Warbonnet

I wouldn't do anything like that if you want to maintain smooth running, especially as the trains are climbing with little room for big derailments when the only alternative is crunching on the floor below.

Something that's long dead thankfully.

Thanks Horsetan!

I cannot answer your question Horsetan but as someone who would like to go down the route of locomotive kitbuilding, are these motors DCC friendly and can they be wired up easily?

Red Line LUAS collided with a skip truck this morning on Benburb Street. Reports that two men have been taken to hospital for treatment, video of the aftermath on the link below. http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/current-affairs/video-heres-the-aftermath-from-this-mornings-luas-crash-0028215-1 Lets hope everyone is okay. I wondered why about a thousand people descended onto my bus at Blackhorse this morning.

Cool, was in Hawkins Street yesterday and they had one on display too, seems that there are a couple 112s doing the rounds. I think we're all counting down the days!

Great pics. Do you still have 112 in your shop?

I've managed to find some more pics of Brendan's layout in earlier stages of building. Sorry for the quality, they were taken on my phone. And a video [video=youtube;-ukzZWsCNMc]

After previewing the two locomotives I'm working on in my last blog, I thought it would be a good idea to take you on the journey on one of the rebuilds from start to finish. I have been into trains for a long time, but it's only recently I have looked at detailing and rebuilds. It's also coincided in me developing an interest in American railroads, and thankfully it's a match made in heaven. I've sung enough about the detail and quality of American models in the past, but another area in which they excell is the after-market detail parts business. Companies like Details West, Detail Associates, BLMA and Cannon and Co. (to name but a few) offer great products to improve older and less detailed locos, as well as making the newest stuff even better. Another advantage is the brilliant spares department offered by the likes of Athearn and Kato, making getting parts for locos so easy. As I stated in my previous entry (giggidy) I bought three relatively modern but badly treated locos from Dave who took them as part ex at a show. He stuck up pics on the 1st yuku site (seems so long ago now) and how we all laughed at them. However, I fancied my chances as doing them up, or at least acquiring them for spares. They were nice and cheap and I decided that once the horrific paint came off them there was plenty of potential. On top of that if I made a mess of them in my novice ways I wont be down too much money, far cheaper than trying similar detailing on a brand new model! The third loco I ended up with was an Athearn RTR GP40X high-hood. Out of the three I bought this was in the worst condition. It was orignally an 'undecorated' loco, which is basically a kit form which comes with lots of additional parts for you to fit. All additional parts were missing, the paint was dreadful, it was missing a bogie sideframe and the additional bogie parts, and it was a bit of a lumpy runner. I then got to work researching parts and listing out what I need before ordering from online retailers and Athearn's parts department. One nice and easy job was to install the grab irons front and rear as none were ever attached. I got a big back from BLMA and got to work. [attachment=:name] Also added were brass horns, MU hoses and couplier cut bars (which I'm not sure about being correct, despite someone telling me they were the right ones to use. I may well replace them.) Next to go on will be the ploughs and other small detail parts.

You saw me coming Dave, for info the two locos I'm working on are the second and fourth pics. I especially love the irony on the box under the last pic - "As close to real as it gets." Indeed!

Should be a nice runner, the Blueline is a very smooth runner. I have a very cheap Athearn SD9 waiting. Sounds like a belt sander but have a replacement kato motor to dropin, going to be a big project this one, looking forward to it.

Hornby railroad class 55 deltic, Athearn blue box SD9

Like the National Power 59, I wish someone would hurry up and do an up to date model of the 59s! Good work!

Nice one Des, will it come with the central tanks (or are they battery boxes?) for between the bogies too? Looks a great starting point for one of these locos.

Probably get it for 50p now the Olympics is over.

Welcome Horsetan, enjoy your postings on RMWeb, you must have enough kits stored away to see you through to your 90s!

Top notch young man, she does look good in blue. You shouls show that to PM!

cool, cant wait to see those!

Very nice, looks like a 450 to me, especially the cab front. Gangway at the other end?

I'm not volunteering to remove the carpet from anyone's floorboards if that's what you're talking about.

I believe you get them when you make a certain amount of posts.

I'm sure he'll be along himself to tell you the thinking behind it, but I think Peak Forest in the UK was mentioned at one stage. Of course, there are five or six levels underneath this one, and a train takes well over 20 minutes to one complete circle.

And...

Your wish is my command! More to follow...

Brendan asked me to post these pics up for him as he's having a bit of trouble re-sizing them. Progress so far...