Hello everyone - I don't know how many of you are following the Chuffers - but welcome to our little blog.

Winter doldrums have set in, but we are soldiering along, and the weather isn't too bad, plus Covid seems to have settled down to just an attack of 'flu, so perhaps we may see exhibitions starting up again - our layouts really need an airing!

The Cardi-Bach Society is up and running, our February meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, with Pat giving a presentation on Kilgerran station, and Colin taking along his fairground attractions. Which segues nicely into our first set of pictures - updates to one of Colins rides - the Steam Yachts.

 

He has added the decorative board along the top...

And here is a preview of the collection, in case you are unable to get along to Y Bont next Tuesday!

 

They were taken two weeks ago when we met at Colins for the weekly Chufferduffers  - the usual indulgence of crisps, olives, wine, pate with salad, and soup and garlic bread. Plus of course a glass or two of Rioja for those who weren't driving... (!)

Last night I collected Colin and we went along to Chessboard House where Pat was hosting.

He is still active in 3mm mode, and the possibility of a 3mm layout is looming larger, which should raise a cheer up in the Carmarthenshire hills (you know who you are...)

 

First a picture of the completed Ford:

and then the post office van:

and finally the post office van, a fire engine, and in the background a Scammel articulated yard truck. We are a little concerned about the apparent scale between the vehicles - at 3mm to the foot, the PO van door would seem to be 14mm, the fire engine 13mm, and the Scammel 15. With the average person being 5' 8", that would be 17mm... 

Pat did us proud by producing a full meal of liver and bacon in an onion gravy with mashed potatoes, green beans and garden peas! (plus of course... )

 

Unfortunately I have nothing in the modelling department to offer, so a couple of more pictures from my work abroad.

In 1985 I worked off-shore of Columbia, in the Gulf of Panama, on a 350,000 ton tanker converted into a storage and transshipping vessel. Oil from the Columbian jungle came through a pipeline, and we transferred it to smaller tankers alongside.

This was the tanker (FSU Covenas)

A view from the control room, built ontop of the wheelhouse:

As well as the off-loading arms each side, we also pumped oil through a floating hose to tankers moored to a remote buoy. This needed checking once a week, which we did using a RIB.

Happy days!!

 

 

 

 

 

Thats about it for this post.

Take care,

Shaun.