RedRich

It was a misquote on a football forum from the Spanish football media Fran that has since been corrected. They along with David Villa have been left out of the first preliminary squad for friendlies before the tournament. I would imagine they (Torres and Mata) are not included because of the Champions League final. I would assume that Villa is injured. Rio Ferdinand could miss out for England according to Sky Sports News. That doesn't surprise me as Rio is well past his best days. Jonny Evans carried him in a lot of games this season. Rich,

Sky Sports text pages seem to be naming Benitez and Martinez as possible replacements for Dalglish. This has been one of the poorest Liverpool teams I have seen in a long time and their league position doesn't lie. I can't believe for a minute that any Liverpool fan would want to see Dalglish in charge again next season. They need to get a good young manager and give him time to rebuild the club and make them a force again. The reason Liverpool were so successful in their glory years was because of the boot room. You had Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Roy Evans. There was continuity at the club and that breeds success. People have always written Utd off when big players have left saying they will never be replaced. It's when Ferguson goes that Utd could struggle as he has been the continuity for Utd's success in the Premier League era, and I think Scholes is irreplaceable. I see Juan Matta and Torres have been excluded from the Spain squad for the Euros. Rich,

Tony this is an off topic forum and we happen to be discussing football in this thread. Don't hold back on your opinion, and speak your mind. We want this group to be open and for everyone to have a voice, and whatever your opinion is on the Suarez Evra race row you should say what you feel. Rich,

You're very unlucky Seamus as you have two of them to put up with, the missus and the MIL, and if I'm not mistaken you also have two daughters. I'll keep you in my prayers every night. Rich,

Lads the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. I'm getting very worried with all this talk of guns Gareth. Can I expect harder times ahead, that might call for the use of firearms to protect me from she who must be obeyed. Jim if I was to try and withhold any cash from my missus 6 months in Jail would be preferable to a few hours of her fury. Can't live with them can't live without them. Rich,

I should have guessed mate. Well done , the shade of orange looks perfect. I take it they are Hornby MK111's Anto. I will be purchasing a few Hornby MK111's to be converted to a push pull set using Jim Smith Wright hopper windows, Shawplan extreme etching MK111 window surrounds and laser glaze windows. I might as well start assembling the rolling stock while I am waiting for a permenant home for the layout to be built. To be honest I am doing too much talking about what I am hoping to do and not enough actual work so that will have to change. Rich,

Money for birthdays and Christmas, wait until you're our age it will be socks and aftershave. There are a lot of the guys using DCC on here Vincent so you will have no problem getting sound advice, and anyway an enthusiastic and intelligent young man like yourself will have it sussed out in no time at all . Rich,

They look smashing Dave. There is some footage of the Super Train MK111's on one of the Markle DVD's (I think it's the South East of Ireland volume 4) of them in Waterford in the 80's. Thoroughly good job on the paint work. Rich,

Dalglish is a man out of time. He is at this moment one of only four managers that are currently managing in the Premier League that has actually won it. The world of football and the world around us has changed a lot since 1995 when Blackburn were champions. The way Dalglish handled the Suarez situation was wrong. You can understand players showing solidarity and compassion for Muamba and Petrov, but sending out players to warm up in t shirts to support Suarez after he had admitted in a statement that he had called Evra what we now know he called him stained the great reputation and history of one of the greatest football clubs in the history of the game. It will be interesting to see if Wigan and Swansea can hold onto Martinez and Rodgers for next season. Great idea for a fantasy football league Fran. The prize for the winner is an all expenses paid trip on Anto to a Barclays Premier League match of your choice for the 2012-13 season. Rich,

Great vids Anto . Have you got lights in the MK11 Genny. Rich,

How many people do you think would notice it Des. When I lived in London I used to travel through Clapham Junction daily and I really got interested in all things per way. I love seeing all the wires rodding and associated bits leaving the base of the cabin and along the track to the crossings and signals. Your signals are that good Des that I feel adding all the other machinery will really set them off. Take a look at all this (taken at Clonmel with permission) just for one crossover. This is the equipment leaving the cabin taken on the same day. I believe that if you choose to model a real location in it's current state, and you are hand building the track then you owe it to yourself to try and complete as much of the detail as you can. To be honest Des I am more freaked out about having to do the wiring and scenic work than the actual building of track, signals, buildings etc. I kind of hope that the layout will always be a work in progress and although it might look complete it would be nice to always add or change little bits and pieces as time moves on. All I need now Des is for you to produce a nice footbridge (hint hint) and most of the raw materials will be ready for when the build will commence. Rich,

The thing is Vincent if City want to sell Tevez he has to be playing regularly if they are to get the money they want for him. I don't think Mancini would have the same power at City that Ferguson and Wenger have at Utd and Arsenal. Roman Abramovich was 19 when Ferguson took the Utd job so Ferguson holds a lot of power at Utd. Could you imagine the scene in the Utd dressing room if the Glazers came in after a match to have a go at the players. I would imagine that there would be a few boots kicked in their direction a la Beckham. The reason I mention Abramovich is because when he did that last season Ray Wilkins told him to get the f**k out of the dressing room and he was sacked the following week and there was nothing that Carlo Ancelotti could do about it. Ancelotti was sacked himself at the end of that season after winning the double the year before. Rich,

Excellent Jim . Rich,

I'm a Man U fan myself lads and if you look at both teams performances in the league over nine months then I would say that the best team won. How Mancini handled the issues with Tevez and Balotelli proves that he is a great Manager as he didn't let it affect the rest of the squad. There have been some great celebrations in Manchester over the last 20 years and tonight and tomorrow night will be no different. It was a bit worrying to see John O'Shea limping off today as they are saying that he could be doubtful for the Euros. Rich,

Jim thanks for uploading that. The Derby show always seems to get rave reviews from UK modellers. One of these days I will pop over for a weekend, attend the show one day and take a trip the next day out to Peak Forest to check out some class 60 and 66 movements. Rich,

Eamonn anytime I look to herself to save me when the kids want me to do something, the answer is, well Rich you dipped the wick now it's time to pay for the oil. Women have never had it so good:((. Rich,

I had the same experience yesterday Gareth, the young fella said quick dad come and have a look at this. I said to the young fella I'm busy, he says but it's too much of a good opportunity to miss. He is only six and after a statement of intent like that, how could I say no. What I want to know is how the hell a six year old can make a statement like that. I'm still laughing thinking about it. Rich,

The Van and the LC look great Eamonn. The most important aspect of the hobby is to catch a moment in time, and you have recreated a very evocative period of the railway at that time so 10 out of 10 for that, and the fine modelling also. Are the signals the SSM signals Eamonn. I have some to build but I am trying to hold off on building them until I can actually start building the layout. Rich,

It's good to have you here Steven. All the regular guys are here too, so it's more of a change of house as opposed to a change of city or country. Rich,

That looks great for your first attempt at a kit Declan . That cutting mat won't stay that clean for long once you really crack on. Rich,

Excellent work John, how did you manage to fit 28mm pin point axles, or have you used an inside bearing set up. Rich,

Welcome aboard George. I had meant to give you a ring to let you know about the new group but other things got in the way, anyway it's great to have you here mate and the brake van looks fantastic. Rich,

I always thought that the 121 was MIR's finest loco. 8208 sounds good Stephen, the more I hear DCC sound the more I am giving in to it. Rich,

Lovely job Stephen. I'd settle for something like that myself to keep me going until the man shed gets built . Rich,

John the j hangers, axle boxes, sprung buffers were the one area that I was seeing as a potential stumbling block for myself when considering a complete scratch build. I looked at the idea of having them designed and manufactured by a company, but the initial outlay for the design alone wasn't worth it as I only needed enough for 16 wagons. The Bill Bedford type springing is the way to go John as the bearings move up and down with the use of the supplied wire. I had looked at using an inside bearing but that would create too much drag on so many wagons. I hope you don't have too many problems getting the 3D software problem sorted John, and the best of luck with this venture. I will certainly support you and purchase the kits when they are released. Rich,