leslie10646

You can't call Accurascale a Chinese Fifth Column! Is there an Irish word for "QUISLING"? only @WRENNEIRE is allowed to answer this ..... The obvious thing is for you guys to become the 51st (?) State and dear Donald will build airbases etc in no time. Or, you could just offer him the space for bases at a cheaper rate than the UK?

Nah, that's only on them there Yank carriers .......

I have just read in today's e-mail from The Economist that you tax payers in the Republic are about to expand your Navy and open two new bases. I await the first member of this forum to model one of these places AND the ships ......... The UK could sell you a couple of aircraft carriers which we don't need - what on earth are we doing East of Suez?

A steam-age C Class? A steam age C Class? I couldn't find a "Raspberry" Imogi for @Galteemore's reply!

Nonsense! Accurascale are working on the ultimate Pacers, 150s, 153s, 156s and 158/9s. Then the electric 455s, 5-WES (Class 442) and when they're finished those, all the hopeless Modernisation Plan DMUs.

And I've corrected it back! The C Class will come, never fear, but in my lifetime?

Ah, @Warbonnet, you must be delighted with all these suggestions to spend YOUR money. Not that I will ever get a chance to prove it, but if you brought out a GNR Class VS, it would outsell your equally "pipe-dream" Class 70s and Class 80s TOGETHER. The real secret, I suspect, is that that whatever prototype you choose it should have been in use North and South, so a Class 80 has some mileage in it. I still haven't raised the money for a Hunslet, as the weather has been so bad that I can't take my "toy" tanks outside to photograph them for eBay! C'est la vie ........

Right Ernie, this is all out from the horse's mouth! A stopwatch-wielding pal of mine reports - "207 and driver Charlie Mulgrave was used for a football special to Lurgan on Saturday 30 January, continuing nominally empty to Portadown, although us timers just sat tight. I reckon the photo was taken that day." For info, he added: "Her next outing was the 21.50 goods from Grosvenor Street to Portadown on Thursday 11 February, which loaded to 60 wagons. These were running-in turns for a Rugby Special to Dublin on Saturday 13 February, driver Sam Heasley." History corrected, or made, depending on your view. Wonderful stuff, thanks. I have to agree with @Galteemore, the Dungannon shot is really priceless - the VS shot, is, of course, beyond that ....... Leslie

First, Ernie, glad to see you back home. good luck for the outcome. This really is a wonderful group of shots. Who was the photographer? No.207 didn't get out much in 1965, although I know that she was hauling the "All-in" for the rugby international against England in February - when we, ahem, won - again ...... This photo shows here with just five coaches, so I wonder if she was given a spin before that train pin a semi-fast. I'm consulting various oracles. The meeting at Dungannon is wonderful and very "Derry Road" Lance photographed a Q class crossing there, but it only shows the rear of the other train - so this one's very sp[ecial. The little U Class is just lovely on what could be anything from a Newry train to a Lisburn local. Keep it up, brightens our days.

Well, indeed, but I hate to admit it but my NCC Mogul is happier with heavy trains! The VS needs its traction tyres replaced and for now, that's beyond my skills!

After Ireland's Big Day today, I'll have to get more coaches ready for the extra trains for the next International matches in a couple of week's time - especially as a few Ulstermen have actually got onto the pitch! Come on Ireland!!!!

Unhappily, after 25 years as a tour manager, I can relate to your unhappy experience a hundred-fold. You've given people a good list of how to protect yourself, so I encourage people to have a look at it - it's almost identical to the advice which I gave people - especially the one about dividing things up around your body. I still made visits to consulates, just as you had to do! That is why I have spent a fortune over twenty years on Rohan clothes which have zippy pockets - I can't praise "Cargo" trousers enough - again lot of zippy pockets. I carry my passport and credit card in a chest pocket in my shirts - if the shirt hasn't got such - I don't buy it for travelling! David, I hope that your Travel Insurance coughs up - if they don't tell us who they are so that we can avoid them - as well as Canardian pickpockets.

Ah, so nothing has changed since they were building QJs (giant 2-10-2s - Bachmann did a model) at Datong in the 1990s? Now that's progress for the World's leading manufacturer! This is my Bachmann one in the shelf behind me as I type. The King and Country stuff below will have to be sold to pay for one of these Hunslets! PS I hope that the workers return to do the packing after Chinese New Year - in the past, that was the time of year when they all changed jobs ......

Noel, I'm very glad to learn that you and yours have come through this truly terrifying experience. I hope and pray that your home and family rise ever stronger for the future. As you rightly say, "things" are replaceable, people and pets are not and are precious beyond price.

I'm counting down the minutes until these are sold, Patrick!

To my knowledge - "I've got a Little List" - the five countries of these islands, Germany, Norway, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada and New Zealand! If I've missed someone - speak up. Thanks you for the comments, which are well deserved. I will be writing to Joice, his lady, and will pass on your good wishes. "He will certainly be missed"!

I'm very, very sorry to report Michael's passing. Meeting him made my wagon business take off and gave me many happy hours of banter and "Craic" as we debated our joint activities. Like so many things in life, I got talking to him at an exhibition and found him a willing ear. The first products of mine which he produced were my Bread Containers, then the GNR brake van, which really did sell like Hot Cakes. In those days, things were delivered to me "ready to run". Over a hundred of the 200-odd brake vans were actually built and finished by him - if you've got one - treasure it! Then the cattle wagons and numerous vans. HE - YES HE DID THE CORRUGATED WAGONS FIRST - and it speaks volumes for Michael's skills as modeller that they were so good - nearly 400 kits of them sold - a fact which speaks for itself. For me, the UTA Spoil Wagon was his Magnum Opus, it took two attempts, but Michael was big enough to see that the first attempt was not quite the thing. That is closely followed, in my opinion, by his last kit for me, the GS&WR 10 ton Brake Van which was just the sort of antiquated piece of rolling stock that he found a challenge to overcome. Michael retired less than two years ago and sold the business on. I used to refer to Michael as "My Man" but I can assure you that he was always his own man and in every way a Master Modeller, for which reason he will not be forgotten in a hurry. There are thousands of Michael's models scattered all over the world which will still be running when no-one remembers us! I'll raise a glass of Bushmills to your memory tonight, Michael - and for many a night yet, God willing. Rest in Peace, Michael, Master Modeller Extraordinaire. Leslie McAllister, Provincial Wagons.

Ye Gods - weren't they noisy. If I had one of those in my loft, the neighbours would be complaining! Very impressive.

Great stuff, gents and thanks for showing us! The Victorians built to last! Do you think that Grand Central will still be standing in a hundred year's time? BTW, are you going to join forces and do the whole line .........

Thanks for the tip-off @DJ Dangerous! Belief it or not but I have been known to sell my own stock which then needs replacing!

Patrick, I can recommend a small outay on the "ReRailer" usually a fiver well spent! I have a Hornby one and a Peco one always to hand on Portadown Junction! I have several six wheelers on Rosses Point and the engine shed, but happily a nice man USED TO 3D print them (yep in 36.75mm and 32mm), but no longer, unhappily. By the way - good luck to Accurascale with Genesis - I have CIE ones AND LNWR ones (psuedo DNGR - yes, yes, nothing like, but it's my railway!). Vide:

Good news! Never mind David H, we all have such misdemeanours against us

Oddly enough, Roger hasn't repeated that announcement in his website: https://alphagraphixkits.co.uk Sounds like a clarion call to get 'em while you can .......

I'll PM you - I know a man, as someone else on this forum would say .........

Yes, Jon, I'm afraid that Steve at Railtec has his own agenda. That said, before he became famous he did several sets for me and has done reruns even ten years later, so credit where it's due? As a result, some Provincial Wagons have Des Sullivan's transfers - especially the double beets - Des did me a customised set from his standard offering. @Galteemore put me in touch with Endon Valley Custom Decals whose decals / transfers were used on my open wagons.