Galteemore

Thanks Steve - didn’t have my Scott to hand!

More on last years event ….

Sad news. Only shopped with them a few weeks ago at Guildford show. Great one stop shop for scratch builders. Hobby Holidays, who stock a similar range and also sell their wonderful chassis jig, were also there but unlikely to be again as their business model is changing. Not an easy time for specialist traders.

Those moguls must have seemed like something from outer space landing in the NCC steam fleet of 1937. Always thought the smaller lettering on the tender looked better - something almost toylike about that size and font on The Bush here. The Beyer heritage of the top 4-4-0 is clearly apparent.

What RM web ( and similar sites) does offer is an enormous source of guidance on issues which are more generic - scenics, DCC, wiring, ballasting etc etc. You could pay to be a member, or possibly use that money to join another source of information …..For a modeller who is learning the ropes (and I include myself) I strongly recommend joining one of the scale societies eg Gauge 0 Guild, N Gauge Society, Scalefour etc as appropriate. That will give you an ad-free opening into a world of expertise which will supplement that on here, with a particular emphasis on the scale you follow. These societies all tend to have their own forums. My 7mm memberships have been invaluable in that regard, not least in their magazines etc which advise me of new resources such as useful 3D prints coming out. The Gauge O Guild also organises a number of trade fairs which are my main source of supplies for scratch building. Many societies also offer special parts and spares to members only.

JHB, are you employing ‘boring’ as a verb or an adjective ?

That’s some choirmaster - not a trace of a County Antrim vowel in that diction! Lovely stuff Patrick.

One potentially interesting development has been ruled out. The armed forces are on standby to provide a number of essential services including medical and Border Force. Sadly the abolition of Britain’s military railway operating cadre a few years ago (and it is very recent) has removed one interesting option off the table…

You say that like it’s a bad thing JHB….;) In all seriousness, I’d love to see a nod to Irish railway heritage by turning out the odd railcar set in GN livery etc….

Very elegant little engines - like a pocket S class. Although the 1948 batch had more mod cons, I think the 1917 Us win more points for style.

Unlike his alter ego, this De Selby is a real scientist - a freshwater biologist IIRC, who applies academic rigour to his modelling. Having seen his GN and NCC locos in the flesh, they are absolute jewels. Click and drool - this Mogul is part of the selection he’s posted here: https://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/2017/displaycase/displaycase-117.html

There may be some useful detail bits in this wartime archive, taken by an army officer, on the rebuilding of Larne’s port area - presumably one of the preparatory steps for the eventual Second Front. . But this photo knocked me for 6, shows what I think is one of the Ballycastle Kitsons in use as a stationary boiler…probably 114 as 113 was returned to Ballycastle at around the time of the photo - not sure if @Patrick Daveyor @airfixfan know any more about this episode? https://wartimeni.com/location/northern-ireland/co-antrim/larne/larne-harbour/

And the train strikes mean you can’t even go and pick the stuff up in person….

The Hereford Gun Club on the big island have used old Mk 2 and 3 carriages for their activities. That may or may not be worse !

Makes you think twice about fare dodging

Sorry - don’t get me wrong - I really like 50s and 60s technology! I am huge fan of Dublo myself. I just think it’s a false comparison to set a 00 works loco alongside modern plastic models. They are very different beasts! My own models are very much old school…..

Thanks John. Comments based on Roderick’s remarks as much as anything else! You are of course quite correct - people like Guy Williams and Mike Sharman produced some incredible machines. Some of my 7mm friends are now adapting technology to turn out their own home brew gear boxes with plastic gears which run countless garden laps with ease driving heavy engines. Having left RTR behind, I am still finding my way with hornblocks and pickups etc to produce reliable running on hand built track. My own brass/nickel engines with metal gears do need a bit more TLC and fettling to make them perform optimally - and are noisier - than plastic 7mm RTR - but I suspect I know which will be around longer….

The OO works locos are basically like a classic car - lovely to look at, can trundle around nicely, but don’t expect them to cope with the rigours of daily commuting. They are built with 50s-60s technology and are, as one said above, essentially a ready made white metal kit. In this case, the grunt work of sustained exhibition running (in conditions which are, it is easy to forget, environmentally challenging - wheel and track cleanliness alone take a hammering from the atmospheric impact of many humans in a room) is clearly too much. I suspect that running the odd branch line style train with a few restful station stops would be much more their bag.

The 7:20 mixed would make a nice starter set in Hornby style - engine, carriage, wagon and brake van

I think Acla looks brilliant David. Wasn't Gordon a professional model boat builder in a past life ? Love the Sentinel. I think Walsworth models do a similar kit now, and build it for those who want it, at a very cheap price - £150. That’s incredible value for a 7mm brass RTR loco. He’s very helpful and I’m sure he’d do it to 36.75 for anyone who asked nicely. Very good way to start out in 36.75 modelling….https://www.walsworthmodelservices.co.uk/product-page/sentinel-y1-3

The guys do have a strong working relationship with Downpatrick…https://www.downrail.co.uk/rolling-stock/cset-no-1/?cn-reloaded=1

Or a static boiler

Properly sprung bogie, multiple pickups, and proper balancing and your 4-4-0 should be fine, especially if plastic. The OO works one is a big lump of metal struggling to balance itself. We’ll see how smart I am in a few weeks when my 4-4-0 starts her trials….

In terms of sheer visual attractiveness to buyers, an S class would tick a lot of boxes - and can of course be authentically run as a preservation era loco. Will also be hitting the main line again soon too hopefully.http://eiretrains.com/steamindex/#GNR171_20100818_004_CC_JA.jpg