Hi all this started as a response to another post but wandered off a bit.

It starts with the diminishing numbers of us who make things and fix things and get models back working again, and beware percentages.

I first addressed Rod who used the word Resurrect.

Rod, there are so few of us 'resurrectionists' left. Our school system seems to leave out catering for those who would rather work with their hands. Woodwork, much disdained at the Grammar school I attended but best subject as far as I was concerned, well that with maths.

The GCE 'O' level exam was in 3 parts, practical, theory and drawing. Maths was also 3 exams but I reckon the 'woodwork' one brought our more from you with perhaps a little artistry, precision and knowledge.
As a test of knowledge do you know what use is put to the different parts of a tree when it is sawn up?

I have to say my working life was spent with electronics as the industry worked through thermionic valves, transistors, intergrated circuits and then I just dropped off the end!

In those school days of no calculators, we used logarithms which gives you much insight into maths, fractions which I use for all mental calculations and the ability to assess what the answer should be before the actual calculation. I still check my change should I pay by cash.

I think contactless payment removes people completely from the cost or dare I say value of things. We adopted this at our last couple of exhibitions and I have to say it does have the advantage of speed. People spend more using their 'instant card' and we found we took 2/3rds (sorry a fraction, it just slipped out!) of all monies in this way.

Interesting that many devices with batteries in still require a coin to fit into a slot to open them up!

You can tell from our Politicians that they do not appreciate maths, for instance the referendom in 2016 was just a test of numbers. The sensible thing would be to say there have to be 10 percentage points one way or the other to change. There was only a 2% difference that made a decision. This is just an illustration not a political point.

However most of the politics in the USA is driven by the tiny, often less than 2% difference in the Republicans and Democrats vote. My solution would be to have a third party, for rationalists and the disenchanted.

When I made a forecast at work for the future expenditure and costing of running my unit I was allowed a 2 % error. When you scratch-build a model would you notice an error that was 1/50th. of an inch out?

The current thing is for us all to go electric! The larger cities in the UK have almost antiquated electrical infrastructure that cannot sustain a heavy and regular use of electricity for charging cars. My brother lives more 'in town' and his cost of power was almost double mine the only difference seems to be the old and perhaps difficult job to get at underground power supplies for repairs.

Also as most of us use batteries, we all know that charging a battery has an immediate loss of 40% for power in against power out plus the inefficiency of electric motors. So storing power more efficiently might be a better start.

Did you know that whereas we might have 6 cells in a model and 4 -8 cells in the Tx, A Tesla car has 6831 separate Lithium-ion cells! It is a wonder how all of them stay working at the same time.

I started this post with getting models back working and I am afraid the school system does not lend itself to producing builders and makers, just operators. It is great when a young person seeks out help and guidance for working with his or her hands.

Some years ago a young lad with parent was seeking out help to restore a boat grandad had left behind him. I gave the necessary help etc. Later I found out he had to stop doing this and concentrate on school work. It was modelling that kept me sane! Albeit model aeroplanes.

So the result is that fewer guys are able to restore model boats, there are a lot of models in need, so the price drops and then you think, is it worth my time? Model boat kits have become like cars as soon as you start them up the value drops!

Going back to the arithmetic and percentages, in the UK there will be a general election in about a year or less.

We have currently had high year on year inflation as high as 20 % with some commodities. Things have gone up and look like staying at these prices, however just when we are about to vote the word will go out that we have sorted out inflation now at about 1 % at a guess. The sums are right measured on a year by year system.

So maths will be used to fool the unwary, inflation has been brought down, we succeeded in our task! But prices are still what they were a year ago, can you suddenly afford things now?

So do beware when percentages are 'weaponised'. A pound GB in 1950 is the equivalent to £42 now, an average of 5.25% inflation. So when you hear of antique valuations, ask yourself did it really go up in value after keeping the item for 70 odd years?

As a past example of aggresive percentages., a National Newspaper a few years ago commented that with the introduction of 20mph residential road speed limits, that there had been an increase of 23% (sic) in pedal cyclists deaths. I looked at the numbers on the Internet as I had voted for these reduced speed limits and was concerned. Apparently the previous year 6 had died and the year in question 7 had died, all sad I agree, just beware the media and percntages. Then there are Olympic size swimming pools!!!!!

Anybody got any answers?

Regards
Roy