Chris Chewter

Not too sure if its been mentioned on here before, but I was in Nottingham earlier today and saw about 10 Class 60's lined up looking slightly forlorn. Unfortunately I was working so didn't have time to stop and look further. You can see them off Brian Clough Way (A52) bridge when heading west.

I heard the news through the Model Rail page on Facebook. I don't know how accurate the news is from that page. Surly a class 16 would be a Heljan class 15 with extra vents?

I love watching this layout develop. Fantastic stuff!

Makes a change to read a review before the model has hit the shelves! Hattons still showing all their wonderloafs as a pre-order item.

25th March 2010: http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/15581985

I like sales calls. My chance to be naughty! The best was the woman who categorically said I had an accident and could make a claim. I said I would quickly check my files or said incident. Put the phone down and walked off. Came back 5 mins later, she was still there! I asked who she was? She politely went through the same script (Accident. I could make a claim etc.) So I went through the same role. I put the phone to one side and went to check my files. Came back 5 mins later, she was still there! I asked who she was? She asked whether I was messing her around. I said yes and hung up!

But this is what I'm worried about: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8592070.stm If a Tu-160 "Blackjack" flys into our airspace, what's to say this new jet won't?

I've heard many. For example, I've been through Greet tunnel on the Glos Warks many times and yet to see the ghost of the track ganger. I'm sure that's just to scare the kids! There was a book of Exeter ghost stories by Chips Barber (sic) who told the tale of a complete ghost train that caused some PW guys to jump of the tracks. Can't remember which line it was, but there was reports that after the Beeching axe, people still reported seeing it after the tracks were lifted. A tad far fetched for my likes. However my favourite was a channel 4 programme of London Underground stories. Again, some were daft, but one stuck in my memory. Apparently a crew member was doing a walk of one of the tunnels. This meant lone walking of the tunnel between stations and reporting any defects upon arrival at the next platform. Problem was, this LT operative walked the tunnel and met a PW guy with an oil lamp in the tunnel. The LT staff stopped and asked the guy why he was using an oil lamp. The chap said he preferred it. The LT crew member continued until he reached his colleagues at the next station where he asked why another member of staff was in the tunnel and why he was allowed an oil lamp. They all mentioned there was on one had entered in the section. As a result they had to re-walk the section but of course no one was there. Apparently others have reported a feeling of uneasiness at the same location.

Depends on the timber window. Have you seen the chemicals that go into pressure treated timber? That'll burn the hairs off your chest! How about repairing timber frames? Two part epoxy anyone? That lasts longer than the timber itself! Now don't get me wrong, I'm playing devils advocate here. Just pointing out the nasties used in timber can be just as bad! That two part epoxy is fantastic, and lets hope pressure treated timber keeps being manufactured for a long long time. Its great stuff! As to what to do with your windows, depends on the application. If you lived in a Victorian house, I'd keep those timber sashes and repair. If you lived in a 1980's semi, I'd fit plastic. Why? Honestly its down to resale value! You can apply "green" credentials to either application if your clever enough!

I don't get the problem with the advert. They plan to recycle old window frames into other products. So what? You get nice shiny new windows. They turn the waste into a profit. Sounds like a good business plan to me! I also don't get this argument about misleading people about climate change. The argument about whether climate change exists or not is irrelevant. It won't go away no matter how hard you try to argue otherwise. Its here to stay whether you like it or not! If we take the cynical viewpoint, Its all about £££. After all, money make the world go round. It works both ways: Save energy, save cash! Simple! If you take another cynical view, you spend money, they sell you a product, money changes hands and generates jobs! Good for the economy. No one makes you spend the money other than yourself! Wise words about payback though. People need to do their research. Jump blindly for something you don't need, and you only have yourself to blame. Whilst double glazing does have a long payback, you also need to think about the dwelling your fitting it too. It could make it easier to sell you house! Just a thought...

I notice that two of them are being sold in ex works gloss finish. Has anyone on here actually bought one of these glossy westerns in the past? They look good in the photos, but at the head of a train, do they look unrealistically shiny and only fit for the display cabinet?

Ordered a loco from Rails on the 22nd December, turned up on the 23rd December! Then again I did pay an extra 50p for recorded delivery!

Ah yes, University does have a habit of putting railway modelling into hibernation. But if you've been bitten by the bug, it easily returns once the pressures of Uni life have given way to the big bad world of work! As for being put off, no fear! My Truro is sat in its box ready for a decoder and a crew. However I was concerned that if there was a risk of shearing cranks, it would end up being a rarely run model, which would be a shame as its absolutely fantastic and the best in my collection yet! Hopefully this appears to affect only a minority of models, as there aren't loads of people posting similar problems on RMWeb!

I was curious how many people bought their Truros to run, and how many ended up in display cases. I noticed in this thread one person having difficulties with the cranks but it seemed to be a one off. Then it stuck me that if the majority of the models ended up in display cases, perhaps the problem was more widespread. Now that people have been running them for around a year now, are they still reliable, or are they starting to show issues? Those plastic cranks against the metal con rods do give me the heebie jeebies!

I thought that if the reserve isn't met, the seller has the option to sell the item for the price reached or withdraw the item as unsold. However with eBays ever changing convoluted rules, I'm aware things may have changed!

That first one looks like an entrant for a knobby knee competition!

I love the description. Goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Here's an eBay item I don't understand: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TMC-Hornby-RailRoad-BR-Black-9F-92214-Un-Named-Pristine-/250680147927?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item3a5db37fd7#ht_2725wt_911 Am I missing something on this one? They're charging the same price as a Baccy 9f! They must be some expensive decals if its a renumbering job!

It looks a very nice layout. I looked at the layout, then looked at the price, and promptly spat my tea out! A bit out of most peoples pocket me thinks!