murrayec

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