Member postings for Bill Dawes

Yes excellent video, concise and precise.

Agree about many modern equivalents, not all to be fair, amateur ones usually more to the point. USA ones can be awful, many I have watched have been like a QVC programme, waffling on a and on about the same thing ad nauseum. Guess it is to do with sponsorship.

I hasten to add I don't spend hours watching people selling tacky jewellery on QVC, honest.

Bill D.

Not had my issue 4670 yet, anyone know if there is a delay on publication.

Bill D.

I can't believe it, thought I had set to record but didn't so did not see it after all.

Bill D.

Another quirky little film, '1958 -SG Iron, Hull'. Tomorrow at 3.40am, one to record unless you are a night owl.

Bill D.

Yes makes me laugh ( a hollow one) when I see the green brigade banging on about green energy, emission free vehicles etc. I wish the media would really spell out the bigger picture, i.e. end to end pollution not just the end result.

Bill D.

Went to Statfold on Saturday, enthusiasts event cancelled from last year.

What a superb place, aided by perfect weather had a really enjoyable day.

Very impressed by the whole layout and a lovely site.

Loads of locos in steam and many more on display in the museum.

Excellent machine shop which was open for pretty much unrestricted browsing.

Highly recommended for anyone that has not been before.

My congratulations to all the staff involved.

Bill D.

I have a bucket full of halogen GU10 lamps (got told off by sparks for calling them bulbs, you plant them in the garden he said) a result of replacing with LED. My dimmer switch for LED (you need dimmable lamps as well) was from Screwfix, a Varilight leading edge dimmer if I remember right, about £15.

All my LED, including an outside light fitting are lasting well, couple of years or more so far.

Bill D.

Just set catch up TV for a program I missed last night. BBC2 documentary on the building of Hinkley C.

Bill D.

I don't think Shaun said 1/2" BSP on the boiler, he was referring to the pump. Easy enough to make an adaptor, assuming you have a lathe of course.

Bill D.

Quite right John, Hinkley. Slip of the finger, my excuse is that I'm a Brummie so more familiar with the Hinckley of Leicestershire fame.

Yes did learn early on in my Somerset sojourn that Bridgwater does not have an 'e' after the 'g'.

(A sojourn that has lasted 26 years so far!)

Bill D.

I live about 20 miles from the Hinckley C nuclear power station being constructed.

Can see Big Carl (a crane) from our house.

Went into Bridgwater last week, first time in over a year and was amazed at the development going on there.

Moral of the story for old struggling industrial towns, build a nuclear power station.!!!

Bill D.

I was hoping it would be something like a 5" gauge steam loco!!!

Sadly not.

Bill D.

On now Garden Rescue, bloke wants to run his model railway through it.

Bill D.

Not a concrete technologist but I would have thought the danger is weakening the concrete with too liberal usage causing foaming.

Bill D.

I think modern day diction amongst actors is dreadful. I watch some things and don't have a clue what they are saying. I know my hearing is not as sharp as it was many moons ago but my argument I never have this problem watching old movies or tv programmes. Don't modern actors have speech training anymore, they don't have to speak posh middle English either. Many well know actors have retained their regional accent and have perfectly clear diction. On the other hand I've been amazed many times to see a well know, usually older, actor speaking in their normal voice and was stunned that they were 'posh' having always thought they were Cockney, Brummie, Geordie, Yorkshire etc depending on character you were familiar with, proper actors with a broad band of talent.

Never had one single moment of not hearing actors in the Carry on films!! and all that with 'ancient' sound reproduction equipment.

Bill D.

From this distance didn't life look wonderful then.

It probably was but then I was about 19 then which makes hell of a difference.

Bill D.

Yes Freeview channel 81, Sky 328.

Bill D.

Just spotted, today at 09.15,' Look at life, A car is born', from 1960.

Bill D.

PS see also my post on Oxy-Propane on this boiler subject

Bill D

Thanks for that guys, as I said I couldn't see a problem but its nice to have confirmation.

Thanks Henry, I forgot to mention that it is your Emma Victoria that I am building, my first ever loco, just want to get this boiler done, Take your point about not taking them right back, bad choice of words on my part saying flush. it's been a love hate relationship, mostly due to my inexperience of course but I do remember in your build details you did mention silver soldering the boiler being a stressful and worrying time so I should take consolation from that I suppose.

My pressure gauge is, as yet, unused. I did have a tentative try at twisting off the the cover but it was too tight for me to risk wrecking it, no obvious sight of any retaining fixing, just a very tight machine press fit in manufacture I suppose.

Once again thank you all for the advice, sometimes on this forum you ask a question more or less knowing the answer but confirmation from others more experienced is a big help, other times it's because I haven't a clue.

Never have given up on any DIY type job but came very close to binning this boiler more than once, went away, deep breath, slept on it, few kind words from my wife and back to it.

Wouldn't say I am very close to finishing the loco, I'm not that naive but most of the million parts are made just? need all stripping down, cleaning, measuring, making things fit and work properly, remaking bits not happy with, painting, fitting, getting the whole thing to work....... Oh well maybe another 9 years.

Bill D.