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#41
General Discussion / Re: Unhappy Thread
Last post by stevewalker - March 25, 2024, 02:23:28 PM
I do too. Getting it out of the pouch to get into the car is more effort than just pressing the button on the fob. The keyless entry is therefore of no use whatsoever and simply makes cars less secure. If I was buying a car new, I'd be asking if it was possible to disable the keyless function.
#42
General Discussion / Re: what are you listening to ...
Last post by port perran - March 25, 2024, 01:57:41 PM
Well Tim @Moonglum not sure about Beth Hart I'm afraid but that John Cameron track is intetesting stuff from Joan Osborn Mick @Newportnobby . She's not an artist I'm familiar with so I'll investigate further on Spotify.

Returning to my teenage years, it is with great regret that I never saw Fleetwood Mac live.
Then Play On was, to me, an influential album and one of the first I ever bought.
Here's Man of the World, not from that album but a superb song :
https://youtu.be/lDGi0SZkgpI?si=-wWzDKb8YjfwCfi-
Fleetwood Mac completely died for me in the mid 70s when they relocated to the US and became a pop group.
#44
General Discussion / Re: The angry thread
Last post by Browning 9mm - March 25, 2024, 12:35:14 PM
when I covered a shift in the guardroom, you were expected to answer the phone within x 5 rings....
"Main Guardroom, Cpl Jenkins, Sir"
if you didn't you would find yourself being 'advised' by your sgt.
same when I worked on security, answer the phone within x 5 rings

why is it now acceptable to have to wait for ages, after call answered by 'computer', before you get to speak to a human to solve your problem ?

nothing to do with reducing staff / costs of course  :veryangry:

customer service ?

not in my book.
#45
N Gauge Discussion / Re: A British domestic train f...
Last post by woodbury22uk - March 25, 2024, 11:54:40 AM
The instruction sheet for the 9 car Azuma is now available to view and download on the kato webpage. The inside bearing bogie is listed as a spare.

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/class800

Chose the ASSY TABLE button.
#46
General Discussion / Re: Unhappy Thread
Last post by Newportnobby - March 25, 2024, 11:42:19 AM
Quote from: PaulCheffus on March 25, 2024, 10:39:01 AM
Quote from: Newportnobby on March 25, 2024, 03:31:31 AM
Quote from: Papyrus on March 24, 2024, 02:21:06 PMPS. Don't get me started on 'keyless' car keys...


@Papyrus Being in possession of such, I'd like to know more please, Chris.
PM me if your rant isn't fit for the open forum ;)

Hi

Car can be stolen without access to the key. I keep mine (key) in a Faraday pouch to prevent this.

Cheers

Paul

So do I, Paul
#47
N Gauge Discussion / Re: Why Farish doesn't re-rele...
Last post by Roy L S - March 25, 2024, 11:28:32 AM
Just from the evidence available, Farish have re-released some of their steam locos, but being commercially "savvy" have recognised the need to upgrade even more recent models as part of this process to incorporate DCC sound. This costs money and takes time.

In addition there has been re-release of the Bachmann tooled tender-driven "Black five" without upgrade due no doubt to the loco's popularity and class-size. What is notable is the comparative price differential between it and the recent upgraded "Standard Five" which is only slightly more expensive. then there is the Fairburn Tank being delivered without upgrade towards the end of the year, and the tender-driven J39 sometime after that.

I feel quite sure further "upgrades" will be in the pipeline, and I would predict that logically the WD 2-8-0 and Duchess will feature in that process, as will most if not all of the other coreless-motored loco-drive tender locos with the exception (possibly) of the poor-selling streamlined Merchant Navy, but it will take time..

In terms of Market, it is very clear that steam remains popular, especially in what is still the most modelled the 1957-68 transition period, and this knocks on to preservation steam.

However (big "however") time is marching on, and quite simply there are more eras evolving, more choices to cover and so it is inevitable that steam in a relative sense will be a smaller part of that over all volume of available models that a manufacturer has to attempt to cover off.

Manufacturers will choose steam models they can get the best returns on, and those will be the ones with most technology/features thus ruling out some of the earlier BachFarish steam locos. Personally (and I have said this to Bachmann) I think it was a big mistake to sell further models of the Black Five from existing tooling. If one model justified the loco-drive upgrade and sound-treatment it was this one, and had they done that it would have flown off the shelves, but as it is I am not so sure, as it is competing even in their range with what is the BR equivalent "Standard 5" fully upgraded for very little extra money.

The real test for me is arrival of the next Farish "new tool" steam loco, this seems a bit overdue given that the last was plus 7 years ago, but as this is about re-releases I'll leave that for another discussion.

So, in conclusion I would say, do not write Bachmann steam off in any way, but don't expect a glut, expect a small regular flow (say one/two a year) of upgraded "new" type models from those where this is possible rather than a re-run of all earlier models released.

Roy

#48
General Discussion / Re: Unhappy Thread
Last post by kesdrive - March 25, 2024, 11:15:25 AM
On the theme of etickets, I have just purchased tickets for Model World Live and at the same time train tickets to Birmingham International. I had the option of a ticket on my phone (no chance!) or print at home.
If my football team (Wolves) ever issue season tickets as etickets as West Ham do, i will not renew my season ticket. And what is this with admin fees when we do all the admin!
All this in the name of progress.

Chris

#49
General Discussion / Re: Unhappy Thread
Last post by dannyboy - March 25, 2024, 11:07:44 AM
Quote from: PaulCheffus on March 25, 2024, 10:39:01 AMCar can be stolen without access to the key. I keep mine (key) in a Faraday pouch to prevent this.


A lot of modern key fobs 'go to sleep' after a few minutes if not moved, so they are not transmitting any signals that can be read by machines in the hands of .... people of a certain disposition. However, a Faraday pouch can be a further line of defence.
#50
General Discussion / Re: Unhappy Thread
Last post by Yet_Another - March 25, 2024, 10:52:12 AM
"Keyless access" kind of defines theft, really.
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