There is panic among UK enthusiasts that buying and selling on eBay.co.uk has to be registered with HM tax collectors. The classification of "Model Railways" on the site has had 10,000 items at once, and is currently running at about 3000.

The best way by far is as the manufacturers do it, with Pad Printing.

The commercial set-up is quite complicted, but a simple rig is quite feasible. I have been raking through the off-cuts in my local metal merchants non-ferous box, and working with a mitre saw and a non-ferous blade to cut parts. I have a 3hp Porter Cable router with spiral bits that shape pieces for me, using 1/2" ply formers with handles to brace the part. Everything is M6 tap, and ACE Hardware have a good selection M6 hex-head bolts.

It is important to keep a set for the pad picking up the ink, and then placing it on the object. Plates are photo etched each end for color separations and relatively cheap.

I have gone for a closed cup inking system, and I have currently been drawn into making a miniature x-y table for fine setting of the placement on items.

Regards

Complaints of poor service and parts availability are common with Bachmann Europe too.

Regards

There are several claims to the record speed for a Steam Train; from 124 to about 130 mph.

LNER A4 Pacific "Mallard" in 1938 is generally quoted at 126mph because it had a dynomometer car in the rake to officiate, although it was on a slight decline of 1/200. The engine was just 3 month's into service and an inside main bearing was damaged in the attempt. It had to be towed back to Doncaster for repairs. The driver has remained nameless - pity the fireman !

What is the authority for the other claims?

Regards

I would ask you all to support your local model shop.

The Internet and eBay have lead to a lot of shops closing, and the demise of the hobby. We are not doing the hobby any favors by short curcuiting our local shop.

It takes a shop window to excite a youngster's imagination and to get them into the hobby.

Regards

Stewart

Excellent, very good!

Sheldon, They cannot deal with what they already have.

" Please be aware that due to the quantity of calls we receive each day, you may need to leave a message on our voice mail system. Your call will be returned as soon as a service technician is available. We thank you in advance for your patience."

Sales First - Support Second?

Surely the level of repairs cannot be that great!

Regards

Stewart

Jim,  Testing, Testing ... 1.  2.  3.

There you go again with your exactness. I wish to call it a string.

Significance: Volume of steam can be measured in cubic yards, or the cube of a Chain! - Why not?

Regards

Stewart

I would like it to be known that the premis of this string is in the provenance of the "40' Box Car Method"

Regards

Stewart

Colorado,  We had an International in Phoenix last week of US v. Mexico before a crowd of 60,000 - MEXICANS !!!

It was 2-nil, or from the uninitiated local sportscasters 2-zip.

Mexico is by no means a walkover. 5 years ago the US beat Mexico in the World Cup. The team is progressing to the point where the lack of support is a national disgrace.

Regards

Stewart

Mark, You will have to send again, check you spelling.

In my collection I have but 2 diesel railcars representing the 1930's - the rest are steam.

Steam is King, or as one wag says of diesel, "its a boxcar with a motor".

For steam enthusiasts, this I believe is ON subject.

Colorado, glad to note you.

Regards

Stewart

Length of Cricket Pitch = 22 yards = 1 Chain.

                                     20 chains = 440 yards. = quarter mile.

                            4 x quarter mile = 1760 yards. 

Given volume V of water generates (1760 x V) at normal atmospheric pressure.

Why Chains; because the measurement is used in track radii.

Sorry, I must have missed it.

Anyhow, you can see how the larger size, even reduced, degraded the original.

Bill: Understood. I obviously got the wrong end of the stick.

There must be a software block on uploading a bigger image.

Regards