DavidLong

Interesting watching Chelsea v QPR on MOTD last night. I didn't know the score but smelt a rat as soon as it was first in the running order. It was either going to be a deluge for Chelsea or QPR were going to win it. As the game wore on I knew exactly which of those outcomes it was going to be it was just a matter of when not if. Chelsea had 23 shots to, I think, QPR's 4 and 9 times out of 10, maybe 99 out of 100, Chelsea would have won it. The one thing that you wouldn't do, unlike the planks on MOTD, is draw any conclusions about QPR's chances of staying up. You can understand 'Arry's spin on it but any sensible observer would say "let's wait another five or so games and then see if the win was significant but not before". Equally, one home defeat to the bottom team, miserable as it may seem, doesn't provide any sensible commentary on Chelsea under Benitez.

It should be astonishing news that Forest have fired O'Driscoll, but it seems most owners don't have a clue about creating stability.

 

 

No idea...but Di Matteo getting zapped is one of the reasons I was less suprised about O'Driscoll than I perhaps should have been...

And, needless to say and a tad ironically, RdM being linked (even if only in the press' fevered imagination) with Forest. So it goes . . .

David

This is the link to the item on the Trains newswire:

http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2012/12/Union%20Pacific%20looking%20to%20restore%20Big%20Boy%20for%20excursion%20service.aspx

David

I think this guy has put his decimal point in the wrong place so no bids yet.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-DIFFERENT-Dapol-GWR-6-WHEELED-MILK-TANKER-SOMERSET-DORSET-DEVON-DAIRY-CHARD-/370709740289?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item565005bb01

You'd think that the free postage may have tempted some bidders!

David

So there I was just scouting around on ebay looking for an N scale Alco RS2 and I found this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-PROTO-Diesel-Alco-RS-2-Seaboard-Air-line-75113-/350499342823?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item519b6389e7

Looks reasonable enough, about $90 (£55 or so) including postage.

Then I looked further down the listings for the same Walthers Proto N scale RS2 and I find someone taking the p**s

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walthers-N-SCALE-920-75117-ALCO-RS-2-DIESEL-LOCOMOTIVE-Union-Pacific-1291-/370665864734?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item564d683e1e

$170 plus $85 postage! As a well known American was known to say on occasion, "you cannot be serious"

David

I should never be left alone with new toys, especially something as beautiful as this was.

 

 

Having got to this stage, I've discovered no one seems to do the 'Pullman' lettering. Where's that nice man from Railtec?!

 

Pix

You have no shame, Sir. I should have you horse-whipped and black-balled from the Association. The biggest single atrocity that was perpetrated on the Blue Pullman was the all-yellow end which was then compounded by the addition of that ghastly reversed blue and grey abomination.

The '70s were indeed the decade that style forgot and I should know 'cos I lived through them and had my pair of maroon flared cords and flowered shirt to prove it. And don't turn all rivet counter by claiming that this was done in the late-60s; it was done in the spirit of and merely anticipated the 1970s.

Yours in despair

A disillusioned 2 miller

(As usual nice work btw but you should still be horse whipped . . . )

Interestingly I was brought up by a United supporting Dad, but he was brought up in the era when many families in Manchester supported one of the other, but when their team wasn't playing supported the other one against whoever they were playing, one week they'd be at Maine Road, the next at Old Trafford... I still follow that line and so would support United in, say, the Cup finals...Same applies to other Home Countries, if England aren't playing then I'd back one of the other home countries if they were...

 

Seems this is not the "done thing" these days when fanatical support seems top prevent it which, tbh, I find rather sad...

I don't think that you make much impression on Red Devil of this parish with that sort of talk. Bit of an alien concept.

I've been watching the Arsenal (aka Woolwich Exiles!) for 43 years but I'll say that I really don't have an awful lot against our neighbours from up the road. Nice to beat them of course but I know which side I'd be on in a Spurs v Chelsea confrontation (sorry Mr.Penfold. . .)

David

How come the deliveries for Geest are in ordinary Vanfits and not in banana vans?

David

Heljan have announced an RTR Class 60 which I assume would work nicely on the coal?

 

http://www.rmweb.co....uildex-telford/

 

Just a thought though, if they run in "MGR" sets of 36 then that's a very long - and expensive - train to model...

I reckon about £3000 (recession, what recession?) and about 26 feet. Now I know why, despite my liking for 7mm, I stick with 2FS!

David

There was a large OO scale analogue layout called Hallgates around 10-15 years ago which used radio control. However, at least one fixed-formation coach was needed behind the engine to accommodate all the batteries.

 

Even with recent advances in technology, particularly miniaturisation, I don't think the push will come from the major manufacturers any time soon, they have too much invested in existing systems.

The article in BRM from 1995 (yes, 17 years ago) clearly showed batteries in the smokebox and boiler of a 4mm tank locomotive, a Buckjumper I think, so I'm not sure why a coach would be needed to carry the power supply.

From the previous discussions of this subject and the generally negative tone of responses I have to conclude that most people are just in love with layout wiring!

David

Stuart,

I think that the ideal combination is battery power/RC/DCC, hence the fact that I find a system such as that from Tam Valley Depot is the sort that would have the most appeal. We wouldn't have to throw out all the excellent features that come with DCC while getting rid of that tedious and, as you comment, often confusing wiring business.

http://www.tamvalleyrr.com/wirelessdcc.html

I noted from the TVD website that they sell to the USA only and I would speculate that the frequencies that are used are not authorised for use in Europe.

The problem for systems such as Red Arrow and Protocab is that they would involve the re-equipping a loco fleet with different technology whereas systems like TVD allow you to keep all your onboard DCC equipment but access it in a different way.

David

Stuart,

There has been some recent discussion about this subject in the MRJ thread (start around post #29):

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/62895-mrj-218/page__st__25

There was also a bit of a discussion that I started back in May after seeing Protocab at Scalefour North:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56219-protocab/

Despite being a 2FS modeller like yourself I have been interested in this subject since I saw Bernard Weller demonstrating Red Arrow at a show back in the mid 1990s. Andy Farquarson did articles on Red Arrow in Scalefour News and British Railway Modelling in December 1995. The latter article has photos which show that the battery technology can be used in small 4mm tank locos.

David

Good piece from the ever reliable Barney Ronay in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/nov/22/rafa-benitez-chelsea-manager

Loved the comment:

"And naturally there are plenty even among Chelsea's supporters already suffering from unveiling-fatigue, the temptation to equate these occasions with the wheeling out of the latest puppet prime minster by some banana republic despot. Yes. We have absolute faith in Governor Benítez. No. Governor Benítez can't talk right now. Governor Benítez is asleep in his wooden crate."

Priceless!

David

I thought that certain remarks in the press about Chelsea being 'humiliated' by Juventus were well wide of the mark. The first two goals were deflections and the third came when Chelsea were pushing to get something from the game. This also ignores the fact that Juventus are in formidable form, helped by the signing of Andrea Pirlo from Milan who, allegedly, reckoned that his knees had gone! Starting the game without a recognised striker was, in the words of Sir Humphrey Appleby, 'a courageous decision' but none of Chelsea's strikers is exactly uprootong trees at present. I see that there is a suggestion of trying to lure Drogba back! Sturridge looked good when I watched him playing for Bolton but seems to have regressed while Victor Moses is promising at 22 but doesn't give the impression of a twenty goal a season striker at present. And as for El Nino . . . well, hence the courting of his old mentor, Rafa.

So, not really humiliation but more toothless I would have said

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my lads against the mighty Montpellier this evening. No Theo so we may be 'treated' to the sight of Gervinho which should be good for a laugh if nothing else.

David

D4109 looks beautifully (?) faded.

Considering the original cost of the kit and adding in the CT chip and the many hours putting it together the last thing that you want to inflict on it is an inferior paint job. I'm more than happy to work on my wagon collection but for locos Ian's understated finishing is just perfect to my eyes. That faded green is one of his best yet and is a very good match to the guide photo that I provided him with.

David

Zlatan Ibrahimovic never plays well against England or English teams?

Yeah, over-rated, isn't he ?

Over the weekend of 3rd/4th November I exhibited 'Mayfield Street' at the East London Finescale Exhibition and, on the Saturday, I had the pleasure of a visit from David Mallott (aka 'Kylestrome') who was over in London for a few days from Germany. He took a few snaps of the layout which he has kindly allowed me to share here.

The first one is of D5034, one of the first Class 24s to be painted blue, sitting by the S&T bank with a couple of Stephen Harris sixteen tonners. D5034 is a repaint and weathering job by Mercig Studios.

The remainder feature the latest loco for the layout. I built D4109 from a 2mm Association kit and it was recently painted and weathered by Mercig Studios; another fine job from Ian Clenton. A couple of jobs remain to be done to add the lighting and conduits, radiator fillers and sandpipes. It is still being run in but I am quite pleased with how it has turned out. So pleased in fact that I have recently acquired a further kit from another Association member. Still time in this decade to get it built

All in all a very enjoyable weekend and a show that I would recommend to members.

David

Those Serbs, eh? Oh, wait . . .

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/10/millwall-fans-arrested-banner-marvin-sordell

Surely Serbia is not prejudiced. They hate everyone.

 

Best, Pete.

"No-one likes us, we don't care" Mmm, now where have I heard that before.

Perhaps someone ought to ask Marvin Sordell to 'compare and contrast'. . .

David

Also in East Anglia there is the infamous Happisburgh which is pronounced as Hazeburgh. It has never had a station but the Model Railway Club produced a 7mm layout of that name just to be awkward.

Anyone know which is the correct pronunciation of Haverhill, either as it is spelt have-er-hill or as hey-ver-ill?

David

 

Though I sometimes wonder whether there really is more cheating going on in football than there used to be, or whether it's just that it's caught on camera more and more often and every movement is scrutinised.

I think that Rod has summed this up perfectly. I've been going to football matches in all divisions and non-league for almost fifty years and I suspect that cheating has always gone on and it is just more visible these days. The game is also less violent than it used to be and for those who don't believe me I would suggest a look at the Chelsea v Leeds FA Cup final replay from 1970 which for sheer, naked aggression takes some beating. Although I wasn't there, I understand that the England v Italy game at Highbury in 1934 was, as they say, 'pretty tasty'. I have also read that the early Arsenal sides of Woolwich Arsenal days were not known for taking many prisoners which may merely have been a taster for certain Arsenal teams of later years (no need to agree, Mr Penfold. . . ).

I do get rather tired of those who complain about the modern game. Earlier this week I watched a full replay of Sunday's Tottenham V QPR game and it was ninety minutes of the highest quality entertainment. This was football that teams of even a couple of decades ago could only dream of, played at high speed with tremendous skill. And don't think that it is just the Premier League as, when I go to watch Southport play in the Conference Premier, the standard is light years ahead of the 4th Division stuff that I used to watch in the early 1960s.

The one area of the game that hasn't improved appreciably is international football and, personally, I don't really care. Football, unlike the simpler rugby, has never been a game where it is easy to put teams together on an irregular basis and now that we have the Champions League it shows international football up for the sideshow that it has become. And please, no complaints about it not being all champions, that's just UEFA making a mess of the title. Just accept it for what it is, a high quality competition between the best teams in Europe. Did it matter that Tottenham weren't champions in those terrific games against Inter? Does Colin Penfold care that Chelsea weren't champions when they won the competition? Unlikely I would think

David

 

Not heard much about the Balotelli incident though.

 

David

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident involving Manchester City's Mario Balotelli on Saturday.

Italy striker Balotelli fell to the ground after apparent contact between the players and, although referee Mark Clattenburg missed it at the time, Wilkinson has been charged following video evidence.

Wilkinson, who could face a three-game ban if found guilty of using his elbow, has until 1700GMT on Wednesday to contest the charge, the FA said in a statement on Tuesday.

Violent conduct from a Stoke City player? Surely not. . .

Not much doubt about Peter Odemwingie's transgression. One of the finest red card incidents I've ever seen. He even did it in front of the fourth official. No tv replay needed there then . . .

Not heard much about the Balotelli incident though.

David

Crystal Palace on Friday - gulp. Anyone else got potential banana skins they are looking forward to...?!

Yep, BWFC playing Watford on Saturday. Mr.Coyle on borrowed time due to a complete inability to teach a team how to defend.

I'll be watching the game on Friday, Simon, as it's on the television. Good luck anyway.

David

Pete,

I'd agree that the Don Rowland volume 'British Railway Wagons' is probably the best overview. It covers the introduction of all the 'traditional' types up to the mid-1960s and he finishes off with one chapter covering the introduction of the British Rail designed and owned air braked stock such as VAAs, SPAs, BAAs, HAAs etc.

It's a shame that the OPC 'Illustrated History of BR Wagons' only ran to Volume 1 as with a Volume 2 it would have been the real bible. Still worth buying for the photos, drawings and build details covering open merchandise wagons, steel carriers and steel minerals (coal/iron ore). Volume 2 would, I assume, have covered things like vans and hopper wagons but, as I say, sadly never appeared.

If you really get into it then any of the Larkin softbacks, now under Kevin Robertson's wing, are valuable and don't ignore the Cheona series that was begun by the late Geoff Gamble.

Mickey's point is good too about the two Hendry volumes as they are the only ones with colour pics.

David