Kevin Sweeney

I've been pondering that question. I'm not sure yet, but I'm not a fan of modern architecture, so I'm leaning towards an earlier version. I'll know better after tomorrow.

There are so many dimensions to railway modelling. I've been thinking about the possibility of 3d printing stationary locos and stock in the future, which would really complete my dioramas. The Belturbet model would be much better with a Cavan Leitrim loco and a GNR train, sitting in the station.

Architectural modelling is definitely my thing. I have a big train room but so far all I have is a modest loop of double track with a few sidings. I originally got into model trains but my interest in modelling building quickly took over. I guess having done MGWR and GNR buildings. A Great Southern was the next logical choice.

I hold scahalane entirely responsible for inspiring me to choose Kent, his model is so good and I love the scale and ambition of his layout. I may yet have cause to curse him as I wrestle with the design and building problems that I know will come from the curves. On the other hand I look forward to the challenges of the project, it would have been much easier to go for one of the other big train sheds in Ireland but it would have been a repeat of Belturbet just on a bigger scale. Kent is a leap into the unknown and whether I succeed or fail it will make me a better modeller.

I'm looking forward to the day out in the southern capital. Being a full time carer I'm stuck a home a lot so the escape will be good.

Belturbet is complete. The decks are cleared and I'm off to Cork on Tuesday to survey Kent Station. About seven weeks to complete Belturbet. Kent will probably take a year to build.

good chatting to you. All going well I'm for Cork on Tuesday, armed with my camera, notebook and laser measuring tool. I'm a regular user of the Sligo Dublin line, so I'm very much looking forward to riding a real train, on the premier line. N guage is wonderfully compact. I have a big train room to work with, so I will have ample room to fit it all in. Kent will make a magnificent centrepiece for my layout, if I execute it well.

I printed out the OS map of Kent Station in N Scale. Seeing the full size ground plan gave me a clear idea of the scale of this project and some idea of how much work is involved. The biggest design challenge will likely be how to slate the roof on the curved main building. I have a 3d printer which will be invaluable for doing the roof trusses of the train shed. All going well I'm off to Cork next week to survey and photograph the station.

I went for a compromise solution on the station masters house. The gable next to the station house will have to do as is. On the other gable I simply cut out a hole and inserted a window. It looks a bit ragged up close, but I can live with it. A few more hours work on the landscaping and the job will be done. I decided on my next project. I've been inspired by Scahalane's amazing Kent Station model to try a bigger station, with a big train shed. I looked at Kent, Heuston, Connolly, Broadstone, Ceannt and Colbert. I really liked Heuston but there are a lot of complex details on the main building, which are well beyond my ability to model in N scale. In the end I was seduced by the graceful curves of Kent. Kent Station it is. I'm really pushing the boat out on this one, but what the hell, you only live once and no point in playing it safe. It also gives me an excuse to visit Cork to survey the station. Although I already have some excellent 3d screengrabs from Google Earth, which will allow me to get the roofing details right. It will be 1.2 meters by 0.6 meters in n scale.

What a country we are. If this article is correct it will take 8 years to plan and 5 years to build a 20 mile long railway. The Chinese would probably build it in a month and the navvies of the 1840s in a few months. I first heard of this plan in 1996. Assuming the schedule is kept that will be 39 years from initial conception until completion.

Thanks for the advise guys. I think I will let the hare sit for another 24 hours and make the final call then. I am already beginning to think about my next project. Having been inspired by scahalane's amazing Kent Station model, I'm certainly thinking about trying something much bigger. Something with a big train shed, which narrows down the options. Ballywillan gets long fingered again.

I've spent 24 hours pondering my options with Belturbet. After careful study of the photos, I've concluded that the station house and train shed are good, as is most of the station masters house. The only problem are the gables of the station masters house. I've invested a month and half in the project, and I want it to be right. So I'm going to remake the gables and replace them. If this does not work out OK, I will have to remake the whole house. Time will tell. I will never again trust a set of architects drawings. I'm glad its only a model, after reading Broithe and Mayner comments I can see it can be a lot worse in the full size real world.

looking at this photo, I see several other errors in the drawings, all of which I have faithfully replicated in my model. So much so it is not really a model of Belturbet station, but a recreation of the flawed architects drawings.

Nearly there with Belturbet. I made the downpipes with cocktail sticks, sanded down a bit and painted with acrylic paint. This was a problem I'd been trying to solve for some time. I made a terrible discovery, the station masters house has windows in the gables. I made the mistake of following the architects drawings I got on the planning portal, which showed no windows. The Crossdoney model is also missing one small window, which was missing on the drawings. This lesson has been taught to me twice now. Don't depend on architects drawings alone, they maybe missing important features, photos are essential.

Amazing work, you set the bar very high for the rest of us. I'm reminded of a story about the first gig Jimi Hendrix played in London. As soon as the gig ended someone saw Eric Clapton heading out the door and said are you not going to the after gig party Eric. No said Eric I'm going home to practice. You are sir, the Jimi Hendrix of Irish railway modelling. Inspiring stuff.

I've been thinking about Cavan Railway Station as a future project. I don't really have room for it, as in N scale it would be over 4 meters long but it would make a very impressive model with a big single arched bridge right in the centre. I am further tempted to take it on after watching a brilliant video made by local man Greg Meehan about the station, its history and its demise. A sad video, an ode to a lost world. Facebook I've been out of action for the last few days. After 7 years modelling without any accidents, I finally managed to give myself a good deep cut with a craft knife.

Getting closer to a finish on Belturbet, it's really starting to come together now. I could not resist the temptation to include a little section of narrow gauge track in the model.

The GNR went all out with Belturbet, even without the train shed it is a big station for a small town.

Thank you Leslie for your kind words. I've had to cultivate patience, in my early days modelling I was always in a rush to see a finished product and would cut corners. Now I always take it slow and will bin anything I'm not happy with and start over. As time goes on less and less stuff goes in the bin.

Yes both roofs are done the same way. The black edge is to represent the guttering, it is 200 gsm card, stained with marker.

More progress on Belturbet

I would also be in the market for N gauge Irish models.

The facia on the walls is made from two strips of 1 mm grey board. On the gable I used 300 gsm cards for the barge plates. I also put in a sub roof, made from 1 mm grey board. I had exactly the problem you describe before I starting using the sub roof. The slates are standard Scalescenes, strips glued to 200 gsm card. Hopefully the photos will give you some idea how it works

Almost there with the station house.

Current state of play on Belturbet.