James May's Man Lab

[Silver Smudger]

I quite liked it - I learned a new (to me) way to polish boots, how to fake playing a guitar (I have one and can't play) and thought the UXB bit was fascinating - How they work, how we defeated the mechanism and how that was often a waste of time anyway (booby-trap)

Could have been tighter, but kept me entertained and started me thinking about other stuff.

Much, MUCH better than the continuous talent/popularity contests, reality shows and soaps. Did remind me a bit of Why Don't You and Johnny Ball stuff, but I liked them a lot too!

Will be watching next week.

[Ultuous]

zollburgers said:

The neutral is not live as such. The live wire is though, hence why it's fused. It alternates between +240 and -240 volts (realtive to the neutral wire or the earth wire). The neutral stays 0 at all times relative to earth. You can use earth as neutral but you still need a live.

Aha.. That's cleared up something that's been a mystery for me for years (A/C circuit theory's never been my strong point) - so thanks!

It's worth noting 240V is the RMS value in the UK - i.e. the 'peak' will be 240xsqrt(2) - about +/- 340V

[Morningside]

I know its going to be dire (?)....but there is nothing else on. So t-minus 20 minutes and counting...

[Jonny671]

I managed to do ten minutes of it.

This program on war is more interesting.

[Athlon]

Turned it off I was hoping for so much more from him.

[RichB]

Watched the 2nd World War in colour yesterday so I'm wared out, but this isn't very good. Looking forward to The Trip next.

ETA - bugger it was a repeat of last week's episode. The BBC really are scraping the barrel for programmes these days...

Edited by RichB on Sunday 7th November 22:06

[grumbledoak]

It's weak. Sort of funny enough to persevere. Just not anywhere near educational enough to be truly satisfying.

[RichB]

I'm more interested in the O Gauge trains he's got running. They look modern, indeed almost new, yet there's a 3rd rail which I think of as 1950s technology.

[Laurel Green]

Still not great but, better than last weeks episode IMO. Seemed more rounded - loved the dog and, cracked up when cocking his leg on the CD-player.

[RichB]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yep, that's the one. I've just had a little grandson, well I haven't my step-daughter has, but there's the excuse for an O gauge railway from the shed and around the garden.

[carter711]

I thought the bar was pretty rubbish, like one you'd see in the trendy areas of London, not a proper man's bar at all.

Man's bar needs a wooden bar, dark reds and greens, low lighting and a billiards table.

[RichB]

carter711 said:

...and a billiards table.

too right, one of these in the study would be good fun.

[cazzer]

RichB said:

carter711 said:

...and a billiards table.

too right, one of these in the study would be good fun.

Havent played that for years.

[Mattt]

I really wanted to like this, but it's not very good IMO.

As said above if they concentrated on the making of the actual man lab itself - with lots of cool gadgets and toys, then it might work for me - but I guess that's too 'male interest' and doesn't fit with the 'TV for all' ethos these days.

[simonrockman]

Looks like it was made for selling to Dave.

Of course the way the BBC should deal with the government having robbed them of money for rural broadband is to make more episodes of Top Gear and Dr. Who to flog.

Simon

[Jim the Sunderer]

I am sure he was really defusing the same stinky bomb that caused a huge ass explosion.

And because of that I'm ooot.

[simonrockman]

It occurs to me that people who like the Man Lab kind of thing will enjoy The Register's PARIS project - Paper Aircraft Released Into Space.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/science/paris/

[Bertie Bassett]

RichB said:
I'm more interested in the O Gauge trains he's got running. They look modern, indeed almost new, yet there's a 3rd rail which I think of as 1950s technology.
I would guess that they are Lima O Gauge stuff - that was a 4F wasn't it ?


Good guess it was a BR 0 6 0 tyender loco but it was a new Bassett Lowke (now made by Hornby) BR class J39 no. 64816. The box is also shown briefly. A locomotive very similar to this ends on Ebay tomorrow and is currently selling at a lot lot less than the normal Ebay or retail price. These engines are 2 rail or 3 rail by simply flicking a switch. It may be that the track shown is also 2 and 3 rail at the same time with insulated plastic sleepers - but I am not sure. Possibly new Atlas track?

[dwspirit]

Top Gear, but without the cars!

[Laurel Green]

...with a smattering of PH. Loved the wasp bombing.