Tullygrainey

Nice slow running and impressive pulling power! Now there's a thought. Stay-alive was conceived to help DCC driven locos overcome momentary breaks in the signal which often tended to stop them dead. In my experience, DC driven locos are much less temperamental and don't usually need these sorts of aids but it ought to be possible. Stay-alives are just capacitors. Would you need some way of regulating the charge to and from the capacitor?

Very sorry to hear about your illness Derek but glad to know things are looking a bit better presently. Chemo can be pretty brutal and I'm sure it's been a long haul since December. Hoping you're beginning to feel a bit better now. Very best wishes for the coming months. Cheering for you here. Railway modelling is great therapy. Don't forget to post the pics. Alan

And me!

Terrific work David. Love the footplate detail and that three quarter view in the second photo is a gem. Very convincing.

What a great opportunity David! Gordon Gravett is up there with Iain Rice and Mike Sharman in my list of railway modelling heroes. Though I never managed to see Pempoul in the flesh, for me it took modelling to a new level the first time I saw photos of it in BRM. And later, Arun Quay was equally impressive. Sounds like Ashford was a great show. The Swilly tank is brilliant. Perfect weathering job. You've definitely achieved the look you were aiming for. Totally convincing. The rods and wheels are just right for a well used loco. I know what you mean about airbrushes. It takes a deal of courage to spray a weathering mix all over a pristine model. Something I haven't yet had the guts to do!

Devious little blighter. He's also been known to leave a part prominently in the middle of the carpet a week after you lost it and one hour after you ordered up the replacement.

Wholly appropriate response given the circumstances.

A few progress pics of the BCDR bogie tank. Managed to get through the painting process without any major disasters. A first? I think I'm learning, albeit at a glacial pace. Halfords grey etch primer from the rattle can then Tamiya acrylics. X18 semi-gloss black followed by XF70 dark green, both airbrushed. I've started the line dancing now. Fox transfers. This bit always takes a while. Alan

Evenwood is a total joy. Not just a fine example of master model making, it has real presence and atmosphere and is a perfect demonstration of the principle that less can be more - no gimmicks, no clichés, just careful observation of a chosen landscape and subtle modelling of it. A brilliant achievement. Many thanks for the opportunity to see it close up. Alan

Yes, it’s time for a digital extraction procedure

A very enjoyable 2 days at the NDMRS Bangor Show. Good atmosphere, lots of variety and some epically good modelling on display - I've posted a few pics in the 'What's On: Bangor 2024' thread. Great to see so many familiar faces and also meet some on-line acquaintances in person for the first time. The Stone Yard behaved itself impeccably all weekend and also hosted a few guest engine drivers in the age 5 - 10 group. Budding railway modellers every one! No locos were harmed in the process. Thanks to NDMRS, to everyone who stopped to talk and to Kieran Lagan for sharing loco superintendent duties. Alan

Many thanks to NDMRS for a fine show and to everyone who stopped to chat over the 2 days. Enjoyed it very much. Some pics... Alan

Correction- the open wagon in the first pic is a resin kit. The second one is the coffee stirrer special

Yes, recycled timber from the Costa Coffee Company

Speaking as someone who never feels quite in control of weathering, I’m watching this with interest. Thanks Chris Alan

Masterpieces every one. Beautiful work Kevin. Good luck with the exhibition. Alan

Keep your fingers crossed I don't drop it getting it out of the back of the car

Be sure to come and say hello

G617's chassis is quite an engineering feat John. You've packed a lot into a tiny space! Nice one.

A diverse bunch! Thanks David

All being well,The Stone Yard will have an outing to the NDMRS Bangor show on 12 & 13 April at Bangor Grammar School. The fitters are busy prepping the locos.

...but just be careful where you eat them! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20x5x0g3kqo

@Dunluce Castle Nelson's W-irons in 20 thou plastic are masterpieces. I always reckoned that was impossible!

As a modeller of the BCDR, I’m always on the lookout for RTR models or kits that could be hacked into something approximating County Down stock and I have to say the pickings are pretty slim both for locomotives and rolling stock. Honourable mention must be made here of @leslie10646's Dapol conversions of BCDR opens and EDSS coal wagons which were/are beacons of hope in an otherwise empty space. More often than not, scratch building is the better option. Even that Kernow brake van will need a fair bit of work. As regards rolling stock, one of the most prominent features but also one of the biggest modelling challenges is the outside W-irons commonly seen on BCDR stock. If these are present on a model, it’s already well on the way to being convincingly BCDR to the extent that other inaccuracies can become less noticeable. I have used an etch from Dart Castings’ MJT range to model W-irons but it requires a tedious amount of cutting and soldering to produce something convincing yet even then not quite accurate. I have searched in vain for ready made etches that might make the job a bit easier. To end on a less pessimistic note, a Midland Railways 8 ton 3 plank drop side wagon from Slater's 4mm range of plastic kits provides a reasonable basis for a BCDR 8 ton open. Alan

Most decoders are built to a common standard and as such will work ok with your NCE Powercab. I use the NCE system and have never encountered incompatibilities with any decoder. Most decoders also come with some variety of plug attached but as you're planning to hard wire it - and given the limited space you have to work in that's probably the most compact way to do it - it doesn't matter what sort you buy as you'll be cutting the plug off anyway. However, avoid the ones described as 'direct'. These need a socket to plug into which would take up space. My first criterion when buying decoders has always been size because I'm usually cramming them into small spaces. The range from DCC Concepts contains some of the smallest I've come across. Alan