Mike 84C

There was a post on one of the US groups I"m on that Carstens publications ceased trading back in May. Could one our American contributors confirm this? If its true,its rather a shame, I enjoyed the Craftman magazine and the narrow gauge annual was a very good buy.

My niece is a BTC police officer,a quite new recruit! from what she tells me John has got it about right but where she is based lots of drugs stuff happens. When she is in uniform you would struggle to tell her apart from a 'normal' police officer

Well done Nelson, your work is to the highest standards and getting commissons is recognition of your standards. Getting paid to pursue your hobby how cool is that! Mike

I tried the Johnsons Kleer as a base coat for applying waterslide transfers, works a treat! I used a wide flat soft brush to apply the Kleer and it does dry in 20 minutes,even on the kitchen floor. Mike

David, all those invites for Arigna wow!! you deserve the plaudits, look forward to to seeing Arigna at York maybe.

Check this guys website; http://www.goldenarrow.me.uk , talked to him at Chatham show he could be interested in doing an Irish prototype if enough of us show an interest. His kits look to be of good quality and not overly expensive, the SECR O1 with Stirling tender looks nice for£55. And he will sell the tender separately for about £20. Just to say I have no connection except as a prospective customer. Mike

Congratulations David, Arigna Town looks good and ran well. Truly launched on the exhibition circuit. I also enjoyed the chatting about Irish Railways and learned a few things. Mike

Thank you Mayner and Weshty for producing the info; so quickly! The wealth of info on this group is amazing and so freely given. Regards Mike

Has anyone got a drawing/ general arrangement with some dimensions please? I would like to do a loco/kit bash of one. Got lots of photos but a drawing would be helpful. mike

Brilliant modelling, you must have the patience of Jobe to make all those kegs individually. And the unpainted replacement planking looks spot on. thanks for posting.

Brilliant stuff David, looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks guys, I best email Dez! & Dunluce I will look at Railtecs lists, I enjoyed your weathering and shall copy your methods. Keep up the good work. Mike

Advice please, I"m doing some wagon kits to represent Irish freight vehicles. I have no particular time frame its more a thats a possible conversion/bodge from that! So my wagons at the moment range from the CBSC to NCC/UTA with GS/CIE in the middle. What transfers/decals do you guys use? I would really like others experience/advice. I"m in 4mm scale; look forward to your comments. Mike

I use lead flashing sheet attached with Evostick. Used it for years with no problems even on plastic. And i just love the smell!! Cheers Mike

Heirflick, my box has a reference no. DEMDVD1307 and a website http://www.demanddvd.co.uk Irish Railways Miscellany Irish Railways vol 1 The Swansong of Steam in Ulster vol 3 The Irish Narrow Gauge 1939-59 vol 3 The Twiglight of Steam in Ulster vol 4

Mother in Law is in my good books, bought me a boxed set of 4 Irish Steamrailway dvd"s lots of steam action from the 1950 to end of steam on NIR. Good shots in colour of freight stock, answered a few questions for me! But what surprised me although, I dont know why is the composition of freight trains. Mainly box vans and hardly an open or coal wagon in sight. And the length of the trains, those GN UG 0-6-0"s must have been mighty strong engines!! I also found this website http://www.ottgallery.com ages ago amd thought you guys might enjoy. I"m not sure if he is an inspiratiion or a reason to take up gardening!

I missed a good show but theres always next year! But I have not finished the tunnel yet and the lights came on from the watch tower!! Thanks for posting. Glenderg you are right, many Brits just dont realize how lucky they are with high quality shows almost every weekend. And I dont moan about the damn soap dodgers. My good lady thinks there should be a smellometer at the entrance and all who fail the smellometer should pass through a sheep dip. Be a lot of soggy people at some shows!

I did not enjoy soldering underneath the base board and blade splices worked for me. I did find I could use a thin dropper wire by twisting it gently before splicing. Very important to test every splice/joint as you make them;I did"nt, what a waste of time looking for a dead section.

About 15yrs ago I did the Wolscteyn steam experience, pretty rough track hiding in the deep weeds. But we also hired the narrow gauge railway at Zanymiesel for the day, also the driver training tram in Poznan they both put rough track into a hole new perspective. Great experience though.

I have used the cork floor tiles from Wickes and they have worked very well. My baseboard is a bit of overkill, most of it is shuttering ply but its what was on hand for free! and yes you can stand on it. But the cork floor tiles do take out any uneven areas. And stuck down with nonails or some such glue. You can only hear the wheels running on the rails. Mike

Scots Mac, forgot to add that if you check out my blog you wiil see where I spliced bits of Dapol 2-6-2t to get the front footplate proportions a little better and the Belpaire firebox top. If you need any help please pm me. Like your 402, thats given me a bit of inspiration! Happy Hogmany lets make 2014 a productive year!! Mike

Hi Scots Mac, another 850! already more than the GSR had. I will be interested to see how you tackle the recessed smokebox door as it fits flush with the smokebox front in 850"s later guise. I must admit that, that area of the loco was my reason for picking the earlier version. As I rather fancied the green livery with black and white lining. Mine is now back from being dcc chipped and runs well although I have given sound a miss this time. My friend who runs Digitrains suggests that if I do any more conversions to give the Bachmann split frame chassis a wide berth as they are very variable in performance and a pig if you do your own dcc conversion.

Hi Davy, how about the Bachmann GC/LNE tender? I did wonder if the new bachmann J11 might make a GSR J15a? but to chop a brand new model? thats a bit to brave for me! Which style chimney do you use? I found nothing that I found to be a good match to the Inchicore style thats on large engines and its very distinctive. Keep them coming I"m enjoying your progress. Mike.

I would say its a rocking shaft driven by the ecentric arm or extension of the ecentric arm. The valve will be pulled or pushed the opposite direction to the ecentric movement. Driven from below.

Horse, you are doing a brilliant model.You are really pushing the envelope. I aspire to such things but I really have not got enough lifetime!! Keep the pictures coming