Galteemore

Track looks so right. Excellent

Looks good to me!

Not much time for modelling of late but the decision I took a year ago to build this has been vindicated. I can just switch it on and do some gentle shunting- and play around with the camera. Tonight I took Enniskillen out of her box and gave her some volts. And took a little snap.

Shades of Marshal Foch…..’My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack’. Look forward to seeing more- looking good so far!

It’s certainly remarkable that these most Irish of locos (the nameplates and livery for instance) appeared just after the 1937 constitution, which marked a significant step in Ireland’s identity as an independent state.

The 400/500s are somewhat of a Cinderella it seems, often overshadowed by the 800s but incredibly capable locos when on form. Drew Donaldson certainly rated them.

Thanks. Any locos south of Carrignagat Junction all look the same to me

Yes it’s a very clean loco. What’s also worth noticing is the state of the safety valves and whistle, clean as she is. Yet how often do we see shiny brass ones on models….images like this are gold dust in showing how locos weather. Notice too how the chassis is varying shades of oily/dusty black - except for the subtle brown/red brake blocks.

Beautiful image of 42 in sparkling condition. Looks black rather than grey! Looks like a 400 in green to the left…..

It’s a tricky one. Even filing the bearings to allow vertical but not horizontal movement might be enough.

With too many moving parts allmoving in different directions, it just kept derailing. so you’re basically saying it was ‘all shook up’. Sorry

Great stuff Alan and timely for me as I’m engaged in something similar. Version 1 already built and scrapped….what put me off trying the Sharman free bogie system was the complication of brake gear and rodding. What you have sorted looks most serviceable.

Sounds great Richard - but how many onions do you normally get ?;)

Cheers W1. Looks like ash but it’s actually DAS clay. Google Chris Nevard and ash ballast to get technique.

I had a similar length issue to solve once and it’s a pain! Beautiful work. Splashers are horrible things but yours are looking good.

Great / look forward to it arriving ! Always a highlight of the week when it does.

Very nice but I won’t be in on this as I have one built and one yet to build…don’t want to be greedy! Looks like an early iteration of the kit as the rod etch is integral with the chassis etch and not separate, and has the stumpy chimney casting, which will require replacing with a more accurate alternative. Well worth bidding on this piece of history; NS kits are very good indeed.

You just had to go there Alan….you know how many puns will start percolating through …..

He’s being very methodical about the process. Making a list and checking it twice.

With a sledge hammer In all seriousness, this layout remains a masterclass in subtlety and tone. Simply outstanding.

Still sees trains every day.

One of the unexpected side effects of my advancing age is the ability to exist in a state of more or less endless annoyance at the world. One thing which fuels the fires of rage is the representation of railways in commercial artwork such as adverts etc. The designers seem determined to combine every kind of trope, gaucherie and stereotype to produce the most banal prototypes imaginable. A notable exception came under my gaze in the old Swindon works tonight - a carefully observed tribute to the GWR on a chicken restaurant. Not strictly prototypical but real observation has gone on here….

Roger @alphagraphix may be of some help: he certainly got as far as designing enough of a D16 to do a few 7mm scale etches, which @David Holman used to produce his lovely Wolf Dog. I imagine it will need to be an etched chassis - rather than RTR adaption. Having rods and chassis designed and etched together would help reliable running..

Don’t put it that way in certain parts of NI Enda or you’ll cause great offence !;) NI, technically speaking, is part of the UK (it’s the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) so postage to GB not an issue.

It was a common feature of Beyer locos of the era. The SLNC tanks, for instance, would not have looked at all out of place beside a Coal Tank or Claughton. Gorgeous work as always Alan. You could eat your dinner off that workbench of yours btw ! I bought a set of Vallorbe files in a Black Friday sale to encourage me to keep a tidier ship - I don’t want them going rusty from spilled flux and general carelessness with corrosives….