[Julian2011]

.

QUOTE I know that I waffle but. as Descartes famously said, "I think therefore I waffle". (Would you believe that I studied literature and philosophy at university?)
Yup! . . .

Like the Layout thinking ....

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE Even a shunting plank that can only be brought out in the evenings after dinner is much better than wishful thoughts in the armchair and models never leaving a drawer.
couldn't agree more ...

I am making an Inglenook too ..... I can get to that as required and being lightweight can keep it moving as life [ SWMBO ] allows.

There is similar reasoning here, and a very strong, lightweight baseboard too ..

Julian

 

[Julian2011]

OOoopps!
Lovely pictures. I'm very appreciative of how good the guides were. I had a day driving the 40? ton sports truck, thank you very much to the Hussars [ longish story and boreing so will leave it there ]. Back to the pictures ... any bloke dirving that beast onto a truck, hasn't got the faintest idea where the truck is, let alone where the tracks are.

As a clue about it - I pulled to a stop behind a Cheiftain at some traffic lights which opened onto the main [ Berlin ] Highway. He was indicating right [ a sort of clue to other drivers ] and was straddled across both lanes [ givng him room to get out there and slither to the right ]. A lady in a small car slid past my right, seeing she could just fit in the gap by the Tank ... anyone ahead so far ...

Lights went green and both the tank and little lady set off for the far side carriageway to turn right [ they don't drive like we do, remember ]. they both got to the centre and the Tank driver hauled on the right lever .... the Chieftain did ecactly what it was told to do and slewed right ... RIGHT over the front of the pushy lady's car. everything from the windscreen forward went flat onto the road .... everything - FLAT! I'm not sure how it missed her feet, on the pedals ....

. The tank crew hadn't noticed until another vehicle managed to get in front and stop them .... the lady in the car was still screaming when they went to apologise .......

Moral of the story .. the british army have no idea where they are pointing their tanks ... keep well out of their way ..

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,
QUOTE I just hope that there are no tank drivers reading this thread Julian.

My guess is that most Tankies have broad enough shoulders to have a smile ... I expect they have rather more eventful tales to tell too ...

.. although a good lookout in the rear-view mirror might be good, from now on.

What is perhaps more worrying is a German lady who was prepared to take on a Chieftain Tank, in a rather small car .......

Perhaps Iarnrod might have some recollection of where and when the pictures were taken ....

As you say, John, military traffic might make for some interesting modelling opportunities.

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,
Who said nostalgia isn't something to be looked forward too....

Was in Berlin for a while when the wall was up and did the occasional trot as Duty Orrifice on the Berlinner, Military Train to and from West Germany. I have got the coaches on order, although when they will ever get into production is anyone's guess.

It seems there may be cause for another small board of the checkpoint, in the offing when/if they ever do arrive. I'm not sure if there are actually any pictures of the job being done by Blue Jobs .... not sure if appropriate to set the scene after the Vodka exchange Travel Document Checking was done with the Russian Orrifice .

.. At least no-one could complain that the figures weren't upright .....

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE I hasten to add that the title of the painting in no way reflects the true nature of the relationship between myself and my wife. Phew. I think I got away with it.

Is it our understanding that your position would be prone, as you would not be so presupmtious as merely to Genuflect .........

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE but will it have a positive effect on my modelling?

It would help with soldering under the board and certainly with putting together small items, with many parts .... when you drop bits

they won't have far to go to the floor and therefore, be easier to locate again ...

If you do it well swmbo might think you simply adopting the grovelling position and may not look closer ...... more modelling time, un-noticed .....

QUOTE well worth reading to remind ourselves of these very brave men
Brave men indeed

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,
Is this of any interest? Obtained by Dover Spam, this morning ..

. otherwise known as dt ....

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/3-sigs/gndsigs.htm

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE Finally, are you sure that word beginning with "e" used in context with LF&T was not a typo, & a few letters short - of course Not they cry

Used to have to teach a few declectic kids at school ...

Glad you found your shorts ... must have been cold without them, not to speak of the sheer embarrasment ......

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

What an amazing piece of engineering .... could only be fr.. ...........

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

What an amazing piece of kit. No wonder you keep it tucked in safety until you can get a proper display for it.

Thanks for demonstrating it ...

..

N-Squared has competition, if ever you want to part with it and give it a safe new home ...

...

[ I think swmbo saw that ...

]

J

 

[Julian2011]

Ow do,

QUOTE Acquisition of that OTT Trix wagon would cause Julian no end of a prob on his shunting puzzle sandwich.

... Ha yes very true

but I do have 2 x 6' 8" boards awaiting my attention, in the Shed .....

..

Looking back, even that size getting round it would take a crew of experienced G....... ......

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,
Nice close ups.

Given the weight they carried and appropriate depth of chassis - those springs are unexpectedly small ……….

J

 

[Julian2011]

What a good start John,

QUOTE How time flies.

…

…. … I see you have left plenty of room for later additions ….

Only a couple of ideas here so far …

…. albeit from 2 of 5 - dt reject ……

You will need to make the Leading Edge much rounder and a better taper for the Trailing Edge too …..

I'm glad to see you have added some weight to the Nose too, although final balancing will, maybe be a touch more refined than a heap of freight … none-the-less a good start …. well done …

Have you considered what Power Unit to use ….. there are some very good Brushless Motors around these days, given you seem to be going electric …..

Those legs are a little old fashioned for take off and you might consider those new fangled wheels for the undercarriage … just a thought ….

Alright .. recovered now … back OT …. I do like the idea of taking it stage by stage to let them be involved ..

I reckon you will get a whole load of fun from watching the little ones learning and coming up with ideas of their own too … [ has to beat counting …. err …. Oops, best not go there ..

]

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

Love the picture of the "activity" .. I bet you are glad you funded the locos the way you did 'though ....

I expect they will see them as their own and look after tham with greater care than you imagined ..

QUOTE ...................... though I did not understand all of them.

Sorry about that, I was, indeed, being a touch obtuse ....

The idea for lightweight boards came from modelling R/C aeroplanes, which need to be very strong because of the "G" Force abuse they get ....

..

Comments are simply related to the origin of your Layout .. sort of "Trains on Planes" ... Rounded leading edge, tapered trailing edge and so on ...

Once again, delightful to read about the lovely time the kids had ....

... 4 Smilies for a really good idea, well executed ... AND a smile from GM too! ... and what might be planned for this evening, Parker? ......?...... ?

..

...

J

 

[Julian2011]

Best of luck for ... Errr ..... ...... the rest of the week .....

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE I will have to be careful lest she becomes too enthusiastic. After all, I don't interfere with her knitting

........ ................. Der De! ...

.................. Der De! ...

.................... Der De .. Der De! ...

......... ....... Der de! ...

.............

Loving the developments here ... the kids and Grandad, I mean ....

..

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

Glad you are feeling somewhat better and back on the circuit again.

QUOTE attempting to enter East Germany in DDR days by train without my passport

You were lucky indeed, as many found out, after being detained and beaten up as suspected spies ......

2 soldiers, in Berlin decided in a less than sober state, that it would be fun to climb over the wall one night. Despite being clearly soldiers, with ID cards and very clearly the worse for alcohol wear - it took 3 days to get them back again. They were by then very much worse for wear from the beatings they had, as the Guards were convinced they were on some kind of espionage mission, using the booze as cover for getting across the wall. .....

There are many such incidents but this is probably not the place.

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

Aaaahh ..........

QUOTE For those of you who might find this layout a bit familiar, it is "Berlin Revisited"

Memories of the "Berlinner" Military Train Duty Officer, as many will remember with fond [ if slightly Vodka fuzzy ] memories ......

Note .. As the train stopped at the DDR Border [ Marienborn ] to have the documents checked, there would often be a friendly exchange of some libation with the Russian Border Officer, generally Vodka. Needless to say, the "exchange" did little for anyone's sobriety, as tradition had it that a bottle given was a bottle shared ........... ............

As for the sight of the first young WRAF Duty Officer climbing from the Track back up into the carriage ......... ..........

... best leave that one there, as there are too many fellas that shouldn't get too excited on the Forum .......

J

 

[Julian2011]

Hi John,

QUOTE and the absolute necessity that I watch the England v Wales match are getting in the way

Hope the Spitfire and cheese were ok ......

Looking forward to seeing how those Peco bits work, it should be interesting. ..

.. I have never heard of them before .......

J