Robert Shrives

Undoubtedly but I would think the faff of new body shells for these conversions over the std 3 shells required for the original versions means it will be a case of DIY , having said that the clever use of 811 in original form with a 774 - 780 style no middle door TS is made reasonably possible with the coach pack as advertised by IRM mated to an 80 class motor car. Current bodging plans involve a 310 emu coach side for the DTS passenger door arrangement behind the cab - off an etch from Southern Pride let into a either an etch MK2c or a thinned lima side- all pretty tragic for donnor vehicles... Robert

Interestingly DTS 753 which was a conversion (SO 5498 also looks to have large "class 70" style roof vents - , I wonder if stores were having a "fire sale." Need to tie down DTS 752 as that an earlier conversion in 1981 ,from TSO 5516 Robert

Well the following found with a couple of hours of disappearing into Flikr 774- ex BR5521 converted 1982 ran in original red and blue had large 70 class roof vents - only one. _ IC branded in Bumble bee livery 775 - Ex 930 rovac style. 776 ex 824 Mushroom style vents possibly only one as minority showing in pics. 824 was last of original 1970 Enterprise stock which might explain the mushrooms as the mK2b build was fitted with them. 777 ex 931 ..... 778 ex 826 rovac style - IC branded 779 ex 827 rovac style 780 ex 828 rovac style - IC branded All carried white with red stripe with "centrally placed" logo, all carried Bumble bee - need to go back and check if all got IC branding but pretty likely ( neck on block) . All bar 778 carried translink. Will have to check modern ish enterprise photos for 930/931 on grounds roof not likely to get make over as a MK11c rovacs were fitted so likely answer. Well it helps my quest on the mushroom vents and the 70 style vents as I can now number correctly. Robert

Hi all, Uber nerdy question, while enjoying the zillion 80 class pics on the net I can see that the extra trailers from loco hauled stock without the middle door numbers 774 - 780 came from a BR convert, 4 ex 800 and 2ex 900 series SO coaches but I spot three roof vent variations one had large almost 70 class style vents, one has round "mushroom" vents and others have "rovac" Mk2 style . However allocating a number to each I have not managed as captions do not give middle cars. Any chance the "hive mind" can tie roof to vehicle numbers. Robert

80 things hopefully..

Lovely work , the underframe narrowing works really well in lifting what was a good but flawed model. Robert

I recall it being not only weight but ability to store on site at Shelton abbey, the shorter train suited operations the short experiment to nine with fewer trains was not repeated, it might on the face have made operations cheaper but overall the cost was greater due to need to make changes- as a guess. There were a couple of extra wagons which had differing discharge position cover boxes and a differing underframe. In the resources section on here is a drawing of the first batch. The other drawing I have shows the later wagons built by Bombardier at its Wakefield facility but does not show number range - it might have been only a hand full as phots are not common of them in traffic, thanks to warb for phots above. Robert

Mike, These pins came from ebay but the smaller ones came from a garden railway show- a gauge one supplier, Just the ticket supplies. I was "grazing" his little poly bags of wonder and came across them. I soldered the tails to prevent wire getting jammed and then cut to length the tails were soldered to a small plate and two small self tappers used to a fix these are 1.4mm dia 4mm long - from a Wst midlands tiddly bits supplier - but also on ebay from that well known shop "China." The hook was going to be the same but in the end I drilled a hole and superglued it in - a light knik in the end made enough friction it stayed put in the right plane while the glue did its thing. I have hung a wagon on its end and no pull out so good to go, and apologies to real engineers for a glue bodge solution. When I use the same method on the UTA spoils I will make a plate. In N certainly for a fixed rake possible. The current fad is to use magnets in small mounts to be less obtrusive than the Rapido The back plate with a bit of 1mm cross wire could be made to latch into an NEM pocket easily enough. I am pretty certain given nothing new in the world that this method is used in 2mmfs coach rakes by the good folk who model scale electric mice.. Robert

Worth checking as these were ordered specially as bulk 10. Thanks for comment, should have been done sooner really but faffing with home spun couplings. Robert

Well just rebuilt 219 as seen in earlier pics with its pancake and the finer wheels, to find I have lost a buffer ! So will have to look at doing that end with cast buffers and lots of pipes and stuff. - Well in time as the MM has overtaken them model it has to be seen as a dead end to faff with the lima ones... Robert

To update and divert , Peters Spares have introduced 2 packs PS 77 a geared wheelset to suit lima locos inc the 201, even though not listed ... PS79 is the non geared set, so for a 201 you need 1x PS 77 and 2 PS79. The geared axle retails at £9 for a pack of two axles which is very good value. the unpowered is £8.50. So under 30 for parts and allowing for p+P under 40 to simply drop in and replace. With one "caveat" the middle wheelset on the powered bogie you will need to slice a slot to allow wheels to slip in, if matching the drivers it is a clip in fit. close up of profile , B to b is 14.36 . while winning no awards a pic of 209 showing the improvement. OK it is still a lima pancake motor but it will run on modern track. With some front end fun with etches and couplings and pipes it does allow all those early models a chance to play again. The underframe has been cut to give more relief but no photo - it is all black and while better does show its age and parentage. Robert

Leslie, I will have to sort it all out but will be after 5 more as basis for the "oil" part of the oil and coal train. The old MIR ammonia tank barriers have a tanktainer suitable, I will have to chat up Ian to see what he has left two have been modeled as above, plus need two 4 wheel barriers. https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/loads/products/cie-20-container-twin-pack as loads - tucked away somewhere or perhaps your version. I have asked Steve at Railtec about some 273xx numbers so might be a source there having used up most of the numbers from the earlier sheets. In the final train form I should be able to muster 10 coal, 5 oil and to barriers , the real train was quite a bit longer in some photos - but all a universal matt black/ grey... sure it was bauxite at some time, long long ago. Robert

deed done, a good series and look forward to future volumes, I would fancy a wagon compendium - a boon to modelers! regards Robert

Thanks, I thought that allowing vertical movement was required hence the upward crank. I have painted in the pistons and buffer faces I have also painted the couplings grey to tone down visibility when on ballasted track. Got keen and glued on containers so now its down to numbers and weathering. As expected I have also found some smaller split pins so these will get used on the UTA skips that now have chains attached. "Just" to bend 20 curved handrails ... Robert

piccy time . Showing the frames now painted in jolly CIE bauxite and close ups of the couplings fashioned. Second pic shows the brass wire engaged in the split pin eye, even when propelling on setrack test curves all fine. Nex will be to add a touch of silver for the buffer piston and dark grey on buffer faces and coupling hooks. I can then glue on containers, to give stability/handle when adding numbers etc. well it keeps be off the streets Robert

Just enjoying the smell of railmatch bauxite spray fumes! as all 10 chassis now in final colour have to let harden before silver on buffer piston, numbers and grime. Next catch session will be on with the ammonia tanks to try and mug up the vaccumm cylinder support frames and "under gubbins." Robert

Taken along time to update but work back in the way, well it never went away... A recent leap forward for the western corridor Foynes - Ballina coal and oil train has been a rake of 10 IFM coal containers on Provincial models 20 chassis. A simple loop and in coupler between most vehicles and Kaydee 19s on ends. In the end a box of athern grab rails struck as a good starting point for the dropper and a small split pin soldered to a plate and screwed to bottom of floor give a reliably produced loop. Aet just ahead of buffers and will push round 15" hornby setrack reverse curves. A couple of pics with containers - modelled empty upon naked chassis concludes last couple of hours modelling. All 10 shown for fun. The chassis all currently need the vac cylinder piston and crank drive adding to the cross shaft but if you gloss over it being unfitted then they are done. Just one with a rock to sort out but others are happily 4 wheels in contact. The question outstanding does anybody have examples of wagons on a train and any images of the containers, my searches on line, videos and books do well on the locos and wagons take second fiddle. I guess wagons were in the 27301-27791 series but open to education..every day is a school day after all.

Agreed with all the comments above a great slice of the world in miniature. Certainly worthy of being a public treasure showing how Dublin has developed and of museum quality - may be in time to be preserved for future generations. The ghostly DART shows work in progress and a rare model. Taken by the single railcar - It would be good to know about its build? Thanks for sharing the developments, and the shed is certainly thought provoking for myself. ( lottery win required!) Robert

Powered froth maker perhaps? ...

Sad to read but keep up the good work and I am sure these will sell very quickly. Robert

The Bratchell range also allows enough parts to make for a 450 class unit - I have bits part done but nothing to this standard. Time to dig it out and work on it a bit more. Robert

Great model of BR prototype goes along with Rapido Apt -e new livery options. IRM on Face book advise Q5 delivery in a train pack with the every man coach model from this time last year. Good work gents !

This is great work and I am sure bound to get the good gents and IRM towers to create an rtr version which will be announced as yours leave the paint shop.... I really look forward to seeing updates as these are icons of the Northern scene. Robert

Technical 201 question - what is the bogie wheelbase please? thanks Robert

I recall the line " Nothing official until officially denied." But like the idea of boxes of boxes in Containers just waiting .. 141 after the Hunslet and 80class.... Robert