2996 Victor

Is this the book you mean, David? https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Books/Modelling-Grassland.htm Cheers, Mark

Shhhh! Great progress, David, just as the others have said. The use of talc is an interesting one - looks like another book I need in my library Cheers, Mark

Thanks Joe, that's greatly appreciated. Best regards, Mark

Gorgeous modelling: the overgrown track, the down-at-heel rolling stock, the air of decay. Simply stunning! Cheers, Mark

Apologies, Eoin, for thread hijack, but John could you possibly suggest whether Alec's J72 conversion was ever documented? Cheers, Mark

Another superb photo, Jonathan, please keep 'em coming! Cheers, Mark

Wonderful, atmospheric modelling, Jonathan! Fabulous! Cheers, Mark

Thank you, Jonathan, that's brilliant! I think we may have talked about the bright red and cream/beige colour scheme previously, so that's great to know that it was applied universally across the MGWR's sphere of operations. I think (!) I'm beginning to know where I'm going with this now Thanks again and best regards, Mark

Hi Jonathan, many thanks for confirming what I was suspecting! The MGWR board seem to have been incredibly shrewd, especially compared to other companies which, having a successful enterprise then set about expanding at all costs to the point of penury. One can't but admire them for their fortitude and level-headedness. What's interesting, though, is the degree to which the MGWR's engineers were involved during the construction of the minor lines. Understandable, if those lines were to be taken over for operation. Please forgive my ignorance, but perhaps you could clarify another point for me that I'm having trouble understanding. As I understand it, the Balfour and Baronial lines were constructed with guaranteed returns for the companies' shareholders regardless of actual working revenue. Did those companies remain in existence with their lines being worked by the MGWR, or were they absorbed in total by the MGWR as soon as they were completed? If the latter, presumably the MGWR received the guaranteed returns and the shareholders of the minor lines received shares in the MGWR and benefitted from the latter's dividend. Is it fair to say that the minor lines' buildings were painted in the MGWR's house colours at the outset as part of the MGWR specification for acceptance? Many thanks as always, Mark

Agreed wholeheartedly on both counts! Cheers, Mark

Well now, its been a busy few days for me since I was last able to add anything here. Last Friday, I went into hospital for a long-anticipated hernia repair surgery. Since then, its been slow going and not surprisingly the recovery process is taking it's time. However, I've been doing a bit of reading, primarily in relation to signal boxes. I've been referring to these two books: First of all, I need to apologise to all those more learned souls than I for my assumption that many signal boxes used on the MGWR were of McKenzie & Holland origin. The Signal Box Register Volume 9 says quite clearly that these were primarily of Gloucester Wagon Co or Railway Signal Co origin. That the designs of the two companies are very similar is due to the GWCo's George Edwards resigning from their company and setting up the Railway Signal Co himself, taking his patents with him! The small locking-room windows on brick-to-floor cabins and the ornate bargeboards are quite distinctive once you know what to look for! So although the Ratio GWR Highley Signal Box kit could be adapted, I think a scratch-build is more likely, although I'm wondering how to achieve the bargeboards neatly and consistently. Perhaps laser-cutting is a possible answer. John @Mayner has posted the following thought-provoking post on @Jb1911's Irish models and availability thread https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/11347-irish-models-and-availability/?do=findComment&comment=175977. While I'm still leaning toward the idea that Mount Bellew was promoted as a branch-line from the outset, I'm thinking once again about style of architecture. I'm wondering whether it would be fair to suggest that the MGWR board had a greater input/influence over the Balfour lines than the Baronial light railways, inasmuch as the styles of buildings was concerned? I'm probably reading far too much in to this..... Onward! Cheers Mark

Fantastic work - looks extremely effective! Cheers, Mark

Hi Ken, I realise this is a bit of a thread resurrection but I've just read this through: this is some truly exceptional modelling and the finished TT looks superb. Thanks for sharing your technique. Cheers, Mark

Ouch! Hope it's all sorted now? So far, so good for me, although I reckon I'll know all about it tomorrow when the bruising starts to come out..... Cheers, Mark

Just been catching up with this: absolutely amazing architectural modelling! Please keep the pictures coming Cheers, Mark

And home again! Cheers, Mark

Many thanks! I've had the surgery and I'm in recovery. Seems very odd not having a tennis ball-sized thing where my navel should have been Cheers, Mark

Hi George, The walls are laser cut MDF from Fair Price Models on eBay - a bit of a cheat but the capping stones are a useful touch. I'm making lots of use of Fair Price's laser-cut kits: they're cheap as chips and go together really well. They make a great basis for detailing. Cheers, Mark

Hi John, Many thanks for your post - lots of great info to digest there. I suppose I'm of much the same frame of mind: plausibility backed up as far as possible with the correct style of buildings for the railway company and the locality. The two scenarios you've put forward are both interesting and each have their own merits. I had been thinking along the lines of a Baronial light railway and that's the way I'll probably go - I need to re-read Padraig O'Cuimin's book! I'm keen to make sure that the railway structures are in the correct MGWR "house colours". Many thanks again, it's really appreciated. Best regards, Mark

The garden walls for the back of Prospect Row have been re-done, and even have natty little capping stones The gaps scale at 3' to allow for gateposts and 2'-6" wide gates. The walls will get a bedding-in in due course and the gardens/yards will be most probably flagged; the gap between the dividing wall and the sculleries will need to be addressed! And there I have to leave things for a while: I'm going into hospital for a hernia repair, so I'll be taking it easy for a few days! Thanks for looking in. Cheers, Mark

Looking forward to this stage! I've got my roll of lining paper ready..... Cheers, Mark

Excellent point, John, and one I hadn't considered. Oddly enough, I'd been looking at Ballywillan station buildings earlier on, thinking that the goods shed was of a reasonable size suitable for Mount Bellew and incorporating the distinctive Wilkinson circular and semi-circular windows. I suppose its a bit unlikely that he would have done the designs for a minor company building a branch line, though.

Many thanks John @Mayner, that's excellent info: the trick then is not to mix up the house "styles" of the different architects/contractors. Best wishes, Mark

Brilliant, thank you! Now to find some plans....! Excellent, thank you - a closer look at Rails through Connemara is called for! Cheers, Mat

That's brilliant, thank you! The circular windows on the Dromod shed are intriguing: was that a feature found elsewhere? Cheers, Mark