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

do not know whats going on there, but I can click on the attachment text and it comes up in a window! here it is again, hopefully this works murrayec

Hi Phil You are doing an amazing job there What about this one? maybe you have a few sheets of corrugated left over from the sheds! [ATTACH=CONFIG]9139[/ATTACH] murrayec

Hi Chevron Some great resources I use Get 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, so I bought a copy. Its dated but has amazing tips on what RTR models can be converted to Irish, a discussion on scales of track and information on stations and on layouts. Also a great collection of photos of Irish models and train stuff. 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 very good range, though some of the books double up in areas but its worth it. murrayec

Hi Baseboard Dave and I attended the show, it was a bit slow in the morning but heated up after lunch. Its a lovely venue for this kind of show and we were looked after by friendly club members. Here are a few of the best shots I took on the phone in the morning There were other layouts but the shots were not great murrayec

Aahh! I knew I was onto something! 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