Galteemore

Another Alphagraphix kit under way here: real old school modelling this one! Card and - if you want a running vehicle - white metal. What you basically do is cut out the card bits, laminate to thicker card, and glue it all up together. Add a few bits of whitemetal and you have a running wagon in theory. This is my first one - may try another few. It’s a CIE butter wagon with double roof, running on Walsall Model Engineering wheels pushed out to 36.75mm. It’s a bit rough around the edges (literally!) and I have now learnt a fair bit about how many knife blades such a kit will burn through (about 5). But it’s a cost effective way to acquire stock and fairiy quick. Just some final painting and finishing to do. I’m hoping some gentle weathering will smooth off the rough edges!

Thanks Paddy but anyone could make this with a bit of trial and error - brass is much more forgiving than plastic! There’s a fair few mistakes on this one but she’s managed to sit square and fit on the chassis which is the main thing!

Lurking here for a while so thought I’d better post! Here’s my first ever loco build - almost done. It’s a 7mm scale Alphagraphix etched kit of an MGWR tank as built in 1851 and rebuilt by Atock. My proposed line will be Co Sligo c1956 - I’ve imagined that this little loco escaped the fate of her real sister (scrapped c 1906) and lingered on in the remote west. I think that the similar loco on the Waterford:Tramore line would almost certainly have lasted till the 50s but for her fatal derailment in the 30s, so it’s not an impossible scenario! She’s finished in CIE black. Essentially built as per instructions but she has a few additional parts -sprung buffers and brass whistle/smokebox dart to replace the white metal ones supplied. Coupling hooks and vacuum pipes will be added once she’s finally bolted to the chassis. I do apologise for her appearance - I know she should be emerald green. It could have been worse - I was tempted to add a big yellow number. 804 perhaps?! Cognoscenti of this forum will probably guess at the gauge she’s running on..she was originally 32mm gauge but midway through building I started an email exchange with Mr Holman from Arigna and Belmullet - and that was that! He’s given a lot of helpful advice - and I even cribbed from his blog to build this short length of 5’3” track ! As you can see, Sligo shed rather fuss over her. And why not? That ‘Hazlewood’ that runs in from Enniskillen on the 7:20 mixed is only a youngster by comparison!

To misquote the late Tony Hancock -‘makes my Stanley knife seem quite provincial’....

Nice work! How do you cut the ply?!

Like it. Having spent my schooldays commuting to Belfast on the Larne line by 70, 80 and 450 class, this sounds great. DH shunters in the yard at York Road, Hunslets and C classes making appearances - takes me back! All the best with this.....

thanks - maybe I could stretch to a short bogie.....

Thanks for the paint post, JHB - most helpful! I’ll be modelling a outpost in the West c1956 and space constraints mean six wheel carriages are the norm. The guidelines you’ve set out will be of great use.

Love the guy rolling the beer barrel!

Thanks JHB - I’ll be doing a few coaches c1956 so had thought of doing both colours to vary the consists...

Hello - as a 7mm modeller I’ve used Halfords aerosol paints for a while for ease of use - LMS crimson comes up nicely from Rover Damask Red! Does anyone here have any tips re Irish colours please? To my mind, Ford Laurel Green looks like it may work but I’m open to advisement! Thanks David