to check for myself, as I couldn't see it.) Of course, there is another approach - to invite visitor participation - and design a layout in a way which makes it practically "idiot proof" (preferably using cheap locos, stock etc to reduce the "hit" if something gets damaged). However, I suspect that doing this in a way which maintains some visitor appeal might be challenging. It's a challenge I might enjoy at some time in the future - but it's not likely to happen any time soon. Huw.

Either that, or a lot of regular viewers had come to expect them as a bit of a running joke - the only rules seemed to be that the tall, brash, 50-something always won. It didn't matter how many rules he had to break (or change as he went along), the tall, brash, 50-something always won. Fast forward to 2016 - there's a different tall, brash, 50-something in town - and, apparently, the same joke suddenly ceases to be funny. Throw in a 60-something with a F1 background (and suggestions of "alternative" interpretations of the rules) and some people appear to be up in arms. I'm not. Probably not a bad thing, in all honesty. After a certain gentleman "suddenly became un-busy", any replacement was always likely to take some time to get established - longer to get accepted by a large audience - and probably forever to get accepted by really loyal viewers of the previous version. It's inevitable that the new version of TopGear is going to feature a lot of experimentation - trying stuff out - trying out ways of doing stuff. Some things might not work first time - but a lot probably will. Certainly though, I suspect that, if anyone's able to make this lot work, Chris Evans is probably more capable than most. He isn't to everyone's liking, but he doesn't need to be - he's there to do a job - to deliver change where it's needed, while keeping enough people watching during the time the programmes are on the BBC website. It doesn't matter if these viewers are the same people who used to tune in to see "the 3 amigos". However, it makes sense if Chris Evans is able to test a lot of the new stuff out, using people he knows - people who are already used to working with him. It's possible to fall into the trap of comparing the current team and the current programme with the Clarkson era. Here's a newsflash, guys - Mr. Clarkson is a very talented journalist, but he's not on TopGear any longer - and he's not coming back any time soon. If you're looking for exactly the same show, presented in exactly the same way, by exactly the same team, you were always going to be disappointed. I'm not. I don't see this show as the "Clarkson Roadshow". In fact, I'm more interested in a different question: "Is this an enjoyable show - a show that I find worth watching and look forward to watching?" For me, THIS is the question that matters - for me, the answer so far is a very emphatic YES. You might agree with me - you might not - but everyone's entitled to their own opinion. And on that bombshell - sorry, we don't do that any more. Thank you for reading. Goodnight.

I don't know - he didn't seem a bit like that character the late, great, George Cole used to play in Minder. He didn't even seem much like Mike Brewer, Quentin Willson or Dominic Littlewood. After the Clarkson era, it was always going to be difficult for any new version to be accepted by the existing fanbase. However, a number of us had started to tire of some of the more offensive stuff in the old version. It doesn't matter to some of us that messrs. Clarkson, May and Hammond are very capable journalists - it doesn't even matter that all 3 of them are capable of getting people to look at issues from a completely new perspective - none of this matters to some of us, because some of their antics (and some of the more offensive "jokes") were starting to render their version of the programme unwatchable. This might sound unfashionable, but I'm willing to give the new version (and the new team) time to "bed in". After all, it's not as if there's any snooker on the "free to air" channels at the moment. Turning to TopGear, the location photography was always a strong point - that doesn't seem to have changed. I would, however, have liked to have seen and heard more of the other presenters. I was really looking forward to seeing Sabine Schmitz on the programme - and, as for the other guys, I never even got chance to find out who they are. I hope that, in time, the "online extra" programme also finds its way onto the standard "free to air" TV channels - after all, the amazing "superfast broadband" that the government and various internet phone companies keep going on about isn't available to everyone in the UK. How long it lasts might depend on how well the new programme (and team) "beds in". For all I know, the first programme (even the first few) might be more about trying to convince some people that it's still basically the same concept as the previous decade or so. Personally, I suspect that programmes towards the end of this series might be a much better guide to the future of this show. I did notice that Chris Evans made a point of saying that there wouldn't be any on-air comments about catering ... And on that bombshell ...

I'm assuming you don't mean anywhere in the vicinity of Celtic Lakes Marshfield, Bassaleg, Alexandra Dock or The Gaer? Seriously though, that cutting looks vaguely familiar - even if the traction does not - I'm wondering if it might have been visible from Cardiff Road. Huw.

Fiddle yards - or turntables? A few years ago, I wondered about something like this - but had no use for it - so I quickly thought about something else instead. Another potential issue with something like this is that the "boat" would probably be running on tyres - which could, over time, leave visible tracks. There's also the fact that barges and working boats sometimes push leaves and algae aside as they move along canals, leaving a "swept path". I'm not sure that it would be easy to do a credible looking job of mimicing this on a model. I don't think I'll be trying this stuff any time soon - I seem to have enough of a job building and modifying model trains, leave alone scenery! Huw.

I suspect it might prove informative in more ways than one. I've never been a member of MERG (or any of the other clubs and societies that appear at shows), so I don't know what their meetings are like. However, apart from any stuff that gets discussed (technical or otherwise), this will probably be your first chance to find out what MERG (and the area group) are actually like. I have no wish to undermine them in any way - and no wish for any confidences to be breached - but I hope it all goes well. I also hope you're able to enjoy it. Ouch! I also hope nothing's broken - but I'm certain you won't take any chances. Nothing sinister, then - even if one of your former teachers seems to think otherwise. To be honest, though, this malarkey of using violence to force left-handers to write with our wrong right hands all sounds a bit Stone Age. I can certainly believe that it went on, though - my mother (who, like a lot of the family, is left-handed) came under a lot of pressure to switch hands when she was in primary school - and my maternal grandmother was forced to switch hands. I also had to switch hands, when I was in primary school - even though I've got only myself to blame. I'd seen people using staplers to fix things together - and, rather stupidly, tried using one when I had a go at card modelling - I managed to staple my left thumb. The next day in school, we were being taught joined-up handwriting (well, that was the theory) - with my left thumb bandaged up, I had no choice but to use my right hand. A few days later, my thumb had healed up - and I picked up a pencil in my left hand - only to get told: "You can write with your right hand, Huw - carry on." Unfortunately, I did as "suggested" - the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life. I know what you mean about learning to use both hands, to some extent - this has certainly been the case when it came to things like soldering. Saying that, dexterity doesn't seem to be one of my strong points ... Regards, Huw.

... and this year's didn't disappoint, either. The layouts were good - so were the demonstrators (who were dispensing some excellent advice, just like last time) - and I've also got no complaints about the trade. Well done to all concerned. I think I might also be going to next year's show ... . Huw.

This should be a good show - last year's one definitely was.