teaky

The Stationmaster states: "It was made very clear by Brian Greenwood at the launch yesterday that they are 'exclusive' and the Locomotion Models website - which I have just checked - also shows them as 'exclusive' (to the NRM), not as 'limited editions'." The "limited editions" comments may have arisen following Ian Hargreaves statement in post 376: "Totally exclusive....and when they're gone,they're gone. You want one? Don't hang about." Perhaps someone in the know could clarify please just to draw a line under this aspect of the debate. As far as I'm concerned, it looks great and I've ordered one.

Petthemole is correct. Apart from dragon flies often being a little larger, the easiest way to tell damsel flies from dragon flies is that damsel flies fold their wings back when they land and dragon flies keep them extended.

"...I wonder what's in them?" Horse milk?

Or the Ffestiniog perhaps?

My suggestion: scan what you definitely want to keep, make a note of articles that may or may not be of interest (so you can find the RM issue again in future, if necessary), take the rest to a (railway) charity for them to sell. I've given a number of magazines to the Severn Valley Railway for example. Seems better than recycling even if they only make a few quid.

Glossy Ibis ?

Probably. He certainly had enough people quartered.

Do sparrowhawks take wood pigeons or are they too big? I'd love the one that hunts in and around our garden to reduce the local wood pigeon population and consequently the pooh and repetitive noise! Only seems to take song birds (tits and sparrows mainly) as far as I can see. No feral pigeons around here.

I know what you're suggesting Allan but having every window opaque doesn't look quite right to me. (someone will probably now post a picture of an entire factory with opaque windows!)

New use for magpies! I had a tree reduced in height last autumn which means the moss in my no longer shaded lawn has started to die back again. The magpies are now doing a fantastic job of plucking out tufts of moss to find bugs to eat underneath. I haven't figured out what they're eating yet but there's definitely a 'pluck it, chuck it aside and then peck at something' action going on. What amazes me is how quickly and thoroughly they have cleared the moss. All I need to do is vacuum it up as I mow. No raking required.

Looks good to me Tony. All I can see after a quick look: - Maybe the coupling rods are a little cruder? - There is a cover (superheater?) on the top of the firebox of the new one but that may be a genuine difference between the two locomotives anyway. - A few of the fittings need tweaking to straighten them up. - More space above the leading pony truck or that may just be the slightly different angle? - The point where the valve gear and body meet is a little dodgy, especially on the RH side of both of the new models. No doubt someone with a whopping big, hi-res screen will spot far more.

I like the idea of using a brake van Barry. The step boards do a good job of disguising the hardboard. You can see it but the eye isn't drawn to it. How much extra weight have you added to get sufficient pressure on the hardboard?

Silver Jubilee looks good. It would be interesting to hear Roy's view on building and painting these kits, especially how he managed to paint them so neatly.

The CooperCraft website still has driving trailer ends at £2 (go to http://cooper-craft.co.uk/ and search for end drv) and a 8835 51' Trailer at £15. Presumably these are Ian's original designs.