Mol_PMB

Getting gradually closer to completion:

With the GSWR coach, I've got as far as a trial assembly of the painted parts, and now I can compare the livery to some of my other models too. Still to do are the interior and glazing, complete the buffers, couplers and gangways, and a bit more on the bogies. But it's looking the part now. All three vehicles are lightly weathered, though there's a bit more weathering to do on the bogies of the middle one. The full brake is Humbrol 3 Brunswick Green, which is almost identical to BS381C 226 Brunswick Green, which was the colour used by CIE for their dark green. The plain dark green livery with no lining or logos was introduced in 1950/51. The 30' composite is in Revell SM364 Leaf Green which forum members suggested as the best match for CIE light green. The bogie coach is BS381C 221 Brilliant Green, custom mixed for me by onlinepainship.co.uk. The Spring 1954 IRRS Journal notes that 'Coaches are now being painted in a much brighter shade (officially Brilliant Green) with a narrow light green band along the waist-line...' This is the livery I have chosen for the bogie coach 840, as illustrated in Ernie's super photo of the same coach dated April 1956: Interestingly, after a bit of weathering on both, the Brilliant Green has turned out very similar to the Revell SM36 green; the Revell colour being fractionally paler, and the brilliant colour being slightly browner. I do like all the 'gubbins' on the roofs of these old Irish coaches, so here's a roof shot: Finally a comparison with an IRM Park Royal. Although the roof and underframe have been repainted on this one, the green has not. I think it needs to be toned down a bit, and I'm planning to mask off the windows and try a coat of flat varnish to start with. This is the Park Royal that I modified with the correct roof layout, and represents the last version of the green livery introduced in the very late 1950s. I'd better stop writing and continue work on the model...

Accurascale really do know how to make me part with my money! A couple of years ago, the O gauge B tanks were too expensive for me, with an original list price of £124.00 each. I tried the Heljan one-armed bandit again this morning and scored a 30% discount code. Now with a combination of post-Accurascale discount to £59.99, bulk buy discount of 10% and bandit discount of 30%, I've just spent £75.60 for two, or £37.80 each. That's 70% off original list price, and very good value for O gauge wagons!

Another odd thing is that there is no main frame. The boiler is the main structural component. So when it’s in steam the wheelbase is longer than when it’s cold. I can only assume there was a lot of slack in the rod ends, or maybe they were adjusted daily.

Very nice! It certainly captures the style of the prototype and looks well. Do you plan any other Padarn rolling stock?

I did think about it, but decided that sewing and stuffing the fine silk wasn't in my skillset.

The body is progressing in the paintshop and now has the lining and number on one side. I forgot to put the door bangers on the etch but I have made a virtue out of a mistake. The waist lining goes on much better without them, and I have used Archer rivet transfers on top of the lining to represent the door bangers. I have also painted the ends black and picked out the communication cord butterflies in red. I have also been painting the seats; the saloon interior is painted already.

A couple of Genesis 6-wheelers in CIE dark green - third and compo. Prices reasonable at present, in GB: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/198509396745 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/198509429319

IRM had better go and scan it before it gets scrapped!

Litra MaK – Heljan.com The GNR one wasn't identical but it's a good start.

The one-armed bandit giving deals on the Accurascale website also has a counterpart on the Heljan website, so you can get up to 30% more off in-stock items there. Just out of interest, one of the products available is an MaK 0-8-0 in HO scale, if anyone wants a little project...

Agreed. It's also worth looking at the underframes as a clue to idenfication. Those which were originally built by the GSR in the 1930s have a round truss rod with turnbuckle. The ones converted from early 1950s CIE-built carriages have a deeper truss made of angle iron. The bogie vans built new by CIE have triangulated underframes and commonwealth bogies. There are other variations too, of course, such as the style of the windows, and whether duckets are fitted.

Mine (in 7mm scale) is a Taff Vale Models etched nickel silver kit. The prototype initially worked at Weaste (about 3 miles NE) and later at Cadishead (about 4 miles SW) so I consider it a local machine. It then migrated to Preston (a bit further afield, but still Lancashire).

I love your Planets! This, 95% finished, has been sitting in my cabinet for several years. I never have been good at finishing things… Planets of this ilk are lovely to drive!

These 3 bogie vans are a rare type. Other similar variants with slightly different arrangements of doors and windows were more common and long-lived. Whilst I’d love IRM to produce ‘everything’ (and I believe Accurascale have stated that ambition) I’m sure there are some higher priorities. But yes, if they did make one I’d buy it!

You're being very generous! Sorry if my comment came across in any other way, I was mainly trying to bump the thread to encourage others to have a go.

This is tempting. I could be persuaded to get some more Palvans especially if I could add a 10% multi-buy to a 30% discount. I'm trying not to look at more Hunslets or a Badger... Apparently you can spin the one-armed bandit once every 4 hours? I assume that only one voucher can be applied to each order though?

OK, I've checked my spreadsheets and photo links. The bogie van is one of three, 2559 to 2561, which were built in 1935 by the GSR as compartment composites, and rebuilt to bogie vans in 1971. Photos of others of this type from Neil Smith, Ernie and Jonathan Allen. The carriage on the left is interesting too, looks like a GSWR vehicle from around 1905. Few of these survived beyond 1972. But it's very hard to tell which type from that blocky image. Any chance of a higher quality version of the image?

Life has been busy but I’ve been plugging away when I get the chance and the GSWR carriage is now at the painting stage. I’m painting this in 1954 Brilliant Green. The blue things on the left are British Railways FM containers, which were often to be seen in Ireland. I’m extremely impressed with the print quality - I’ve done no preparation other than some white primer and then ice blue. Many thanks to Slanjonok over on RMweb for the stl files and @Rob R for printing them for me. Slanjonok is also working on some CIE alloy container stl files for me…

I wonder whether this could be liberated from BnM Blackwater to provide a load?

Now you need some Irish Mk3s to make an authentic train for the Class 37s: https://flic.kr/p/2sqxGQu Photo by Sk8 on Flickr.

Well I didn’t buy a badger, but I have just spent nearly as much for a ticket to ride behind it… https://inter-city.co.uk/journey/test-6/ I expect it’s booking up fast.

For anyone contemplating a D class conversion, the Heljan / Model Rail class 11 locos are now half price. Compared to a class 08, these are dimensionally closer to the D301 class - in particular they have the smaller wheel diameter of a D301. They also have a flat cab back rather than the ribbed version of an 08, again being more like a D class in that respect. Class 11 Locomotives – Model Rail Offers Also available in plain black and dark green liveries that could be more easily repainted to a CIE livery.

Excellent and creative - and what an atmospheric setting to see them in. Rather reminiscent of this photo... 105 at Magheramorne loop | One of the more elusive MVs, MV 1… | Flickr

Good spot! Also interesting that it is branded for the Chief Engineer's Department. Most were Traffic Department. From Neil Smith, here is a view of 234A in 1983: And this IRRS photo shows it when newly converted, which I believe was in 1947: https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53509192299