Galteemore

Yes - eclectic ! Nice shot of some bread vans and a U with fine GN stock. Tell us more about the NG slip please ? B and L was my ‘local’ 3’ gauge and my father-in-law remembers its final days very well - I think the NG yard at Larne was an unofficial local playground at weekends!

7mm modellers tend to use 3D printing more for detail parts and accessories rather than ‘solid’ items like wagons.

I think mine is the bunscoil version for basic track work - yours is the finescale colaiste one Eoin!

Here’s my copy of the PCB one and title page. I think Eoin’s one also covers ply track etc

Thanks Rich - I was revising the post on just those grounds as you were typing!

I have found the ‘cameo layout’ approach of Iain Rice helpful here. Take a small scenario and build/adapt just enough track, stock etc to fit that. Great way to start in a new scale and get a feel for it quickly. http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-creating-cameo-layouts-by.html?m=1 If you can face a wandering RMweb thread....https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/118661-creating-cameo-layouts/ I jumped ship into 5’3” modelling last year and found this a really helpful approach. Just enough track to build to create interest without being overwhelming!

Depends what you want. You can just cut the OO track down the middle into two parallel strips as Rich says, and glue the split sleepers down at the correct distance apart, using a track gauge. Can be a really cheap way to do it - can pick up oddments of track quite cheaply and off you go!

Soak your fibreglass brush refills in dilute PVA and allow to dry. Minimises the amount of horrible fibres flying around....

Time in research is never wasted (I have many reference books!) but sometimes one also has to jump in and start as you say. As the Germans also say Aus Schaden wird man klug- we learn from our mistakes. Like making sure one has gapped all the copper clad sleepers before testing the wiring.....

Good move. Those 2mm books get rave reviews. Here’s another...https://www.ebay.co.uk/c/1523212446 it’s about £96 on Amazon these days so worth picking up when you see one

My experience is limited to 1 small layout but hopefully you’ll get more answers! I’m modelling a tertiary line with short rail lengths so can easily build straight panels on the bench. For curves, I build one rail on the bench then set the pieces on the layout and solder in rail no 2 when happy with the curve.

Go for it. It’s great !

I think Marcway in Sheffield may make bespoke turnouts .http://www.marcway.net/list2.php?col=head&name=Marcway+00%2FH0+Pointwork You can make your own flexi track quite simply with a basic jig.

I can’t speak for turnout building as I haven’t tried that yet, but building plain 5’3” track is rather rewarding and when the jig is set up you can build it fairly rapidly (7 mm scale copper clad PCB soldered track in my case)

Very nice. Looking good so far

Here’s the answer from an expert (not me!).... The spoil trains began with 1 engine+10wagons+van on 14.11.66 20 wagon sets began running at the start of February 1967 Vans were dispensed with from 17 April 1967

Using copydex or latex glue is another alternative which allows a little more flex than straight PVA. It also allows you to peel everything off the board later rather than chipping at solidly dried PVA

Yes, if anything there seems to be a growing and informed affection round Dromahair for the line. We took our boys down last year and showed them where my mother’s railway journeys began. The hand drawn sign is perfectly in keeping with the SLNC vibe....

Intriguing. A short stretch of the SLNC has already been trialled. https://crankandcog.net/2016/11/04/slncr-cycle-way-demonstration-opening-day/

So sorry to hear that. Your modelling has been inspirational. My dad recognised Pettigo straight away ! Hope you can keep engaging with us all for some time to come - prayers and best wishes for now. David

I think so. Lovely as it would be, I suspect that bringing such a beast back to life would be a wasted effort given the paucity of 3’ trackage in Ireland it could actually use - you’d need an Irish equivalent of the Festiniog/Welsh Highland to justify it.

Sorry to hear that Leslie - hope you’re on the mend soon. The Dapol signals are a nice job.

Think it’s the second coach in question. Dates back to NIR’s intercity/suburban split. The suburban livery was pretty awful compared to the glory days of maroon and blue. Lovely models BTW!!

Studio Scale Models do.http://www.studio-scale-models.com/Signals.shtml

Lovely. Making the ‘right’ gauge is extra work but that really shouts ‘5’3”’.