Northroader

Here’s somewhere using small coasters, more modellable size. It just needs to have rail access added. https://www.facebook.com/bairdart48/

There’s a little film show, mainly shots of the town, but a few in the middle, of the Quay. Includes very tasty view of MGWR wagons. https://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22239:iconic-mill-levelled-at-last&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

There’s a crane a bit like what you’re after in this old picture of Westport Quay. However, I’m struggling to make out if it’s mounted on a mobile carriage, fixed down on the dockside, or even mounted on the backend of some sort of lighter. There’s also about the smallest size of steamer with holds fore and aft of a central machinery compartment, but I fancy it would be oversize for a microlayout.

Good trip to Uckfield on Sunday, and well worth it to see Belmullet, and meet David. Thanks for the craic, as they say, and I can report that the layout works as well as it looks, really smooth running from the loco fleet. Wonder what is going to appear next?

I suppose with that CAD process, another advantage would be you could just as easy do it in 7mm scale? (Hint, hint)

Not quite what you have in mind, I’m sure, but you could try Moyasta on the West Clare. Two long roads diverging with a platform, and a short road for an engine shed, which needs to be brought up forward with the rest, which would then match an Inglenook. Upsize from 3’ gauge, you have potential for placing loco, carriages, wagons (forming up mixed trains?) and you can include some buildings? Sort of small version of Belturbet, say. http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway Stations M/Moyasta Junction/IrishRailwayStations.html

Do you mind if instead of me clicking like for each entry, I just say how highly appreciative I am of this series? I think it is really useful.

Lovely modelling, I’m most impressed how you’ve adapted run of the mill items into specific models for your needs. One thing, just looking round the surroundings, there’s lots of ivy starting to appear. All this summer I’ve been doing a clearout of the b***** stuff. It starts off looking pretty and giving everywhere a nice green look, but it just keeps growing and spreading, by the time you realise it’s taken over, you’ve got long underground runners and 2” thick stems, and it’s very hard work clearing it, so recommend you start now.

Very interested to see another narrow gauge 4’x2’ layout. Mine is done with 16.5mm track, so it is getting away from reality, as the curves (10”) are too tight, and only four wheel chassis can be used.

Next job is try and fit a layout in one of them?

“What are yer usin’ fer bait, there?”

The Irish rail tankcars were supplied by builders in Great Britain before WW2, using same specifications apart from gauge, so I built my model from a British kit. This has a wheelbase of 10’6”. I got the details from an article in the HMRS Journal, volume 16, number 12, “Irish Petroleum Tank Wagons, which had pictures for the Munster Simms, McMullan Bros. of Belfast, BP, and Shell Mex.

I haven’t yet fully sussed out the emojis on this site, I was looking for the one to say thanks for the kind comments on my backscene, next I should try and get a specific thread rolling here, as invited. There’s one on RMweb, dedicated to general pregroupery, and from last April I started an Irish trip on it: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107190-“washbourne”/page/60/&tab=comments#comment-4380728

Here’s a backscene I’ve just wrapped up for my line, done in acrylic paint. You can start it off like a watercolour, using transparent washes, but overpaint into thick opaque layers, like oil, but the gain with pva is that it is very fast drying. Usually I paint for around an hour, changing the water frequently, then give up trying for a few days. Parts of it have been done as stick on patches, such as the buildings, rather than trying to get the whole thing right at one go. I do hope you guys agree it has an Irish look. The photo by Galteemore is wonderfully dramatic, could you have some sidings or a station in front, or is it too remote without any buildings? (Maybe Maam Cross) One source of inspiration I use is old railway posters.

Maam Cross, one point?

Could you allow just two points, like the preserved West Clare does? Put your track down, and if you want the train pointing the other way, put the engine in the shed, raise your baseboard at one end just enough for your train to roll past, and off you go.