murrayec

Hi Rich Yes I mention that in a previous post- we would have to set-up some community boards;- A. 90Deg bends B. A few standard boards with straight through track c. Fiddle yard- table with cross-slide multipal track for loading up trains If we have this facility then small to large layouts would work if someone does not turn up! murrayec

Hi All Good link BosKnoay, everyone into this idea should have a read of this page;- http://www.free-mo.org/standard They have some good ideas and this could give us a text template to work with. The sketches I have set-up so far, are very close to this. It doesn't really matter what the boards are made of, they just have to be sturdy, same height and fit the specification for track joining. The free-mo.org idea of using C-clamps under the board on the down-stand to join tables is a good idea- nothing sticking out the sides! Though pin & socket locators should still be used, metal ones can be the electrical connections between the boards? I will hopefully finish the drawings for discussion over the weekend Again anyone have a network layout? Hey, Walter where have you been- its good to hear from you murrayec

Hi Dave I have a number of sketches set up on the track connection between boards, still needs work though but will post it up for all to comment soon. Code 100 track- that's 3 votes up so far. I agree if someone wants to build 1, 2 or 20 boards its OK, though we cannot let it get to big so that it wont fit a display area! More discussion on this is needed. If people build with a home layout and the group module layout in mind, I hope not- but if it should stall there is no loss to the builder. murrayec

Hi Rich & Glenderg Great thoughts there Rich, though I kind of agree with Glenderg- that we should allow for all comers if it can be integrated. And yes an overall preliminary design scheme should be designed as a pattern to work to. Anyone got a rail network diagram or can they point me to one? Hey, Glenderg are you discriminating against our Southern Skanger! They are of stunning quality and can throw scratchbuilt tinnies with the best of them, Canal's! we don't need Canals we have the Sunken Track and Metals through Dun Laoghaire- perfect for lobbing those tinnies at the passing trains! Not to sure of that's how to spell 'Skanger' murrayec

Hi Glenderg The middle option came from looking at Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock and that area, where the seafront is adjacent the line- centre works best. For curved track layouts the board can be bigger than 1200x600mm as long as it hooks up. If you mean curve on the track between say Dun Laoghaire & Blackrock- that's difficult;- long curves would have to be over two boards and may not have a key feature except the sea wall and shore on it, lovely to have but who would build it, people will build key feature boards that could be used on home layouts. This does need more discussion and thought. Croke Park, Malahide;- Deadly we just jumped the river! We will need an air plane hanger Keep the ideas coming murrayec

Hi Riversuir226 I was thinking about that one also! It would be fabulous to have on a layout because its prototypical, but it is awful stuff. One thought I had is;- if someone does it that's fine, if its made clear at the start that the layout beside may not have it, it's their decision to do it. I know some will say that could be messy but as the layout moves on this could be developed. There are a number of things like this we would have to discuss and have guidelines and aspirations for the layout. Though my view is- people will be modelling to their ability and monitory input as long as the board complies with the Main Line Track specification- position on boards and the like- hey lets join it up please. Another one I thought of is;- what if we end up with two boards with the same feature! murrayec

Hi Dave discussed 1200x600mm boards because the cut from one sheet of MDF with the least waste Using this as the preliminary module size we would have to look at setting a standard so the boards can come together in different configurations. I see the main line as straight running the 1200mm length of the board, so the boards join end to end. 90deg bends will have to be designed for layout space purpose. If someone is building Blackrock Station say, to have a descent size platform two boards would be required- working at that scale a group layout will be big! Boards can go side to side to incorporate side track-work say Dun Laoghaire Station, Pierce Street and the like. If I was to build my idea of the Carlisle Pier the board would be 90deg to the main line. The back of the layout boards probably should be flush and have a scenic backdrop. Dalkey Hill is the only big bend in the line- that the bend is the feature. Bray Head is a bend feature to- what an amazing one to do! I reckon the spectator views the scene from the sea- ah this sets a starting point to locate the main line on a board, the closest point the track comes to the sea! There would have to be space between the feature boards- initially things will be close, but over time the layout could fill out as more feature boards are added. Track specification should probably be the most common? Control of main line- digital is the most apt for this, many controllers along the layout Side tracks controlled locally at that board. Here is a rough sketch incorporating some of the above ideas, its based on a Dun Laoghaire Station idea;- The size is intimidating, if a thing like this was to catch on we would need a lot of display space! While doing this sketch I think the main line track is best running in the centre of the boards- this allows for detail on either side of the tracks. What have you got to say?...... murrayec

Oops I put this in the wrong place, I have asked the guys to fix murrayec

Hi If interested post further comments on 'Modular 00 layouts' http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2464-Modular-OO-Layouts?p=37052#post37052 murrayec

Hi All Take a look at the post below and see if you are into this idea. Post reply and thoughts on this thread http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/895-New-DART-8100-Model?p=37000&viewfull=1#post37000 murrayec

Hi Guys Yes IOM is on my extensive list of things to do. Time and money has pulled the throttle back! murrayec

Hi Dave Yes that would be great but I feel that the board should be in the region of 2x.6m to be able to model some of the scenes! That's not to say they cant be smaller though- say if someone wanted to do Merrion Gates Crossing it could be on a module .6 x.6m. Some boards could have side tracks like Dun Laoghaire where rolling stock could be shunted and played with for main line trains to come and pick up but while that is going on the main line is open for the Rosslare RPSI excursion to do its own thing. There would have to be an allowance for boards to line up in various configs- again say Dun Laoghaire Station that I have planned has the off-shoot down the Carlisle Pier, this would be a board situated 90deg to the incoming and outgoing main line track boards. Another situation is Dalkey Hill Tunnel- this would be a stunning section with a long run, say over two boards- one for the curve of the hill and the other for the straight run after the tunnel heading to Ballybrack station- imagine standing out in Killiney Bay watching model trains appearing out of the hill and down the long run! Yes, BosKonay- see my previous post about a new thread There is a couple of us on the forum that have CAD resources and design ability that with a little work could design a system- I'm one murrayec

Hi Great to see peoples preferences I just love trains and all things mechanical I started into model trains very young, my dad had a small set which fit on an 8x4 with a metal station, metal signal box, signals and some card houses. (I still have the controller that I use for powering a phosphorus acid bath to clean rust from metal- it's still going) The trains were all British steam class, big green ones, and small black ones! As I got a little older we started to extend the layout and I got a BR Class 08 for a birthday which I immediately painted orange and black, a few more were added and later the British coaches were painted orange and I got some wagons going. My brother went for continental stuff with double pantographs and the like. We dreamed of a bigger layout but it never happened. Gliders, control line planes, remote control planes and motor bikes n cars took over. Sadly the whole thing was given away to someone's child and I only found out years later. Though I still kept an eye on trains. I love all the early steam in the 1830's, also McDonnell, Ivatt, Aspinall and Coey designs out of Inchicore later, and all the diesels. I must admit I did not like the DART when it was introduced and it made a mess of the seafront with all the cables and posts, but I remember it was badly needed. I got back into the models about 10 years ago, but started into live steam large gauge. I'm currently working on a 3&1/2" gauge 'Northumberan' as test bench to hone the model engineer skills to build a live steam 'Hibernia'. I also started collecting the Murphy Models range and a lot of British steam locos that can be modified to be Irish, though not started into that yet! murrayec

Hi Paul Yes, they call it T-Track, its a local and world buzz. Groups can set-up like at the DLR show or go abroad to set-up with foreign groups. Some schools are doing this- Newpark in Blackrock I know are doing this- it may not be T-Track but I'd say a similar design. I love N Gauge and I have several 600x1200mm layouts that sit on the coffee table , but OO Gauge has to be the one to set-up I reckon because it fits in with what the majority are modelling. And for detail, the Irish models available, modelling ease and viewing enhancement. Another idea is- items that are constructed could be used on home layouts when not out on show. So the builder gets the benefit of the hard work all the time not just when the whole thing comes together. This is what I first thought when I saw T-Track. murrayec

Hi Following on from RedRich's vision of 'very scenically beautiful waterfront layouts appearing in the future' Maybe I'm jumping the gun here or a bit mad, but;- If people in the future are planning layouts depicting Booterstown, Blackrock, etc, (i have started on Seapoint and Dun Laoghaire station) would it be an idea that these layouts could come together at times to display at shows and the like? With a bit of forward planning I think this could be achieved and would create an amazing diorama of this line that has so many features that no one modeller could fit in one layout- but with several modellers it could be achieved. My design for the Seapoint Martello Tower has this thought built in;- the design allows the Ordinance bridge to be changed so that I can use it on my two track layout I use to test the Darts and then changed so that it fits on Dave's single track we use at the shows! Just imagine in the future a layout that could run from a station in Dublin out to Bray including all the key features along the way! and even getting madder, there is no reason to stop there, I'v seen a layout of Killcool (sorry I don't know the man's name). Its endless, well there is Rosslare!! Mad or what? Maybe this could go on a new thread and see what you all think or can contribute murrayec

Hi I just got a copy of this book on Amazon, I chose the new cover book on the site but received the old cover book! murrayec

Hi Yes, will be there with an 8 unit DART25 if all goes well in construction murrayec

Hi guys It was great to meet you both today at the show and thanks for your comments. Since the windowed version became available just over a month ago I have taken 5 orders to build. I aim to have 3 of them complete for the Blackrock Show at the end of the month, coupled with the existing one we should see an 8 unit DART running- hopefully! I'm going to be busy! murrayec

[quote=Weshty;36635 This is the quality of journalistic rigour in the BBC? God help us. Weshty You nailed it on the head Brothe Your pictures of the WARD printed loco;- Yes its a lovely little loco, though it is laced with under coat paint and you can still see the printer resolution lines on the model. I look at the loco at the show and reckoned it is a great system for small items, but imagine a DART- with its expanse of flat surface on its sides, it would require a lot of filling and clean up before painting. I'm going to buy one of the locos though murrayec

Hi oops! I should have said the 'Planning & Development Regulations' But just click on the link in my previous and it leads to the regulations murrayec

Hi I know a bit about this, hopefully not going to far off thread;- The Planning and Development act has two exemptions for development to a dwelling which can be used for model train layouts. These exemptions are described in the Planning and Development Act; Schedule 2, and split up into Classes;- Class 1. Allows for a 40sqm exempt extension at the rear or side of a dwelling. There are a number of conditions for this exemption relating to, previous exempt development, distances of windows to boundaries and size of private open space left at the rear of the dwelling, to name a few of them. Class 3. Allows for a 25sqm exempt garage, shed, tent or awning. Again there are conditions, not allowed to be in front of the dwelling, previous exempt development, cant exceed 4m in height and if connected to the house it should be built with like finishes, to name a few. Oh and! you cannot keep ponies and horses in it! This can be found on line = http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/ Open the pdf at the top of the page and scoot down to page 236 'Schedule 2'. And as mentioned above by Glenderg, all exempt developments to a dwelling have to comply by law with the Building Regulations. murrayec

Hi Boithe Staying with your picture vibe;- Here is the full explanation on how to do it! [video=youtube;a8-vUN8nJT0] and [ATTACH=CONFIG]9315[/ATTACH] These guys are waiting for theirs to dry [ATTACH=CONFIG]9316[/ATTACH] Just goofing [ATTACH=CONFIG]9317[/ATTACH] murrayec

Hi Thanks Dave for posting and MetVic for comment Message for 'Platform2' I got your pm last week but unable to reply for some reason. Send me a pm again with an email address or send me an email from my website, better still send me an order form from my site. murrayec

I wonder if this could be another livery option for the DART model!! murrayec

Hi Thanks everyone for the great comments, my computer was down for the last 2 days and it was great boost to read. The DART had its first public run this morning at the Bray show , it was sporting a new addition- a pantograph arc light! Dave took some video, hopefully he will post it up later? murrayec