dave182

And a little more from the same guy!

I love this little layout. It's in N gauge but could easily be translated into a 00 version. A single short inward facing siding could be included too for more operational interest. I'm always harping on about how the little details on a layout can make it stand out, and this video really has lots of little details that brings the scene to life! In 00 I'm guessing you would need about 3' x 3'6" maybe!

Yeah I'm slightly disappointed by this. I thought, as a hobby (Irish scene), that we were past UK model re-paints. I understand the cost involved in a creating a new model, but for me this further damages my opinion of Silverfox. It all seems a bit... Lazy. Would a detailing kit be possible as an add-on?

Jesus H but the quality of modeling on this site at the moment is just unbelievable!!!

That Rathmichael layout looks the part! Lovely atmosphere and captures the period perfectly. I love to see a layout like this because it reminds me that in modeling a railway, sometimes less is more. It's the little details that really make the layout pop, such as the p&t van, or the simple track layout. I've never been to the Wexford show, but will make an effort next year because it looks very impressive! Well done to all involved.

Just to agree with Chris's post above, prices are all over the place at the moment. I buy product from China on a regular basis and it is near impossible to get suppliers to commit to a price at the moment. Transport costs are all over the place too, and I'm guessing in the case of MM that they wouldn't necessarily have been agreed at the time. Strange times

Now that's a thing of beauty Kirley! Well jealous. Am saving hard to get my hands on a set!

Super! Will you be doing a plain version?

For a small island and the network that is in existence I could never understand the need for such a heavy loco like the 201. I would go for a modern version of DB's 290 diesels. A small, compact bo-bo locomotive that would give maximum flexibility across slower single lines, and can double head where horsepower is needed. The 290 Class replacement is the Voith http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voith_Gravita And parking looks and gauge aside, it seems to be designed as a flexible loco that can be used for shunting, freight, departmental and regional passenger train. Regional in European terms being the equivalent to most of IEs intercity routes. Pie in the sky opinion but fun to ponder. The 141s/181s/121s more than proved their worth, so think a lighter bo-bo set up would be the natural choice!

Wow!! And not a good wow! It's like if they take a little bit of the railway away each year no one will notice. That's quite a sad sight.

Would love to get my hands on it if it still exists, would fit nicely into my Shelton Abbey themed layout! (progress of which just ain't happening at the moment!!)

Sulzer, I raised this query before- have a wee read here! http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/1998-Layout-featuring-Arklow-Station?highlight=Arklow

This useful health and safety advise from Jeremy...

Just to chip in on the Foynes debate, I'm reliably informed that a fuel distribution company based within the port environs have full planning permission for an ultra modern plant that will be processing and producing fuel products for domestic supply and export, based on products such as biomass and molasses. Again, this is a high volume product, both input and output, which is what a railway needs. Like the proposed biomass plant in Ballina, Biomass is to be imported initially. Crops such as Willow and Miscanthus grass have been trialled here quite successfully I've the past few years, but farmers are slow to take it up. It's a catch 22 scenario: high oil prices make biomass expensive to transport. Low oil prices and folk will stick with oil as a heat source.

While I'm not a Mod I am an active member of this site and I don't like to see threads like this being played out, where there is a dispute or misunderstanding between members. Can I point out the following from the forum rules: [12] IrishRailwayModeller.com is not responsible for member-to-member transactions resulting from contact made through these forums (e.g. 'For Sale or Wanted' and 'Swapmeet'). I would encourage the two members to try to make contact with each other and resolve the issue. I would ask the mods to lock this thread. As it was brought up above, small traders do not need to be registered for VAT, or if goods are being traded as a hobby/past-time then the supplier is generally exempt from VAT and so on. Of course the rules and regulations around sale of goods will still apply.

I assume then that the DVT will have a similar fading out of the black and the 2 colours?! All very exciting!

How often would an enterprise loco get a cosmetic wash? How often are locos washed in general? Would washes be included in maintenance schedules?

Oh I like that! First time I've ever warmed to a 201 livery... Wondering is it weather and grime friendly though?? How will it look after 3 or 4 weeks in service?

Great pics! The MkIV set climbing up the bank at Killarney is some sight, with the carriages at many different angles!

Not justifying quality issues here, but there are big big supply chain problems in China at the moment in a number of areas. Falling demand for goods in general has lead to higher costs, loss of skilled labour, and a number of specialist manufacturers of the component parts going bust. (to name but only a few of the multitude of issues!) Hornby, for example, had a number of set back throughout the past 2 years as a direct result of this uncertain market, so I would assume the Paddy Murphy is small fish in the grand scheme of things. It's catch 22 for everyone: No Paddy Murphy, no rtr models of the Irish scene. With Paddy Murphy, but poor, unreliable pool of suppliers in China, probably gonna get some hic-ups along the way. I have been sourcing product from China for many years and with the best of intentions it is so hit and miss. When problems do occur it's very hard to remedy. Bond and insurance normally only cover transit. So you try and choose a supplier with the best reputation. But from time to time you are let down, and it is very infuriating! So look, the solution as a 'customer' is quite simple. If you have bought these Mk2s and they are not up to scratch, return them to your supplier/shop and get a refund. Simple. You'll be disappointed but that's just how it is. Ensure you explain to the retailer why you are unhappy with the product so he can feed back to Paddy. If you have bought them and are unhappy, but in a kind of 'I can live with it' way, then again make sure that you go back to your retailer and explain how you feel. Ask for a discount on your next purchase for example. If you are over-the-moon happy with your Mk2s and they are not showing any flaws, then let your retailer know this too! Sometimes we forget to give praise when it's due. The fact of the matter is this. Unfortunately there appears to be flaws. It's highly unlikely that they are going back to China. If after a month or 2 have passed and Paddy Murphy is looking at a pile of unsold stock or a load of returns from Retailers then he will have to take action of some sort. This would probably involve negotiating some kind of compensation or reduced final bill from his manufacturer, which in turn might lead to a reduction of the retail price, with the product being sold 'as is'. Disappointing all round, and will certainly put a question mark on future releases.

JHB- I'm still laughing at your very informative and funny post above! It sums up the situation perfectly, and we all forget that technology was a lot different back then in terms of mixing paint, and the paint ingredients and colour charts. Now, off to Vinny Byrnes tomorrow for 2 cans of 'Exceptionally slightly more orange' and a small tin of 'Distinctly, but only slightly more orange'!!!

More reference material here... I think the jury is going to be out on this for a long time! Mk2s in supertrain livery feature, and I deffo think that the coaches, in reality, are lighter in colour than the orange on the 071s of the day.

Now that's more like it!! They look great!

Excuse my ignorance... Is this photo real? As in was this taken recently and where? Put me out of my misery Glenderg!

Good question Frank! I don't recall seeing mixed rakes. By the looks of things they must have focused on these when rolling out this new image, because all of the other coaching stock and loco's seem to have been done very ad-hoc, and over a prolonged period of time. Hope someone can shed some light on this.