Robert Shrives

CIE motive power shortage solved to the enjoyment of hoover fans ! Great to be able to ring the changes Layout now in Devon/ Cornwall ... Robert

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lima-L149437-Irish-Class-201-Train-Pack-with-3-MK3-Coaches-CIE-Black-O Newly posted £374 smackers get you it ... Hope somebody will be pleased , previous went for a penny under £400 per seller message. Robert

Which is why my main cut date is 2005! but have a bit too much modern yellow... as it was rude not to! Robert

Thanks A class with limby 55 chassis - surely not your inspiration for the accurascale beast ! but a good case of reverse engineering ..

The 20 foot chassis sits in the no brainer box really given containers and tanks marketed and beets will go well - 6 wagon packs I guess - three sets of nos gives a nice long rake. A Beet like lid for a false load will be fun and just up the street of the"bunker boys." Sure to be announced soon as I have 5 on the bench for repairs to end supports. - all running on Leslies floored 20` flat Robert

good idea , Will it be easy to see if items gone in time I wonder . Good to see you kicking off with a soon to be surplus A class model. what chassis under it by the way? ( Sadly just nosey and not asking for a friend as I have 2 anyway. ) Robert

As available from DCC supplies -I not think whole range but certainly some were in stock a while ago. Robert For these I glued with epoxy the fishtail directly to the coupler mount bar - less stuff under end of wagon to block daylight. But I have a bag of mounts from dapol shop a while ago and have glued these else where - MEK suitable plastic

Nile`s wagons make up very well - one piece print complete with vac pipes and buffers. SSM bogies and side frames. A Kaydee 20 can be glued to the coupler extension on the bogie - strip need shortening a tad so in a matter of hours a wagon possible . I glued on a 45 foot box with extra weights added and job done. Much the same for my Sperry version. I was happy with finish as once painted all ok , all I did was concentrate on smoothing side where number transfer sits. Robert

Viz the MK 3/ 2 sets I have the same and noted the poly tray was hand cut to take the MK3 but yours have the differing trays, When I can get to them next will have to check vehicle nos. As an aside the Hornby HST buffet is a 4 window TRSB which is much nearer the real CIE vehicle. Robert

The bit of rust is really a case of good/bad luck, bodies had bauxite primer, yellow and then masked for the black and, you`re ahead ome ! The tape lifted a few bits of yellow and a rust patch below! But need to have a play with more rust as they were quite a mess in the end. Robert

George, Currently ok as Des also helped with some prints so save the stamp if not yet stuck on it . It was suggested for a "What iffa" - a 141 in NIR blue - need to sort bits to see if I can do it and a maroon one, if I Do a "199" in NIR blue then that will use up all I have or had . Ian at MIR supplied the last of his rubdown logos . It might be worth seeing if Steve at Railtec will add some - he has done smaller ones so has the design. Robert

Thanks to all who helped out NIR logo of correct size and numbering 105 started, however one step back as broken buffer head spotted. Still progress. - second pic sorry . First pic shows a little addition of 110 between windows might not have been done but I like it , however also shows a bit of potential ignorance with recently seen note that the GM class was 110 class. But in my alternative world my MV is 110 as easy to cut 101 transfers..

Lockdown returns to a wet Birmingham, while given key workers status as a rail employee ( worker might be a bit strong!) I still get a bit of pre-shift time to faff! Two shale/ Tara mines wagons rolled off production line along with two 20 flats and along standing project with Lima ballasts masquerading as NIR ones. The Tara wagons are two MIR resin ones with added bracing to fool the eye into thinking 31026/27 as the modified pair added to Tara fleet. Railtec trasfers from 31xxx sheet cut to give and some older fox electrification flashes. Painted with Halford Bauxite primer and then some mid grey on roof panel plus a dusting on sides, paper paint mask made to slip around roof area and a gentle spray to give the greyed roof seen in many pictures. The two 20 foots are 3D prints and just wanted some transfers to finish off , these and some 3D print beet wagons off ebay got Provincial wagon transfers - the duplicates very useful so thanks to Leslie ! The ballasts had handrails and wheels, Railtec transfers and 148 Kaydees fitted, ready to go with an MV. These were my first NIR modelling unfinished for many years ... The 148s mounted after cutting off big Lima TLC and glueing in plasticard to bring amount plate flush with bottom of buffer beam and 148 glued with 3mm of mount showing - could have been less perhaps but these will go round minimum radius pointwork but easily altered for closer coupling when required.

That must have taken a while to shunt, hope the crew had time for a drink ! great pics, station looks pretty well complete I think you were looking at a good store for the siding where the car flat sits, did that plan proceed? I do think that the loading dock surface has captured that elusive natural rolled stone look As always thanks for sharing this little part of Ireland! Robert

Video helpfully shows 162 at 1.020 and 014 at 29.30 with IR points logo and no tippex white lines which makes modelling easier! Robert

Good to read, dealing with the Chinese is the distance involved not only in miles but getting a good relationship and it does read that you have done that. It is amazing that despite care and more care that details slip through so having more eyes on projects does help and hopefully your recent team gathering will help. Often the elusive detail picture and information come to light after production started and too late to incorporate, thus the comments post production on slip ups hurt more. Hopefully the pause and reflection period that COV 19 has caused will be of benefit in the end. Certainly looking forward to the final product and a big thanks for taking the plunge and keeping to the difficult road. Saintly status awaits ! Robert

Good to see the 121 got home ! Great shots and I hope DCC chip arrives to increase the fun. Have to say the factory looks better for the low relief roof and tall tanks. Good to see clip as well, life looking up ? Robert

Welcome to dealing with the Chinese! It is a shame that artwork bedevils projects with errors both ways and do check that what was originally agreed is still the same and do not just check amendments! I speak from bitter experience!! Good to know that frank and honest comms still available so thank you and as said it does allow for saving up. My biggest fear is loss of disposable income as post Cov19 job losses and slow/ zero economic growth will make sales tighter than a good feeling purchase now. Still keep to the grindstone as perfection is near to and as you correctly have said Holy grail projects are worth it. Robert

Good news for all at IRM/ Accurascale. Impressive growth in staff hopefully bottom line will reflect this in time. I look forward to Irish models as they come and will watch UK model development with interest. With Graham as we found at Warley MRC you cannot keep a good man down- an invaluable member of our show host team !! Robert

Hi What has happened here is that the tampo printed lining has reacted - it is printed in an ink not a paint - another confuser in colour matching ! and this is ink has reacted. Stripping as you say is the only way forward. Robert

Here is a picture of the finished MIR resin kit , 0.7 brass rod and two 3D print brake wheels, Railtec transfers along with railmatch bauxite. One bogie is black having been swapped at Limerick... well you never know!. A 47 footer behind for good measure. Ride height ok with SSM kit but had to shave 1mm off bottom of bufferbeam for kaydee No 20 glued to the bogie extension piece. Last of the Peters spare 10.5 wheels- more being made in China it seems - do delivery date however. The next move is to get C-rail 40 foot box kits and SSM Bell transfers for them and the White metal ones - the high def IRM empty pack to run on the back .

The MIR flats got painted and numbered and couplings sorted last few mornings. apart from my average modelling efforts on the tanks I found the sprung buffers disappointing so Lanarkshire models cast buffers painted and substituted, just need to find where I hid the dapol brake handle sprues and these will limp over the finish line some 4 years after starting - I wonder where the time goes ..

cement wagons got some attention yesterday with pipework, ladders and unloading pipe and cap added.

Well mine have just arrived and for sake of completeness all three come with pegs at 40 spacing and another 12 in the bits bag along with spare axle bearings , coupler bars and anti theft frames. All free running and a great addition for any liner train. A good move and thanks to all who made this extra run possible. Now if the factory happens to a have bin with surplus bogies burning a hole in the inventory .... .

True , was looking on his site for transfers to do end of the sperry container - might have to get decorated ones and use SSM decals - one to ponder if lockdown stuff goes south.