Robert Shrives

Well a good day at Warley- busy all day with a large number of early entry at 09.45, last out by 18.15 and hall empty by 19.30- I was the last out bar night security. Yes the layouts good and great to see engines available for Courtmacsherry - a great simple layout . The IRM boys will be losing their voices given crowds on stand - UK wagons reported as selling well. The new product firmly aimed at East Coast mainline as a Deltic. The print on display and also a cab detail 3D print shows work well along. Bachamann might just wonder what is happening with locos being undated like this - leaving them with expensive dated tooling while "new boys" snap at their heels. The Tara wagons noted as being about a week away ! Now to survive Sunday and breakdown. Robert

A good looking stand two gents spent all day hand crafting much of it and the lads had the pleasure of adding some lovely models - Tara wagon samples are brilliant. A telling empty case and LED TV to tempt for lunch time I guess. A good weekend for Accurscale and IRM . No obvious IRM branding but given market understandable . FWIW I have filled a shelf on A2 with models and kits - head in shame not any room for IRM but given cases on stand a lot can be seen of current and past kits and RTR with some 3D prints and beets ..... Robert

Well we do try ! Show layout meeting see us make all sorts of linkages - most we get right ... yes B31A - note ref to "A" there looks good. Robert

Very effective , looking at many 1990s and earlier vids on line and on old VHS it looks like roof is not far off but others looked much cleaner. Certainly better than on BR at the time with dirty stock and peeling roof paint. I wondered if it was due to the seemingly cleaner exhausts - very few clag shots compared to 31 - 50s on tapes. I guess we want the past to be a clean memeory- hot summers etc and so we imagine trains to be cleaner , on time and locohauled... Model wise muted colours on a roof look better given our normal look down view, a bit of grime in joins and around hatches helps, - I like the comment on dayglo bats ! Robert

Hi I had not spotted the catch hiding behind the pole - sorry ! I think you ,might be right with the bank - but that is looking at the pink foam - if it was grey and with overgrowing grass and bushes it might look the right thing , but I did wonder as you have . If it was as long as the wagons shown then perhaps more shunting or allow a wagon to be unloaded at ground level. but I thought a bit of a sloping bank out of which the loading dock grows might be better and allow more front edge low level scenery. good to read of progress and hope new job is working out . - Are you tempted with the IRM A class? Robert

Great film and a look at futures past ! The picture of A39r in the sun is great too. I did wonder about the practicality of the OLE, the bain of so many pics !! Looking forward to Warley show and hope to say hello Robert

But as shown here quite vital to keeping order.

Hi gang ! Thanks to the tip on 51 with dayglo panel just ordered and the B set of Bell containers - that is Crimbo paid for ! Hope the lads find funds useful for progressing works. Just sit back now and relax .. Cheers ! Robert

Lovely piece of work and the chassis is icing on cake.. Now if I work on my resin model as well do you think the model gods will smile on us again with the MM121 ? thanks for showing the finished works! Robert

Crikey sounds serious hope you ok and plans for developments around the corner . If not prying into personal reasons it would be good to know and perhaps share problems with many forum friends (or fiends perhaps! as I first keyed.) regards Robert

Well, gents caps off to IRM for taking this commercial risk by the horns and giving it a good shake. With 18 variations on a theme pretty well all bases covered for day to day operation . The oil launcher and smoke belcher versions look to the future of DCC control but would be fun at times - along with random failures built into the chip to force rescue by modeller operators.. As one the "its A classic" moment in several posts a personal thanks and no pressure intended. looking to order two in CIE and an IR version so off to pay deposits now Rest easy and thanks for renders from CADs - look fine to me will have to leave the micro tweaks to real experts on here . Now off to work on resin model. ....

Wow , thanks lads bang goes the food for a couple of months ! Plan to order both Bell packs on Saturday as well! Hopefully traction to follow .... - working on resin one to ensure A class is announced in the future, you know you want to.. Lets hope all the other Taras and Ploughs make it some time soonish . Robert

Patrick, Good to read and see progress. The beet bank looks fine on the front and as you say offers protection from arms etc! Hopefully the DCC conversion process not too painful and you are enjoying the "freedom" offered. One thought did you dump the broken point to be used as a catch point on the beet siding? Robert

Thanks for the updates, and with the seaborne travel options offered on here looks like me might be in luck... Models come when they come - it is part of life and it is a hobby - so I am told !! I look forward to announcement whatever it may be , I am (predictably) sure it will be "A" classic moment... Hopefully the gang can sort the gen spray brake as the first coach venture and offer a EGV option - just musing! Robert

The brass/ NS ones have great underframe details - are they sitting on Comet chassis or perhaps an recent RTR affair? Robert

Hi A couple of thoughts The Bchmann bogies will convert to 21mm as have thin bogie side mouldings allowing re-wheeling. The coaches are of a type used on just a couple of rakes - if not one only. but have seen preserved use with RPSI stock in a green -albeit perhaps dark compared to CIE greens. Lima on the other hand do an older moulding of the MK2b which are cheap for resprays but bogies are more of a problem to change and have thicksides without flush glazing. These coach types were used by NIR for its 1970s Enterprise stock . The air con stock - Murphy models do all the right models and being based on Bachmann principles would be easier to change but are at a higher price due to limited run and popularity. The Airfix/ Hornby 2D air con stock is a good model and with current models having flush glazing are quite cheap so could respray as if CIE green ruled over orange and black - but you do not get the range - with only a first, second and secondopen brake available . These models make the basis for the Gatwick stock used by NIR in 90s. But have detail differences - perhaps the yet to be released Bachmann MK2e stock will be better. - but given price increase these will be possibly over £40 a coach. With a rule one layout and amended backstory of CIE development perhaps the NIR coaches could have prompted earlier demise of older stock and a later introduction of black and tan could explain a green CIE MK2b behind a silver A class.. Robert

and very nice they are too. Just need to see you start on "A "locomotive project - but perhaps after the weedkiller/EGV coach finishes exercising the collective..

Good news - an 8113 body would be good and any other body plus a pair of 071 bogies and 071 handrails. Thanks for all your efforts - I know what sorting stores is like ! Robert

Great, "A" class(ic) option then . !

Chips for me - its future proofing. The only question has to be are they happy to be on a normal DC layout - having had some in N that DCC only and stop the loco working on DC only up to the latest Bachmann sound class 40 that is happy on both and gives simplified sound on DC. Keep up the good work - and off topic thanks for the cemflo in N!

Well completely left sided this weekend. At TINGS at Leamington Spa - The International N gauge show was a layout - I guess 5 foot by 3 foot called Balykeale . In N gauge were 3d print 071/111 locos, cement bubbles 2700 series railcar, air con MK2 and MK3 rakes , sorry no photos but hopefully somebody will know more . It ran well and attracted a good crowd and showed what is possible in 2mm scale . A pleasure to watch it every time I passed by as a steward over the weekend.

Good looking trays, will you line with acid free tissue paper and have card slips between coaches ? or foam buffer protectors, I have done all three - albeit in G1 , I use JB foam in N gauge which with a card base is very good. Just to add to all an opus project of great standing and brilliant executed. A case of the 5Ps at work

Ha I was going to say " wrong generator !!!!! I will get my coat " but beaten to it above ! Still saving for these having bought two wagon kits last week ...

It is "A" no brainer in my little world of innocence but I am sure its a mountain to climb for all concerned. Robert

Exactly what I did. These coaches make a good "canvas" for starters , sure they will sell well as a result and cover a wider historical range.