DavidLong

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

Always liked the 'Dance Halls', Pete. I may just start a lobby for a 2mm version! David

You're a brave man, Andy, but a most accomplished piece of work has resulted. Whoever said that diesels were just boxes on wheels has never tried to model one. Excellent work. David

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

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

Code 40 bullhead from Marcway is even better. It is straight both horizontally and vertically. David

Sorry to be a bit of an historical Luddite, Mikkel, but in this case historical accuracy comes a poor second to the sheer quality of the modelling although I do appreciate your natural desire to 'get it right'. David

Very nice, Pete. The work on the glazing was worthwhile and I also like the extra S.R. lights/lamp irons. Very appropriate considering that it was a Southern loco for all its short B.R. life. David

"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

Adrian, This is so good it hurts. No more to say. David

Pete, If you're really desperate to do something with the Crompton then buy a Dapol Class 26 (of any variety) and fit it to the Farish body. You will need to replace the fuel tanks with the Farish version. The bogie steps won't line up with the doors but as a temporary fix it is fine as the Class 26 is a superb runner. The fact that the bogies have the correct wheelbase and don't project out beyond the body just makes it look a whole lot better. Alternatively, don't bother and just put in a pre-order to a Liverpool emporium for the upcoming pukka Crompton from Dapol! Anyway, nice work as usual, Pete. 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

Excellent work as ever, Tom. May I ask how you made the lamp enclosures? David

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

I agree with him, Tom, inspirational stuff :-) David