Robert Shrives

Love the striped paint, fitting printed seat fabric amazing given curves of the seats - or is it a transfer? 

robert

While getting MTK kits to this standard is clearly a labour of love a big thanks to Colin Massingham all those years ago persevering  with his aim to make kits from alu stampings, white metal castings, and a lump of magic dust!  

I think he understood quickly that oversized whitemetal casings allowed for shrinkage and adaptability.  The formed shells were a mixed bag and often better treated as sides and a roof cut with a stanley. I have tucked away a 103 that was supplied flat and the roof is at least 6mm too big however it might get rolled, but without the kit I would never have started on a 103.

His range covered N, TT, OO and O gauges.   the N was nearer true 2mm and live on in BHE kits via fleetline kits - I bought several coaches from Winton models in Bournemouth in the early 1980s. Even then the plastic mouldings were a mess with flash but the brass etch was lovely. Castings were right general shape.   I have some TT sides and in flat are lovely but loose height when rolled to a MK1 shape and do not fit the  clear vacuum plastic shell, the castings are a mixed bag of course.    

A treasured possession is the El crappo box for an O gauge 156 - complete with cartoon Donkey  in action!  I have the 156 and it has a good blob of filler around cabs - but having learnt on the roof oversize issue It might be a better job to break apart and split roof,  one day maybe! 

Also a big thanks to Darius for show and tells on these build - inspiring to us almost armchair modellers.

Robert 

2 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Hectic couple of weeks with factory visits in china and Uk show season into Dublin show and warley at the weekend. Were catching up this week and will have photos and videos of the coaches soon as we can in advance of them landing with us. 

All good things come to those who wait. Barely got a chance to see stand at Warley- busy most of time, did show my cement wagon as a hint... coaches looked great. I suspect that the docks busy with not just in time crimbo tat so landed  delays/ customs stuff not helping the cause! 

The one thing I missed at Warley was the Hunslet 101 announcement.  

Robert  

Well just about all in place 99% done ! IRRS stand with stalwarts in place during the afternoon and Ballyconnell Road up and looking ready to go.  Easy to find - big steam loco alongside and just down a bit from IRM on tour stand!  (IIRC A24.) - It has been a long day. 

I hope anybody on here who visits has a good day at the show.

Robert  

Darius,

The build of the wickam mirrors my experience with a Transpennine unit cutting off the roof with a stanley to allow ends a fighting chance to fit bodies got attached to a Lima chassis, back in the day so the buffet offered pizzas!

The 306 must be better proportioned if ends fitted that well, good luck with the build

Robert   

A good build today at NEC with around 60% of walling and shell schemes built, 500 tables and 700 chairs in place, GWR tank 5164 has popped over from SVR as a fund raisier, it is a lightly weathered finish to encourage others! It does look good . 

Contractors building stands all afternoon and IRM boys stand started to arrive so hopefully it will fly up tomorrow.   

Long days for next 3 days, but looking forward to it (I think!) 

Robert  

Hi 

Good to know all coming, I will be in the Hall from Thursday Lunchtime to last man standing so hope to see a few.  Funny how you ended up close to the layout !

While not confirmed check out the display cabinets on the Warley club stand for a few wagons on display.

Robert 

Also from an engineering view point the track forces are a lot lower with distributed power as axle loads and hammer blow is reduced so track can last longer with reduced maintenance., which is a cost saving  of a large magnitude.  In UK Regional railways dumped loco hauled stock for railcars/ dmus very quickly as total costs savings even after buying new a stock made the BR Boards books move towards balancing.  Railtrack/ Network rail track access regime reflects track damage from heavy axle loads and for the Intervillage operators like East Coast, Advanti West Coast and Last Great Western can get more from the emu/dmu fleets over loco hauled and reduced HST power cars sees track access charges fall.   

It is a shame however that those who think putting a bus engine under a train filled with ill thought "cheap seats"  are not made to ride on them long distance. In UK the clamour about the seats caused the Rail safety board to investigate- using the BR  MK3 as the bench mark its tests showed no improvement in any of the modern trains being foisted on passengers.  I hope the  future bimode/ electrickery stocks in Ireland take heed of passenger needs when discussing the finances.   

Still on topic looking forward to my 6car .

Robert   

Looks like you had fun with that.  plenty of weight for the chassis being cast, neat joins on bodyside. 

A class that did not quite get there after rebuild, too small a class and engine issues plus 73s being rather more than a box on wheels along with a loss of traffic gave them a short life.

Thanks for showing

Robert    

That is a great move as chassis used on several more wagons.  The body is crying out for double stacking and having the sep floor is inspired!  Have to check finances but a short rake possible. 

Thanks gents 

Robert   

I would love to know if the pixels shown will be available as 21mm gauge spare parts as a 16.5 gauge pixel regardless colour could be useful to many but FS 21mm will help some as well.

I have been collecting pixels for a while now and have been considering 10.5mm ones as well as it gives a chance to use my 2mm stock with a little work. 

Off for a coffee now and a 1:1 scale biscuit.

Robert  

I can see all the arguments and benefits of all these alternatives but one not mentioned is slowing down. I guess we have become such a global village it is not possible to for anywhere to be even vaguely self sufficient. The rise of the 15 minute limitation society for movement adds to the arguments about traction for mobility. 

A local friend in Wales now with some 20mph limitations has considered the family horse as a potential for the commute. It is self recharging on company grass! But garaging and running costs currently make it like a luxury car!  I guess vet bills worse than the daylight robbery of just plugging in a lap top to reset a car that is too clever for its tyres.

Robert         

Darius, 

good luck on the move a big big task ahead. It will keep you busy for a good few hours!

Robert 

Thanks to NIRCLASS80 for the inadvertent bump!  Just to add I now have some 80 class PCs heading my way to allow a bit of yellow fun to be created, hopefully I can mask the fact that 752 is of Lima "parentage." 

Might have missed it but one for Kirley if he sees this but the pics back  from 2014 will not display- If it were possible to recreate a big thanks from me!  

Robert 

Really good and thanks for taking my money !!!!   The Driving brake does mean the 80class is tantalisingly close with just a bit of fun adding pipes and  cables to make 754. I could happily give a development model a happy home... 

Great to see films and engines through the ages.  On second viewing I did spot it took 3 years for the tipper to get to the siding from the level crossing.  Great to have relocatable accessories to move about.

Hope foot mends and not too costly in the long run.

Robert    

Still looking good and inspiring many!  Thanks for update photos!

Robert  

sorry no pics but just to say finally got transfers on bogie cements and painted brake brackets on ammonia tanks, good old glacial progress !

Robert 

Brilliant work as ever. 

Robert 

Great to see progress and hope factory progresses with out issues. Looking forward to seeing this in the flesh and then working out how to pay for the Hunslets  !! 

Have to say managed to order a set of Mk2s paid deposit to help account survive a bit longer.  

Robert 

With 15 spoils and 17 Double beets built and painted plus Darius` efforts and Leslie noting sales figures it must be pretty likely that the good boys will add to the rtr Irish wagon market before three long.  Everything crossed for 80 class and Jeeps after Hunslet  101s  once the latest BR models get over finishing line at IRM towers/ Accurascale bunker.   A thanks to Leslie for priming the market and Darius getting salesman of the year award! 

Robert   

Spoils look really good , bending handrails is a labour of love and yours do look good. I fitted a false floor and glued in Woodland senics mid talus and some coarse "4mm"  ballast - boulders! I had to hand. IIRC  I added  10 g wheel weight underneath as well. 

The transfers fit well your design works well,  Hopefully when the jeep arrives from IRM then these wonderfully esoteric wagons would be a must for an RTR cash sink hole!    

Robert   

Hi got it done now two double strip vehicles to go with the gene car MK1s - hopefully next time lads !  Ballina branch sorted for the little people. 

But I have several kit ones on the go!! 

Fun thing is these are same price as a farish MK2 air con coach that is not even new tooling just art deco changes, and these Park Royals have a slightly more niche market.. 

Thanks for the help 

Robert 

Thanks for that - that has prices in £ not Euros and I could not get past that stage, now site does not want to use my password, reset email  next ...

R 

Hi for the Brexit challenged among the forum how do I pre order in UK. I am sure sagely advice given but cannot now find it.  Efforts in my tiny IT challenged mind have failed and just a bit frustrated at my uselessness with anything IT.

Hoping I can be rescued!

Robert