Fiacra

1949 (following the Republic of Ireland Act 1948).

Fantastic - can't wait to see more of it!

@Broadstone Any further progress on this layout? Liffey Junction has a special place in my heart, and I was quite excited when you announced plans for a layout based on it. As of the last post, it looks like you had made some good progress.

Some nice examples of printed track and points in this RMweb thread. I haven't used Templot, but I assume it would be easy enough (?) to print in 21 mm gauge as well. With tools like this, and the fact that most IRM products have been manufactured with 21 mm conversion in mind, it's beginning to look like modelling in 21 mm could finally be a realistic option for the average modeller.

Apologies if this is already stated somewhere, but are these wagons readily convertible to 21 mm as per all other IRM rolling stock. This doesn't look to be the case from the photos, and I'm assuming Heljan only made cosmetic changes to a model they already produce?

Was in the Galway branch yesterday and was delighted to find single copies of both RM and BRM. This was the first time I found railway magazines there in a long, long time.

It's interesting to hear that there are no issues running on Peco bullhead code 75 track. I wonder if, despite both being labelled 'code 75', there are some dimensional differences between Peco and SMP rail/chairs. I came across a post on Rmweb a while back in which a poster claimed that Peco bullhead track is not 'finescale'. This would suggest some differences - and I'm pretty sure he was not talking about the gauge, given that some OO gauge layouts are billed as finescale (handmade track etc).

Hi folks, I was under the impression that the wheels on modern RTR locos are likely to be compatible with most types of track - apart from P4 standards. However, I've tried running a MM 121 on Marcway SMP code 75 bullhead flexitrack and Exactoscale bullhead basses with the same SMP rail. In both cases, there's a very obvious 'thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk....' sound as the loco runs along the track. Evidently, the wheel flanges are hitting the chairs. Has anybody out there replaced the wheels on their IRM and MM locos with finescale alternatives, without going all the way to P4 tolerances?

In theory, this would be fantastic. However, although much of the old trackbed still exists, there are houses, gardens and other private property on top of it in places now.

I came across this chap's YouTube channel recently, and it's very informative for anybody interested in finescale modelling and scratchbuilding. He has a few videos in which he describes how to use Templot and 3D printing/laser cutting to produce bespoke trackwork, and this looks like a viable option for 21 mm track. I've never used Templot, but my understanding is that it includes 21 mm templates, so it should be straight forward to produce 21 mm track and points. Has anybody here tried this approach?

Thank you - completely missed that! Thanks Beano. I'm very new to DCC and wasn't aware that generic decoders could be used - very helpful!

Hi folks, I have been collecting Irish locos over the last couple of years, with a view to building a layout in due course. Unfortunately, at the time of buying the locos, I didn't give any consideration to DCC decoders - on the assumption that I would be able to pick them up at a later stage. Alas, not so. I've been able to find decoders for my 071 and 201, but it seems that A class and 121 decoders are out of stock everywhere. I'm assuming 141/181 decoders will be available when these locos are re-released, but does anybody know if the A class and 121 decoders are still available anywhere? Or, if they'll become available any time soon? Also, I should probably emphasise that it's only the decoders that I'm looking for, not the sound chips. Many thanks!

Lovely work! Very helpful - thanks TimO!

Thanks TimO - that is very welcome news! I only have a couple of the original MM mk2d's and have been using them as conversion guinea pigs ahead of the new batch arriving. But, if the new bogies are prototype width, that will make things a lot easier.

Thanks for this info Rich. The MJT rigid bogie frame was my first foray into brass kits, but despite my trepidation it was quite straight forward. However, CCUs look like they would require a much more delicate touch - might be a step too far for me at this stage. I'll pick one up though, and see how it goes.