Zero Gravitas

I don't think that it's a painted line around the lower cab front - I think it's light reflecting off a raised seam (weld seam) which runs exactly there. If you look at the pictures that cctrans posted on page 9, you can see the seam, and the Rails decorated samples show it very well.

Edited to add: Gaz101’s photo later shows that there is a thin orange line above the seam - so I was wrong.

On 31/10/2020 at 12:40, kevinlms said:

So only numbers programmed into your phone, can be 'important'? You just never who is ringing from a different or unknown number. Maybe a friend/relative calling from a hospital phone, because their mobile is flat? Many businesses call from generic and blocked numbers, perhaps your doctors surgery.

 

Sure they can always leave a message if genuine. Personally, I answer unknown calls, with my BS detector turned on! Remember if you have an outgoing message, they can gather some info on you from that. More than a simple 'Hello'.

If it’s that important they’ll leave a message and I’ll ring them straight back.

And as far as the outgoing message is concerned, then “Hello, please leave a message and I’ll deal with it as soon as I can” doesn’t appear to give too much away...

Reminds me of the Monorail episode of the Simpsons... “Ah doughnuts - is there anything they cannot do?”

P.S. bet the driver felt a bit Moby Dick.

17 hours ago, simontaylor484 said:

Can anyone but me remember a Scottish comedy sketch show on Channel 4 called Absolutely all i remember is a village called Stoneybridge 

Absolutely also gave us Shadwell (probably not the right spelling) the Welsh poet, played by John Sparkes. He came up with such gems as “ I haven’t been out this week - my mum forgot to make the payment on my trousers, and thy repossessed them”

Back in 1988, we went to see John Sparkes at the (then new) Hawth Theatre in Crawley. He was very good - and his support act was a “ young, up-and-coming comedian with a bright future” - it was Jack Dee...

Thank you showing the livery samples - 18000 looks splendid, and I'm really glad I've pre-ordered (in the late-crest livery)

However, one small point - the "orange" band on the sample looks too yellow (as opposed to orange) and ever-so-slightly too wide when compared with the posted images of the real thing. To the Stationmaster's point - I think the bottom of the band is in the right place, but because it's slightly too wide, that makes it look a bit high.

1 hour ago, PatB said:

I suspect it's one of those shops. Only opens for those chosen, and when they go back because the doll they bought appears to be cursed, it won't be there any more. Indeed, it will never have been there. 

Ah yes. Just like the music shop in Terry Pratchett’s “Soul Music”...

Does this count as cat-related?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-54548467

On 13/10/2020 at 14:57, Ohmisterporter said:

A book review that sounds interesting is listed on Save the Royal navy blog. Harrier 809 is the story of the quickly assembled Sea Harrier squadron that served on Atlantic Conveyor in the Falklands War. Sounds like a book to look out for whenever we get back to normal.

 

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/harrier-809-book-review/

Ordered. If it’s as good as Rowland White’s other books (Vulcan 607, Phoenix Squadron), it will be a splendid read.

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

I know it's on the way back, but I don't think the kit has been re-released yet.

 

My bits were robbed from one I stumbled across in my stash!

 

If anyone can point me towards an existing Stove R thread as an appropriate destination for my pics/notes, please do. It's always nice to have related stuff in one place. Otherwise I'll try to start a specific thread on the project once I've edited the progress pics,

 

John

 

 

On the Five79 website the fish van is listed as “coming soon”...  I also want want one for an Enparts van, so I keep checking...

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

I can hear my razor saw stirring in the toolbox at the very thought of such a thing.....

 

Meanwhile, and only slightly off-topic - I've finally got to work on a new chassis for one of my Dapol-for-Hornby-Magazine Stove Rs. It's based on parts from a Chivers Fish van kit with buffer beams laminated up from assorted Evergreen channel and strip.   It's now up to the rolling shell stage and I've since fitted a pair of #146 Kadees. The screws that hold the lids on them also attach the chassis to the body. Currently, I'm knocking up some panelled doors to go inside the gangways. All the underframe detail bits have come off the Dapol model intact, so that'll save some work.  

 

I haven't yet plucked up the courage to attempt the sliding axle arrangement the Hatton's coaches will have. It may just get the cosmetic "cheat" the Fish Van kit uses. My other Stove R will get a suitably modified Hatton's chassis as soon as I can get my grimy mitts on one, with the body thus liberated being grounded in due course. 

 

John

 

Please keep us posted on this one (even if not in this thread) - the re-appearance of the fish van means I may finally be able to stop hating that Stove R...

7 hours ago, PMP said:

I too appear to have received the Vanilla version of 279. Anyone know where the vindaloo versions are ?

That would probably have been the version in the discreet brown envelope, rather than the see-through plastic bag...

Quick FYI - subs copy arrived this morning, so it’s on it’s way.

1 hour ago, John Harris said:

 

That would be "Magic Boomerang" (see what they did there).

 

I vividly remember one sequence, the heroes froze the main street in the town and the two lovable scamps swapped a builder's wheelbarrow with a mother's pram.  Like all time freezes, even then (it was on in the UK in the 60s) I wondered how extensive the "freeze" was?  I guess I could be an annoying child!

 

Incidentally, the recent "Tales From The Loop" series featured a story with a very similar premise, called "Statsis", albeit very more adult in nature and using technology.

 

jch

I know it’s not a seventies reference, but if you like Swedish sci-fi (and who doesn’t?)  then check out Simon Stålenhag, whose art work features in his “Tales from the Loop” book, which was the inspiration for the Amazon series.

Egbert Nosh

early seventies cartoon - when the eponymous Egbert used to go out, his house and dustbin grew feet and followed him down the road.

or did I imagine it?

On 18/08/2019 at 02:12, PatB said:

Got to be careful fixing lead into place with PVA, lest they react and cause your models to explode in slow motion as the resulting compounds expand. Sort of DIY mazak rot. 

I’ve always used UHU to glue lead to plastic models, and never experienced any ill effects, even on some Parkside wagons approaching 30 years since assembly.  The one concession I have always made is to never put the lead anywhere air-tight, so have always drilled a couple of small holes in the plastic floor of vans, for example.

11 hours ago, rob D2 said:

Good luck,

I won’t be going over as the designer outlet means I’ll accidentally get sucked into The Cadbury’s , Thornton’s and Lindt shops There as well !

That can work in your favour - given that Cadbury’s is next door to the Hornby Outlet; when Mrs. ZG goes into Cadbury’s I can always say I’m just popping next door for a moment...

Slightly embarrassingly, I saw this and went to the Kernow web site to place an order, only to discover I’d already ordered one in October 2014 and had subsequently completely forgotten about it...

Still, good news - and the EP looks very nice indeed.

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Hi Roger,

 

Unfortunately, your chassis is the right length, but the Hornby van is too short.

 

To make it "look" right, mine will have the overall wheelbase reduced from 21' to 20'.

 

I really enjoy your kits and have most either built or awaiting it, and would appreciate more should you ever be inclined to resume.

 

John  

 

 

In which case, go directly to www.five79.co.uk ...  (it’s a safe place to go and will probably make you very happy)

That’s a shame - we’re likely to be going to the Swindon Outlet this Friday, and as usual I was planning to drop in a see if there was anything interesting...

If there’s anything to add, I’ll update on this thread.

22 minutes ago, Mick Bonwick said:

How many people do you know who have a box somewhere that contains a few wagon kits?

 

 

How many people do you know who, when seeking that box among all the other carefully labelled boxes, find that there is another very similarly labelled box?

 

 

How many people do you know who, when examining the contents of the two boxes, find that there a couple of duplications?

Me, me and me...

4 hours ago, Not Jeremy said:

 

No, no change of ownership.

 

Simply a change of address as we have all had to move out of the Didcot premises.

 

So that’s the end of my self-styled claim to fame - being the MRJ subscriber who lives closest to the Hagbourne Road Office... Less than half-a-mile.

Still, I suppose everyone gets their 23 years of fame these days, so I can’t really complain :-)

13 minutes ago, Free At Last said:

When I was first playing I only ever had short scale Gibson basses and when I started again in 1990 I only had my EB3. Fenders, Rickenbackers etc never interested me. One day I went to get a set of strings for the EB and came back with a Warwick Thumb Bass, I was attracted to the small body. I now have three.

Fretted on the left, fretless in the middle - and I’m not sure about the one on the right?

Whilst I’d never get rid of the Wal, I have to admit I would like a fretless thumb.

On 05/08/2020 at 11:38, Crisis Rail said:

 

Any chance of an image or two?

 

Ian

Here you go.  Mine has flamed schedua facings around a mahogany core, and it’s pictured in its Wal flight case.  

You can can also see the Bass Centre strap that they threw in when I bought it.  These days I use a Planet Waves wide bass strap, as the Wal is quite heavy...

2 hours ago, Crisis Rail said:

Interesting thread if not a few “regrets”! 

 

A bit “modern” but regret selling my first ‘78 (large letter) Fender Precision in 1984 to buy a mini. 

 

Even “moderner” Yet another regret for moving on a Cherry WAL Pro one (active single PU) when the band “thing” dried up and other interests evolved. Like you say there’s not a great deal of depreciation. WAL’s were groundbreaking quality for their time (see how the legend Mick Karn handles one) but looking a bit dated now. 

 

Ian 

I bought my Wal Custom new from the Bass Centre in Wapping in 1987 for the princely sum of £799 (which was for me a lot of money back then).  Looking at what they go for now, it’s one of the best investments I’ve made - although I would sell pretty much all of my other possessions before I’d consider parting with it.

As before, if any logistic help is needed in the Didcot area, I’m happy to help.