Robert Shrives

Got some paint on these chaps, Mid sea grey on 27504 and Railmatch buaxite, sat on SSM flats - a perfect fit.

I think it is a much smaller power pack - I saw a top down pic a while back with a puny little pipe sticking out of roof towards one end with soot streak on roof. The new larger sealed roof plate suggests original gear lifted out in a one way move. Robert

Lockdown 2.0 - Well in real life work as busy as ever but a chance to revisit 2005 thanks to Robert Roache. 27504 4 wheel new body beet one off and a start on 4 of the 2005 bogie container style box body. All are lovely 3D prints with cross bracing glued in the bodies are done in minutes - but as reported 6 hours printing per container. The 4 Wheel has a base box and then the framing as a printed overlay - plasticard for door,hinges and catches as easier to do than anything else. As its a development model it shows just a little mod to bracing to get perfection. But way beyond my ability to make bracing so neatly - a big thanks to Robert. Chassis yet to be decided but I have some 4 wheel 20 foot tohand- somewhere !

Good grief - At that price I could be tempted to see some of my 6 !! Robert

Dear Dr. ! I had thought much the same but as the popular phrase - "hard to un see" when you know they should be there. I went back and added to tanks and my IFM flats - I also added some axle box and springs from Lanarkshire models these lift the model another level. All skill adding and with time and steady hand improves models. However it is yours and if the two foot rule is achieved then enjoy all you do! Robert

The Doyle tombs do however cover the freight fleets with number goups listed and small black and white photos which is a great helping hand.The ITG ones I have are passenger based but are also a great help with good colour pics. Unless you like ICRs the latest volume might be seen as a bit of a disappointment! but that is progress I guess. Robert.

Leslie, Thanks for that - a well worded notice. Mike Edge has a great range but as befits a small supplier he does not market all kits all the time and has many part worked up waiting on details , time, luck or a kindly nag! His 3mm range is also very good including a clayton bo- bo which is a fine bit of NS origami .. A work of art as just the etched sheet! He had said he might look at the DH kit idea but needed good drawings - which I suspect is a bit of a brick wall. Robert

Harland & Wolff 0-6-0DM LMS 7057/NCC 22 One of only a handful of locomotives built by the Belfast shipbuilders, this loco was delivered to the LMS as 7057 in 1934. Sold back to the buiders in 1945 it was modified, re-gauged to 5'3' and became NCC (later UTA) No.22. Either version can be built from the kit. Prices: 4mm scale £48 + £3.50 p&p Well having asked about the DH shunter and Mike saying maybe sometime etc... I noted a comment about the H&W shunter and not much Irish Interest - well having learnt something new - it was made it is outside my era but could well be of interest I add it here , apologies if already noted on the forum - I admit to not having looked in all the many corners for the loco. Thanks Robert Should have added of course it is a Judith Edge kit . https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/catalogue/judithedge.html

Lovely looking track on that board part of a large opus?

Hi Looking good , Railtec do some Irish wagon transfers https://www.railtec-models.com/img/4mm/5789-1.jpg and https://www.railtec-models.com/img/4mm/5788-1.jpg these would give some official marks to go on the underframe and perhaps others in the range will help with the others. Robert

Yes A short life effort by FM rail IIRC it ran a few trips but business ran out of money, pretty certain some of the stock ended up with DRS. Robert

Hi Steve has introduced a pack for 208/209 and packs for Sub 80 class, Sub 450 and Translink 450 . : 5720 for NIR/ Enterprise @£5.90, 5737 for 80 sub@6.50 .5805for 450 sub @£7.50 and 5807 450 translink @ £7.50. Enough for a couple of locos and one set of railcars but choice of 3 sets of numbers on each sheet - which will give enough numbers for other sets easily enough. cheers Robert

Inside it is a bit of a mismash but the train has created a first ... a Guards trailer first - also guards office enlarged and to ensure catering is top notch the buffet car has been rebuilt to a Trailer Restaurant Kitchen - all seats out and enlarged prep and kitchen fitted. The windows in the saloon end are mainly plated over. The Mismash I am told is seat coverings are a bit mixed up but nothing a bit of cover shunting can fix unless it is part of a social distancing master plan. No yellow end having had front lighting upgraded to searchlight standards and gained the cyclops top head light. Currently another short rake being used for training with PUL 1 back undercover after first outing canned by LD2 in the UK - potential for mid Dec run from press reports. Certainly captures the spirit of the former pullman with a self contained luxury train, I really hope it gets nationwide use. Robert

A clever cheap wagon in model and real size. I guess suitable for any palletised load. Been off air a few weeks so great to see new pictures and yes my favourite on here as well- for many reasons of subject and presentation. Stay safe and keep well! Robert

Hi Mike, Viz the 121 I would have thought No 18 - 20 as these have the NEM tails so a direct swap for the TLC close/ too close couplings with 18 perhaps with 19 or 20 for that awkward crossover reverse curve.... FWIW track on 22 road fishplated at weekend .... Robert

Interesting input by all, thanks . I will be adding transfers and then some rust colour so the rail grey will be grubby, but not for a few weeks anyway as off air for a while. I look forward to "tuning in" in a couple of weeks . Robert

Looking good . The will make excellent fillers for a depot concrete pad scene.

A very shiny ex-works one as well, the ones behind await the spray booth. What date Arran? Robert

JHB, If I may thread from BC shows Bell in White/ light grey but also a one in blue on the same wagon so anything goes ! Have to say not so sure about the quality of the walkway on the Tanktainer - I suspect I can model that very easily ! Robert

Hi, I am certain Arran you got the right colours but I was trying from my large stash of tinlets to get close, perhaps not close enough on the blue but masking was such a faff I think they will stay. I look forward to more 40 fts from C Rail stable in time - meanwhile this does for me and can always get used as scenic land fillers. Thanks for great pic - weathering really useful and a good find of the box. happy modelling Robert

A couple of views: side view ,then top down of one and a comparison . I have added 20grammes of sticky wheel weights to the floors ready to refit once transfers are applied.

Having got masking off they might be a shade light compared to the 20 foot I have but look ok all the same and I blame some time in a sunny climate has faded them !

Hi I bought 4 unpainted 40 foot boxes from Arran at C rail the other week and Bell transfers from SSM For painting I have found that the Bell magenta is a good match to P297 Precision paints First group Magenta (dull) The blue I used P140 BR electric blue and this matches very well to the 20 foot container to my eye The roof is P151 BR rail grey. Pictures to follow when all dry and masking removed. The door gear seems to have started magneta as well but also just plain galvansied grey/silver so will do two in each . The blind end and door end and sides to 10 ribs in Magenta, checking several on line phots. When transfers land I will do a final pic. Hope this helps somebody else in time Robert

Noel . Indeed but the pages afterwards make it look so complex for some one who does not even have or want a mobile phone and for the last 50 years has had models with two wire dc. TBH I am sure the 121 is the pinnacle of DCC made easy given how easy to install but on here ( a bit) and on mainstream Rm Web a lot of column inches on chip angst of many other models and chip choice and operation , but guess it is horses for courses. happy modelling regardless as it is a great wide hobby! Robert

The 5 is a trail ok on coaches but having seen DCC have Symbola mounts Might try as they have less to interfere with bogie and offer a NEM mount so can experiment with 18 - 20 couplers. DCC seems a veritable minefield, the new 121 comes with a bespoke chip for sound etc yet yards of thread explaining issues and solutions quite enough to put me off. I have done the pop the lid and fit chips for others but left the fiddly bits to others, like you I have a man that does at work so if ever tempted (often) for sound fun I know where to go. It does seem that a chip needs fine tuning to user DCC control systems and plug and play may well be a bit of a yet to happen, the battles of MAC V soft or Beta V VHS still seem to play out in DCC model land. So good luck. Hope all well otherwise and apology for a major hyjack of the thread have your green boxes moved on ? Robert