Robert Shrives

Been saying it for years!  I guess after the Hunslets sell out on the second batch ! Then with enough pennies found down the side of the breakout furniture in IRM towers might just lead to an 80 class  being announced. The selection of colours and the fun mixing of liveries means buying sets will really be a plural activity. 

Robert   

46 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

On the floor, I think there’s a strip each side which folds up to attach the body sides. 
The separate full-length strips must be the solebars and they have tabs which go into the slots in the floor, from underneath. 

Yes that is it Comet coach kit style. 

JHB, 

Indeed.  I spent  1991 - 2024  less 5 back on FR co works building hostel and marketing work.  Trying to run some sort of services at BR, Reg rail, EWS , VT- XC in several colours - I was like a stray dog having several owners but nobody wanted to feed or pay the vet bills. 

Bashing heads with Railtrack and NR was fun in the day . Once I was refused permission to run a 153 dmu through the Severn tunnel as it only had one engine. Like a class 47 I asked?  It was suggested I was sarcastic and difficult. Only when needed I replied, 153 ran...

Hopefully back on topic the Enterprise services will be sorted and new shiny but tested trains will improve transport.

Robert    

On 3/3/2025 at 7:42 AM, David Holman said:

 On the larger island, ever since privatisation, the issue is largely one of 'nothing spare'. Each franchise has just enough stock and it seems they don't share either. Hence, any failure leads to cancellation(s). Back in BR days, there were always sidings full of spare stock, which largely came out for summer specials, while it seemed there were a couple of spare locos at most bigger stations that could be called upon to act as pilots for an ailing train engine.

 As a small child, remember being taken to see the Irish Mail go through Colwyn Bay, hoping to see a 'Lizzie' in charge, only to find it was running late and with a 4F 0-6-0 up front!

The idea of sharing stock falls on the alter of risk minimisation-  by only using own stock then crews expose the owners to limited risk compared to letting them operate hired in stock - even if they sign the traction. XC crews could not use GWR HSTs as not all cab switches ended up in same place due to the "non regulated" schemes , could not even use VT / Advanti 221 voyagers as cab switches had differing positions plus XC crews no longer sign tilt equipment. Thus spare Advanti sets sat on Central rivers while XC services short formed ran past.. This sort of "fun" repeated across the network. I recall running BR 304 emus  Rugby to Crewe and back to ensure the 14 standing= needs an exam was avoided. Summer specials / adex stock was rotting garbage most of the time and hardly a good experience but even with rose tinted specs were operational liability. I recall a SO detached at Shrewsbury off a Birmingham - Pwhelli train - Itself a poor shadow of the weekend London - PWL services to allow Butlins inmates swap over.  The coach lingered for weeks while resources found to rescue back to Tyesley for attention to dragging brakes. Finally some folk on a Euston - Wolves service enjoyed 08 haulage from Grand junction to the platforms one day when an 86 gave up the ghost.   IIRC fun days!

Robert               

Well mine landed today.  so Sligo should be awash with fuel now !! Lovely models but will need uber gunking at some point, will need to look at photos.  Thanks to all involved in this project around the globe.

Robert    

On 3/2/2025 at 5:03 PM, DJ Dangerous said:

 

Maybe the Oval Office should now be referred to as the Orange Office?

Looking back at the IRM artwork, the Hunslets look just stunning.

This is gonna be an awesome year...

Class 31, H Vans, Grain Hoppers and Fuel Tanks...

Class 60, 50 and 66...

22000's, Park Royal's, Hunslets...

And Dapol's Class 66 in O Gauge to top it all off!

The 66 is brewing up nicely having seen some bits and bobs across a desk near mine! A bit of a wait but i think it will be well worth it, still like my G1 one. 

16 hours ago, BosKonay said:

At this time, model railways are NOT included in the lists of Chinese made items that will be subject to tariffs (they have been, and remain at a zero rate)

Good news but does it mean the big orange one has a model railroad in the White house ?  Thinks before pressing send is it of "Orange" prototypes, the UK "special arrangement" might thus refer to MK2D air cons ...  

Robert 

used link but not able to order as it will not recognise Wales  Had hoped to get some black bogies and 3 tail lamp packs but just not able to...

Robert

A bit of time today, avoiding the blow meant along with a delivery of tiny castings the GWR railcar has lurched forward with bogie side frames fitted on one side.  The axle end gear box comes as  double drive ended add on casting to the basic side frame so in BR days the double drive was removed I have trimmed back to more like photos. Body is a shapeways grainy affair bit having had quite a bit of sanding does look ok  Power bogie is a blast from past it is a Mike Chinery 12mm NG power bogie intended for Irish NG railcars  but is a lovely runner and railcar does not need to shoot about like an HST so works well on Branchline layout.

robert       

A good news and obvs a source of cutting and extending ... As it happens I was just a few metres away from the office where this was generated.  So will follow with interest - I did help look at seeing if a CIE look-near- alike was possible upon this tooling even allowing for it being short and it was just not viable hence using the suggest vehicles to take on the Tourax decoration instead.  Hopefully I can get my mits on some samples in time to chop up !

Robert     

Two pics for added value ( I hope)  117 dmu with middle car at rear in blue drivers still in primer with more work required on roof domes. The 158 is a 3 D print in the grainy style of old from Shapeways  I will carry on with it but I think it is a bit dead in the water given modern print standards. 

Robert  

Mol, 

Ennis was on my ideas list a while back due to the curved platforms and terminating trains - I was going for a modernised trackplan but with benefits.  Claremorris -Burma Road- Sligo a`la Patrick style of presentation was another flight of fancy - lottery requirement to oblige! NIR stuff did see a Portadown idea as well, along with a Belfast Central- Adelaide yard fancy.  It hard from afar(ish) to avoid a fictional section to allow the multiple interesting train formations slide by. Your space with a double line loop and at a differing level a single line and loop attached to fiddle yards/loops could then be anywhere you fancy on the day.

robert              

A bit of an update, found box of DMU stuff so now having a review.  Met cam 101 dmu has home made airvac vents two more coaches to go at. The green Tadpole needs roof details sorting - cable conduits on all three plus roof fans and hatch handles on PC.   The Mk 3 is in primer, bogies done just need to sort couplings and bogie mounts, sadly Alan Doherty has no more etched sides so I only have 4 vehicles.  The 121 is a mix of 3mm soc ends and  Alan`s sides and roof, needs undergubbins and exhausts.  I need a new box of roundtuits as well.

Robert     

23 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I agree, an 80 would be very nice. One (atypical) set had both trailers from former loco-hauled coaches that would be easy to do from existing IRM mouldings.

The 450s weren't popular in reality, which may influence their popularity as models. But if Accurascale's secret new GB multiple unit turns out to be based on the Mk3 bodyshell, then maybe...

My gut feel is that the ICR experience may have discouraged future Irish multiple-unit development, but I hope that doesn't stop it entirely. I reckon in 5-10 years time those ICR's will be rare as rocking horse poo and selling secondhand for much more than their RRP.

 

Indeed the sets had quite a good reform game with power cars moving round - I guess exams/ faults along  with a desire to run trains saw lots of fun!  Trailers were augmented with loco stock - a one way conversion and of course repairs were necessary due to damage. Several vehicles went to Glasgow works and some power cars went back to Derby.  IIRC loco coach driving brake 812 became a DMU vehicle and ended up having brake end removed and standard seating accommodation - done in Glasgow using part of sides from withdrawn Mk2.  So a basic 80 class project is quite tool/ slide hungry which is cost rich....    Re 450 you never know. 

Robert     

Looking to the north the 80 and 450 class units float a boat here. The 80 having some "cross over" with Mk2 stock . As we know Mol it is easy to spend somebody else`s dosh.

Robert  

Well cut and angled one end of a 5Bel roof and looks the part so that along with sorting fixing of roof using  nylon csk screws and nuts I should be able to proceed a bit more. 

Robert  

Darius, Amazing bit of work on the historical artifacts you obtain and this is the best one so far from your workshops, please keep up the inspirational works.

Robert 

Leslie, 

Good luck and enjoy a well earned retirement , been a pleasure building wagons and meeting you at the NEC show. But like the organisers of the Warley club and betting adverts - when the funs stops, stop.  You are ahead of the game and despite the young rogues you do the double beet.   

Keep smiling, it confuses the tax man.

Robert   

Hi all, 

While having eclectic tastes in modeling it does mean stuff does sit around collecting dust having been part started "yonks ago."   The festive period allowed apart from reflection and getting wet on Ffestiniog works some modelling time while sprouts were being boiled for a couple of hours! 

I chose to revisit some 3mm brass coach kits maturing in a box for several years, and an interloper. 

First pic is a 5 bel  a complex end assembly saw buffer beams soldered on and roof cut to shape plus driver domes started. 

Second is a GUV an old MTK offering roof work required to narrow an Alu roof section and slightly reprofiled . The Class 128 parcels rail car was a recovery after false start at least 6 years ago. But now together and roof domes also started.

Third is the resin interloper - a 3mm society offering. had to drill and bend handrails/ lamp brackets and it is a drop together kit of 1 body, four buffers and bogies. It will end up rail blue and grime.

forth photo is  5 of 6 air con Mk2D/E coaches, bar the GUV all shown are Worsley Works productions - scratch aids but as Alan is a 3mm guy then these are more complete than other scales and the 3mm soc has lovely castings for undergubbins. These had sad with out roofs and some without end castings so several hours work saw works to this stage.   Works  staff then spotted school boy error, the doors have a hole for a casting  of the vent, best fitted before roof on. so holes filled and plasticard glued on to make painting and lining out harder later, just love this sort of work. Roof details to add and then clean and primer etc when it warms up.

For me a leap forward.

Robert                  

Darius,

Looking at change of traction on before to after makes it look like the buffers were lowered while the van worked an overnight Glasgow - Dover parcels! Clever work regardless and makes it useable.

Robert     

Lovely model, photo bombed by a NIR ECS working!  If that does not inspire the IRM "lads" I do not know what will. Thanks for showing.

Robert 

Dapol have noted a future run is likely.  An attempt to create artwork for the CPW on existing model was not acceptable visually and not good given the increase in standards from IRM. However the model in any livery does give a starting point and along with IRM spare bogie packs does open the door to a good looking effort.

Robert     

Hi ,

Great news on viewing figures and I wish you well for Christmas and 2025.  A big thank you for finding time to procure and process  pictures. 

I really enjoy all of them as a  window on the past, simpler times but will always enjoy orange diesels and stock. 

All the best

Robert   

Brilliant work by Martin.  Viz White line this looks very good and if they did not then clearly they should have !    

Hi 

Thanks for taking the time to create this data file - The idea of standard is much followed by the Tin car saga!  

Robert