Early Risers.

[TheQ]

All the appointed tasks were carried out,  One 25 kg Sack (when filled with spuds) filled with scrap timber and brought in,  another is filled and sitting in the marquee. There is a pile of larger bits that need cutting up. 

 

Before I could get the PSU, brown eyes wanted out,  Ben I hate loud noises collie was not happy with the pheasant massacre going on.  So I took him to the beach, walking into the strong wind to start with when we got to a rock sea defence,  there was a pair of seals hiding from the waves.  One beached itself just 20ft away. But  Ben the I hate water collie wasn't going anywhere near them.. 

The choice of starting into the wind was good,  the wind  assistance on return was much appreciated by my calves. 

 

The PSU is sitting on the table next to me,  I've ordered a small enclosure to make it safe, before I power it up. I may well assemble everything at the MRC next week. 

 

Many thoughts about toolboxes  have been rattling around my empty skull,  I find the normal toolbox of two swing out trays and particularly the space beneath  unsatisfactory.  I think a stack of thin drawers with foam inserts to hold everything in place would be better. I have found one I like the look of,  but at £87 I'm going to have a couple of days consideration before committing to it. 

A separate taller box would be required to carry glues etc. 

 

Edited November 23, 2019 by TheQ

[Happy Hippo]

38 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

2251?  Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear.  Still, not seen in the Forest of Dean. But ......I like 2251's.   No must resist, the small Prairie is more important.  But still......

According to Vol 1 of the excellent Neil Parkhurst series of books on the Gloucestershire area, there is photographic evidence of  some of Gloucester's 2251 fleet making it to Lydbrook Cable works on goods traffic.

 

Now you're stuffed!!

[AndyB]

22 hours ago, tigerburnie said:

Anyone would struggle to keep the Cockbridge to Tomintoul road open with a bulldozer and we don't get the winters like we used to, it's a nice road though past the Lecht.

 

And just a little further down that road, towards Ballater, is the last resting place of R.V. Jones. A peaceful spot.

[TheQ]

27 minutes ago, AndyB said:

 

And just a little further down that road, towards Ballater, is the last resting place of R.V. Jones. A peaceful spot.

Which is under 60 miles , from where Sir Robert Watson Watt is buried, in Pitlochry, he died in Raigmore hospital in 1973, Just a few hundred yards away from where I lived at the time( when at school).  Though not connected I became a radar technician who models railways.  Raigmore hospital being on the site of Raigmore house,  in which IIRC lived a director of Highland Railways  which I model... I will want to model. A Raigmore class loco. 

Other coincidences I've lived in Bletchley park where RV Jones worked for a time, and have contact with NPL which Sir R Watson Watt did. 

 

I remember the first place closed is always Drumochter pass. Though I've followed the snow blower from Dunblaine to Oban,  first car through in 3 days.. 

Edited November 23, 2019 by TheQ

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

The current plan which will put in a very nice reverse curve.  All I need is a damned long shed................................... Ah now where is that Hunt fellow.... He has one!

 

 

I know someone with a long shed. Just one problem, engines must be red or black.

 

Jamie

 

 

[brianusa]

14 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Chris, for an ignorant foreigner, what is a "winter fuel allowance payment"?

 

In the absence of the deli counter, do they not offer pre-packaged sliced meats in a refrigerated display case, or is that not something you prefer? (I could understand why.)

 

Most US supermarkets offer both a deli counter and a deli display case with pre-sliced meats.

 

Those in the UK get all sorts of bennies that the US wouldn't even dream about.  In some respects, we are fortunate to get what we do although we usually pay for them somehow, so it would seem.  Insurance for everything!

     Brian.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Everything packed and ready for tomorrow and alarm set for before sparrow fart. I think I have everything, if I haven't its just too bad.

[tigerburnie]

Evening all, all rugby'd out now, 4 times 80 minutes is a lot even for me, nice to see the Tiger Cubs squeeze out a victory in Caaaaaaaaaardif.

G'night all

[Kingzance]

13 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

Evening all, all rugby'd out now, 4 times 80 minutes is a lot even for me, nice to see the Tiger Cubs squeeze out a victory in Caaaaaaaaaardif.

G'night all

Tiger Cubs,  single cylinder 199cc 4-stroke motor cycles from the Triumph stable built in various forms from 1954 to 1968. They were lively little jobs with a particularly crisp exhaust note and was ideal as a learner's bike (when we could go up to 250cc on L-plates) and they would top 70mph in the days when we didn't wear helmets. They were much more reliable than 23 men attached to Welford Road!

 

PS - snuck home and enjoying some Tomatin 12-y-o.

Edited November 23, 2019 by Kingzance

[Stubby47]

So having spent my lunch hour last Thursday trying 5 local hardware emporiums to find a replacement 550mm mitre saw blade, when we came to cut the first piece of laminate flooring it proved too wide to fit in the saw's frame...

 

So we used the jigsaw instead.

 

About 60% of the kitchen/dining room is done, so 40% to do plus the hall and downstairs toilet.

[JohnDMJ]

Evening all,

 

Warleyed out for another year!

 

Initial impressions were of a slow start, probably caused by the RMT strikes in force. It did pick up a bit but, as a punter, I would not say that it was as crowded as it should have been for a Saturday. Given ""normal"" train services tomorrow, it could be heaving with those who couldn't be bothered to risk it today; just a thought!

 

Good to touch base with many of this parish and a successful day overall. Seems the show thread has mentioned a 12:00 gathering at the 'Spoons. Mental note - next year, two hour 'lunch' break!

 

Downer of the day was that the 18:14 Cross Country service to Southampton had been cancelled, so ended up having to cross from Euston to Victoria instead (fortunately, my ticket was by any valid route and included the London crucifix with no reserved seats! The fare was slightly increased by class upgrades; £15 Cross Country on the outward, £20 Virginonextinct on the return). At least the 'Spoons at Vic had some interesting seasonal ales!

 

After a 19 hour round trip, methinks some eyelid inspection is in order.

[Andrew P]

28 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

Tiger Cubs,  single cylinder 199cc 4-stroke motor cycles from the Triumph stable built in various forms from 1954 to 1968. They were lively little jobs with a particularly crisp exhaust note and was ideal as a learner's bike (when we could go up to 250cc on L-plates) and they would top 70mph in the days when we didn't wear helmets. They were much more reliable than 23 men attached to Welford Road!

 

PS - snuck home and enjoying some Tomatin 12-y-o.

You mean one of these? I believe it was an Ex Gordon Farley Works Bike originally.

Pics from my Photo album.

 

 

 

 

[Kingzance]

9 minutes ago, Andrew P said:

You mean one of these? I believe it was an Ex Gordon Farley Works Bike originally.

Pics from my Photo album.

 

 

 

 

Yep! Mine even had the front number plate to be read from either side .

 

[Kingzance]

Your Rover TC also strikes a chord, I had the V8 manual version which, in Railway parlance, went like sh!t off a shovel 

Edited November 23, 2019 by Kingzance
Auto incorrect again!

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well I’ve had a much better day today than I’ve had over the last couple of days. The modifications to the test panel have all been a success and I was finally able to test the point control circuit. But once I’d finished in the workshop and before I got out of my ‘work clothes’ I was asked to empty the vacuum cleaner, a bit of a mucky task but one that needed doing. I also rinsed out the cleanable filter and that then went in the washing machine, along with the work clothes I’d been wearing. I then turned my attention to testing the point control circuit I’d designed, although to be fair, it’s really a collection of different circuits all brought together to enable me to operate a point solenoid, change the polarity of the point frog and switch rails as well as send signal back giving the point position, all using a single toggle switch. I’d proved that the circuit worked in theory using some simulation software, but I wanted to see it work for real. So I set up my ‘breadboard’ and using some wire links, a couple of diodes, a capacitor and a small relay I managed to get it working successfully, resulting in one big happy bunny. In my initial trials, I’ve used a 2 pole relay, but the real thing will use either a 3 or 4 pole relay.

 

Goodnight all 

[Barry O]

Nice to meet up with some ERs today at Warley.

 

A negative xomment on the Warley Show thread tipped mo over the edge.. whinge and moan....Pah!!!

 

Now for some eyelid inspection..

 

Night all!!

Baz

[BR60103]

Another tick off the bucket list -- NY Botanical Gardens Christmas Train Show. In a tent this year as the Conservatory is being conserved.

This is G gauge running around replicas of NY buildings. The buildings are made of (or covered with) plant product eg the Guggenheim Gallery is made from bracket fungus.  The tent is big enough that they are displaying all the buildings they have.

One slight hitch. I asked for round trip tickets but only got one way. The machine at the far end charged an extra 50 cents.

 

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

Off to Warley soon.  If I survive the experience I'll be here tomorrow.

 

Chris

[roundhouse]

Good morning.

 

Really enjoyed doing demo at Warley show yesterday. Installed my first sound decoder in an O gauge loco, well two Dapol Terriers for someone, fitted various decoders in various other OO gauge locos and found out that Wren locos can be converted to DCC using a 3d print bush when someone passing whilst looking at a Wren loco for someone came up and said that he was in the process of DCC ing the exact same loco. So a bit of learning for me aswell as for those visiting the demo area.

 

I was so busy that I havent looked at any layouts yet and hardly any trade, so it been good for my wallet so far. My other half mentioned that Mike (SM), Bill and others kept passing by but  I was busy helping others

 

Last night it was that wet, we didnt venture out of the hotel but it did take over two hours to get our food so it was just Doom Bar and no walk to the better pub down the road.

 

Today I must og and see how some of my locos are running on the Harz narrow gauge layout and also on the Czech layout. Oh and complete a decoder installation for a friend on the Swiss NG layout.

 

Worst bit about today will be the drive home.

[TheQ]

5 hours ago, BSW01 said:

Good evening everyone 

 

Well I’ve had a much better day today than I’ve had over the last couple of days. The modifications to the test panel have all been a success and I was finally able to test the point control circuit. But once I’d finished in the workshop and before I got out of my ‘work clothes’ I was asked to empty the vacuum cleaner, a bit of a mucky task but one that needed doing. I also rinsed out the cleanable filter and that then went in the washing machine, along with the work clothes I’d been wearing. I then turned my attention to testing the point control circuit I’d designed, although to be fair, it’s really a collection of different circuits all brought together to enable me to operate a point solenoid, change the polarity of the point frog and switch rails as well as send signal back giving the point position, all using a single toggle switch. I’d proved that the circuit worked in theory using some simulation software, but I wanted to see it work for real. So I set up my ‘breadboard’ and using some wire links, a couple of diodes, a capacitor and a small relay I managed to get it working successfully, resulting in one big happy bunny. In my initial trials, I’ve used a 2 pole relay, but the real thing will use either a 3 or 4 pole relay.

 

Goodnight all 

This sounds very like the circuitry on the layout I inherited,  5v comes from the dpdt switch on the control panel the other pole being used for led indication on the panel.  

The 5V switched a relay, which caused the 12V direct current from the capacitor to fire the solenoid,  and switched the polarity  at the same time. 

The original builder assembled two of these circuits onto a piece of veroboard about an inch and a half wide and 4 inches long. There were around 20 of these boards mounted on the underside of the layout. 

 

Mooring Awl,  inner Temple Hare, 

About 7 hours sleep not too bad,  I've woken with backache again for no particular good reason. 

 

I'm going to lie here straightening my back,  until summoned by brown eyes. 

 

Later plans,  are to start work on the boat again,  which IIRC the next thing was to trim some excess wood from the bottom of the cockpit combing, as part of my efforts to reduce weight. I'll have to measure the excess at various places to work out a single amount to remove,  then pencil it out with curves down to the framing joins to retain strength. Only then will the jigsaw be deployed. 

 

Time to... Get bored by politics on TV.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Off to the Warley show shortly, hope to meet up with a few ER's. I am easily recognisable, long white beard and pushing a red wheeler with a yellow cool bag attached.

[TheQ]

26 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Off to the Warley show shortly, hope to meet up with a few ER's. I am easily recognisable, long white beard and pushing a red wheeler with a yellow cool bag attached.

The white beard is probably quite common!!! 

[jamie92208]

9 hours ago, Kingzance said:

Tiger Cubs,  single cylinder 199cc 4-stroke motor cycles from the Triumph stable built in various forms from 1954 to 1968. They were lively little jobs with a particularly crisp exhaust note and was ideal as a learner's bike (when we could go up to 250cc on L-plates) and they would top 70mph in the days when we didn't wear helmets. They were much more reliable than 23 men attached to Welford Road!

 

PS - snuck home and enjoying some Tomatin 12-y-o.

And here was little ol me thinking that Tiger Cubs were single decker buses made by Leyland. 

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Morning all.  Breakfast has been had and coffee is being drunk.  We had a good day yesterday and Beth managed a slow walk round the village.  She then insisted on cooking all the dinner, though I was allowed to make the custard for the app,e crumble.  A friend who's on her own for the weekend came over and brought some home made 'Bailey's' which went down very well.  We are off to the market soon then this afternoon I have some ironing to do plus packing for a trip to Blighty.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie