Horsetan

The wheels are a bit of a challenge, as the correct diameter just isn't available - nobody makes a 5'1" wheel, and even when Sharman was still in business he didn't have an appropriate pattern - and the nearest equivalent recommended by Des is a slightly larger diameter. Most of the time, this isn't a problem unless the wheel centre makes the whole thing look bigger than it actually is. EDIT: the instructions mention on page 2 the source of MJT hornblocks as still being in Croydon. This is somewhat out of date, as the MJT range was taken over by Dart Castings years ago. Des knows about this, and is updating the instruction sheets accordingly.

J15 kit has arrived. And now for the trivial matter of wheels ....

Y'know, going off-topic here, I've often thought that historians covering the whole 1933-1945 thing might have missed a subtlety. In 1938, we all learnt that Anschluss generally meant Germany merging with and absorbing Austria. Given the way that the small Austrian fella had climbed to power over the German population, I've long wondered if Anschluss was actually Austria cementing its power over Germany, especially when you consider that Austrians have tended to have that streak of nastiness that even Germans find unsettling.

Did yer wan have Irish ancestry?

Why bother, when the punters may be equally clueless? As we all know, people believe lies if they're repeated often enough....

Ah, if only someone had asked the late Dr. Paisley and Martin McGuinness to provide voice samples all those years ago....

Has 007 been done? If not, maybe include a suitable signed photo of Pierce Brosnan?

Don't forget SSM's GNR 20t and CIE 30t van kits

That was a mad one. Think the horse may have been a commuter in a previous life; he even waited behind the yellow line.

Horse Outside

EDIT: Actually there is something else that interests me, and that is the J30 0-6-0T, since no.90 is still with us. You can add me to the list for that etch set as well.

That being Brazil, I suppose they wouldn't have had to regauge it, either.

I'd surmise the time allowed for the trip was fairly relaxed if they were rostering a "single" to haul it.

It looks like you'd have to demolish the houses/offices built at right-angles to the platform across the trackbed, plus reinstate a few bridges along the route to Roscrea.

I think it's in all our interests to ensure SSM keeps going. Apart from Worsley Works, Des is pretty much the only established Irish etched kit producer/retailer that we have, with a range we can actually see. If we lose him, that's basically curtains for Irish kitbuilders.

God Almighty, you must have absolutely slaved over that! I'd have gone cross-eyed within the first 10 minutes of trying to draw it all out.

If we're including long closed routes, I wouldn't mind seeing Newport, Mulrany, and Achill Sound open for railway business again.

Update: Des has replied to me, and should have written to you separately by the time you read this.

The voiceover suggests that this is for personal rather than mass transport in urban areas. It doesn't say anything about how or where these vehicles will be parked when not in use; presumably some sort of sidings network will be needed in addition to running lines.....

Have e-mailed Des now. Hopefully he'll pick it up in the next couple of days.

Let me have your details if you think it might help. I had e-mails from Des yesterday confirming the J15 was in the post. I'm happy to send him an e-mail on your behalf. It is important not to lose sight of customers.

Mine's now in the hands of An Post...

It's like the arms race in the 1960s and '70s. First we got the Bomb And that was good 'Cos we love peace and motherhood, Then Russia got the bomb But that's OK 'Cos the balance of power's maintained that way. Who's next? France got the Bomb But don't you grieve, 'Cos they're on our side...I believe, China got the Bomb But have no fears - They can't wipe us out for at least five years! Who's next?

Are there any photos showing the colour light signal gantries at York Road? I'm particularly interested in the "pointer light" miniature signals, as they're always shown "in the distance", and never close up.