|
|
| Well after what seems to be a series of
ever increasing breaks, I can finally report some progress on the layout. |
 |
With my new static grass
fixation I have been happily turning portions of the layout into
what would have to be the retirement package for the bloke at
Jim’s Mowing. I have been playing with different lengths of static
grass and am really happy with the results. The main two lengths
I have been using are 6.5mm, 2mm and 4mm.
|
|
|
As I reported last chapter, we attended the
Brisbane show. And all I can say is what a show! Despite the crowds
being down, Jade, Keith and I were flat out for the entire three
days where we met a few new customers who are just starting to
dip their toes in the waters of QR Modelling.
|
 |
|
| Some of you may have seen that we had an
extra person at the stand with us (when he wasn’t gasbagging with the
Train World boys. |
 |
Phil Badger (of Badger Bits and recently
Ixion models fame) was with us to show off his latest offering,
the Manor class in N scale. Jade and I were so impressed with this
model when he came out that we said we would like to display it
for him. So after being offered a free spot
at the Brisbane show standing between a pretty face and a bloke
with a face like the bashed in back end of a pitbull, he happily
accepted. |
|
|
As soon as we returned from the show it was time
to get head down and bum up… Then it was time to find some warmer
trousers after catching a chill on the bum. I’m not 100% sure
but it may have been this “head down, bum up” logic that caused
me to get the flu. All three of us managed to become temporarily
diseased. Keith and Jade were over the worst of it within a couple
of days. I however was laid up for a week.
|
 |
|
 |
It seemed that as soon as I got over
that it was time to start getting ready for the Toowoomba show.
As most of you know this is put on by the Darling Downs Model Railway
Club (if you don’t then here’s a link to their site http://www.ddmrc.com.au).
Whilst this show is not typically our biggest, it is the most enjoyable
by far. |
|
|
I know I say this a lot but this club is really
the greatest collection of model railway enthusiasts I have ever
had the pleasure of meeting. The reason I say this is purely down
to their dedication to the hobby and its advancement. The list
of supporters they have is also pretty impressive. In fact I heard
a rumour recently that Kevin Rudd had his leadership challenged
because he refused to wear his DDMRC shirt during Question Time.
|
 |
|
 |
OK so old Kevin 747 may not be a supporter,
but the infamous former mayor of Toowoomba Di Thorley certainly
was. That’s right the out spoken mayor who put Toowoomba on the
map, pushed for recycled water and sacked the people who had bought
maps without Toowoomba on them was a huge fan of the club. With
her office now allocated to a more traditional and politicly correct
mayor the deputy mayor would have to do for the DDMRC functions. |
|
|
Again we had a brilliant show in Toowoomba. We
also had the pleasure of staying at the Teddles International
Hotel. Not that we saw much of Teddles over the weekend. But we
did manage to get in a few cups of coffee and a few good chinwags
as always.
|
 |
|
 |
It is worth mentioning that there
was one or two little “events” at the Toowoomba show that got interesting.
Namely the fact that Michael Bertucci (most of you should know him
as a porter at Roma Street) was selling off a large number of Thomas
type things. So whilst I was talking to all and sundry, Jade and
Michael were hatching plans to exchange small items of ours for
very LARGE items of Michael's. |
|
|
So with the world having a shortage of Thomas
The Tank Engine merchandise we set off for home and back to the
semi normality of Planet Jandowae.
Over the next week or so I am hoping to get a chance to do some
work on the layout as we have been snowed under with some really
BIG projects.
|
 |
|
|
Hopefully these will be announced over the next little
while…
But as always, We shall see how we go..
|
|
|
