murphaph

What are you guys using to cut your PCB point sleeper strips to exact length? Any experience with "the chopper" as I've seen mentioned around the web? Oh and a chap on a German modelling forum said something like "Our English friends are very peculiar in their ways when it comes to choosing a solder. They seem to have all sorts of odd alloys available. I always use 60/40 SnPb unless soldering white metal". He also told me something on a more technical level: SnPb won't ever melt below 183 degrees C. The Carr's stuff must contain something else and he told me about Tin/Bismuth SnBi solder which is actually probably what the Carr's detailing solder is: https://www.jufengsolder.com/low-temperature-solder-wire-/sn42bi58-low-temperture-solder-wire-1.html The thing is, it's really difficult to find in Germany he said, usually only as a paste. So I'll stick with trying the 183 degree stuff I have on order for now.

I already ordered a local alternative to the Fry's powerflow flux (it's actually from the plumbing trade I believe, used as a flux on copper fittings, so a suitable alternative was easy enough to source here. I imagine they will work similarly anyway as they are for the exact same purpose) so I am going to try the coreless SnPb + flux way first and see how that goes. Melting point of the stuff I found is 183 degrees. If it's no use I can still use it for electrical work. It's lower temp than the lead free stuff I have here for electronics. I guess I will find my own path with time. I'm just trying to avoid being railroaded into looking exclusively for stuff in Rice's book because it's almost exclusively UK only and difficult to come by here in Germany. Oh here are the few bits I got from the S4 society: Note the check rail gauge is for P4, not Irish P4. I just wanted to see how it's made and maybe modify it if possible. It was only a few quid. The rest of the gauges are 21mm however.

Rice says to use paste flux and a coreless solder. Is this just to have less clean up afterwards I wonder? I've honestly never paid much attention to the solder I've bought for general electrical and electronics stuff. Hence my questions here I guess.

Right so I will just buy a more readily available 183 degree solder and see how I get on with that first. Thanks chaps.

The Carr's detailing solder seems very expensive. Any ideas for an alternative low temp solid solder like this? Preferably something available outside the UK. Rice says one should use a low temp 145 degree flux free solder.

Thx! Yeah I couldn't resist filing a couple of rails up to make a crossing vee but I need more supplies before I really make progress and I'm sure I will only realise "oh I need x" as I start actually making stuff in anger. One point to note: Contrary to what I have read on some other forums, the new Marcway (SMP) sleepers (the fibre glass ones) are laser cut, not guillotined. I had read some criticism of them when compared to C&L but it appears this info is now out of date.

So my first few bits have started arriving... Filing jigs, track gauges, 10m of bullhead rail and 28mm pinpoint axles from the S4 society (stung for vat by the customs unfortunately but not unexpectedly). I managed to get a hold of Marcway (at home as the shop is closed) on the phone just now and placed an order for 1000 34mm copper clad sleepers and a few sheets of strip for the points. Step by step on the way to 21mm.

Yep. Miles ahead of others in this business. Many are completely clueless about what they need to do to at least make the best out of a bad situation.

Parcel from the Scalefour Society waiting for me down the local post office. Customs due on it. And so it begins for me too.

Here's a photograph from the O'Dea collection of the siding in operation, seemingly taken from north of the over bridge, facing south towards the loading ramp, which must be immediately beyond said bridge on the left hand side. http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306821

Thanks chaps. A mine of information as always. Looks like in all likelihood that both Kilberry and Athy (Down side) would have been lifted before my proposed time period of the early to mid 90s.

I'm just looking at Google maps and wondering did the Bord na Mona facility at Kilberry (between Cherryville Junction and Athy) have a siding for heavy rail? The long shed (or a predecessor) parallel to the line looks like it may have seen rail traffic at some stage. Maybe it never did but I was surprised to read about the Athy Brick Works (not the Tegral factory!) slightly further south of here, which did have a siding for a few short years and of which no trace can really be seen on Google maps today. Does anyone have any track plans for Athy by the way, from the 80s or 90s? When were the sidings into the goods shed lifted does anyone know?

This is really good stuff. I'm especially looking forward to new commissions, especially typically "Irish" cars (cheaper cars like Daihatsu Charades, Nissan Micras, Toyota Starlets etc.) that you saw a lot more of in Ireland than the UK.

Thanks for this. I intended doing this mod as well and actually had assumed that a single led would be found inside. It's a pleasant surprise to read that the required led is actually present but just needs isolating and rewiring. Great stuff.

It's crazy to think but the 2600 Class is in it's 27th year of service already. Plenty of livery choices. Some day. I'd certainly take a few sets in Arrow livery.

It's a real pity the 201 wasn't ever given the tippex treatment. Would have looked great.

I guess they became the property of Irish Continental Group. Maybe some were repainted into Eucon livery. Eucon containers would be cool if @Arran was so inclined at some stage I have a couple of the 45 footers from Bachmann but 40 footers would be great. A typically Irish container.

The seller looks for that sort of money for all their stuff. That coach or one like it has been on sale at that price for ages. No takers thus far. Seller is happy to wait until someone comes along who just has to have that coach and is prepared to pay for it. I picked up two of them last year for normal money from other sellers.

B&I went bust in 92 I believe. How long after that were these fallen flag B&I containers to be seen and was there ever a liner full of them?

The Lokprogrammer has a basic throttle that can run a loco to test it. Mine is connected to a rolling road but you could hook it up to a small test oval. It has enough power to run a couple of locos.

Modellbahn Union in Dortmund sells GB outline stuff. I hope someday they will stock Irish stuff too.

A MK3 suburban set would make a lovely short train for many smaller layouts. Plenty of 121s out there waiting for such a set now.

Did they in fact go to Galway or just Sligo?

I'd take a few Bell tanks as well if they appeared I would also like to see the plain green Consent Leasing 40 foots that were very often mixed in with Bell liners in the 90's. I guess these would have wider appeal as well as they must have popped up everywhere being a leased container.

Great stuff. Order on the way from me for a few 40' Bells for sure. Did the bulk Bells run on Irish rails?