tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post7142236959327475386..comments2023-05-18T23:03:38.059-07:00Comments on Odd's Oracle: Showtime in Springfield...Oddshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-41685865297084110492016-04-24T12:45:57.150-07:002016-04-24T12:45:57.150-07:00That was an amazing old thing, but had the look of...That was an amazing old thing, but had the look of a badly done mummy about it.<br />These days if you wanted a plan of a tether car you'd have to go to one of the east European states as that's where all the tracks and the records are. They also do it a bit in the Antipodes.Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-9781642609068419042016-04-24T12:32:05.735-07:002016-04-24T12:32:05.735-07:00I'm trying to remember when I last came across...I'm trying to remember when I last came across a tethered car plan, I'd thought it was in the December 1970 ME, but apparently not. That actually suggests it might have been later."Tyro" comes to mind? <br /><br />Something neither of us have mentioned is the 100 year old flash steamer....<br />James Finisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351798531269786632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-90156118418946075542016-04-24T12:27:39.179-07:002016-04-24T12:27:39.179-07:00I think they were quoting £2000. But then how woul...I think they were quoting £2000. But then how would you build a railway around it? Brill Tramway?James Finisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351798531269786632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-53890490163493310992016-04-24T10:20:14.654-07:002016-04-24T10:20:14.654-07:00Forgot to say....I have a wodge of Model Car News ...Forgot to say....I have a wodge of Model Car News magazines from the War years and just after. They are all about RTP cars. Including some excellent scale drawings by none other than Dennis Jenkinson, the later famous motoring commentator. Model Engineer also ran articles and competition results for RTP cars and hydroplanes. Now, there is only one track left for cars and far fewer ponds with a legal pole in the middle and if you want to really read about it you need a website called ontheline.com. My Granddad was a co-founder of Victoria Model Steamboat Club, the world's oldest and so my memories of watching hydros there are very special, even though the poncy council have banned the bigger boats, God rot their scummy souls.Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-73236219903921704562016-04-24T10:14:34.666-07:002016-04-24T10:14:34.666-07:00The best rapid prototyping I ever saw was called L...The best rapid prototyping I ever saw was called LOM and was layers of butchers' paper which didn't display any of the lines that 3D printing does and that was many years agao, where I also inspected the stereo lithography machine that had been shown on Tommorrow's World by the irreplaceable Raymond Baxter. It was far more like what Modelu use than the current 3D "print" nonsense. I have seen 3D printing at its best, but it was tiny and according to the poor guy who commissioned it, "ruinously expensive". And that was just one cylinder of a 1/32nd scale Kinner radial engine. So, from the junk we witnessed at the show, there's still a LONG way to go before it's remotely acceptable to discerning people.Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-37592194612622891552016-04-24T09:30:49.329-07:002016-04-24T09:30:49.329-07:00"just put a load of filler on it" is jus..."just put a load of filler on it" is just the sort of comment that enrages me from fans of 3D printers. I keep being shown lined things that I'm supposed to believe are nearly as good as injection moulded plastic. Then I'm told that the lines can be smoothed out (they can't) or covered with filler or "a thick coat of paint" - both of which will look awful AND cover all the detail the sellers are soooo proud of. <br /><br />3D printing is a useful technology, but not the only one. Even ModelU's figures don't have the facial detail that a master sculptor can add to a casting. On a layout I'll be happy with this as you don't see it in a context of a scene, and the perfect proportions more than compensates. <br /><br />The round the pole car thing, I first read of it in a 1980s Model Maker magazine in an article about fitting Co2 motors into cars. I suspect the full fat version is more like the boat version which seems to be teathered deadly missiles circling a pole at hundred of miles an hour. I prefer the lifeboats!Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-73832080546464731752016-04-24T09:26:23.153-07:002016-04-24T09:26:23.153-07:00Salary? Eeee, looxureh! When I were a lad..........Salary? Eeee, looxureh! When I were a lad........Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-14216535498904965162016-04-24T07:05:56.037-07:002016-04-24T07:05:56.037-07:00Thanks, James...I am a sucker for Aveling machines...Thanks, James...I am a sucker for Aveling machines, Allchins and Burrells too. I will do some foraging, but I suspect on a modelmaker's salary that may be just a dream :-) mind you, not much bigger than the 1/22 stuff I'm working on.Iain Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633733907566547236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-71795644498017299932016-04-24T03:01:04.531-07:002016-04-24T03:01:04.531-07:00Iain, Maxitrack have built a limited run of 3 1/2&...Iain, Maxitrack have built a limited run of 3 1/2" gauge Aveling locos, though based on their Allchin parts. Rather nice though.James Finisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351798531269786632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-85600839529786365552016-04-24T02:43:18.062-07:002016-04-24T02:43:18.062-07:00Yes, Iain, I seem to be gravitating toward steam. ...Yes, Iain, I seem to be gravitating toward steam. If I go to the trouble of buying all the copper for a boiler, I'm kinda committed.Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-65988772412506319292016-04-24T02:18:10.790-07:002016-04-24T02:18:10.790-07:00That looked like an interesting show, and tethered...That looked like an interesting show, and tethered cars were new to me, too.I am getting the hint here and there that you are dabbling again in live steam, that will be worth waiting for! I too am always disappointed in the gauge 1 and over steam locos, for me the noise is at least half the appeal! Love James' photo of the little Aveling...there was certainly lots to admire. Iain Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633733907566547236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-3038081518984666022016-04-23T12:49:39.495-07:002016-04-23T12:49:39.495-07:00The gulf seems to be between what raw materials us...The gulf seems to be between what raw materials used to cost and what they cost now! And don't even mention castings costs! Also, did I miss the workshop demo section that the programme spoke of?Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-3571147657847709482016-04-23T12:11:59.312-07:002016-04-23T12:11:59.312-07:00It was good to see you Martin. As I said at the t...It was good to see you Martin. As I said at the time the tethered cars took me back to the age of Meccano Magazine. Lack flash steam one of those niche aspects of model engineering that tend to get forgotten about. What struck me looking at the trade stands was the gulf between those selling stuff ready to go in a box and those selling raw materials. James Finisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351798531269786632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-30347556903014496052016-04-23T11:54:31.364-07:002016-04-23T11:54:31.364-07:00You're very welcome, Paul. Also, may I recomm...You're very welcome, Paul. Also, may I recommend a website called ontheline.com That's where all the remaining knowledge and enthusiasm for tethered cars and boats resides. It is informative and knowledgeable and well written. Updated monthly, come what may.Oddshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406048947308249483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367600670436634226.post-89543605705982526922016-04-23T11:51:42.992-07:002016-04-23T11:51:42.992-07:00Tethered cars, had to Google that one! And I'm...Tethered cars, had to Google that one! And I'm glad that I did, thank you for introducing us to another fascinating hobby!!Paul B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05278773151546187084noreply@blogger.com