brianmcs

Thanks guys.

thanks Boskonay

does anybody know what the colour of the bogie cement tank should be ? white or cream ?

I wonder if his tool box exists !!

I remember reading an article by FRY in the Railway modeller magazine  ( in the IRRS library - can't remember the year) . He made it clear that he could not get any RTR Irish stuff and he had to make it all himself . 

The astonishing thing is the results he got with the tools available at the time.  

I remember seeing it on the track in the glass case in the castle and asking myself did it , could it ,actually run ?

At the time I was reading some of the little information that exists about Lartigue himself. 

great photos JHB .

The Lartigue is important.

In general , is it reasonable to assume Fry's models are accurate and could be relied on in the absence of drawings and photos of older trains , which he may have seen first hand ?

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

To answer your questions, DART8118:

Firstly, Fry's actual models.

When Cyril Fry died, he stipulated that none of his models were ever to run again, ever, anywhere. Many people think that what they saw in Malahide Castle was actually Fry's own models, but not one of them ever did run anywhere but his attic, as this was his instruction. In Malahide castle, they called it the "Fry Model Railway", and while they never claimed them to be Fry's actual models, an urban myth grew up that they were. As far as I can see, the Castle made no attempt to contradict this.

The models which actually ran in the Castle were made by several different modellers, most notably the late Tommy Tighe of Inchicore Works, but there were also items made by Des McGlynn, who some of us will know, and a man called Harry Connaughton (who, personally, I didn't know). All there were in their own right great stuff, and they remain in storage pending a meeting quite soon, when we will explore various options as to their possible future.

With the new layout being of 00 gauge, as necessitated by constraints of space, none of the Castle models could run. A selection of these will, however, operate on the ceiling track from time to time. I have yet to go through these to select suitable ones. I'm, busy all this month so it will have to wait until March.

Fry's actual models were displayed in cases in Malahide Castle, or at least a lot of them. What you are now seeing in the new place is ALL his Irish models, bar about three coaches which are exact duplicates of ones already on display; he made more than one example of a small number of pieces; the Drumm train and the Lartigue stuff (6 pieces). The Drumm (2-car) train will be squeezed in somehow when I'm back in the place in March. The Lartigue stuff will follow. It has yet to be conserved.

The actual Fry layout was taken to pieces 40 years ago, as (obviously) was the Castle layout. These remain in storage, in part. I have yet to see them, but it is my understanding that what's left of the castle one is a jumble of bits in boxes, probably not complete, while I doubt if the story about the Fry layout is any different. A large amount, however, of scenic items have been packed away in boxes. I would like to arrange that some of this might be displayed, at least as occasional temporary displays, but that depends on a number of matters yet to be decided upon by Shannon Heritage (who run the thing) and Fingal Council (who own it).

As for track and signalling, yes, that is also something that I would like to see displays of.

The "modellers craft" that you mention - I presume you mean the Tighe / Connaughton / McGlynn items? If so, some of these will be used on the overhead track. There just isn't room for an actual display of them, and in any event it might take away from the Fry stuff itself, as the museum is meant to be dedicated to Fry, not the castle layout. That is an important distinction to make. 

If you mean other modellers, or the actual history of railway modelling in general, no, because this is well outside the remit of the new place; it is specifically dedicated to Fry himself, and his own stuff.

Also remaining in storage for now is Fry's NON-Irish stuff. This consists mostly of stuff from Brexitland, in particular of LNWR origin. He made some beautiful LNWR locos and coaches. He also has items representing the LNER, and a few other British items including trams and an industrial electric loco from Jacobs in Liverpool - that's a little beauty. Other items in the non-Irish collection include a Union Pacific 5 coach diesel train, and French, German, Dutch and other mainland European stuff.

Fry's whole ethos was to have an "International" railway and tramway. Thus, I put a few items of his continental stuff in one cabinet - there's a Norwegian sleeping car, two French "Orient Express" coaches, a French express passenger loco (a beauty), a Swiss electric loco and a steam tram locomotive which looks to me to be Dutch or Belgian, but it is the one item whose provenance I have been unable to trace. If anyone here can help, I would be very grateful. I will post a pic of it below.

To cover the "International" bit of it, what I plan to do is make up several sets of British and continental items, which they can rotate in a display case maybe every month. I have also proposed several other measures to allow display of Fry's non-Irish items, including scenery, track and signalling (if suitable for display!) from time to time. I will keep you posted here as things develop.  

This is a new project and a unique one. There is nothing else like it in Ireland, and few such places elsewhere. From readers here - the modelling fraternity, any suggestions and observations will be welcome and will be taken into account where possible. It won't always be possible, of course, but we'll see how it goes.

 

So - what is this?

 

I think the problem is remit. The display in the castle purported to do 2 things .

1. show off Fry's models  - the Casino display now does this very well.

2. Tell the story of Irish railways using models - this is a much bigger challenge .

It should be done in a national transport museum , but that is another argument...........

looking forward to seeing the Lartigue in the Casino.

made it to Malahide this morning to see it .

It is smaller than the display in the castle .

Got a bit dizzy admiring 800 - because it is on a revolving shelf !

The museum tells the story of Cyril Fry very well .

His models are fabulous.

The OO layout is beautifully done .

well done to all involved .

looks great ! Is the Lartigue model on display ?

Hello All , it's been a long time but I finally restarted work on these.

Hello folks , is there any planned release date for the IRM weedspray train ?

fantastic

Hello Mayner ,

the parcel arrived this morning in good order.

The postman did not demand any import tax.

The kit looks so good it seems a shame to spoil it by attempting to assemble it !

Next on the wish list are some MGWR 6 wheelers to go with it .

Many thanks , Brian.

Hi folks , been away from these fro a long time .am making some progress.

Philip Dix in Dublin sell a lot of small tools for the jewellery trade which would also be of interest

http://www.dixequipment.com/

looks great john , I would be interested in one . I think it would be best to get the parts you mention direct form the uk . ( before Brexit !! )   

thanks Hurricanemk1c.

Hi folks , anyone got RAL numbers for painting IE autoballasters , specifically the Yellow.

might be better than the new bus lanes proposed for Dublin. Think of all the gardens which would be saved !

very nice work Mayner .

Does this mean the 650 class kit is going to be released ?

fabulous work . Herbert Simms would be delighted I am sure.