tomparryharry

Keep going John. I hit, and continue to hit the depression moments. Reading posts on here have helped me enormously, and also provide the 'vital spark' when I see excellent work by a fellow poster/reader. Ian.

I think this has been noticed by quite a few RM webbers. A classic recent event would appear thus:- The 72xx tank locomotive was a sparse beastie. You'd see it here & there, but not many. Suddenly, Hattons are putting them out (more than 10 in stock), but at a greater price than before. However... Perhaps there is no discount to give any more. If a model advances with greater quality & fidelity than before, it can or might wipe out any grey area of discount. Do you want a full-fat model, or a semi-skimmed one? I'll always pay for quality, as long as the price is justified. Ian.

Hi folks, I did intend to answer your post, but it ended up as a two page rant. Many apologies to all, and normal service will be resumed after this cup of tea! Thanks, Ian.

I well remember a Cotswold/Sutherland 47xx kit. Worked very well, and went together just as nicely. I always remember the vast improvement over the equivalent K's offering, especially with that big milled chassis. Nu-cast went that sort of way, and I've still got a few similar chassis with some 42xx, and some Taff Vale A types. The MRRC 1001 motors still come up from time to time on Eeh-Bah-Bay, and for what's needed, fit the bill a treat. So far, I'm resisting a 47xx, in either guise. They didn't work through to my area, and my proposed layout is strictly (well, not too strictly) tank locomotive country. Of course, Rule 1 might well apply, and remember the Kings made it to Cardiff..... Cheers, Ian.

In the past, I've said that If I like it, I'll probably buy it. There are 3 DJM austerities hanging about here, and when DJ release the MSC version, I'd like one of those. Likewise, the 14xx. When I get around, there's a Shapeways autotrailer I've promised myself, and it's next on the list. Finally, the large prairie. Like a lot of us, I've advocated for the high quality, high fidelity model. So yes, very, mostly, probably on the list as well. Cheers, Ian.

If your equation goes to default, perhaps you need to change the symbols a bit. So:- (T-W= 0P). I tried hat one , but the results were inconclusive. These usually resulted in 0W, and NT (No Tea). I introduced some new symbols to your equation, and these seemed to work. The new symbols are:- D= Distance, and H= hearing. H is a variable. When multiplied by D has a dilutory effect. P also varies, from P+, to P- This gives us:- (T+M+(DxH)should give you 0P* Users of the equation should also pay attention to the velocity (V) factor, as frying pans in flight can carry long distances! *Users of this equation do so at their own risk. No liability will be accepted, or emergency rectal insertion. Ian.

Good morning Folks. Raining here in a wet Newport. Putting in a rebate for cable, and box sinking. After that, preparation for tiling. Have a nice day, and keep dry! Ian.

Try the Green Spark Plug Company. Specifically, try NGK. Ian.

I like the kitchen in the photo. I'd better not let 'her' see it!. I've just used the B&Q cheapy white tile, just with a different pattern & grout. My local gas fitter is well impressed, so we shall see. I've got a back wall to tile out, and then hang a chrome towel radiator. It's quite a dark in there, so I'm using a lot of white to throw the light about. I'll try to remember to get some photos. Cheers, Ian.

Good afternoon Folks. I hope you've all had a great weekend, and the weather holding up. Decorating continues, and finally I should get some ground marking done. I've done some serious 'looking at' thanks to Pete of this parish, regarding his railway workshop & shed. Tiling tomorrow, and hopefully, the new boiler going in. Have a great week, everybody! Ian.

Very definitely 1 blade per shave. The BIC ones are ok, as long as you take short cuts, and swill though after every pass. I did use a Braun, but the foil head never lasted long, about 2 weeks. The wet shave is in my opinion, far superior. Ian.

Grandad! You've got a Great Western engine, so I thought I'd paint it the proper colour!

Hmm. Bachmann pannier on E-Bay? Watch out for unscrupulous vendors, passing off the older Mainline model as the newer one. I've been caught before. Look carefully at the top of the main steam dome. Of it looks like a 'teat', then the chances that's the older version. Likewise, have a look at the coupling. If it's got the coupler screw on the chassis keeper plate, then that indicates it's an older version also. Some are asking silly money at the moment, for a model that might be about 30 years old. Little wonder that someone will pass it off as 'Brand new Bachmannn'. Caveat Emptor:- Let the buyer beware! Cheers, Ian.

I raided a sweetshop... The police have put a Bounty on my head.... Look now for the 'groan' button.......

I think it's 'education' on our part. We've covered this with Dapol, and the large prairie, and 43xx classes. As a market, we can lead pretty much any producer to make what we want. In turn, however, any producer will need to ensure that returns in a commercial sense will work out. No Philanthropy here! Is the 94xx too much of a niche market? Especially in volume terms? Look at your subject model. Limited time frame/era. Probably the last knockings of Western steam. Dirty, unkempt locomotives. Does it bear resemblance to the popular 57xx, a cute little model? It seems that we're on an upward trend, in terms of quality & fidelity. I'd guess it only takes a respectful request to ask a producer to 'take a look' to set the ball rolling. Cheers, Ian. PS, I have no intention of knocking Bachmann, BTW.

Being post-stroke, I was told that when I need to sleep, go to sleep. I had 6 months recuperation, and I couldn't tell when I'd wake up: 12 minutes, or 12 hours. Thanks to that, I had lower than average blood pressure, to the point that after a year, I had a clean bill of health. There for the grace of God, go I. Cheers, Ian.

I don't want to pour cold water on this, however.... Seeing how Dapol & others are charging nearly £20:00 for a wagon, where the gate price is about £2-£8:00, then someone is making a healthy margin. However, that's business. If you get into making plastic locomotives, then the production costs for the other items should have a pro-rata cost. Don't believe that you'll get anything seriously cheap, where there is a serious buck or two to be made. If Kooper-Kraft can't keep it together, with what was a first-class reputation in tatters, then keeping a profit margin for plastic toys is tricky business indeed. Sorry to be a party-pooper, but that's how I see it. Please, please prove me wrong. I'd be very interested to see such a development hitting the market. Cheers, Ian. PS. What happened to the gent whom asked about wagon kits a few weeks ago? My proposed colliery layout will soak up mineral wagons. I'm still in the market for a bulk of those little babies.

Hi Pete, Can I suggest that if you have a piece of off cut profile sheet, you can cut it lengthways, and bend of said sheet to your own requirements. It works for me. If you are lucky to have enough, cut the sheet at 1& 1/2 of a full profile. The half profile give you a fixing area, and the remaining 'full size profile' is used to form your gutter. Cheers, Ian. PS. What wood did you use for your triangular 'gusset' on your trusses?

Hi Pete. Probably a bit late now, but I invested in a drill-driven nibbler. It's compact to work through small radius profiles for large sheets. A word of warning though. The 'chads' are quite extensive, so find a way to recover the rubbish afterwards. I like the shed. Still taking plenty of interest. Cheers, Ian.

I can't bring a model railway exhibit this year, but I can deliver an exhibition on pasty consumption for the benefit of fellow modellers. I'll even bring my own KFS & napkin. happy weekend, everyone! Ian.

Are you taking the monorail, Mr. Stubby? Cheers, Ian.

If price hikes are beyond your reasonable expectation, then keep your money in your wallet. I'd dearly love a 72xx, but I'm not going to pay absolute top-dollar. However, it is my personal view. It wouldn't surprise me if Hornby have sat on these to create a demand for what might be described as 'rare'. "It'll sell, it's got Great Western on the side" sort of mentality. In an earlier post, we discussed the excessive sideplay encountered on these models. I recall that the class 95xx from Heljan also exhibited that trait. This leads me to wonder if using 'C' style spring clips will cure the problem, just like the Heljan model. I haven't tried my model yet, as it's all still stowed away. Happy modelling, Ian.

Forgot me as well.... Ian. (No, not that Ian, another Ian.....).

Hi Folks, The Transit transporter got himself stuck under the bridge at Abergavenny. He has just exited the A40, off the A449 (Newport-Monmouth-Hereford) towards the Heads of the Valleys road (A465). Abergavenny Station is about 400 yards from here. The rail line is Newport (Maindee) to Pontrilas. Funnily enough, I drove under the bridge about 2 days ago. No, I didn't get stuck! Ian.

Good morning Folks, from a slightly grey, but quite sunny Newport. Roads here are clear, and the visibility is very good. After a weekend off, I'm back to the decorating today. This week sees our gas fitter arriving to change a boiler, then I'm into final niggles to finally finishing off. Have a great week folks, and stay safe. Cheers, Ian.