tomparryharry

I can remember my trip to New York. Our limousine was waved through customs, right to the steps. We were welcomed by a pretty stewardess, who handed you a glass of champagne. We took off, just in time for lunch, so it was a choice of Beef Wellington, or poached salmon, with a choice of steamed vegetables. all taken with some excellent vintage. Pudding was profiteroles. After lunch, the stewardess afforded an excellent back massage, and I slept the rest of the way. Then the bus went down a pothole. I awoke to find myself on a TFL Routemaster going down Fleet Street. A dream; it was all a dream...... Cheers, Ian.

Can I suggest you navigate over to 'airframe Assemblies' (they're on facebook) Enough good stuff to get your imagination working. Happy weekend, everybody, Ian.

Well, I like to ring the changes on the 8-wagon shunting puzzle. About a dozen locos I guess... I've never really counted the locomotives. For me, it's more about the wagons. I'd really like 40-50 wagons in a rake. I've held off building layouts in the past because I couldn't achieve this maxim. Hopefully this will change over the winter. To my shame, I've hoarded locomotives in the past. I'd rather buy wagons than the equivalent money on a single locomotive. Cheers, Ian

Speed reading is not very good for me. A quick scan (my poor old eyes) saw the words "Captain Cabbage"..... To the opticians, methinks..... Cheers, Ian.

The pen is indeed, mightier than the sword. It can reach out, and grab you back in an instant. "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave".

There's a lot of Harry Potter not yet released.. Harry potter, and the Kebab from Kandahar... Harry Potter and the Prisoner (where Harry & the gang watch a series on an Island in the 60's and try to work it out). Harry Potter & the Wizard of Wetherspoons.... Harry Potter and the order of Chinese.... The list goes on & on....

That's an excellent little gizmo. I've got some strip steel in the back of the workshop.....Somewhere.... Ian.

The point rodding would have a mechanical connection to the point rodding run. The crank would be set to be underneath the rodding. Pulling the lever for one point (in this case No 4, would move both points. On some regions, this might be 4A, & 4B. A 'fouling bar' is just that; a device set to foul, or thwart movement of a point, whilst a train is travelling over the point in question. These 'fouling bars' had immense length; some being 75' long in places. If you tried to move the locking lever whilst the train was passing over, the motion would throw the lever back into the signal box frame. In later years, the fouling bar was replaced by an electrical lock, disallowing the use of unlocking the point whilst the train was approaching the facing point. HTH, Ian.

"And to your right, we gaze upon the twin vistas of Crumlin, and Celynen North....." Ivor Kodak.

Why did/do the 3/4 Musketeers fight with Swords ? ? Not very tall, those 3/4 Musketeers. Being 3/4 size, they must have carried step ladders.... The story goes that they couldn't reach the horse stirrups, so they stole the Kings shopping trolley. The smaller one rode in the kiddies seat. "All for one! And one for all! Who's got the token?" Meanwhile, on a hill just outside Hastings.. " You stay careful with that bow & arrow young man! You'll have someone's eye out!" Happy Friday, everyone! Ian.

Hi folks, just a quick question. I've seen some Slaters shiplap embossed sheets, seems to look good. However, I don't know the scale! Any ideas, please? All information gratefully received. Cheers, Ian.

I like that very much.

A decent nights sleep is an absolute must. One thing I did try is a de-ioniser in the bedroom. It did alter the air quality, and, it did work. Mrs Smith didn't like it, so out it went... Nowadays, she'll put up with my snoring... On a positive note, I'm reaching that point where my proposed layout has to start. Track, rolling stock & gubbins has been stowed away for donkeys years. Looks like the end of this month sees the start. Bouyed up? Yes, I think I am... Cheers, Ian.

Never mind that, what have the Romans ever done for us?

What is greater, a half of a quarter. or, a quarter of a half? Little John eats 50% of a box of sweets, Big Jim eats another 90%. What has Big Jim got? Correct, a smack on the nose.... James is taking home 15 cooking apples. Jenny is taking 87.25%apples more. What has Jenny got? Big pockets....

Is a female gladiator, a gladioli? Take a marker pen, and write a number on a boomerang. Now, throw the boomerang, and concentrate. It should come to you. "They threw a tomato at my old mate Jim, He said that it hurt, it came in a tin".

That's interesting.... I've been steadily amassing track & point stock for my intended layout. The layout calls for 3-4 single slips. All in code 75 No tender locomotives, just 56xx's & panniers, oh, and a 42xx or two. All coal wagons, plus 2 B-sets. Sticky wicket? Cheers, Ian.

Aah, apologies! Please allow me to clarify my point from my earlier post. I'll try to illustrate what I meant, but it seems, poorly explained. Lets start by looking at a production company. In this instance, lets call them Sooper-Dooper Trains. Now, Sooper- Dooper are very good at their jobs: quality product, well received reputation. Sooper-Dooper have a product development department, bringing new product to market, under the overall banner of Sooper-Dooper. Now, the project is the next model train. Research & Development have done their work, and it's going to look good. The boss have even seen the mock-up, and he's impressed. Well done team! However, the ladies & gents from finance have a little problem.. Sure, it's good, you've done all of the work, but the anticipated RRP is higher than the market will stomach. So, all of the permutations are weighed up, but it's still not looking too good. Then, Fred the office boy (just returned from getting tea & doughnuts) pipes up... "I know, why don't you slow up the development, and spread the costs over a couple of financial years? Some of those costs can be written down into the budget called 'development', where we already have an established budget stream. As soon as the market catches up, then you can release the next Sooper-Dooper product to universal acclaim." Everyone looks at the boss: He instructs marketing. " Keep the marketing going; We know it's good. Drip-feed, now & again, keep the customers on the hook." R&D breathe a sigh of relief, they've got a mountain of work, but, the project is all pretty sown up, with all of the important information stored safely away on the company computer files. Marketing have their own work, with all of the quality work that Sooper-Dooper already make. The boss at Sooper-Dooper has a good set of people in the finance Team. Both he and his team know that when the market can stand the product, It can go into production as soon as possible. Fred the office boy? Clever bloke Fred. He'll go far.... Fred Needle-Street.

No implications on my part whatsoever. Your rightful prerogative is to choose what you wish to believe, and like you, I'll defend your right to that choice. Me? Call me a cynical old so-and so, with probably too many miles on the clock, too many stories, both true & fanciful, and a hard-bitten attitude to money, and how it works. Cheers, Ian.

That's a very Sharman-esque post!

May I respectfully ask, how do you know it's gone to tooling? Making a carrier plate for moulds might qualify (as reported by Bachmann Times) that there has been expenditure by Bachmann, possibly with a model. Once again, good luck to Bachmann. I'll see one, as & when I see one. Cheers, Ian.

I see your point. But.. Bachmann probably know to the exact 1/2 penny what it costs to make, and the margins gained. If there's better returns on any item, that will be where most focus is created, supported and maintained. Any business will tell you that. A good business will diversify into suitable complimentary products, to enhance the earnings base. Sure, they'll want you to buy the latest 'must have', but, "buy this other one, whilst you're there". Sometimes, it's known as a 'loss leader' Not all businesses have loss leaders; BMC came a cropper with too many loss leaders. Because we're predominately loco-centric, the focus needs to be kept with that latest 'must have'. Guilty as charged, M'Lud! But, and behind it, is the quiet business of actually making money. One avenue is 'inconsequential spend'. Inconsequential spend is, or was, the value you hand over for those little things that you like to buy for yourself. The demographic varies, but the notion (behind the business) is sound. In the early seventies, it was gauged at 2 pints, 20 fags, or a girly magazine. It won't dent the money supply. If you look at the cost of inconsequential spend today, transfer that cost value to your model railway. Ringing any bells? Yes, you will have a 94xx, but only when Bachmann can release it with a fair certainty on return. Good luck to Bachmann, I bear absolutely no grudge to them, their business or their staff & associates. What I do know, is that they are there to make money, just like everyone else. Cheers, Ian.

I'm very ashamed of myself. The photo of Tymawr is the landsale yard, just behind Tymawr pit. It was an everyday occurrence, to the point I just ignored it. They say you can repent at your leisure, but it won't let you go...

There may be a degree of realism in there. I'd might wager that the 94xx is held back, until the buying public are comfortable with the £130-150 price range for a locomotive. After all, the humble 8750 pannier still commands around £80 brand new. How do you justify an extra £50-70 on top? Rationally, I expect the release of the 94xx will be about 5 years from now, or, about 2023. What would compel Bachmann to move into high gear? Err, nothing, really. If you have a decreasing demographic, and a high development cost, the particular margins start getting uncomfortably slim. A much better business are things like rolling stock. Wagons are now commanding £15-20 each. No motorised parts; limited assembly skills. Gate prices are much lower, the profit margins much, much higher. A good business plan is repeat business. You can keep coming back little & often. 4 wagons equals the same outlay as an 0-6-0. Buying a locomotive can, or will, hamper the desire to buy extra rolling stock, and that IMHO, is where the money is. Happy modelling, Ian.

Just an observation, but.... How do you know people can't lay track prototypically? Some make train sets, some strive for a typical flow. I can think of a couple of set ups where the layout was absolutely wonderful, and far, far better than I could ever aspire. Prototypical operation? Never in a million years.