Flying Snail

That cover is a particularly fine fine effort at abstract art by AI. Its remarkable, the more I look at it ..... the less I see (less realistic things, that is)

Instantly recognisable!

The mill looks very well - as Patrick says the stonework looks well but I also think the timber doors and window frames set it off nicely

Hopefully, these kinds of delays to major projects will be reduced in future: Government to introduce emergency legislation to fast-track key projects ... The Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan is aiming to cut red tape in order to deliver more housing, roads, water treatment plants, energy sub stations, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. It also contains measures to reform judicial reviews. These include the introduction of a test on the likelihood of a review being successful before leave is granted take one. ... https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1202/1546788-ireland-cabinet/

She was hardly making rock buns or rocky road? Anyway, I hope nobody chipped a tooth

The corrugated carriage shed based on Kenmare is in the August 1970 edition of Railway Modeller

I think someone else might have posted this already, but here's the newsreel announcing the train of the future, today! ... in 1949 https://youtu.be/1a2K0TP1lxM?si=6-WbupNl68qTeCif

Great diagrams @Westcorkrailway ... I'd like to second @Rob R's request that you upload it to the Resources section please, so that it doesn't get lost amid all the various threads and posts on here.

and Hinos ... lots of Hinos: that's one of the biggest gaps in 1:76 trucks for Ireland

I'm not actively trying to drag the thread off-topic (by about 95 miles to the north east) from Mallow ... but there were reasonably sized flour lorries in Ireland. Portlaoise, again, .. this time Odlums: From Portlaoise Pictures: http://www.portlaoisepictures.com/odlumhistory4.htm Edit: I'm not sure if this is 1960s (maybe later?)?

I think there might be another angle to consider here. The objective for some objectors might not be to get Metrolink cancelled, or the station moved ... they may just want the project slowed down long enough to avoid personal impact. For someone in their mid-70s today, pushing the project into the late 2030s would effectively achieve that. A selfish and cynical thing to do, but rational from their perspective.

I can't help you much with the marques but regarding the haulage firms active in the 1960s, I think it was still restricted in terms of carriage of goods for hire up to the 1970s. You would still have options for adding lorries though. Businesses would have had their own fleets for the haulage/delivery of their own products - including the milling companies. Farmers would have made extensive use of their own machinery (tractors and trailers) to transport grain, and there was/is also a system of farmers' co-ops with their own lorries. In terms of local traffic on nearby roads, Irish Sugar who had a plant in Mallow would have had their own fleet too and there's probably good archives somewhere for them and other semi-states. Also, in rural Ireland, lorry's from businesses like Kelly's Foundry in Portlaoise (picture below) could be found delivering hay sheds everywhere, and its also plausible that a mill would need steel structures? I believe the picture of Kelly's fleet below is 1950s or early 1960s so I hope its helpful in terms of the kinds of vehicles on the roads in Ireland then. (Portlaoise is my hometown and despite it being long gone now, Kellys is still very fondly remembered in the town. Not just a midlands business, Kellys erected sheds all over the country) View on Facebook here

I know I'm repeating myself from Darius' thread, but the lights really do add something special to the scene. A very nice layout indeed - you must be nearly there now?

Those two videos are just pure filth @jhb171achill!! .... Really impressive weathering on the esso tanks! The grime and oil is really caked on!

That looks very like the Slieve Blooms in the background when viewed from the Portlaoise area. Picture could be taken out near Clonkeen (Coolnamona) looking toward Ballyfin.

Looking very good under the lights - the scene has really come to life with the lights and the people!

The buildings are really good. lots of good detail in there!

I have to say who ever is doing your announcement videos is doing a smashing job! As always its very enjoyable to watch

very atmospheric photos !

Yes please - would be great to have the RAL for GSR / CIE locomotive grey

Not a bad day out at all ... I think thats what's called a 'humble brag' these days .. you're clearly a lucky man, of all Mrs. Snails' railway model related "requests" to me, not one has been that I make her a model .. the tram gets my vote too

I have to say Darius that I'm a little disappointed .... I thought this layout would have been finished by the end of last week, you must be slowing down! In all serious, this build is something else - you are not only progressing at speed, you're producing excellent models that catch the prototype's beauty and uniqueness. It's a joy to open up the browser every morning and see what you've done the day before. I don't know what we'll do when its finally finished? Enjoy plenty of running videos and shots I hope

Intuitively, I'd agree* with @Mol_PMB on sticking to true prototype dimensions as much as possible, so I'd go with width and height as per prototype. However, for the buffers, if converting OO models for use on an OO layout I'd be inclined to stick with the original buffer dimensions if I had any intentions of running alongside RTR stock - the IRM and Murphy Models stock have standard OO buffer dimensions for instance (I know @Mol_PMB has altered buffers on RTR wagons to get true prototype fidelity, so I'd be interested in his thoughts on this) * my opinion carries the caveat that I've never done anything like this, so it should be taken with a large pinch of salt It looks impressive, especially as this is something you knocked out in a short while

Congratulations and enjoy it @Mol_PMB, I hope we get to see it in all its glory some day! @Galteemore - I guess this makes you a 'Social Media Influencer' now ...

well, its sold now ... did you pull the trigger @Mol_PMB??