Broithe

I've never managed to watch it through in one go. I can just do this one..

That's how high this would be if you modelled it on an 00 gauge layout...

That's why it's green...

Original Star Wars parody, I'ld love to see the whole film done like this..

I did cheat a bit. I'm supposed to be learning Czech, but I've let it go for a while now...

These can be had for eleven or twelve quid. They come with four, or sometimes eight, pins that will fit in the many holes in the top face, to hold objects of various shapes and sizes - much like a miniature WorkMate. The handle will unscrew so that the head could be mounted directly in a vice to give you both hands free. The pins are a loose fit in the holes and will disappear quickly if you're not careful. I arrange the pins and clamp a rubber tap-washer with them so that they don't fall out.

I picked up one of these cordless soldering irons for €8.99 - http://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-B734DA78-4191D5B0/lidl_ni_ie/hs.xsl/index_26485.htm - we had a super-expensive one where I used to work and it was dead handy for giving something a quick dab, especially if you were up a ladder. With three AAs in it you should get a good 30/45 minutes of use. One of the great benefits is not having the lead dragging about behind you. The cap is supposed to prevent any possibility of it being inadvertently turned on, but it doesn't clip on too tightly, so I modified mine to have a wire loop to make accidental cap removal impossible.

I think people should be careful piling drink into him - he might not be called 'loco' for nothing... Could all be coming back in a Garda bus...

Wait until there's enough cyclists in it, then whack 'em down with the back of a shovel and put a skim of tarmac on it...

I wonder how many people fall over that chain?

When they opened it up one morning, they found that one of the donkeys had stripped the Virgin Mary stark naked during the night. I don't recall that in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

So far, it seems that they've been at it for twenty years and have got to the the taxiing stage. They look like MR2s in the photos that I've seen. I always thought the MR3, with the tricycle undercarriage, was the best looking variant. I'm not sure there would be the same level of public interest in a Shackleton as there would be in a Spitfire, a Lancaster or a Vulcan, despite my own clear preference for it in this case. There was a really excellent video on YouTube, but it's gone 'private' lately, maybe it'll turn up again..

Is there a bibliography? I'm quite partial to the style.

In Rathdowney, they had the annual Live Nativity Scene, with donkeys, goats, chickens, sheep, etc., all in two converted 40 foot containers... ... complete with two rather dodgy-looking Guardian Angels soliciting 'donations'.... A modelling possibility?

The first weekend in February brings this excellent exhibition around again, just a few miles off the M6, if you're passing by. http://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/exhibition.php

Leaving Graham's with my new 082, I wandered across into to Easons and found that they had one copy of Rails Through The West left - so, as I've been a good boy, I decided that I should have another Christmas present. It really is the most excellent book - an example for anybody on how to be complete and yet not verbose - top marks. Highly recommended for absolutely anybody interested in Irish railways.

To jest znakomitym kalendarzem, dziękują.

Oooh, I will investigate the Coventry situation. The last flying example is one of the South African ones, as in the video, and I suspect that that hasn't got long left. Last time a saw a Shack flying was in Cyprus - a long time ago now... A Shackelton, WR986, was 'struck off the register' and broken up for scrap and spares in Malta because the wiring was irretrievably damaged by a rat infestation...

I have a life-threatening cold - but I'll be back in March-ish...

If you can get a Lanc going again then a Shackleton shouldn't be too hard. I would love to see (well, hear) one again, nothing else sounds the same as those contraprops coming at you and masking the exhaust until it's broadside on. Turn this up for the third pass especially..

I've just got home with my calendar that I picked up from the Train Man last week and it's on the wall now - truly excellent quality - well done. I think there was only one left hanging up in Graham's after I was in there...

Well, I finally picked up my 082 from the Train Man and very happy with it I am, too...

I have a 'Murphy models' search saved in ebay and it turns up a few non-railway items at times... This was today's gem - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1976-Press-Photo-Peter-Murphy-US-Consul-in-Nice-with-models-in-bikinis-/390521053644?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123 Makes me wonder how those pursuing the railways of Northern Europe manage with their 'Scandinavian models ' searches...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20759707