murrayec

Hi Phil Thanks for your comments, yes some journey, though its been fun that's what modelling is about. I'm now sitting watching the DART running on the layout and cannot believe I make them. Looking forward to seeing your Bord na Mona layout come together murrayec

Hi Richard maybe try the people in Belturbet Station they may have some old drawings Belturbet Railway Station, Belturbet Co Cavan, Ireland. Railway Road, Belturbet, Co. Cavan. Tel: +353(0)499522074. Email: info@belturbet-station.com murrayec

Hi Here are a few shots of the cannon trolley & cradle for the top of the tower;- I decided to construct this one in balsa to have a timber look finish, just needs slight stain and coats of varnish. There is a lot of info, drawings and photos out there on 24lb cannons. I found a few and prepared a drawing, my version of a Martello Tower cannon and cradle. The trolley is just like a ships one except the wheels are removed and skids attached. These skids interlock in a track on the cradle and the cannon could be pulled back on its trolley to reload and then forward to fire. Reverse motion was assisted by a pulley wheel mounted on the end of the cradle between the beams. Forward motion was assisted by pulley blocks fixed to rings mounted on the internal face of the parapet. I reckon they would have had one on each side, so to assist in horizontally lining up the gun with the target. Next the cannon barrel- a bit of aluminium to be turned! murrayec

Hi Dave Great layout, very neat work. Especially like the mimic panel, very neat murrayec

Hi You could start by getting a copy of 'Modelling Irish Railways' by Stephen Johnson & Alan O'Rourke, which is out of print but available on Amazon. I got a loan of this book recently and found a mine of information in it. For engine and coachwork you cant go wrong referring to George Dent's books by Crowood Press - http://www.crowood.com he has about 4 publications out now and they range from simple model modifications, model spray painting and then major model modifications. Its a good range. 'Model Rail' magazine is a good mag to go for. They cover Irish trains and have a very helpful workbench area. murrayec

The tower that the name comes from 'Mortella' in Corsica was quite effective, the British Navy attacked it on two occasions in 1794. The first attack lasted two hours until the French ran away, the second time- 3 months later, after the French rebuilt and rearmed it. This time not easy, it took two days and the loss of 1&1/2 British ships, not quite out but had to withdraw. Eventually they took it from the land, setting fire to the base the French called for quarter, they found 33 men manned the tower and only two of them were killed. So annoyed they had to take it a second time, after measuring it up they blew it up. The British Army Engineers were so impressed with the tower's effectiveness they adopted its design and started to install them, hence we have them on our coastline to protect Dublin- where the British Navy used to hang out when not off blowing stuff up. Most of the Towers on our coast had a gun battery also, with up to 3 cannon installed- Tower 14 Seapoint did not. The main reason for them was to attack a landing force from the sea and the British Navy felt South of Dublin was the more likely location and erected the towers closer together than on the North side. The towers were within cannon range of each other and could protect landing points between with cannon cross fire. I suppose 'High Tech' at the time murrayec

Oh! ...and the timber beams carrying the cannon pivoted on a central up-stand, but! there is also a central track on the same up-stand, the beams pass the pivot point to support wheels under them, the wheels run on a steel track around the perimeter of the central up-stand. murrayec

Hi all Thanks for the comments Dave I'll have a smaller bridge, one track, for the table. Otherwise Seapoint Avenue would be hanging over the edge! Glenderg The cannon used on the Martello Towers was a 24 pounder. murrayec

Its a 'Medium Cannon' as described on the packet- acquired from Mr Bracken. still got its wheels on! the cannon put on the top of these towers had a timber cradle and timber beams to allow the cannon to rotate on a steel track built into the roof perimeter step, the back of the cannon pivoting on a central up-stand. murrayec

Martello Tower South No. 14 I have been messing with this idea for a long time. Now, eventually its coming together;- The Seapoint Martello Tower & the Ordinance Bridge over the railway - this would go well on a layout with DARTs! I have always connected the towers with the railway, I'm from Monkstown, therefore spent many days at Seapoint- if you were there you saw trains go by! It stuck! The towers are part of our Eastern coast line, they are nice and interesting structures (questionable use they were intended for though), and some not kept well. The type and quality of the stonework was carried on through to the early railway works and the harbour, in my mind there all connected! These are a few shots of a test cutting, I just used white aero-board to work it all out. The final one will be in blue foam with a resin reinforced surface. I have taken a bit of a licence on the design, if I worked to scale the model would be quite large and this design is to fit Baseboard Dave's display table with a curved track. The bridge is wide and high enough for two tracks, cantenary wires and posts. I'm not sure to what level this will be finished to, its early in the project and I'm just going to see what happens. murrayec

CIE green with a white line down the side, I was thinking! murrayec

I bought 4 of them, great value, but does need a bit of work. The main let down is the quality of the roof, as mentioned above a bit of paint will sort that out. Some detail will be added when I get a chance;- NS wire to replace the plastic moulded stuff on the roof and ends, more detailed corridor connectors, and better buffers. I might also do the under frame structure, its a bit of a let down, but it is underneath! I was thinking of a green body colour;- does anyone know of a photo or two they can direct me to? murrayec

I was goofing with some phone images to set up a new avatar like Dave suggested Couldn't resist posting these shots;- murrayec

Hi Mr Dent recommends buffing the area with a toothbrush and good quality cotton buds after doing the T-Cut, the toothbrush removes any small scratches left by the T-Cut and leaves a good shine. If you are putting on new decals a spray of gloss varnish first will aid decal adhesion. I have done this with very good results, I did finish the whole model with a coat of varnish. I agree with Anthony, don't use a blade murrayec

Hi This might help! Mr George Dent recommends using T-Cut on a cotton bud. murrayec

I like this one heirflick, We're human! Stars are untouchable, wet paint is! murrayec

Hi Dave Yes, I'm now going to update all the DART images, including my avatar Just have to take the photos sometime this week, though I'm taking a rest- I'm DART'ed out of it! murrayec

Hi All I had a great response to the new model DART at the DLR/MRSI show over the weekend. It was great to meet some of you and to discuss the model, which is great feedback to help me make the big decision! The best responses was from those kids that were dragged away from the table screaming they wanted a DART, parents apologising. If only those kids were issued with wallets! Again thanks all murrayec

This is no problem This can be done for free! murrayec

Hi irishrail201 Thanks for the comment The 'Windowless' DART will still be available as an option, and yes there will be a price difference for the Windowed option, there is an extra 5 days work to do the two coaches with glazing structure, body window cut-out, driver cab, passenger seating, internal printed parts and hand-poles. Price is not set yet murrayec

Hi Purple Well done, excellent to see this image It looks as though a model or model parts will need a large amount of fettling to get it to a complete and smooth standard, I can also see in this test that it would be better to print relief detail separately- fettle with it and then stick it on. For example- the ECM logo back plate would be very hard to smooth out around the text, so it would be better to add the text detail later! Please keep us updated with your progress on this machine murrayec

Hi dave182 Thanks for the comment and intrest Yes, an unpowered 2 car set will be available, but;- if your talking just for display its fine, though if you are thinking of adding cars to a 2 car set I recommend two motors;- the Tenshodo is a small motor! I have run 4 n' up to 6 cars together and one motor cant handle it well. Two is fine, so each 2 car set needs a motor. I have found the second car with the two motors in it works the best, but still need to play with it a bit more. and there is really no saving on cost. When there is no motor I have to build a bogie and all to replace it. murrayec

Hi BosKonay Sorry, I have not worked it all out yet. I will though for the Dun Laoghaire show. murrayec

Hi All Here are a few photos of our new option a ‘Windowed DART’ The body is just propped on another trains chassis for the photos, so the chassis is showing a little! its chassis is not complete yet. This train will be at the Dun Laoghaire Model Railway Exhibition on the 24th & 25th this month. The interior has;- Printed coloured floor Seats Handpoles Driver Dashboard Driver Interior lights and sitting people are optional extras [ATTACH=CONFIG]8532 [/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]8533 [/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]8534 [/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]8535 [/ATTACH] murrayec

Thanks Nigel It looks pretty good, that's the best I've seen so far, though it looks as if you've got a lot of work to do with the sanding block! I look forward to seeing it in October and if you are OK with- some updates here as the work progresses? Regards murrayec