murrayec

Yes, but that was the idea, I just did not think it would take so long. Working on one project can get you down, especially when things don't work out. But when you have mastered something through trial and error there are little rewards! Step by step BosKonay will be glad to hear- 'The passengers and driver arrive in the post tomorrow' murrayec

Hi Guys Just an update I thought you might like to see; I have now cracked the window thing and should have some images to show later this week. Here are some photos of a mock-up interior, this was put together with the test castings for the moulds so the final castings will have the correct colours.

We are manufacturing 00 Gauge DART trains, based on the 8100 Class electric two-car multipal unit train for Dublin suburban service. These units were built by Linke-Hofmann-Busch GmbH and GEC Traction Ltd. for CIE now Irish Rail. Our model is exclusive hand built at 1:76 scale with a laser printed plastic body on a glass fibre chassis. The model has specific DART details with metal pantograph, DART bogie sides, undercarriage compartments, air tanks, control box and mock connection hoses. Specification. Laser printed plastic body with foam support. 0.8mm glass fibre (PCB) chassis. Tenshodo Spud motor. Keen coupler plates to allow close coupling running. Kadee couplers. White metal cast & sprung pantograph. Directional lights. Secondary pick-ups. NS driver handrails. Etched brass screen wipers. White metal air horn. Plastic cast motorless bogies. 10.5mm Romford coach wheels Plastic cast DART replica bogie sides. White metal cast under-frame components. Plastic cast roof vents and roof end trims. Plastic cast pantograph roof well. Plastic cast corridor connectors. Analogue and digital options. The digital unit has an 8 pin decoder with controllable lighting system, the two coaches are connected electrically with a plug and socket lead. The Model is manufactured in different options and cost;- Display Model – Opaque Printed Body with basic detail. Display Model – Windowed Printed Body with internal detail is now available. Running Model – Opaque Printed Body with full detail. Running Model – Windowed Printed Body with internal detail is now available. You can follow progress on the windows in the ‘8100 DART Model’ thread in ‘Irish Models’ on this forum.

Hi Guys Just an update on progress;- The cutting out of the windows in the body sheet works very well, I am working on the glazed window structure, passenger seating and drivers cab at the moment;- Windows!! This is a test of the body sheet cutting and wrapping to the structure with glazed windows. [ATTACH=CONFIG]6116[/ATTACH] Here are a few photographs of a near complete CIE DART; just a few decals on the under-frame gear and a finish protective coat. [ATTACH=CONFIG]6117[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]6118[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]6119[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]6120[/ATTACH] We also now offer a new livery - The Berlin S-bhan train. We are building this train based off the CIE DART of the 1980's, it also has a 3 rail pickup option for all you German train manufacture fans. [ATTACH=CONFIG]6121[/ATTACH] Regards murrayec

Thanks Guys I got good news today, the machine for cutting out the body sheet- especially the windows, works. The DART will now have windows and interior. I should have the machine early next week and may have some photos of a test assembly by the end of the week if all goes well! I took an order for a CIE livery DART today from a guy in Texas, USA. Many thanks to him if he follows this space. Eoin

I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing- when and where is this going to be? If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin

I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing. If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin

I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing. If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin

Hi colmflanagan Would it possible to post a close up scan of the Hibernia in the mag cover above? I'd love to see some of the detail if it possible. Its a model I have been setting up drawings of to build. Thanks Eoin

Hi David Great to see these photos I was told by somone at a recent show that the Fry collection had a model of the Hibernia? Would you have any photographs of it?, if it does exists. Eoin

I have designed a system for glazing and an interior, I am currently talking to a company in England selling plastic cutting machines. The body print has been sent to them for a test, if all goes well I will have the machine possibly next week- all your DART glazing prayers may be answered! Also test moulds for the seats are setting as I doing this Though you will have to agree there will be more work involved which will have cost implications- I have to work it out, but to busy at the moment filling existing orders. Thanks for your comments all, it helps. Dave, see you Sunday. I'll bring the Guinness unit for a look

Hi Guys Just to give you an update on my DART progress; 6 trains are coming together and are, in my view, looking pretty good! Items added and upgraded; Plastic cast bogie sides Plastic cast non motor bogies (Tenshodo spud replica) Plastic cast under-frame boxes Plastic cast pantograph roof recess Metal cast pantograph construction Plastic cast roof vents Plastic cast roof end trims 3D passenger doors Plastic cast corridor connectors Tenshodo spud motor option only Plastic chassis Digital option with full control of the lights (digital train will be €100 extra for chip, wiring and programming) With these advancement in the construction I have; cut out all painting except final varnish coat and individual part construction are now castings. This reduces my time in manufacturing and therefore I can offer the two coach set at a better price than previously quoted, now €300.00. The attached pictures are a small preview of what's going on, and all the trains in the images are not complete. I will be at the Stillorgan Park Hotel Show on Sunday Feb 17 with complete Guiness Add, CIE and Dart25 trains.

Yes the prototype drive car has a curve problem down the sides, the coach was put together much better and the side is correct. the next trains will be even better, I have sourced stronger foam for the former to do this. The curve on the front is a tad more difficult, because of the printed roof I cannot do any filling at the join- I'm still working on an idea for this! Yes, transparent sheet is printed and an interior structure is been worked on- though not working very well, the curve to the roof is hard to hold its shape and the sides have very little support to. This has been put to one side for the moment- I'm starting into the first batch of 10 units already ordered. I will keep you posted

This is my intention, I have made a number of revisions from the prototype model after discussions! on this forum, comments back from the website and last months show. I am not a Dart historian but I do know how to build models- regardless of what some of you think. Revisions; Coach Numbering Corridor connections to square head Plastic cast bogie sides Plastic cast under-frame detail Second coach continuous rib to roof artwork Correct Guinness Logo coach numbers I will continue to work on the windows and an interior, but at the moment I have orders to fill where this is not priority to the customers, it would seem they just want their Dart train.

Thats €120 for the parts for two cars, before I start to build.

Some of you may find this interesting Since MR mag came out last week we have two orders placed from England and possible multiple order from an NI Club, both English orders are for a Guinness Logo train. We are now international! Again Waffles thanks for clarification on the lights and other components

Just to clarify; The batch system to manufacture this train saves time on each model. Some of the processes require the workshop to be set up specifically. When set-up it is far more efficient to make quantities of the parts. The reason I am not doing this now and building up stock is quite simply the cost- at €120 per train I cant afford it. So by manufacturing like this for orders of 10 units I will be able to reduce the cost. One off builds or special builds will still be at the quoted rate. Thanks Waffles you hit it right on the button

Thanks to everyone who came to me at the weekend show, I got some great response and of course not so! It was great to discuss the train with people there, some of the difficult ones changed their minds about the train when they saw it in real life and the way it is constructed. Preliminary orders have exceeded the 10 unit batch limit, so it looks like we will be going into production in the coming weeks

Yes the train is 4mm scale 21mm gauge! I think the bogies would have to be changed to fit this. And the bogie sides may have to be thinned down, they may stick out to far from the body. If you can send me a photo of a 21mm bogie with a oo bogie beside I could have a look murrayec

Not at photo stage, just got all the parts in and starting on them now. I will have photos on the website ecmtrains.com when ready murrayec

Hi guys Excellent feedback Yes I do agree windows and an interior would enhance the model, though with an already time consuming construction this would add to the cost, my initial estimate on a brass etched system would increase the time two-fold, with the extra construction and the painting. I plan to continue designing a system with windows, be it plastic or brass- one possibility on the drawing board is 3D plastic printing. But this is for the future Parts and material costs are at €150.00 for the two coaches and that's before I start to make anything! The prototype on the web site has only two parts from a donor Lema train, bogies with serious modification done and the motor, all other parts are fabricated. I could only find one possible donor train when I started this project and its retail price was close to €300 and required some serious modification to turn it into a DART I do have plans to fit doors and door head rail to break up the flat sides, which should be on the next models constructed. Though the DART is a very flat looking train anyway! I am continually looking for pre-fabricated parts and testing ways to speed up construction so that I can bring down the price, building the train in batches of 10 units may also help- but I have not done this yet! Parts cost is prohibitive. I have also ventured into plastic moulding for bogie sides, air tanks, corridor connectors and the skirt- all will be on the next models. I will have three trains at the October show, please come and take a look at it in the flesh and see does this change anything. I am absolutely chuffed that some of you take this so seriously and compare my first handmade model to some well established model makers using foreign injection moulding, machine painting and mass produced systems. killucan2 - I would like to see your DART if you can send me any photos? I had heard that someone else was working on one. Thanks murrayec

Can I start it again by adding; I build a 00 model 8100 DART and trying to get going in the market! This is a hand build item in my workshop and takes me 4 to 5 days to complete a two coach Dart after I have batch manufactured the fiddley parts. My price at the moment is €400.00, which shocks everyone. I would be interested if any of you have the time to view the web site http://www.ecmtrains.com and return comments Thanks

Hi, ecmtrains hope to be at the October show with two new DART models- CIE livery and the Guinness Add livery. In trying to secure parts to manufacture I left the booking of space to late! so not sure I'll be there. These new trains will have Blackbeetle and Tenshodo motors and fully revised bogie system- brass fabricated bogies with cast plastic replica DART bogie sides. See Model Rail next issue- should be a News Review of the DART