Donw

Couldn't rate your post Like would be inappropriate for the first part but apt for getting a combo. At 16 my father (who was providing the funds) insisted I should have a combo. We settled on a Norton model 50 with a sidecar. I wasn't really strong enough to hold it but soon built up the strength. It was great fun and as a learner I could still take friends (or young ladies). Don

Not a lighter but in he past before we had fancy testers searching for a leak with a lit taper was a recognised method. You had to be experienced enough to know that gas and air mix is only explosive in a certain range too little or too much gas and it will not explode. Therefore you can judge the space and ventilation. Add to that the strength of the smell and you have a fair chance of being ok. When close to a leak the flame will be affected. Of course mistakes were made and could be fatal so I do not advise trying this out for yourself. Don

Its is a real pleasure to be allowed to operate Bridport. Don

That rather depends on where you are looking from from here on the Isle of Wight it would be on the left for the SECR , LTSR, GER However from Newcastle it would be on the left for the GNR, GCR, MR, LNWR, GWR. LSWR You are just biased by the maps which have the north at the top invert the map and it all changes. Don

The business of left or right handedness is odd. A lot of learning as a small child is by watching others. When I first learnt to write I did it quite neatly however it was reversed. Held up to a mirror you could read it. For some reason they made me right the wrong way. Most things I learnt at an early age are left handed but things learnt later are much more ambidextrous. Although there is better control in the left hand. Some things are awkward scissors are righthanded used in the right the action tends to hold the blades together getting a better cut. You can actually buy lefthanded scissors. Don

The book I quote Small Smart and Practical has the majority occupying less than 12x12 the smallest being 8x4 and an interesting design for 8x 4 Don

Fradden was I think on a layout by Ken Ball if my memory serves me right. I forget the issue with Treggarick I do remember seeing it at The Great Western Hotel again relying on memory. In additional to the Wild Swan books there was two from Atlantic 'Designs for Urban Layouts and 'Mainline in small spaces' I also have a model railroader on Small Smart and Practical Layouts Designs. Don

Unless you are left handed like me. Although I have had FY on right, FY on right for the last two the one under construction is FY on the left. This is using three links. Don

I have obtained a brake and all third secondhand but have no coupling bars and no idea how the lightbars work. Can anyone offer advise please. Don

Very sad to read these posts. I hadn't picked up on this thread but I had often seen Neil posting on the same threads as me. To go so young is a cruel twist of fate and this shows how much he had to give. Don

I never got to have a look at the Inglenook it was so busy with Kids the levers are a good idea I suspect the kids enjoy that. When I used to take an exhibition layout out, I used to let them have a go on the controls. They had little trouble with that but absolutely had no idea what shunting was about. Of course they wouldn't have seen it done for real whereas being in my Seventies I spent a lot of time as a kid watching shunts. Judging by the standard yesterday I would be proud to be invited. Don

Very nice Jerry. It was good to have a chat yesterday and the chance to see the Kirtley. Don

It would be good if you take a layout to Portsmouth 24 . I will be there next year if still alive. The ferry to Portsmouth is just down the road from me. Don

It was good to see both layouts yesterday and catch up with friends. Don

Just spent a pleasant wander through your thread on Irish Railways. I didn't realise you had been so prolific. Some delightful stock and very generous of you. Don

I seem to remember ( I suspect the photos have gone from the posts) some nice Irish locos and stock you produced that would have been right at home on Northport. Don

it was good to see Modbury yesterday. Superb modelling. Don

My thanks for the tip about Northport Quay I saw it today at Portsmouth. Really nice layout and in a commendably small space with delightful stock. Seemed to me to share some of the ethos of Washbourne . Don

Portsmouth show today was positively brilliant top quality layouts. Interesting to note the New accessible venue. When I took a layout to that show some years ago (possibly 25 years!!!) it was in a real warren of small rooms. I did really enjoy it though. Don

It was a really good show all the layouts were of top quality. Things that stand out for me Modbury especially the railmotor. Drws y Nant capturing the feel of the place. Northport Quay especially the boat. Foston Mill especially the river and millpond. I liked the sound of the surf on Westcliff as well as the modelling. A good day out. The Fishbourne to Portsmouth ferry was fine. I am glad I took the Van. My legs felt the standing up all day apart from the chance to sit at the 2mm stand for a while chatting. If I came over on foot I wouldn't have appreciated the walk from the bust stop. I enjoyed the school dinner rather better than in my day. I probably spent more than I intended with the traders but that probably helps them. Don

I will be on the ferry. I was going to be on foot but a quarter of an hour from the bus stop in heavy rain means we will take the car over. Don

Looking forward to seeing it again Ian especially the steam railmotor. Don

Well Hornby did the Flying Scotsman as an Atlantic in 0 gauge maybe the Reverend thought he could use an Atlantic 2. The Ivatt ones were handsome beasts ( this from a GWR fan). Don

My point was simply that when Cyril took over the options of a second line as light relief was less practical than today and any layout build was longer so you really needed to be enjoying the build whereas today there is so much help that even if something seems a bit of a slog it is completed much quicker. Having a lifetime 'great project' and lots of short 'fun' layouts is much easier today. Mind you even now a lot of 'great projects' seem prone to falter even today. Don

I think when Cyril made those comments building even one layout took some effort and buying models was a problem with supply. Whereas today you can walk out of a model shop with all you need for a layout. Don