Robert Shrives

That looks much better and the little slice of country suggests more beyond the bridge. Good to read you are still at developing the model. I had wondered with you being off air so long. Now that enjoyable ballasting job to do... Robert

Ernie, Thanks for finding time to do this huge task - hopefully a break from modelling ! Just enjoyed a couple of vids from Limerick junction. I guess you have just finished looking at Tara wagons! Robert

Best bet is a result of derailment damage to original but sure experts on here will find out the real story.

Thanks , have to start saving ! .... Chinese new year always gets a bad press but really no different to the slow down in December and slow start in January here in the UK. Hope all the good staff return to your chosen plants. Please keep up the good work and enjoy the froth paddling.

Lovely paperwork, makes you think though, some poor soul banging away on a typewriter and then pen and ruler to box and then stand over a steaming zerox copier - height of tech in 1980 perhaps. Makes it all the more historically valuable I guess. Now it would be lots of copy and paste or spread sheet excell sort of electron bruising and a print now button. My Triang TT collection is also a bit box driven but many duplicates to play with on the layout. My N collection was based on having one of each of Dapols modern image stuff - non steam anyway but even that has fallen by the wayside as prices crank upwards and now its an example or two of new production. Mainly because some guys have been busy bringing out super Irish 4mm models and I still hanker after a 4mm Highland shed layout based on Kyle shed, oh and some G1 dabbling - like building parcel vans... size matters and a bit easier on aging eyes ! But I still enjoy running/ playing trains at least mine run on time unlike the day job!

No ! Stop it now the UK froth machines could not cope with between the lines messages but I would expect some fun if it was planned

Well with all the UK 92/ MK5 frothing I guess the offices at IRM Towers are pretty flooded but just wondered if the good gang had any updates to share from the lifeboats... Cheers Robert

Hi At Totton a 66 engine comp hood doubled up as a bike shed for a while - saved leaving a wagon under load I guess. thanks for photo story very well composed and like the depot mangement in the resulting oily void discussing the next move.

Lovely work, Blue I guess on first days in traffic before sun fade and grime took over .It looks like Regional Railways blue ? Robert

Good work on the livery images- a many hours work I would think. Hope they transfer to models as well. I would think the Class 80 railcar gets nearer as I have just taken delivery of some more etches ! Robert

Hi Thanks for publishing a working link - not sure what I got wrong , but looks like Mr Dempsey will be happy soon ! Robert

Slightly OT but having 3 part built 80 s , 2 XCastle/450 / A and C class in various states plus a resin 121 and a donor 141 then I would think these will a be RTR within a decade or so given my finishing rate.... Agreed it will be fun with the 121 when it comes - I might just have to have two and use my resin one on a push pull set with the loco as a dummy ! Robert

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MURPHY-MODELS-MM023-IE-RIVERCLEAR-IN-ALL-THEIR-GLORY-RUN-IN-ONLY might of interest Robert also this might be of value https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MURPHY-MODELS-215-229-IE-INTERCITY-IN-ALL-THEIR-GLORY-RUN-IN-ONLY Robert

Well to report last week built a 60` length of 21mm track - bullhead using wood sleeper strip, solvent and plastic chairs, track gauges made by washering out P4 gauges. Once dry rail still slides in chairs so able to move sleepers about , track robust and flexible. I have been given some EM pointwork on copper clad sleepers might make a basis for 21mm pointwork? Robert

Same thought exercised my mind as well. Not having seen any news with pictures then I do wonder if I live another 30 years that the truth will come out. My thoughts was a "credible" SAM threat and Drone makes good cover story, despite official information - just become a cynic over the years. I really hope not and some "nice but dims" get it in the neck for 5 years but luckily for many holiday insurance will cover as it is not been sold as terrorist activity - not lucky for airlines, crews , passengers and their families all who will pay a hidden cost. Robert

And Festive greetings to all at the IRM Towers complex. Hopefully a few days rest will be good before the trails and tribulations of Chinese new year... Robert

On the last layer on club layout brown powder paint was added to the water mix so the layer was impregnated as was subsequent filler layers pre coloured. A good hard shell was the result and light as well. Great work here so looking forward to updates , thanks. Robert

Good for you gents well deserved and hopefully future batches in forthcoming years will keep the cash flow going - need a large bogie wagon to keep it in I guess .. Hopefully if you can catch breath between locos for UK and IRE markets you will enjoy the festive season. I guess the heat still on the 42foot flats and Ferts to keep you busy. This is quite a "monster" you have created .... Thanks from this three thumbed modeller ! Robert

News on 21mm conversion is good news and will have to see how easy it is. Robert

Hi Thanks for that - one thing I could not find on a quick internet search last night was a drawing of a 201 to compare and my MM201 is over 100 miles away ! So thanks for comments on my work. I too have remotored and wheeled a Lima 47145 with a vi trains chassis and added lazer glazing. My initial premise had been the family likeness of the 59 and 201 in real and model form would give a cheap quick upgrade without having to reach for a saw and the like, but not to be. Yes a simple wheel change will upgrade. I recall an article about resuing Lima gear bonded to Romford wheelset - something else for the next rainy night ! thanks Robert

Looking good and down the pub gents - to celebrate and feed those tired arms- unpacking the bulks and repacking outgoing boxes all day must have been knackering... I look forward to a delivery bouncing over the fence shortly. Robert

Well to update the rash comments of above. I conclude that there are too many differences. Bogie sideframes, - sand pots and overall length prevent a swap between chassis bogie wheelbases differ - I suspect the 59 is better than the 201 - which has equidistant axles on the Lima model.- might well be based on an HO power bogie as it is shorter Power bogies and trailing bogie mounts differ preventing a easy 59 - 201 swap Overall length of 59 to 201 8mm longer prevents a quick chassis swap Underframe details differ too much from 201 to 59 - albeit the 59 tank looks much better than Lima one. Where there is a good match is body fixings 4 of the 59 and 201 match. In principle working features for cablights and weights match . The main win is the PCB 8 pin mount on the updated 59 model with can motor, not really a win for the lima pancake motor. - you would hardwire a 4 function chip anyway - the 59 chassis has two lamps for the double headlamp and no tail lamps. If there was not the later MM version then with a bit of surgery then this would give a better motored version of the simplified body. Messing around scraps a serviceable 59 for not a lot of benefit . The 201 I have infornt of me is one of several available and i runs as well as can be expected - albeit with pizza wheels ! - Even a wheel swap not possible of how motor bogie works. So the idea is stillborn - anybody want a 59206 in DB traffic red?

Leslie, Hence why my Irish diesel book radar did not see the book at the NEC ! Good to know at least 5 folk spotted a good book and like diesels - A book reproduced this well is something rare among the current "picture books" from Ian Allen/ Crecy publishing. They could learn from it. The current batch of not better than half page thumbnails on poor paper poorly printed in an A5 size do not cut the mustard, compared to earlier A4 limpback publications. Robert

Thanks, knew an expert would comeforth ! and now looks like another DVD to buy ! Robert

Hi Hope this not duplicating anything elsewhere, but I was in Ian Allen in Birmingham - spied and bought " Irish Railway memories 1984 - 1994 by Paul Haywood , the ISBN :9781840338195, cost all of £10.95. Fifty page limpback, landscape format tomb, great quality colour pics of all our fav engines and railcars! A good resource for formations and weathering during a most interesting period - fully recommended after a bit more than a flick through. Robert