Monday, March 18, 2024

Mind your language!

 

I'm clearing up some paperowrk from recent events, and found this from the Glasgow show. It's the instructions for the setup period.

There's nothing unusual in here - Hi-Vis etc. All pretty standard for shows in exhibion halls now. 

But tucked away, "No swearing or use of offensive or rascist language on site."

I'm all in favour of the lack of rascist language, but who's policing the swearing? And what is the penalty? 

Do different words attract different punishments? 

Sadly, we didn't get the chance to find out. Although I heard a few people experimenting!

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Rustival 2024

Rustival or bust

 How good was Rustival? Very, very good. 

Organised by three YouTubers, the idea was that less traditional classic cars would gather that the Motor Musuem Gaydon. Less E-Type jags (there were two) and more Mini Metros. 

The thing is, the classic car movement is evolving. Stuff built in 1999 is 25 years old! Da kidz are driving "vintage" vhicles that I remember being introduced, or at least seeing everywhere when I was a kid. And by this, I mean boxy Volvos. 

Indeed, I was one of the oldest people at the show. This suggests that far from fading away, classics are still popular. I enjoy reading some of the stories that are typed up and hung in the windows of the exhibits. 

Not that I could read them all. With only a couple of hours, there's no way i could taking the best part of a 1000 cars that turned up. Far more than the organisers expected, and boding well for the future. I suspect there will be more than a couple of trade stands next year. Some autojumble would be both nice, and appropriate!

Anyway, I need to chose a car to take away with me. Will it be the amphibious Land Rover? No, interesting, but too ugly. A Citoen with funky suspension? I think the DS is one of the most beautiful cars built, but no. 

It's the Toyota Sera. I've heard of it, but never seen one for real. Now I have, I want those doors!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Saturday Film Club: ”THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE”

This one will probably allow me to appear in the Facebook Dull Men's club, but stick with it. This 1982 documentary is wonderful, and watched with the benfit of hindsight, very dated. The micro pager that appears is the same size as a modern mobile phone for example. But who would have predicted advancements in that area in the early 80s? 

More importantly, the moves to System X exchanges helped my late friend Dave win the Railway Modeller cup. As a telephone engineer, he found himself based in an exchange that has swapped mechanical switching for electronic, freeing up loads of space. In which he built his layout "Scotland Street Yard". An unexpected benefit!

Friday, March 15, 2024

Off to London

 

Time to get back on the road, after all I've had a whole weekend off this month, this time to Alexandra Palace in London. 

The BRM roadshow will be in the magnificent hall, and I'll be on the end of the stand with some modemaking for you to enjoy. 

Please bring along plenty of questions, I don't want to be lonely!

Full details of the show can be found here.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Garden Rail April 2024

 

There are two influences on our lead layout this month – owner Phil Clarke's love of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, and a Spinone puppy who can demolish a train in seconds! A high level line full of L&B locomotives ticks all the boxes, and provides a substitute for driving real trains.

On the workbench:

  • Mark Thatcher looks a budget range of kits

  • Building a McEwan Pratt locomotive, and something suitable for an estate railway

  • Creating stunning buildings

  • Building a low loader wagon

Plus all the latest product news for the large scale modeller. Available from all good newsagents.