Flying Snail

Hi Josh, Can you start us off by listing here the four books and the drawings they have in them?

Take a look here to see the late KCME's model of a DSER convertible wagon https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/10867-dwwr-dser-convertible-wagon/ They are the definitive pre-CIE Irish wagon. So named as they could be converted between being a cattle wagon and a covered wagon. The soft top could be rolled back to provide ventilation when needed. As Leslie said, all Irish railway companies had them - the transportation of cattle from fairs to the ports was one of the major goods traffic types on Irish railways.

Please do post a few images once you have them printed - the renders look very impressive!!

I had a couple of issues with orders not transferring across (partially paid orders), but when I reached out through the Help channels they got sorted quickly. However, there's still a few issues with the new site: All pricing switches from Euro into Sterling once I log into my account (I'm Ireland based) - which is inconvenient, but not the end of the world. However, I'm noticing big discrepancies with the Euro prices currently on the website that are not accounted for by VAT and currency fluctuations. For instance, my order for the 'IE 22000 Class 'ICR' - 6-car in post-2013 IR livery - DCC Sound Fitted' is in my order as £919.95 inc VAT (and £747.93 ex VAT). However, the Euro version of the website says I can pre-order the set for €799.96 inc VAT (or €650.37 ex VAT). Maybe that's the currency symbol issue DJ mentioned above? This forum isn't an official support channel, and I'll follow up directly with Accurascale (its a while before the 22000s will land anyhow) but its a bug that can cause a bit of confusion for customers. Edit: just double checked my invoice (the pdf document) to see its €919.95 (and €747.93) ... its just my online order that reads as £919.95 inc VAT- so it looks like the currency symbol bug DJ mentioned alright.

I see from your profile that you're in Kilkenny - following up on David's note, the closest club to you is probably Wexford. They're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WexfordModelRailwayClub Another option might be to get in touch with Mark's Models shop in Greenogue - they sell a lot of model railway stuff (both new and used), so they might be able to refer you on to someone who does repairs

As mentioned above, OO is a scale built on the premise of compromise so I would strive to be 'as accurate as is practicable', rather than as accurate as possible. The gates look great, and its most likely that they won't look out of scale to most eyes anyhow.

Maybe this is one of those instances where social media is 'tone deaf', but I had not intended that meme to be an expression of intolerance towards being young. I had a giggle to myself at the thought that this was an 'old' community and when I realised that it largely is. I'm in my late 40s and am only now coming to accept that to many I'm old too. The meme was intended to be a playful reference to the fact that all too soon the lads will be old too. WestCorkrailway and LNERW1, are both very welcome on this forum in my eyes (you've both certainly made a bigger contribution to the place than most, including me), and I hope that meme didn't make you feel otherwise. I'll take my own advice in future and stick to posting about trains.

They had a secondhand sale at the start of March - announced on their Facebook page. So this could be a continuation of that. They don't really put much of their secondhand stock up on the website, but every so often they'll put pictures up on Facebook. So its no harm to keep an eye there too: https://www.facebook.com/MarksModels

There's some interesting stock there, including a butter van thats out of shot in my screen grab above, but to the lefthand side of the original image.

There's one 'gondola car' pictured here in Waterford in GSWR markings, pre 1910 as the timber bridge (aka Timbertoes) is still in situ. The GSWR lettering is blurry, but when I zoom in I can make it out Original picture is in the NLI archive here https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000326744

That would have been nice indeed. Do you know if it was considered? The DART livery has remained relatively consistent over the years - in that it has remained green (although with various combinations/permutations). I wonder would that have put them off a retro 1984 livery, in that it wouldn't contrast as much against the current livery?

Wow - that's a fine looking loco!

Wow - goes to show life can throw curveballs at any time. My condolences on your FIL's passing. I'm glad your incident wasn't more serious and I hope you're feeling better and that things settle down for your family again soon. Also, well done to your son, hopefully his capable response will turn out to be a helpful experience for him too!

Nice to see another 90s livery rolled out. It really pops, especially in today's green 'n' grey world!

Speaking of possible coaching stock to run behind the 800s. One of the pullmans wouldn't look out of place behind them. Would the four pullmans sent to Ireland in the 20s have been constructed to Irish loading gauge? I know they had Irish gangways and the bogies are probably different too, but would they have otherwise resembled their British contemporaries?

They do indeed, thanks for sharing! I've just sent @Weshty an email expressing interest.

Returning to the question of whether the 800s can be converted to 21mm gauge. Paul Isles had this to say about it over on RMWeb ..... "The design is 21mm friendly, in that that all the bodywork, frames, valve chests etc are scaled to the prototype, and with the wheel sets being 00, there is room to 'expand'. The con rods etc have been spaced out from the wheels in an effort to maintain the look of the prototype, while ensuring that they operate reliably, but this will be subject to further testing. The EP that was running at Malahide was the very first example provided by the factory, and has been updated since (although the updated version is with ESU for PCB design). HOWEVER, Finescale 21mm modelling is even more of a niche in Ireland than it is in the UK, so any 21mm friendly attributes are there purely to give the right appearance to the locomotive, rather than to directly accommodate 21mm modelling. If that's your 'thing' then I will wish you luck, and look forward to seeing what you do with the model."

That's an absolute unit!

If they could be re-gauged to 21mm, IRM/AS would have stated it in the specification/common features for the loco. They haven't stated it, so I'd be highly surprised if its possible - especially with that valve gear. (if you take a look at the Hunslet on their web page you'll find confirmation that it can be re-gauged. No such confirmation for the 800)

If they could be re-gauged to 21mm, IRM/AS would have stated it in the specification/common features for the loco. They haven't stated it, so I'd be highly surprised if its possible - especially with that valve gear. (if you take a look at the Hunslet on their web page you'll find confirmation that it can be re-gauged. No such confirmation for the 800)

I'd say there's an opening now for some of the skilled CAD and 3D print enthusiasts here to produce GSR/early CIE/GSWR era rolling stock! Especially so as the prototypes were often produced in small numbers

The FS stands for 'Flying Snail' ... some of the dark green CIE liveries don't have it, some do

There were fancy cream crackers - octagon shaped, and cheese and various meats to go on them. And chicken goujons .. and plenty more besides

Just back home from Malahide ..... all I can say is wow! Well done to the IRM lads on 10 years in business - what a model to celebrate! The sample looked well on the layout I have to say. Also, thanks to you, and all at the museum for hosting us - it was a really nice evening!!