Robert Shrives

Hi all, I was on the look out for NIR loco logs - I recall some rub down ones - source unknown these I used on 112 and 101 but the MV had ones the same as 101 but my faulty brain thought the MV had tiny ones - cannot find any pic to agree with this - albeit of course I find a Hunslet with very small ones but too late as my rubdown one is on the model - albeit possibly now the wrong one! If any kind soul has any suitable dry rubs tucked away or a suitable water slide I can cross your hand with gold (or thereabouts ! ) Many thanks Robert

Hi Well hopefully to add thread value I have been involved in the little local show run by the Warley Club in Birmingham. We use hall 5 the largest indivisble hall which just fits out club layouts and some friends with theirs, I started in 2003 as a humpa lumpa but have ended up as the Construction Design manager - which is a humpa lumpa everybody loves to hate as I am responsible for construction site mangement - not the safety role but everything else. I recall a few years ago some chaps rolled up from Dublin with a bit of a stand - lovely guys all round ! Due to Safety and the clock rolling on I ended up putting barrier tape around the stand and at the 11th hour legging round the hall for white spirit. But it was ok on the day. I have moved engines around the hall - well controlled the movement which means an early start in the first few shows but now its lunchtime on the Thursday. Even had Brummie Double deck buses in the hall. As a local show we managed around 15,000- 17,000 for most years with just a bit of growth. year on year . When we had the fun TV show challenge show building model railways a big uplift of hungry new faces -which was good. One layout the futuristic scene with track on clear perspex was added to the Bachmann stand- it became clear it would not fit sticking out just too far for all concerned as as befits a model railway crafted before the camera out came the rip saw ... fitted with just one cut and nobody noticed, all in a days work. The little show consumes over 1200 chairs and 650 tables on weekend hire and as the mug responsible I get to hand an almost empty hall back 4 hours after the public have legged it and my tables and stand contractors are off home A sea of rubbish meets the eye - but is it all rubbish? Well one year I gently kicked an empty box to discover prototype models from a leading trader - for a few days I had the pleasure of being keeper of engineering one offs in N, 00 and O. These were returned and no ransom claimed but so close to being skipped it make be chill thinking about it. Absolutely cream crackered by 11.00 Sunday but ready to go with next show planning after review - but of course not this year. Still hopefully 2021 will be blast. Robert

Having seen folk who have returned models as packaging to difficult to work out then almost anything possible and of course we overlook the newbie from out position of experience but some times the length taken does make mind boggle. Still not three long to wait to see bank account reduced to a smoulding desert like black hole. Robert

In North Wales we had a version of the Olympian - the DOG by Crosville designation .... I recall one trying on the south coast trying to get to the beach having run away at Bournemouth. Hope they sell well. Robert

Well got bogies sorted and started cutting the bodies - well two shattered as soon as a razor saw got to work but two ok , so now off to find too more coaches but at least now have spare buffers and roof units . One step forward and at least two back, along with IT issue so no pics yet. Robert

Agreed it catches the remoteness well and the little hives of activity that make up rural areas at a time when most if not all went by rail. Today the line would be host to 2600/ 2700 railcars and the carparks fill up the old yards - the crane long gone ! to be replaced by yards of palisade fencing, tarmac and gratuitous miles of yellow lines and notices stating the obvious. Please keep the line "timelocked " as it is! Robert

Hi Well setting wagons aside to day to pick up on a long term project mK3a International train - liked by some loathed by others it seems. I have started 4 conversion basket cases today and got bogies from Southern pride test mounted and kaydee No5 s test fitted to two to try out curvature. I have I think found 15 or so photos to help but wondered if anybody else had a go and any pitfalls to avoid very welcome. I have a plan to order the brake coaches - two were built but it looks like neither made CIE service with a MK3 doing the van and gen works - I was working on a rule one to make a BFK into a Driver trailer but was wondering if it would have got a full width cab MK3 pp style or a half cab allowing walk through with corridor left in place. Could it have had under floor gen sets like the Mk3 pp driver or a full blown gen set in the van and some of the saloon robbed for van space or perhaps set would have had both vans at outer ends? - I guess these thoughts resulted in the MK3 gen car andMK3a brake firsts going for razors but in 4mm we can have a little fun, even with a livery "upgrade." robert

Hi all, Despite thinking the story is complete I find that Ian at MIR made a resin version of his cast wagon - well a version on its way along with a 47 flat as well so that adds to the story - pictures when I can ! Has anybody got other versions or scratch versions - please feel free to add. Robert

IIRC protectionist polices and a lack of foreign currency and debt to US prevented buying US engines. - So much for special friendship. On the flip side in UK we did buy 30 class 56s that were subbed to Romania - power units were shipped from UK to be fitted and then returned - it seems that UK ones were built before first batch was successfully delivered and accepted into traffic . A case of getting your own medicine when compared to A and C class deliveries perhaps. The first Yeoman 59s however were a special order and as such got VIP treatment, the only cause of early failures was due to UK fitted AWS equipment so it has been reported. the Subsequent 59s and 66s have a touch of the Leyland / BMC about them! When PRONI reopens UTA paper work might solve the NIR questions as quite a lot but not all seems listed - the vague "bundles of minutes" would offer a starting place...

The briefer the description the easier to get out of China without excess payments and good to see on plastic pallet. Hope they arrive without too much fuss.

IIRC NIR had two tone horns on its BREL sourced railcars but only single tone on the 111s - I recall two tone on hunslets . While not a precise science in listening to films with the risk of dubbed sounds diesel tones not change much, some variation if trumpets battered by impacts. In many cases a part that stays with loco all its life. There is a wonderful compilation of horns on u tube. with a creation of Pacobell`s Cannon . http://www.openculture.com/2020/04/pachelbels-canon-played-by-train-horns.html Sure this does not help at tall but is fun ! Robert

Hi It is Halfords Bauxite primer, Precision paints bauxite gloss for the number panel - as if wiped clean and then a light dusting of a railgrime rattle can . transfers sealed in with humbrol matt varnish. Bogies are more of the precision BR wagon bauxite from can on halford bauxite primer and that is about it. All done in 2 days but was a batch of models with the same colour. Transfers from Railtec which were just right. Hope that helps Robert.

3D prints are really good - put IRM loads on top and the high fidelity IRMs are your mptys! - simples.. What would be good is a limited number of the IRM bogies in twin packs. ....

If that is all that "offends" on the IRM product it still gets my vote - and has my money - all of it !!! Well started on BT10 bogies for covnersion of International stock from Southern pride in an idle moment.

Bringing story up todate two pics of the IRM offering . Well to me I can put 40 containers on the Hornby flat and kegs on the MIR one and the SSM one - one of three will be good to have empty, the other two go with the ammonia tanks. The 3D prints could well get weighted 20 side door containers the IRM ones I would use as empties - possible future for the two in the spoil pack where the containers are "too modern the containers to go on 3D print ones to go with sperry as a time traveller test train. Yes the spindles are well spindley but perhaps having spotted it a bit of stainless steel tube might fatten out - now look what you have done given me a job ... !! but a good spot not many will mind.. The buffers came from Lanakshire supplies and sold as used for Irish wagon models.

Here are two views of the 3D print on Cambrian Gloucester bogies

SSM brass fantastic origami mir cast

Hi Well I thought given the 42` flat project nears completion how did we get to this point in 4mm models. Hornby cutdowns, MIR cast, SSM brassagimi , Mayer 3D prints and IRM RTR. so what do they look like : First up my cut and shut effort.

Good to see metal exercises to counter ballasting ! For my small coins worth I thought of the crane as a signature Irish item - and putting CIE ahead of many with early containerisation - such cranes of their time as now a reach stacker does it all and more, but this would be far to modern for Glen More. In the days of yore where common sense took a more important role of safety elves I think as place fine - the crane as was at Ballina nor Mallow fenced from the loop or running lines. Layout looks better with it. The factory being a flat perhaps looks better in real life if opposite the regular operating position - but like compressed scale reductions only work from one viewing point. If it is to remain David is on the money with needing to disguise the fact it is applied to the back scene. This would need some extensive scenics as the eye would be looking for extensive side walls and the associated infrastructure and dross - fule tanks, parked bits, rubbish bins electrical supply and perhaps a transfomer building etc Currently it looks a little lost as a centre stage item - perhaps on the end wall by/ beyond the tar shed so it only gets a passing glimse which will "overlook" the 2D nature. As a rural area perhaps the end of an orchard with farmhouse painted on - in the middle distance might achieve the break in the landscape behind the station . All easy to suggest from many miles away and miss your motivation but hoping to add to mental process rather than be negative (" less of those negative waves" as a film tank driver might have said!) loving it all as I do not have my own 4mm layout- just a collection of bare started projects. Robert

The fly in was to ensure contract compliance as it was all a bit late ... as said getting product to market at time said goes along way in consumer confidence. IIRC getting 201 to work reliably was another step.. Robert

Two tankers done - eyes gone off in protest ! I do need to add the brake handles, paint steps white and add some brake bits plus a dose of rail grot and oil spills once varnished. I am sure folk will now produce loads of pics to correct transfer locations, SSM site has some good pics but only a few via a google search .. but I think they look the part so far.

Well tanks black and stating on transfers also got some Railtec tank transfers ordered to add variation. phots later perhaps. weedkiller pack arrived so off to dig out a part finished ( don`t be surprised!) GSV to see what can be done. Robert

PH Designs back in 2010 did the GSV etch overlays - not in stock at this time Peter has just let me know but is getting a price for me next week so these might give a good way of making the control vehicle. My pack arrived today and a big thanks to all involved - great models crying out to be weathered. Gives something to wrap around the Sperry while faffing with a control coach, given advice above I will be able to finish it without fear of the rtr one coming along shortly after.... Robert

Likewise good to read recovery in progress - the ballasting good therapy hopefully and I guess the dreaded work thing will get in the way at some point ! I notice you have had fertilizer delivered as well . take care and stay safe Robert

I guess the bunker staff will be enjoying this thread while looking over the CAD for the coach and the slide options for the full range of gen vans. !! Too much to hope on decent MK2 b and C models given nothing decent in UK and with NIR and IR relevance as well to follow the 80 class..... Robert