PhilJ W

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Quite an interesting exhibition this morning, run by the local IPMS (plastic kit bashers). Its interesting to see the detail on some of the models, right down to an autumn scene including individual fallen leaves and an almost microscopic depiction of a Japanese Zero fighter flying over jungle, the aircraft was about 4mm long. My friends son pointed that one out otherwise both his dad and myself wouldn't have spotted it. I came away with a large (1/24 scale) kit of a Citroen van, complete and untouched with all the components inside the sealed plastic bag inside the box and all for a fiver. The hall was rather small and was got a bit stuffy but we were able to see everything in less than two hours.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. There was a drop of rain last night but you wouldn't think so as it still looks like a desert out there, except that its very muggy. Now off out for a few hours, be back later

Goodnight all.

A little bit of unknown history. Don't read this however if you are about to eat anything. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erfurt_latrine_disaster

The weather thingummy at the bottom of the page is saying 'Rain to stop.' what rain?

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Last night I couldn't be asked to check up on Farcebook which means this evening I will have to get on with it.

There was three of these vehicles built. They were built to the maximum legal dimensions, Thirty feet long by seven feet six inches wide. They had single wheels all round fitted with 12.75" X 20" low pressure tyres. I am trying to locate a picture of one of these vehicles that I've seen showing the hand winch fitted behind the cab above the second axle. The rear bogie was one normally fitted to AEC trolleybuses with an underslung worm drive which gave a maximum speed of 17mph which when you consider lorries over a certain weight were limited to 20 mph was quite adequate.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Going out tomorrow to a kit bashers show. Its local, Billericay so not too far to go. I like to 'look over the fence' to see what other (none railway) modelling disciplines are doing.

Trolleybuses were the best hill climbers.

Could even make Prime Minister as one former mayor has done.

I put water out for the foxes* that invaded my garden but not food. *A vixen and three cubs.

Where's the Palethorpes van?

Its a Hyundai I10, I bought it brand new just over fourteen years ago. Build quality is very good, no rattles or poor fitting panels. Only niggle and this applied to my previous car is that the carpets appear to be sprayed on and are not very durable especially under the drivers feet (where wear is a factor, operating the pedals). I have rubber mats laid down to protect the carpets. In those fourteen years it has been ultra reliable with only the usual consumables such as tyres being replaced.

A few years ago my friend and myself went into Tess Coes rather late when they had just done the final reductions on the reduced to clear. My friend picked up a few multi-packs of potato crisps for his kids that were marked down to a few pence. When he went to the till the total of the bill was negative, Tess Coes owed him money! What happened was there was a BOGOF deal on the potato crisps and despite the reductions the full price for the multipacks had been deducted. The manager was called and he told the till assistant to pay my friend the money. I'd also picked up some things from the reduced to clear but only had to pay a few pennies for mine.

Morning all from Estuary-Land. The weather forecast is a bit vague as to whether we will have rain or not. I'm going to an indoor event tomorrow so that will not be affected if it rains. The garden is looking a bit parched and could certainly do with some rain. Now off to have a bath, be back later.

Goodnight all.

Thanks, I posted the item before I'd finished all of it. What amazes me that such a vessel made it across the Atlantic and back again being designed to operate a short journey in a sheltered seaway.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Running a bit late as I got stuck into some magazines I bought at the Middy last Sunday. They were copies of the GER Journal with some interesting pieces on the ships operated by the GER including one of the strangest vessels ever to go to sea. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Model_of_train_ferry_'Leonard',_Williamson_Art_Gallery.jpg The illustration is a half model with the bows to the right. The train deck moved up and down so that it could load at any state of the tide without need for a link span. The movable train deck was lowered for the sea passage. It was built for the Canadian National Railway just before WW1 but was commandeered in 1917 for use from Richborough to the French ports. It was renamed Train Ferry No. 4. It was obtained by the GER in 1922 together with the more conventional Train Ferry No's 1-3 and was put into service but its shortcomings were such that it was sold very quickly and was converted to an oil tanker.