Quote from: cmason on January 19, 2026, 03:12:03 PMWindows 11 has bits that are OK and that I appreciate however some bits are driving me up the wall - especially CoPilot which is trying to embed itself everywhere. I call it Clippy 2.0. Many may remember Clippy as a failed attempt by Microsoft to introduce an assistant back in the days of Windows 3.1.

At least Clippy was easy to get rid of.

On every new machine I had to use, one of the first things I did was to locate the "actors" folder and rename it - usually to "deadactors" 

In relation to my speed camera fine I posted a while back, I asked for a review. I got a letter today saying what Graham in Melbourne said would happen - a snowflake's chance in hell.

The annoying thing was the tone of the letter.

Yes, you present some valid points, such as no children in the area, and your driving record is excellent, but the fine cannot be withdrawn. Please pay via the options shown.

Why??!! They have not given a reason why the fine cannot be withdrawn!

Of course I'll pay it, but I'll pay it off in instalments, just to give them something to do.

Quote from: Webbo on January 20, 2026, 03:52:01 AMI'll bet those jerky US locos are not Katos!

That's true! 

Quote from: Webbo on January 20, 2026, 03:48:02 AMHello Scott

Poor running is common (usual) after locos have been used for many years. Mike Fifer (Fifer Hobbies) tells us that a major reason is that components of the oil and grease in locomotive bearings evaporate with time and lose their slipperiness leading to poor running. Here is what Mike has to say about lubing models: Very good clip in my opinion.


https://youtu.be/AlcdWhe6hn4

As with Grumbeast's suggestion, this is North American, but should apply largely to UK stuff too if that is what you are wanting to treat.

Of course, PLD is quite correct. One should be looking for possible simple causes of the problem first such as dirty wheels. Whatever you do, your locomotives will run better with clean wheels and lubricated bearings.

Webbo

Thanks everyone! Great info.

I'll bet those jerky US locos are not Katos!

Hello Scott

Poor running is common (usual) after locos have been used for many years. Mike Fifer (Fifer Hobbies) tells us that a major reason is that components of the oil and grease in locomotive bearings evaporate with time and lose their slipperiness leading to poor running. Here is what Mike has to say about lubing models: Very good clip in my opinion.


https://youtu.be/AlcdWhe6hn4

As with Grumbeast's suggestion, this is North American, but should apply largely to UK stuff too if that is what you are wanting to treat.

Of course, PLD is quite correct. One should be looking for possible simple causes of the problem first such as dirty wheels. Whatever you do, your locomotives will run better with clean wheels and lubricated bearings.

Webbo

For the most part I've noticed that my Dapol and GF diesels run silky-smooth on my ancient poorly-laid track. They seem to pick up very nicely where some of my US locos are herky-jerky at points on the track.

What PLD says,

But I would add when you do pop something apart take it slow and try and start small. Its a wonder what a good cleaning can do.

This isn't UK locos, but I really enjoy this chap from Quebec, he does some great repairs and maintenance vids and has a very calm and quiet way about how he approaches things.  So maybe not for the specific loco's but very much for the approach


A lot of his older videos are N scale but its worth having a look through them

Good luck!

G.

Quote from: Bealman on January 19, 2026, 07:45:49 AM@Newportnobby reckons she looks like Fozzie Bear out of muppets.

The Muppet had more intelligence 

I'm sure Mick has been called worse 

Sticking with Win10 for a long while till it finally stops working (then switching to Linux), I have zero interest in having any AI assistant on my computer, I have no use for one, don't have one on my phone neither.

Quote from: cmason on January 19, 2026, 03:12:03 PMCoPilot pops up asking if it can be of help at the most annoying of moments. And one cannot easily remove it as its embedded in Windows.

I believe there is software that can remove it automatically now from what I've heard from commentary youtubers discussing Win11 mention, the software is called Winslop, forked off the software Crapfixer.
Not sure if it'll do anything on my Win10 but seems to either remove or at the least reduce annoying features to Win11 so worth a look.