StevieB

I believe a certain Lt Col HF Stephens had something to do with it at one time.

Stephen

I believe I read recently that the RHDR needs to spend a considerable sum of money to ensure its long term future. It is truly a mainline in miniature.

Stephen

9 hours ago, Mayner said:

The challenge in converting a BR MK1 Full Brake into a CIE BR Genny Van is that the BR MK1 full brakes were shorter (57') than the Genny Vans (64'6") and the arrangement of doors-windows at the generator end of the CIE vans was quite different to the BR Full Brake.

As far as I recall the CIE "BR Vans" were converted from MK1 Brake end coaches of two different types Brake 2nd & Brake 1st?)

SSM did a brass overlay for a "BR Van" & Bill Bedford (Mousa Models" did overlays for both varieties of "BR Van" which should be suitable for any type of 64' MK1 coach.

Another alternative is to convert a "BR Van" from a MK1 Brake end coach and block up the redundant windows at the generator end with plasticard & fabricate a set of louvers from plasticard to fit in one opening, there is other stuff such as modified roof & underframe detail and fitting B4 Bogies, IRM/Accurascale are apparently planning at some stage to introduce a CIE "BR Van" 

The BR generator vans were converted from BSK and BCK.

Stephen

They make up into fine models. What underframes have you used. Are they part of the body kit or do you have to source them separately.

Stephen

I assume that the one preserved at Cultra is the GSR predecessor.

Stephen

9 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Not my place to question marketing strategies of a (thankfully) successful company, but that would seem a good idea.

The Irish market is minuscule. Many of what would seem perfectly logical models for IRM to produce are, on analysis, almost certainly hopelessly non-commercially viable. So any extra exposure has to be good.

From 1984 to covid, I worked on all but 3 of the annual RPSI May tours. The number of people each year from the 32 counties was almost never more than three quarters if one coach. The rest were almost all English. Not “British”; but specifically English.

IRRS London meetings have many ex-pats; but also many folks from Starmerland who just have a superb interest in Irish railways.

Its’s reasonable, therefore, to assume a significant interest in (domestic) Britain for Irish railways.

So, a spotlight on IRM itself should be a good idea?

 

 

As one of those with a superb interest in Irish railways, I have noticed that the Accurascale website is not so easy to navigate when searching for Irish models compared to the old IRM website.

Stephen

An understatement if ever I’ve heard one.

Stephen

Rosslare Harbour would make an interesting model. Anyone ever tried it?

Stephen

Learning when and how to slow down is not that easy but do try for everyone’s sake. What’s the saying, you’re a long time dead! Best wishes.

Stephen

No drivers in NI? Can’t IE drivers be passed for operation in NI? Just a thought.

Stephen

My purchase arrived earlier this week, love the Accurascale packing as opposed to the IRM packaging.

Stephen

Are you sure about the second freight terminating at Bantry, wasn’t it Drimoleague?

Stephen

Two possible sources of coach for conversion are the old Graham Farish corridor third and the Hornby Maunsell low window corridor third. The former is much cheaper but the tops of the corridor windows needs lowering.

Stephen

I knew that Silver Fix did the 600 and 700 class railcars but not the 900. That explains it. Nice one.

Stephen

Are the U and UG going to be for sale or will you be keeping them?

Stephen

The ebay price is some 60% greater than the IRM price, say no more.

Stephen  

4 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Ouch! A bit of price gouging:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156719853958

I'm hoping there are a few grain vans left over for me to pick up at a more sensible price.

Totally agree with you.

Stephen

It has always baffled me how differently countries tackle the same problem, whether on our roads or railways. Propelling trains is a no no over in the UK, whereas it is par for the course in Ireland.

Stephen
 

I have three Murphy Models GM’s for sale, namely

088 in as delivered livery, namely GM’s interpretation of CIE’s super train livery, and

B165 in Black and Tan livery, two examples.

They come complete with boxes and all the add on accessories. I am looking for £200 for 088 and £150 for each of B165, a 5% discount for purchasing two or a 10% discount for purchasing all three.

088 sold

10 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

That there is a big part of the problem.

The track is not available to everyday modellers, it’s hidden behind paywalls and membetship fees and secret societies.

21mm would be doomed if it followed that same route, if it ever started in the first place.

If a modeller goes onto the Accurascale website, Mark’s Models website, Rails of Sheffield website, or wherever, they’ll buy track that’s either in stock or available to order.

The majority won’t find the 21mm option, or even know of it’s existence, if it’s hidden away.

People say that 21mm is a niche within a niche, and they are correct, but keeping it a secret from the majority of modellers won’t change that.

I’d be happy to be involved in crowd-funding 21mm track, but only if it was going to be exposed to a broad audience.

None if this hiding it away nonsense.

Both EM and 21mm are very much minority scales so a society taking the financial risk of providing RTR track is surely the only way forward.

Stephen

I prefer to keep the track at 21mm and make the standards fit that. Anything else means you aren’t modelling 5’ 3”. I like the OO gauge standards.

Stephen

I think that we’re missing a trick here in that RTR EM gauge track, both plain and points, is already available from Peco, albeit via the EM gauge society only. Is there a case for a 21mm gauge society, TOM gauge for short, offering both finescale and P4 standards, to do the same?

Stephen

I had the pleasure of seeing it at Tony’s home many years ago along with other members of the old Worcester Circle. A truly memorable day but no photos!!?
Stephen

51 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I think I was lucky to snag the last pack of Bulleid flats a few weeks ago, they turned up out of nowhere. Full price though, as were the corrugated wagons I bought with them.

The odd thing about the current sale is that there's no GB shipping allowed, so actually I cannot buy anything from IRM at present, either via IRM or Accurascale websites. Models are selling out but I can't buy them, even at full price! I suppose it will save my bank account but I hope this won't be a long-term restriction. If only people in Ireland are allowed to model Irish Railways then the market will shrink...

 I don’t understand why this is because I’ve had recent purchases sent to me in the UK. There must be a bug somewhere.

Stephen

IFM did indeed produce both Park Royal’s and laminates (SO & BSO). I tried to persuade Tom to do CIE’s version of the Park Royals, basically the Park Royal bodyshell with the laminate door and toilet at either end but to no avail. Such a shame but then the amount of work for the return was probably the killer.

Stephen