Enjoy the Festives,,, we all deserve a break from whatever.

Well this makes a refreshing change,,, I actually have some modelling to witter on about.

The L1 Zeppelin/Crab has seen a definite flurry of activity over the last week,,,,, so just take a look at this little collection!!!

The cab now has a floor plate and internal steps and is permanently fixed to the footplate.

With my chest resembling a prize fighting budgie & being so flushed with success I set about the basic shell of the firebox,,, which went rather well and so I  decided to see if all my dimensions were accurate and had a quick BluTac session to see if it all go's where it should do,,, and it does.

This modelling lark is good fun and much more productive than boring you to death with pictures borrowed from the Salmon Pastures archive.

With the buttons nearly popping on my official solderer's waistcoat I quickly set about looking at the boiler,,,, hopefully tomorrow will see another BluTac session of the complete steamy ensemble,,, firebox,,, boiler and smokebox,,,,, it would be a shame to get this far to find  I've lost/gained about 10mm from somewhere/nowhere,,, it happens,,, especially when you have the attention span of a goldfish when you are marking out the important bits,, I don't like marking out,, it reminds me too much of school and I miss those memory's like I miss toothache.

I have decided I will have to play Bix Beiderbeck more often,,, I've been swinging along to his jolly music all day and so far nothing has gone catastrophically wrong,,, and it's unlikely to now as I am about to get seriously horizontal.

Today was the end of term and "we" usually celebrate the end of term in time honoured fashion,,, it was lovely and very cooling,,, followed by a nice piece of cod and chips,,, perhaps that should have been in the last post,,, anyway as the whole world appears to be getting festive,,, I will leave you with this,,,,,, WHAT A CRACKER,,

This is Ronnie Sparks,,, aka,, The Human Firework,, when life gets too much our Ronnie has a unique way of cheering himself up,,, he gets his assistant to light up his firework suit and he then just runs and leaps around fully alight cheering not only himself but everybody else up,,,, he seems to be particularly popular round licensed premises usually after 9pm.

If you want him for your festive season merriment he lives at No 6 Fiddle Hill,, and his prices are very reasonable indeed,,,, as they say in the firework industry,, "well done Ronnie,, strike a light"

Indeed,,, I don't know why is the UK supposed to be famous for it's exce/eccend/accen/ weird people.

Oh Happy Days,,, will we meet the Cod Army???

After our lengthy break & the serious bit of revamping, de-snailing and muscle building I am very pleased to announce that we have been invited to our first exhibition,,[fanfare of in key Souza Phones giving Gottedamerung some serious wellie],,,and as it is in May 2021 we should even be ready.

Can you guess where it is???

Will we have to discourage the tram from mating???

Can we have a group photo taken in front of a surviving concrete coaling tower???

If I knew how to produce one of those digital clock/days time counting the days to go type things then believe me I would include one but right now I am just far too busy,,, but it is about 18 months give or take a few days.

Busy,,, you 've never seen anything like it,,, The Des-Rev is already dusting off his top hat,, and is even talking about having his Pith Helmet Blanco'd and khaki shorts debagged just in case there is a high tide.

There is definite excitement in the camp,,,it must be something in the water,,,, watch this space and we will inform you  of any progress,,, shortcomings or cat-as-trophes.
[Now where did I put my Road Atlas driving gloves and anti-squitter lotion???]

The Salmon Pastures DI-DO.

Here it is in all it's glory [loud fanfare of slightly out of key trumpets]
                                       

"The Salmon Pastures DI-DO"

A stunning little train and all part of our slavish adherence to accuracy!!

The workers chosen mode of transport in the 1930's & a trend started by our colleague's at Annesley to assist getting all the workers in on time and then after a hard days shedding getting them all home again,,, the thing was of course is that the workers had no real control over what time the train would leave,,, clever,,, an early 20th century twist on "flexitime".

Why did they call it the DI-DO you may well ask,,, Day In - Day Out,,, 365 days a year.
Now down here on the pastures we offer even more than they ever did in Nottinghamshire,,, we give them "Lunch" as well.

We were going to rename it to suitably reflect this vastly improved service but in the interests of accuracy thought we had better leave it as it was,,, plus in these enlightened times we certainly do not want to offend any sensibilities.

Crickey, STOP PRESS,,, I think I can see this winters first flakes of snow.

If I am not mistaken the coach is a pre-production model of a quite exotic and soon to be released  range of MUlti-PurPosE TrainS coming shortly to a very serious dealer near you.

The cost of modelling and rising overheads!!

Yo Ho Ho,,, it's a festive play on words!!!

and before we start don't worry about the lack of verticality or right angularness of the perpendiculars,, then just relax as they are NOT properly mounted yet,, [ho ho as if anybody would bother to offer any constructive comment,,,, when all they are doing is sitting waiting for me to install a big thumbs up button!!!]

Went with "westerner" to the Peterboro show yesterday,,,,mmm,,, not so much a model railway exhibition as a model railway trade fair with a few guesting working layout,,,, but the good news was I managed to get most of the bits for installing the overhead system for the tram.

So dear followers the end of the Solar Powered tram system draws ever closer,,, mind you if this overhead game turns out to be as fiddly as it looks we may yet revert to the solar system,,,, just don't tell the purists.

Talking of purists we have been heartily entertained by all the froth,, shock, anger and awe related to the forthcoming generic short wheelbase coaches,,,, what is the problem??? back in the days of yore everybody and his brother was cutting up Triang clerestories to make all manner of generic nightmares,,, and just to prove the point take a look at this little gem!!!

Here is something else I really should get round to finishing,,, but will I  ?? because very soon I can go and splash just 40 or 50 squidly's on something just about as accurate,, albeit with a roof,,,, but dear followers  the reality is a very definitely YES,,, it will be finished. [eventually]   

I cannot measure the monetary value of all the fun and damage I can have by dervishly wielding my Exacto brain surgeons saw for a couple of hours,, it  far outweighs the £50 I could be giving to some organisation who don't care if it is accurate or not as they just want to swell the corporate coffers.

I can save myself some hard pensioned dosh and have all the fun of achieving a similar result,,, it's a no brainer really,, mind you I might change my mind when they eventually appear and turn out to be a comprehensive range of veritable little crackers!!

I tossed my horsehair shirt into the bin around the same time I decided buying a couple of cwt's of Viagra would,,for me,, be a complete waste of time and effort,,,, 

I do this modelling lark to enjoy myself,, even have fun,, not keep the rivet counters fully energised,,, and if people enjoy desecrating old Triang banana-esque carriages then good on em,,,, and if collecting slightly suspect coaching stock releases their endomorphins then long may they continue to enjoy themselves.

By the way,, I counted all my rivets the other day and I still have 17,,, and they are still hiding in the same tin they were in the last time I counted them,, which must have been in the last millenium!!!  Oh Happy Days!!! 

WORK IN PROGRESS. DECEMBER 2019

Don't get too excited I just happen to be on an emotional high.
Have had a good couple of days on the Zeppelin and thought I would share the renewed enthusiasm.

As mentioned previously it can now propel itself up and down the track and this is the progress to date on the body,,, cab, bunker and tanks all cut out and sitting on the chassis.
It is only blue-tacked in place at the moment but it is giving me a pretty good idea how accurate my marking out was,,, conclusion being it is workable but needs a bit of fine tuning.

Now it is coming together it has dawned on me just how BIG these things were!!! Massive.
Not to mention they were apparently the first 2-6-4 tanks to be put into service on UK main lines.
Another first for the G.C.R.

Have also spent a few minutes looking through the instruction manual on my digital box brownie,,, much better pics than previously and good enough to show what progress is being made.
Have just realised you don't need to get them developed either!!! Keep that quiet though before somebody decides it's a good idea to start taxing digital photo's

Read the instuction manual!!!! first time ever,,, but I might give it another go in a few years and see if I can improve the quality even further.

What value for money,,, 3 posts in 5 days!!! [[This should spike the Squitters Guns.]]

The Wanderer returns!!!!

Just look who is back,,,, Lizzie our very own working elephant,,,,
After various attempts to find her in the plethora of cardboard boxes she reappeared this morning and it transpires she had been hiding amongst a load of wagon kits I had taken with me on my recent travels,,, it's good to have her back,,, it just was not the same without her,,,, doubtless the more eagle eyed will also notice the reworking of suicide corner!!!! Still a work in progress but nearly finished.

And just to prove how active we have been here is another couple of shots of the new home!!!
[note to editor,,, digital camera's work much better if the memory chip is not FULL]
This is a part of the current build line as mentioned in yesterdays post!!! N5, Q7, Zeppelin, J3 and don't even ask what is lurking in the doorway of the works building,,, it is a commissioned K's kit,,, that actually works,,, and it has a genuine glued together K's motor,, yo ho,, those were the days!!

Where was I,,?? oh yes,, the new home,,, this is a shot of the workshop end of the garage,,,

basically it is where I attempt to solder my blistered fingers to the workbench and drop Stanley knives onto my laden flipflops!!!!! 

I can't promise the posts are going to appear on a daily basis,,, but,,, as mentioned the Norfolk Squitters did have a bit of a go about the lack of blogging of late,,, and who am I to argue!!!! 

I just make the tea once every 3 weeks.

PS: haven't got any pictures yet,,, BUT,,, after todays efforts the Zeppelin now has a set of pickups and it has successfully propelled itself from the fiddle yard into the shed!!!!

A proud moment in any fledgling loco's life!!!

Guessing Game

I'll bet you are wondering what this is all about,,, busy bee's,,,NO:
Honey Pot,,, [I wish,, those were the long warm days of yore!!!] NO:
Apiculturists Convention,,,Could be but I've never actually been to one,,, so its a NO:

IT'S A HIVE OF ACTIVITY.!!!!! Honest,, it says so on t'internet piccies.
[note,,,  The Queen is the one in the middle with the flowing locks and ballet pumps]

I had the "Norfolk Squitters" round this afternoon, who after they had eaten me out of Shortbread, Jaffa Cakes and Ginger Nuts thought they had better get a bit complimentary and informed me that the new garage was a veritable hive of activity,,,,,and we have only been in business for about 4 weeks,,,
Thankyou chaps,,,[and I mean that most sincerely]  I am very pleased you noticed,, and I have to agree we have been productive,, if I could get my steam driven digipic thing with all it's associated micro-bytes to cooperate I could post a few pics to prove it,,, but for those who are even remotely disinterested,,, all the boxes have been unpacked,, placed in the appropriately revamped filing cupboard drawer thing,, complete with labels,,, I have reinvented my Q7 [that means I've eventually found its chimney],,, got the chassis on my N4 0-6-2 tank working,,,stripped the paint off a J3 & J39,, dusted off my Zeppelin for the next batch of scratch building,, replaced various gutters drainpipes and window glazing,,, smoothed out "Suicide Corner" on the tram way,,, so now it's just hairy as against darn right ridiculous,,, and most importantly I have actually played with my trainset again,,,
A LOT!!! & it works,, WOO-HOO

How did I ever find time to go to work!!!! I am really taking to this retirement thing,,, it's great fun,,, the money could be better but I haven't had to worry about market share,, exchange rates,, mop heads,, toilet rolls,,, action or business plans,,, focus groups or market surveys at all.
Having been without the pastures for over 2 years in some respects it is a case of cram it in while you still can,, and I am,,, and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself,,, the tingle finger is back and the nails on my right hand whilst not quite Dibnah-esque are definitely getting that well worn demeanour again,,, magic.

I will have another go in tomorrows daylight at getting my digital box brownie working again so I can prove that this time it is not just good intentions,,, but hard blistered activity.

All we need now are a few kind hearted exhibition managers to take pity on us and give us a run out while we still can!!!!!   We are good value for money,,, very cheerful,,, and will do anything [within reason] for an early morning bacon sarnie and permission to play trains for 8 hours,,, think about it and as a certain D Trotter Esq said quite frequently,,,, "you know it makes sense" among other things.

Read recently that the rather zealous hair shirted academic who wrote weekly moans to the telegraph about the dire state of the Britains use of the apostrophe's has finally conceded defeat,,, thank the lord for that,,, what a senseless waste of time that all was,,, as you can see above,,, grammer or speling or  punctuasian was never my strongest sweet,,, and now I don't have to even try,,, but of course I will!!!!

Q:  Did you know that O gauge is 3/7th's bigger than 00 and 5/7th's bigger than N??? neither did I till recently,,, there you are,,, you are never too old to learn something new and congratulations to Westerner for giving it a go!!! Well done that man!!!!! [but unfortunately it's still GWR!!!!]

Did you also know one of the best ways to lose weight is eat less,,,, I've tried it and it works all I did was cut out the wine gums kitkats, mars bars, and peanut brittle and lo and behold this week I lost 4 oz's!!!

Guess What,,,, we've moved again!!!!

I do wish I had bought shares in Pickfords all those years ago,, but I didn't so what the fromage frei!!

The last 48 months have been nomadic to say the least,, we have moved 4 times,, & all with the best of intentions,,, to start with,,,, but a retired life in the Mediterranean sunshine was not to be,, and we really are glad to be back in the frozen east that is Norf Norfick.

The reason for this blog is to advise my healthy gang of 11 followers that we are now "settled" back into a sort of normal existence,,,, Helen is now only a 5 minute walk from work and when I am not watching "Yesterday" I can go orienteering in our garage or shed,,,you know whats coming!!

The Pastures holiday in DarnSarf Surrey is not quite over but we are getting close,,, [crickey there is a terrible echo in here!!] 

What has happened since we were last really on air with the BLOG,,, well Brexs!it for a start,,,, what a 3 year load of old Cobbrers,,, BORING,,, and can I just add,,,

 if certain people are not careful then Democracy is going to be about as relevant as a straight banana or lead free solder,[ that was just for all you long time supporters!!! see June 29th 2016 post!!]

But onto happier thoughts,,, I now have a 16' x 10' garage to fill,,, well the Pastures will do half of that,,, and I still have room left to cobble together a workshop,, garden shed,, and seating for the regular "Toosdy" supporters,,, I can't wait,,, bring it on!!!.

But a word of warning to the previously mentioned "Regular Toosdy  beardied unwashed"

I am not in the least interested in:

high tides
mid tides
low tides
bowsprits,, halfwits,, or wot-ever-fwits
sheets,, tweets or pleats
bowlines,, lifelines or sidelines
berth's,, girth's or wursts,,[cancel the last one]
midships,,ships,, loggerheads or jibs
asterns,,flotsam or jetsam,,,
bulkeads,, decks,,, cabin's or galley's
heads,,,, [could be tempted on an ad-hoc basis]
ports,,,,,,[well maybe ,,Graham's,, Taylor's or Kopke!!]
starboards  [except Taureans]
belay's ,,,,, [unless it is decidedly hearty]

Enjoy,,,, !!!