Mike 84C

Top job murrayec, your tutorial explaines it all. Please keep posting ;my SSM Bandon tank always gives me pleasure.

Hi Irishrail, the van is sort of set in concrete around the frame area and without wishing to get down and dirty! I thought there was dry rot in the parts of the frame I could see but there is every chance that the timbers are there. The door on the inside has been sawn off on the upper side to make it fit the building the van is part of. I wondered if it is a S&S van and it would be a shame if it just disappeared after survivig this long.

Cheers JIm, will keep that in mind but I cannot see the big layout going over within 18 months and who knows what the cost will be? and if club funds would stand it.

Thanks for all your comments guys and I really think it was worth taking a small selection of our Bantry models to Bantry and a return trip with an operating layout would be the icing on the cake. For me, the worst part of the journey was Irish ferry's land you in Dublin just in time for the 5pm rush hour so its gone 11pm by the time your west of Bandon. On the return 8.55 pm from Dublin is 0.55 into Holyhead drive to Lincolnshire home at 5.0 am, eyes like the p------ in the snow but kept sucking the barley sugars! In fairness my trip was to see old friends and the model show was a bonus. I did get out and about taking photos of remains of the West Cork, surprising what is still there. The first three are at Clonakilty , then the station building at Drimoleague, then Bantry across the harbour, the water tank , lattice bridge and crane are at Skibereen, whats left of Bantry shed, a narrow gauge van at Drimoleague and the water column at Dunmanway. Sorry that the photos are not always clear as at Dunmanway but cutting down the local vets bamboo for the photo was just not on! His offices are the old station building, getting a good shot was not possible. Hope you enjoy the photos. Mick

A picture of what I took to Bantry, please ignore the person behind the small display.

Another first class set of models for our Bantry layout, you make it seem easy.

Leslie, this van looks like your best offering yet and has saved me building one! If you are at the IRRS meeting in London on Nov 18 I will be very happy to buy a kit from you. Regards Mick

And a very good show it was.I took a selection of models and had a couple of locos just shuffling about on a photo plank ,with a folder of info and photos plus Erine Shepards book. bantree sent his Bantry station models to display and there was a lot of interest. I think a lot of people thought why Ireland and why Bantry but my reply is why not? I now understand why shows in Ireland do not generally pay expenses, 900 miles by the time I got home. Bantry goes to Bantry would be a wonderful thing to do when the layout is showable but the cost?hmmm! For me one of the most watchable displays was a R/C forage harvester which picked up loose static grass and blew it into a trailer pulled by a R/C tractor. Brilliant

HI John, Put me down for a Cie version with a B type tender per the photo of No 98. My only reservation would be , will you supply the tender as a part of the kit and the detail castings for chimney, dome etc; and if they are not in the kit will there be an arrangement for SSM to supply? Best regards Mick

Love the narrow gauge photos, so much atmosphere thanks for sharing. Summer,the bad thing about loft layouts! and I thought my garage was warm.

Brilliant! Thank you very much, flange lubricator.

Would anyone have any idea of the number series for the H vans that were converted to bulk grain wagons? Mine has doors in the sides. I cannot see the numbers on the ones illustrated on p90 of Rails Through the West Limerick to Sligo by JHB. Thanks for any help. mick

Looking really good, your carpentry on the baseboards is first class and I must remember the cocktail stick next time I solder droppers.

Hi David, What a handsome loco, I'm with Eoin and Ken. Those that know will appreciate it for what it is. But, it is your loco so rule one does apply.

Free time whats that? totally agree Ernie, how did we ever find time to earn a living. Mick

Hi Wrenneire, if Colin does not take all whats left please pm me. Brake 3rd and cattle wagons are of interest. Regards Mick

Thank's for all your help and ideas guy's. I never really thought it would be a go'er but one lives in hope! The subject is maybe just a bit too esoteric so maybe I convert my Baldwin drawing to 4mm scale and do it the old fashioned way and scratch build. just don't expect photos of progress anytime soon. John, that nzfinescale is enough to tempt a man to change scale! beautiful castings and models. And now perchance to dream!! I wonder what happened to the DSER 2-6-0 that was floated as a kit how many years ago? Mick

I have used cork floor tiles from diy store Wickes. The sealed ones used sealed side down, it does make a difference if a chassis is noisy. There is a company in Walsall who supply cork for all sorts of purposes Charles Cantrell. I bought 7mm thick strips that they sell as expansion joints for wooden flooring. They curve beautifully and two side by side are good for a single track main line. Browse their website for ideas. Just a satisfied customer.

Thanks for that Colin, a friend of a friend does artwork for etching and I think that the designers time costs for producing the artwork will be out of my reach as a minimum of 20 would need to be sold to cover costs. But you never know! Regards Mick

Is their any interest in an etched kit for one of the Baldwin 0-6-2 tanks the CB&SC had up to about 1914? I ask as I would like one for myself. And I am just testing the water!

Hi Whizz, Please pm me whats left could be useful for Bantry. Mic

I'm just an old git but I started work December 1962 and the Midland Red always got the guys to work at the Aluminium factory in Banbury , even from villages 7/8 miles away, for a 6am start. I often cycled the 6 miles to work on BR in the snow and we had lots of it. I believe it lasted till late Feb/March. I think that these events are hyped up so that large numbers of the population stay at home so the authorities do'nt have to spend so much money on snow clearance , hey its a cost saving.The insurance companys take a hit and our premiums increase next year, so who pays ?! Maybe I should do more modelling!

Back this evening from a weekend at the Lincoln model railway show at Newark showground. Helped David Holman to run Arigna Town, had a really good w/e, a good exhibition and you all missed my pathetic antics with the shunting pole 'cos Arigna is three link couplings, all good fun though.

Hats off to you guys; your standing in the model world is increasing by leaps and bounds. You deserve your success.

Was in Digitrains today with an A class to have some sort of sound installed. Jeremy has compiled a sound file for the Crossley two stroke for the Heljan Co-Bo. Based on the Utube films of the Australian WAGR X class and verbal recollections. I have never seen a Co-Bo but have watched the Utube film. Check out Digitrains Facebook pages, I like the noise! so thats what my scruffy green A is going to sound like!