Huw Griffiths

15 hours ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

It's funny... the more you post on SWAG event threads, the less explicit your descriptions become. Perhaps this is a sheep-led rouse to get people on the edge of their seats?

I'll explain a little more soon; if our wooly friend has no plans to say what I'm plotting, of course.

It's all starting to sound distinctly wooly.

For some reason, I'm reminded of the Hornby Show - which might (or might not) appear on Yesterday, on a date yet to be finalized.

You could almost imagine SK saying something along the lines of "detail, detail, detail".

That's right - lack of details doesn't get me on the edge of my seat - but this might have something to do with me, unfortunately, having no sensible way of getting to and from this event by public transport.

Whether this leads to me being involved with DEMU or MERG Zoom calls that evening remains to be seen ... .

3 hours ago, 'CHARD said:

If a bubble-car is a Bo-Bo (clue, it isn't), why isn't a two-car DMU a Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo?

 

Come on, these are schoolboy errors, must do better. 😆

Apparently not a Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo - just a Boo-Boo.

Joking aside, I wonder how long it might be before they offer a "razor edge" railcar - packed with an autocoach - take your pick between GWR and early BR colours. Something like this could be great in a "train set".

OK, despite tooling that some people might describe as "superannuable", I suspect they might still want "full fat" prices, but ... .

4 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

At some point this evening I think we'll close this topic off and create a fresh one for the first episode airing.

Sounds like a good call.

When even I am referring to Morecambe and Wise stuff from 40 or 50 years back (and saying how much I liked M&W / that their repeats are more watchable than a lot of the "festive" viewing), this thread has probably just about run its course.

As for the Hornby Show, I suspect that some of us might be watching just so we can see what "cheap to make gimmicks" they're thinking of loading into basically RailRoad models in the hope of "jacking up" the price.

I've never been a gambler - if I were, I would have guessed at piezoelectric nebuliser elements (essentially a PXE disk - driven by an oscillator - and resting on a damp sponge) under the chimneys of "kettles" - real water vapour - and "only" an extra hundred quid ... !

I think I'll stick with the base models, thank you - I don't want to pay extra for gimmicks I don't want.

Anyway, as a DEMU member, I'm rather more interested in "Diesel & electric" - you don't tend to get much steam from postwar multiple units ... .

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

Must say the festive viewing options were rather poor...

These days, they generally seem to be - especially around bank holidays - and as for the "festive turkeys" recently on offer, the less said the better.

I reckon I'd prefer wall-to-wall repeats of Morecambe and Wise. Meanwhile, returning to the Hornby Show ... .

4 hours ago, ardbealach said:

How about "It's not a model - it's an investment!"  (Alisdair)

Who can forget "detail, detail, detail"?

Probably best if I say no more - after all, I wouldn't want anyone to refer to "all the right details ...".

On 03/01/2023 at 16:20, AY Mod said:

So what's Simon's catchphrase for this series? It's too early to tell but it may be "it's a gamble".

36 minutes ago, St. Simon said:

I didn’t have a catchphrase for series 1 let alone this one………😉😂

30 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

My guess

 

”This is not just a flash in the pan”.

Well, it's either that or pure Morecambe and Wise: "What do you think of it so far? ..."

OK - perhaps not ... .

Welcome aboard.

Keith makes some good points about the "Layout & Track Design" section - and the "Skills & Knowledgde Centre" area in general.

I suspect it would be only a matter of time before you're asked for more detail about your planned layout - the space available and other constraints - and a track plan drawn to scale. Chances are that questions like these won't be about "tying you in knots" etc - but rather about identifying your real options etc.

I suspect that lots of planned "dream" layouts would probably have been seen to be "nightmares" at this point - shown to be unbuildable, unworkable for the intended model trains, or otherwise not worth pursuing. This might be uncomfortable at the time - but, at this stage, it costs nothing - it's much better than throwing lots of time, money and specially built stuff at fatally flawed concepts.

If / when you decide on a workable layout, I suspect that lots of people here would almost certainly be interested in seeing how you get on - cue a new layout thread / blog etc.

Some people here are probably already interested with talk of self built DCC, JMRI etc - I wonder if you might have considered joining MERG. (Don't worry - I might run a MERG Zoom group - but I won't subject you to a high pressure "sales pitch". The only reason I'm mentioning MERG is that a lot of members - but not all - are interested in stuff like that.)

Anyway, returning to your layout plans, posting in the "Layouts & Track Design" section sounds like it could be a good move.

2 hours ago, RodneyS said:

I've never even thought of washing kit sprues before assembling a model.

I would worry that small parts might break off and be lost before they were glued on.

2 hours ago, Roddy Angus said:

The washing is to remove any residual mould release agent, which can cause problems when painting models.  

Washing up liquid is normally sufficient to remove any residue.

Fair comment about the mould release - which might be more of an issue these days, with acrylic paints often being used by modelmakers.

As for the "small parts might break off" malarkey, might there be some point in putting the sprues / runners / parts inside one of those zipped mesh bags sold for washing socks etc in washing machines?

I seem to recall seeing them in places like The Works - they're not expensive - but I'm not sure if they've got them at the moment.

6 hours ago, Cwmtwrch said:

Ads I can live with, but I expect some sort of social responsibility in their selection.

Somehow, I don't imagine that Andy - or anyone else connected with Warners - would exactly choose to have ads like the ones you describe polluting their website.

Unfortunately, some people, somewhere, make a business of attacking other people's sites - forcing website owners etc to dedicate lots of time to trying to frustrate their efforts.

Whilst on the subject of "dedication", I could imagine that a number of legitimate website owners might welcome any chance to "dedicate certain ads to" the jerks responsible. Of course, the word "dedicate" is used here in the Anglo Saxon sense - of "roughly inserting" the ads ... errm ... somewhere the sun doesn't shine.

And on that bombshell, I'm certain that Andy likes that stuff even less than we do - not only does he not like it - but he's also got to instigate steps to deal with it.

I hope we can all realise this - and give him a break.

Thanks, guys.

2 hours ago, Ponthir28 said:

I read my BRM on line from my local library. For free what does BRM get out of it.

Not a lot.

Probably nothing, actually.

2 hours ago, Chris M said:

At this point we really don't know how good or bad the show was for the club. A few weeks ago I heard it said that if we break even the exhibition management will be content. I do know that the margins are very tight (we really are just a club trying to put on a spectacular model railway event) and the ASLEF strike on Saturday did seem to make the hall quieter than usual which was a bit concerning.

This was one reason why I made a point of visiting on the Sunday - even though "less than ideal" Sunday train "services" meant that I wasn't able to get there until lunchtime, so I couldn't get anything like the full day I really wanted.

As for the show itself, I managed to get about 90% of what I wanted done - and spoke with some of the people I wanted to.

Biggest regret? Not getting chance to munch through a pack of Stollen bites, whilst visiting a certain magazine stand.

Seriously though, I wouldn't dream of it ... .

Anyway, it was a good show - just frustrating that the lack of train services meant that I didn't get chance to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.

1 hour ago, Phil Parker said:

The railway elves are on tour!

1 hour ago, Gilbert said:

I fear that is both deviation and repetition....

HO! HO! HO! For "just a minute", I was starting to wonder if that might be their preferred modelling scale ... .

Anyway, it's probably just as well that nobody's likely to be stood in front of certain stands, munching their way through cake - nobody would want it to be Stollen ... .

(Now where did I put those "festive mints" - that's right - the "bah humbugs"?)

Now if they could only be persuaded to offer plastic kits of a 1:76 GWR "razor edge" railcar (the only sort of "razor edge" I'd allow into the house) - and a class 313 EMU - to allow for customisation into our own chosen variants.

They'd look great as static models - and I suspect that a number of us would be more than capable of sourcing suitable chassis, if we wanted to build powered versions.

As for more "conventional" kits, I'd quite like to see something like a 1:24 (or larger) Ford Escort estate, a Morris 100 traveller, or an early Land Rover - especially if they sell them through model shops.

On 17/10/2022 at 08:52, Stubby47 said:

Not sure there will be an elephant,  or any weird single rail shenanigans either, but never say never...

On 18/10/2022 at 08:10, NHY 581 said:

And if there were, then that's fine as we at SWAG embrace diversity, especially mono railing elephants.....weird or otherwise....

I'd wondered how long it was going to be before we heard about the Patiala State Monorail Trainway ... .

Anyway, I could imagine that some people familiar with the PSMT might regard the sort of trains we see in our part of the the world as weird.

1 hour ago, polybear said:

A friend of the Boss was a Barrister - he was MOST upset at losing a Murder trial he was defending; the Boss pointed out that it was so blatantly obvious that the guy was guilty that the best place for him was behind bars.  This didn't sway the Barrister one bit - all he was interested in was the fact that losing a case "looked bad" for his reputation as a Barrister......

1 hour ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Probably "looked bad" for the accused too.

No - he just got checked into one of His Majesty's "boarding houses" (the ones with bars in every room, but no alcohol), for an extended stay - but perhaps not quite as "extended" as some people might like.*

(* Although the sentence for crimes like murder is officially referred to as "life imprisonment", the "tariff" is more likely to be set at some number of years. He probably wouldn't even serve this long as, after serving a certain percentage of his sentence, I suspect that he'd be released "on licence". I suspect that this might have been rather different to the "suspended" sentence which might have been conferred at an Assizes for a similar offence a number of years earlier.)

As for the topic of people being called for jury service, I've never been called - but I'd be quite happy to be called. (Although there are some types of case I'd particularly welcome the chance to "hear" - including fraud or drugs offences - I very much doubt if I'd ever get the chance to choose.)

Will I ever get called? I've got no way of knowing - however, as I'm now in my late 50s, I'm beginning to wonder. I guess time will tell.

I also hope so.

He was also a rather good actor.

RIP

On 12/10/2022 at 21:29, chuffinghell said:

As well as being a great issue! I was particularly grateful of the free masking paper that came with it

 

😆

Joking aside, I believe that one magazine about model making has recently offered some masking tape as a subscription "persuader".

Meanwhile, newsstand editions of some other magazines have recently had packs of small sanding pads taped to their front covers.

Strange concept that - not the "freebies" - but the thought of people actually building and modifying things. I wonder if it will ever catch on ... .

I don't think it helps that a number of "toy train sets" include significant amounts of 1st radius curves.

OK - I suspect that, even if the locos / stock included in the sets are of some length, they might well be older models (perhaps "set up" to go round tight curves) - but you might not always find too many "full fat" versions of long locos, rolling stock etc in the more affordable train sets.

For example, it's not exactly unknown to find "local pick-up-goods" themed sets, with a very short loco (whose design might sometimes be of distinctly dubious origin) and a handful of short, 4 wheel, wagons. There have also been passenger themed equivalents, featuring the "celebrated"* short 4 wheel coaches. I haven't noticed too many sets featuring the 1960 "Evening Star", or multiple units of classes 156, 158 or 159.

(*OK - different people have their own opinions regarding the short "traditional" Hornby 4 wheel coaches. As I'm a member of DEMU, I've got other reasons for not buying them in bulk - let's face it, they don't exactly reflect the "postwar" railway scene ... !)

7 hours ago, MyRule1 said:

For example for a number of reasons some of my orders are on the card with my wife's name on it.

3 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

 That's good organisation - getting the wife to buy your model railway stuff !

Perhaps.

Perhaps not.

Some people might wonder why I'm making such a, seemingly vague, comment. Well, not all of us are in relationships / families, in which our hobbies (including railway modelling) are shared or willingly accepted by "significant others".

A number of people whose hobbies are viewed with (at best) thinly veiled contempt have devised ways of getting in "essential supplies" unseen - often right under partners' / relatives' noses.

For reasons like this, I could imagine a number of people really wanting to be able to continue using real banknotes when purchasing hobby stuff - this offers an element of "deniability" which cards don't offer - which definitely wouldn't be available if someone else "holds the purse strings".

Anyway, I could imagine some "significant others" preferring a different sort of "deniability" - based around the ability to deny certain people the opportunity to purchase models, kits and other supplies.

Even if not actually prevented from purchasing supplies, "awkward questions" might sometimes strip away at least some of the enjoyment hobbies should offer ... .

On 28/09/2022 at 12:43, Pmorgancym said:

Not had a chance to read it yet.  But 4 leaflets for pure cremations seems a bit excessive!!

Anyone might be forgiven for thinking that railway modellers might be getting older.

On 28/09/2022 at 18:17, russ p said:

You could always use them to get your fire going! 

I'm sure it's all smoke and mirrors.

Seriously though, it gets me how adverts of this nature seem to fill up the schedules on a number of commercial TV channels - it's even worse than the "wall to wall" adverts for "specialists" desperate to shift warehouses full of sofas, carpets and kitchen sinks.

Not only are the funeral ads incessant - they also keep on "hammering" me about the fact that I've somehow managed to lose both my parents in the last few years. I know that both of them had been in poor health for years - people I know, from medics to bus drivers, have commented about this when they found out - I also know that nothing I could have done would have kept my relatives alive any longer - but I still can't help feeling that I must have failed them.

I didn't like those 5 minute funeral plan ads on YouTube - but at least there's some option to skip most of those, or just leave the room and head to the "bog".

Unfortunately, the relentless juggernaut of TV funeral / cremation ads don't come with a "skip ads" flag.

Instead, we get the widow of somebody who used to be on the "box" once, giving us a patronising lecture about how expensive funerals can be - before touting some overpriced plan, then insulting us with: "I'm glad we had this little conversation - aren't you?" (Do you really want to know, pal?)

If it's not that, it's a cartoon, with a woman talking at her son: "I've been thinking about my funeral - I don't want one - but I do want this!"

Really?

Personally, I'd prefer not to be reminded about this, fifty seven times an hour - once for every year of my life thus far. Personally, I'd prefer not to find my way into a box - personally, I'd prefer to stay alive (but not be subjected to this onslaught) - personally, I'd prefer my late parents to still be alive - personally, I'd prefer my late gran to still be alive.

Personally, I'd prefer it if these advertisers were to change the **##*%%*!!**@@**££** record. Somehow, I suspect there might be more chance of Hell freezing over. (OK - I probably wasn't supposed to make that last comment - but I think it's fair comment - and, somehow, I doubt if too many people would disagree with the point I'm trying to make.)

I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea here. I'm definitely not looking for sympathy - far from it, in fact. I'm just saying that most people round here probably think that "enough is enough" with these ads. Unfortunately, a lot of advertisers don't seem to care what we think - especially when there might be the potential to "make a killing" if enough people "buy into" their "get themselves rich" schemes.

Well, I could say where I'd like them to shove their "plans" - and their nauseating ads. I could say - but it would only get censored (quite rightly too).

Anyway, let's get back to the trains ... .

15 hours ago, Chris M said:

Hornby are due to be at The Great Electric Train Show on October 8th & 9th so folk may get a chance to express their views there. I just hope the Hornby Hobbies stand isn't next to my layout!

I could imagine some people taking a different line if they discovered that they were "next door" at a major show.

Some people might be turning up with popcorn ... .

On 25/06/2022 at 16:44, bazjones1711 said:

We will be attending the Barry and Penarth show on Saturday and Sunday 2nd / 3rd july 2022 with the first showing of our Tees Yard wagon repair depot , although not fully finished , with some elements being work in progress , link below to the show ;

https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/23704-BarryPenarthModelRailwayClub_Exhibition

Probably just as well this layout isn't set in Germany.

You could almost imagine some joker calling it Werken Progress.

OK - perhaps not ... .

12 hours ago, Markwj said:

Would agree it would probably not be totally cost free but probably cheaper than a marketing campaign on TV.

Probably more effective than most, too.

When adverts start on TV, a number of people have been known to "switch off", or go into "cynic mode". They might be less likely to question what's said by somebody narrating what comes across as essentially a factual programme - especially if it isn't blatantly "Grimm", biased or full of obvious "doublespeak".

Ultimately, I suspect that Hornby see these series as marketing tools - based around a superficial idea of the sort of stuff that goes into creating new products (but not giving enough detail for this to become a threat) - homing in on a small number of people likely to be popular with viewers probably helps here - as does creating a favourable impression of these people. (To be honest, such an impression is probably fair - I don't think programmes like these would spend any time in the company of jerks!)

Anything likely to be controversial isn't likely to find its way into programmes like these (unless you count some guy conducting his own "torture tests" on some of their products) - these programmes need to be "safe" and "comfortable".

There will also be no mention of prices. This isn't because of a number of potential customers' "perceptions of these prices"*  - rather because prices are likely to change over time, so any reference to prices might restrict how many "additional chances to see these programmes"* viewers might be "offered" (and over how many years).

(* I know that alternative descriptions are also available, but  ... .)

1 hour ago, Markwj said:

Also just had the email, I wonder if in this series they will fix the issues with the models in the first series? There were so many own goals and soundbites in the first series which were thrown back at Hornby when issues became apparent I am surprised they agreed to another series.

 

Although I imagine the huge amount of free exposure probably helped sway any decision!

I wonder exactly how "free" this would actually be to Hornby.

I'm not referring to who might commission series like this - and who pays the bills - I haven't got a clue about stuff like this.

Regardless of this, I'd imagine there would be other costs involved. Even if a number of the people who appear in programmes are doing unpaid overtime, they might have needed to change their plans to be where the filming crew were - stuff might have needed to be done in a different sequence (perhaps repeated "for the cameras") - and there could easily be logistical costs involved.

In other words, I doubt if the series would ever actually be totally free to Hornby etc - but I suspect that someone would have worked out that any costs could be more than offset by the advertising and other potential benefits the company might gain in return.

I suspect that, ultimately, Hornby would have seen this as a "business decision".

40 minutes ago, wombatofludham said:

I know I'm a cynic but I have my doubts as to whether this series will address "Titgate" or the ongoing woeful relationship with their retailers.

I doubt if these TV programmes were ever intended to address issues like these - or how a number of their customers' perceive their prices etc ... .

2 hours ago, regme said:

The hard part will be keeping the wiring neat, as my current layout is a dog's breakfast.  The responses have definitely given me food for thought and a place to start from.

 

Also I'll have a thread / name for the layout, once I have the baseboard constructed, were all my faults will be exposed.

Lots of people seem to have problems with keeping wiring neat. A number of methods are available - spiral cable wrap - "snap on lid" rectangular plastic trunking - cable clips etc. Essentially, the key points are to label wires - group them together (so they don't end up as a tangled mess) - and constrain them close to the baseboard (to stop heads, hands etc getting caught in them when crawling under the layout).

In case you're wondering why I'm so fussy about this stuff, I used to work as an instrumentation technician in a university civils department. I had to wire up lots of transducers (especially strain gauges) - to allow measurements to be made - but I didn't want students getting tangled up in wires during lab tests.

I'm looking forward to your thread. Don't worry too much about criticism - most of us here try to keep it constructive. (Those who don't usually find themselves being "persuaded" to take the hint.)

By the way, don't worry about all the pages in the e-book. There's nothing wrong with "dipping into" it as needed ... .