John Isherwood

The lack of indication of prioriry is deliberate. Many years ago, one of the diagonal paths across Parker's Piece in central Cambridge had a white line painted down the middle; one side clearly labelled for cyclists, the other for pedestrians. The line lasted around six months! Cambridge cyclists are aggressive at the best of times - give them 'their own' half of the path, and woe betide any pedestrian who encroached by the odd inch! There were a number of really nasty injuries, and the abuse that was hurled at hapless pedestrian 'trespassers' was insupportable. Suffice to say that the line, markings and signs had to be removed in favour of 'shared use'. It's called, in the trade, 'designed-in uncertainty' - messy, but it works! John Isherwood.

When you start with a blank sheet of paper, anything is possible! How many times that's happened in the UK can be counted on the fingers of two hands. John Isherwood.

Quite - the only way that I was able to design for Cambridge - what became the first city-wide signposted cycle network in the UK - was to use routes which paralleled and crossed the principal traffic arteries. That was because said arteries are not wide enough for even single lane each way motor traffic, plus a pair of cycle tracks, plus a pair of footways. (Not quite true - we could have cut down every one of the avenues of mature trees that line said arteries)! Unfortunately, the cycle lobby dismissed the signed network, on the basis that cyclists were being relegated to the side streets! Why not improve public transport, you ask? That has been done - the closed St.Ives to Cambridge railway line has been (controversially) converted to a dedicated busway - which can only penetrate to the outskirts of the city. Cambridge railway station is a good twenty minutes walk from the city centre. Why, because in Victorian times the University objected to the potential for railways to convey ladies of easy virtue from London to corrupt their students! True! You see, urban transport network design is far from being easy, but those who have never tried it are quick to cry 'Excuses, excuses' if their pet mode of transport does not have absolute priority. I am not going to enter into an endless defence of the results of transport planning decisions. However, I have forty years professional experience of the subject; and I know what I am talking about - which is more than can be said for most of the loudest voices that praise the transport networks of the Netherlands to the detriment of the UK. John Isherwood.

Tiddles. CJI.

No - but that must be the most obscure enquiry that has ever been made on RMweb! CJI.

As a former local government highway engineer / cycling officer, in the cycling metropolis of Cambridge, I have heard the mantra 'They do it so much better in the Netherlands' ad infinitum. Go to the Netherlands, look at the urban scenery; does it look like the UK? No! What is the glaringly obvious difference - space!!! Urban road environments in the UK are still largely dictated by mediaeval urban structures. I lost count of the times that the pro-cycling lobby demanded wide, safe, segregated cycle tracks in Cambridge. My response - OK, which historic, listed buildings shall we demolish first? On which arterial road shall we demolish all of the expensive residential properties on one side, in order to create sufficient space. The Netherlands never had such compact, dense cities as we have in the UK, and they suffered the effects of two world wars, which created a lot of space in which to design a 20th century transportation system. So, instead of doing what the cycling lobby is very good at - telling the professionals that they do it better in the Netherlands - sit down and design an ideal system for your conurbation. ..... and don't forget that there are the powerful private car and commercial transport lobbies, who will be equally demanding in their requirements! John Isherwood.

Already alluded to above. CJI.

I think that you may have an over-inflated impression of what KRM consists of, in terms of staffing. CJI.

'Fraid not - tried 'em when they first came out and didn't like them at all. The chances of me needing to do a similar repaint in future are very low, so I'll stick with what I've been doing for sixty-plus years! John Isherwood.

...... and the answer was 'No'! Mr. Muscle removed all traces of the black overpaint, but Hornby's rail blue and yellow remained perfectly intact! So - off to Halfords for their Plastic Primer, as recommended above by Graham Muz. A light coat of the primer was applied and, guess what - it immediately crazed on the cab, but not elsewhere. A little investigation with a scalpel blade revealed that the cab is a mazak casting, so I threw caution to the wind, detached all the plastic lamp irons, etc., and dunked the casting in cellulose thinners. Off came the plastic primer; off came the rail blue, to reveal even more paint - this time BLACK! The black could only be removed with the aid of brass and fibreglass scratch brushes. Subsequent investigation has shown that the entire model was originally finished in black, and has subsequently been overpainted in the rail blue and yellow livery it is supplied in. What the story behind this is we will never know, but it might explain the delay in releasing this model. Anyway, to cut a long and frustrating story short, the components are now drying overnight, having been sprayed with Halfords satin black, and the cab interior and bufferbeams undercoated in brush-applied cream / buff. If you are considering repainting your Hornby 88DS - DON'T!! Hornby have clearly used some very odd paint on this model, which dislikes all other paints known to mankind. Just be patient, wait for Hornby to release the model in black, and don't even think of taking a paintbrush anywhere near it! Seriously, though - it is worrying that Hornby now seem to be using a finish that will make repaints - using oil-based paints at least - far more problematic. John Isherwood.

The print merely requires a couple of axles of spoked 12mm. dia. wheels fitting into the provided, moulded pinpoint bearings. For couplings, if needed, the standard NEM pocket and mount glues directly below the raised headstock. CJI.

Successful enough for BR to build a couple more post-war, after the 'Big Freeze'. That they were identical to those built years before suggests that they were deemed to be more than capable. CJI.

If drilling holes in a RTR loco body is a no-no, I would hesitate to recommend building a Judith Edge etched pantograph - excellent as they are! CJI.

My family take me for what I am - and that is considerate of what their feelings are. As to the rest of the world, I have found no downside to being true to my own opinions. Everyone knows where they stand with me - if they don't like what they see, we are best avoiding each other! CJI (crusty old curmudgeon, and proud of it).

Don't take me seriously - no-one else does! 😀 CJI.

Pedant alert!! There are no degrees of 'Unique'; it's either unique, or it's not. CJI.

A couple of days ago, I received a surprise, seasonal gift from Ironmink - who publishes his 3D printer designs on Thingiverse free of charge. It is none other than the SR / BR(SR) double-ended snowplough! Two were built pre-war by the SR, and two more by BR(SR), immediately post-war. If you like odd-ball rolling stock, they don't get odder than this one. A double ended snowplough, with headstocks and dumb buffers that could be raised at either end, depending on the desired direction of travel. The boom to which was fixed the block and tackle, used to raise and lower the headstocks, could be swivelled to either end, in the same manner as a tramcar trolley pole! All in all, a perfectly prototypical, but barely believable Christmas oddity! The 3D print will require two axles of wagon wheels, a single NEM pocket and fixing bracket, and a couple of pins with which to attach the side capstan handles. My thanks to Ironmink, and a recommendation for a little Christmas / New Year project for those with access to a 3D printer. (Photos to follow, when the transfers have been applied). John Isherwood.

It drove me crazy! Judiciously applied brute force, and the surgical application of a D-shaped scalpel blade, has reduced the body to its component parts. Those parts with the unintended black crackle finish are now in a sealed polybag, luxuriating in a bath of Mr. Muscle oven cleaner (yukky smell - goes straight to my chest)! Tomorrow will reveal whether we have bare plastic, on which to recommence painting. Fortunately, I always print too many transfers - in case of application errors - so there are plenty left for the second attempt. John Isherwood.

I agree that it should not be necessary, but ... .... when it clearly apparent that you are being given the run-around by an employee who can't be @rsed, my experience is that it is VERY effective! Case in point - National Government Agency; told by local office that, because THEY had not processed my application within the prescribed deadline, I would have to submit my application all over again. Email, for personal attention of the National Director, as suggested in my post above, resulted in :- a) immediate response by phone from Director's PA; b) same day contact from local office, with profuse apologies for delay and incorrect statement; c) complete, satisfactory resolution of issue within a couple of days. Sometimes, it is pointless dealing with idle minions! CJI.

I have aspired to, and am grateful to have achieved, a financial situation whereby I do not have to worry about the next fuel bill arriving. I did this by budgeting, and paying monthly by direct debit. I ask no more - whatever the world thinks of me is water off my back. End of! CJI.

I have found - via painful personal experience - that the only way to deal with life without going mad, is to decide that you don't give a sh*t what other people think of you! Be content with your lot; be assured that prosperity does not bring happiness; form your own opinions; and say it as you see it without fear or favour. Above all else, be true to yourself, and don't let ANYONE undermine your self-esteem. CJI.

I have done the prototype CCT and GUV, and the 4W (as built) and bogie Ferry Vans - all from Lima models. I'll try and dig out some photos. CJI.

The ferry CCTs originally had windows, as did the prototype CCT on which they were based. However, the Customs Service rejected them as being insecure, so the windows were plated-over. The outline of the windows could be detected throughout their life. CJI.

For my model railway philosophy, available space equates to lead ballast! John Isherwood.

Neil, That looks great - the 88DS is a superb runner. Would you mind itemising the compromises to which you refer - your solution does seem to be the way to go? John Isherwood.