kevinlms

Have a search for this book. It's American, but some excellent ideas there. https://www.hpb.com/products/how-to-build-model-railroad-benchwork-9780890242896 The methods described best suit fixed layouts (I assume yours is), but the same techniques can be applied to portable layouts.

Probably such an index could be compiled. Problem is some one still has be capable of managing the project, which covers many things, not least that the information is in a compatible form. I can fully understand why some people create indexes of their own personal interests. Why, because it is time consuming work, so why would they 'waste' time on items that are of no interest? Better to do some other titles or, gasp, do some modelling based on what one has found in an index! If I remember correctly, the original compiler of the ONLINE version of the MRJ/BRJ indexes offered others the software to create other indexes of other magazines - but not to do the work. How many took him up on this offer, I wonder. Where are the results? Certainly it can be done, for example all copies of Model Engineer are available in one index - this goes back to the first issue in 1898! The introduction gives an insight to the work involved, especially if you want it to be meaningful and consistent. There is always the issue of what to include and what to leave out? http://www.groundlevel.demon.co.uk/me_index.html

'Saw you at the show', doesn't actually tell a trader anything much. Did the people come in not know of their existence before, in which case the show did achieve something. If they were occasional existing customers who 'saw you at the show', then that is pointless. Advertising is difficult, as you often never know how effective advertising is. It's particularly hard, if customers don't need your product/service straight away. A supermarket can advertise a particular special and people turn up in quantity the next day and they sell out. A plumber/electrician might not be required for many months or even years. I've done advertising and had people respond, more than 12 months later, will I honour it? Yes, I do.

Fact is the 'halcyon days of the 1950s', is now 65 years ago and so anyone hanging around platforms then, taking numbers has to be into their 70s. I was born in 1956, so I'm outside that group, but also my local line was electrified when I was 5 (LT&SR), so I have no recollection of steam at all in normal service. But in some respects I buck the trend, as I have never left model railways like so many others have and come back many years later. Despite my background, the LMS trains I prefer are those of more northern types. Why, I don't really know where that came from, as I've never lived in northern England, but did Scotland for 4 years. Yeah, I know makes no sense, but it's me! I think an important difference from the 1950s to today, is the huge variety of trains back then, when virtually anything could be seen in much of the country. I don't mean that GWR Kings could be seen throughout the country, but the fact that it you waited long enough to see a dozen trains, you'd get several different types - except on the LT&SR! Fact is most modern railways are much less interesting than railways used to be. Many lines are suburban only and while there are plenty of trains, there might be 1 or 2 varieties. Is it surprising that many youngsters don't get interested in trains any more? Many have possibly never taken a regular train, so why should they even think about model railways as a hobby - they don't.

That of course isn't true either. Not all current retirees are cashed up and ready to SPEND. Far from it, although many are in that situation, it certainly isn't universal. Some have even provided their reasons why not - poor health and divorce are both expensive items. As always what some people consider as disposable income for their hobbies, is a dream for other. I read in some old Railway Modellers, where the author went out and purchased multiple quantities of various Airfix kits, just to see what could be constructed from them. Going out and buying 20-30 odd kits at a time, isn't something everyone would do. Not a huge outlay maybe, but hard to justify for many.

But several of the posts have advocated that approach, of having a small number of generic chassis, with interchangeable bodies. So full circle, as for the last 20 years, the market has gone for as accurate as practical models, on specific chassis for the prototype intended!

To which the correct answer is twice, most days. That will throw them!

I thought the railway was built, to be close to the 'depot'!

Chelsea's result doesn't seem so bad! It took 2 legs to reach 7-1.

Undoubtedly there is a market for people to modify something cheap, but is it the main marketing angle - no of course not. Only a small minority would end up being purchased even as a clearance item, for such reasons. Cheap sets will always be around. Some manufacturer makes a large batch and sells them off quickly. There is no intention of ever extending the range. Remember the 'Rocky Mountain Express' set - I think that was its title. It come out in the late 70s, early 80s, with a preformed mountain base, an oval of track looping through the mountain, with a couple of sidings & a train. My club ended up getting one donated, missing half of the track. That thing sat around the club for years. With one half the club members, saying that we should fix it up and sell at exhibition. Trouble was locating more points that fitted the base. The other half said there was no commitment, to waste any money on it and to scrap it keeping any useful (if any) bits.

Why would Hornby sell what you call the 'Limby' range to a would be competitor, just to be undermined? Makes no sense. Your Model Railway Village, shows what happens there, with people trying to flog on eBay 'Bachmann' Mk1 coaches. Funnily enough they only come in one style/colour scheme! The 'cheap overseas labour' has 3 options. One is to make higher quality models with more parts - which has been repeated many times over, not just the British market. Another is to make cheaper less detailed models, which Hornby has been doing with their 'Railroad' range. The tooling has presumably long been written off, so ought not be a major expense. The 3rd option, which some seem to be suggesting is making models in the 'junk', category, where nothing is compatible with the standard range - except by chance. Another poster explained the problems to a proper model railway shop, where well meaning people came in to buy additional equipment, and there is none, so a blind alley. I believe he said Jouef went down the 3 standards path. Looking at Hornby's website, it seems the high quality models, is the only one left. Now why would that be? The answer is obvious, the cheap ones need to sell a LOT, to make it worthwhile. That market doesn't exist and I can't see it coming back any time soon.

Fact is the modern hobby has already gone to cheaper Asian factories to get the models made, rather than British/West European wages and conditions. The only way to get models made cheaper still (not that they are necessarily SOLD cheaper - got to keep the profit margins up!), is to go to other 3rd world countries and exploit them. There is some buyer resentment on doing that sort of thing. Examples include sustainable cocoa plantations, anti-child labour rules on textiles and footwear and even fair wages! All of these go against making cheaper and cheaper models available, so little Johnny can have an extra wagon in his train set for the same price!

I always have considered the idea of a basic oval and nothing else as rather negative. Adding 2 sidings is a vast improvement, even if very short. My first train set had a passing loop and a siding, for some time. My parents weren't wealthy, but grandparents etc, all contributed and I certainly didn't get anything else!

That's OK, because I'm assuming that you're adult enough to understand the implications and the purpose you purchased it for. The topic is about budget priced stuff for beginners to the hobby.

Is it a replacement set of milled frames to replace a RTR set or kit which has a wrong chassis? I remember that Alan Gibson sold scale chassis, as well as ones to fit specific models or kits which may not have been 100% right.

My council in Australia has a 24 hour curfew for cats. This means it can only be confined to your property. It is for exactly the reason you state, to protect other wildlife, especially native. Not sure I like the idea of a cat run. So I think Mrs KevinLMS & I will remain cat less, which we have for the last couple of years. Cats usually come to me more than the other half. I was out at a customers place a few years ago, having a coffee with the lady of the house, with the cat next to me getting a good deal of attention, under the chin. Man of the house walks in, sees what I'm doing and tells me that his cat, won't let him do that!

If only 7% bother to vote, then why is that not valid? They aren't there 'by default', but the way those who cast their votes did vote. Besides, I would have thought Britain not that long ago, learnt what happens if many people don't vote. No good complaining later, that the result didn't go your way!

The local model shop had an answer ready. He explained that situation to them carefully and politely, that there was nothing he could do. He then asked if he could throw it in the bin for them! These department stores with a toy section & chain toy shops, just don't care as they have their money.

True, but the STYLE of the scams has been around, since they used to POST stuff out. Paying some sort of 'admin fee', to get a large amount of money for instance, has been around for decades. Yet people fall for this and it's not just the elderly or confused. Not long ago, I received a letter with an invoice for an amount of 8000 odd Euros, posted in Switzerland!. 2 obvious things, last I knew Switzerland didn't do Euros and I'm in Australia! Still, I'm glad these types of scam are so easy to pick!

The Chinese can make excellent stuff, but they can also make absolute rubbish, which is not worth buying. Yes, they probably still make money, but how many do they put off for good?

The thing about these cheap entry level sets, is that they are often 'self-contained', in the sense they are incapable of being extended or repaired. So when they break, into landfill they go, because there is nothing else you can do with them. That will put both junior & the parents off the hobby, as obviously it's just junk! At least with 'proper' sets like Hornby or Bachmann, you can acquire another loco or whatever and it will just work.

True, but they will never ask you to pay/reclaim anything by clicking on a link.

You are saying that Mungo-Bean merely sniffed a Parkinson's disease pill and that caused sufficient reaction to kill him? Wow!

Col Stephens Mk2!

Thought you were going to tell us, that the cat ended up knocking the statue off and smashing it to pieces!