Colonel

A fine looking beast and absolutely iceberg like in what lurks beneath the sutace!

Presumably if, say sides and ends were printed, as per my castings, then being more 2d than 3d, would be quicker to CAD?

Further to this morning's post, here are some photos of the basics of resin casting. First the 'stuff': below is what you need to make the mould - a tin of 'goo' and the setting agent/catalyst. One part of the latter to 20 parts of the former. Mix and wait 24 hours for it to set. The other stuff is the resin - two parts mixed equally, which take well under an hour to set, so you can cast multiple copies in an afternoon. Above is the master for one side of an ex WL&WR six wheel coach which was converted to carry turf during the Emergency [aka WW2]. Made from plasticard sheet & strip, it was quite a few hours work, but worth it in terms of then being able to make multiple copies. When finished, it was mounted in a low walled box [more plasticard] to take the moulding material. Here's said mould, ready to take the resin and below is one cast side. Another side, two ends and a floor, assembled with cyan, and you have the coach body, which then had an Alphagraphix etched brass chassis attached as shown with the completed models below. Have done all sorts of other models, mainly wagons, for both broad and narrow gauge, as per more masters below. If you are not ready for 3D printing yet, would say resin casting is definitely worth a try.

It's been a while, but as you know, I've been busy on other stuff. However, with other projects [mostly] out of the way, it seems a good time to get back to my British outline stuff. The layout is the first thing I see when I go into the workshop, so it has never been far from my thoughts & indeed the general rationale has been something I've thought about a lot. The middle section was hoped to be next, but with the reprint of Milk on the Rails not due to come out until the autumn, the focus has changed from the dairy to the right hand side & what may, or may not be a gas works. Inspiration here comes from the Wantage Tramway, where the line from the town terminus sneaked out past said affair. The furthest building is the retort house, though not sure what the nearer ones are, while the aerial view , below, gives the general picture. My concern is, would a dairy be set up quite so close to such a smelly establishment? If not, then the buildings might just as easily be repurposed as an engineering firm, though I think my time period of late 50s/early 60s might be a bit early for the change from coal to natural gas. The next picture shows the left hand half of the layout, with the one above showing where I'm going on the right side. The retort house, with its low chimney occupies the corner. It is a fairly simple building, made from foam board and card, the only slightly awkward bits being the louvred circular window and louvred roof section. As with the other buildings, Howard Scenics embossed card is used for the brickwork. Not sure what the building next to it was used for, but I rather like the unusual cruciform openings in the walls. At the moment, the important thing about these buildings is how they hide the exit to the fiddle yard AND blend into the back scene. I've long had an aversion to flat buildings, that only look good from one angle. Hence, this second building is angled into the back scene to try and hide the left edge. When the dairy gets built, its right end with be hidden by a tree, not the Woodlands specimen shown below, but hopefully you get the idea. Still not sure about the building on the right yet, but the bus might be an option - either a small, private, bus depot, or a local haulier./garage/whatever. All give the excuse to display some of my road vehicles, so why not? The back scene itself clearly needs work, but this was only crudely blocked in, so that is probably the next step, before I finish the two new buildings.

Amen to the above. A chimney or dome slightly out of alignment potentially spoils the whole model. Epoxy gives a nice amount of time to ensure all is in place, while still offering decent strength.

Interesting - though following Mayner's post, don't think I'll be chasing a 3D printer any time soon. Very much admire the pioneering work going on, but if anyone is interested in a halfway house towards small scale mass production, resin castings can be very good. Have made numerous wagons, coaches and coach seats this way. First you make a master, from plasticard - usually a side and end of the wagon/coach. Next you make a mould of that. This takes 24 hours to cure, but after that, using 2 part casting resin, each part only takes 45 minutes to set. Different skills, but overall found I could create the parts for 3-6 wagons in far less time than it sounds like doing the art work, de-bugging and printing would take.

I think he's converted to 7mm scale and not told anyone. Or maybe it's Gauge 1 - that is a garden paving slab the model is sat on, surely? Great work, Alan.

Interesting, so great idea to start this thread. A few of us will need to learn some new terms like PETG, but that's all part of something new. The photos certainly show some issues, with what seems like a lot of bits to remove. All those rivets would be a pain to do in etched brass, though how you'd keep them while cleaning up the print lines is another matter - all part of the testing I guess. While there's very little I've seen so far (louvres excepted), that I can't do via traditional methods, that doesn't mean I'm not interested because it is how the hobby will develop, so keep it coming. Indeed, with some traditional fittings formerly done via whitemetal casting, such as axle boxes, chimneys, domes, valves and so on, this is certainly where printing can take over. Years ago, remember Dick Bolland, of Shedmaster Models, telling Laurie Griffin that such castings were where there was money to be made, rather than whole kits. Laurie eventually took on Dick's stuff when he started Laurie Griffin Miniatures, so there must still be some truth in the story today.

For me, the faint print lines are a good representation of wood grain. As for the missing buffer holes, nothing a drill won't fix - likewise door handles. Anyone who needs the buffer holes in place will like as not struggle with fitting a chassis, while spacing of said buffer holes might be an issue anyway: 16.5 or 21mm gauge/32 v 36.75 etc. In other words, nothing wrong with leaving a few bits for the kit builders to do!

Fabulous, with so much to take in. Enniscorthy very much a scene worth modelling and what about the two section roof on the coach at Foyle Road? Lovely stuff!

Looks fantastic, so well done that man who did the artwork. However, as it seems with all 3D printing, the issue is time, so if we all want Rob to do a few, I suspect there might be a long wait. On the other hand, how much is a 3D printer and if the process of home printing is becoming a realistic proposition, are we about to cross a Rubicon in modelling where what we do in future is not buy kits to make models that are unlikely to be mass produced, but buy files to print them ourselves? The issue will then be how popular a model might be, because the more it is, the more a larger manufacturer might step on the toes of the file artist, leading to legal issues about rights of production. Nevertheless, when prints can look as good as this AND be readily adaptable to other scales, then exciting times are ahead.

While I will probably tinker a bit more with the pay train [the carriage windows need cleaning for one], have taken it as far as I want for now. The policeman has a dark green uniform, the loco has a new cab roof, while the rest of the work has been around wheel cleaning and testing. The latter involved a bit of fiddling - the pickups needed adjustment and the wheels were pretty paint splattered, but mostly I needed to find a way to connect the loco and coach electrically, to ensure a good length of track pick up. In the end used a chocolate block connector, epoxied to the underside of the coach, so I could run two wires from the motor to it, while still being able to separate for maintenance. Initially, running was a bit hesitant, but soon traced this to the trailing wheels on the loco being far too tight and the leading carriage wheels not touching the rails [!]. Eased the former and undid the nut on the draw bar a few turns for the latter and, fingers crossed, all is well. The combo runs nicely into Northport Quay's platform, though if I ever want to run it into the loop, it will need a longer drawbar. For now though I'm happy with it as it is. So, there we are. I'm going back to my 0 gauge cameo for my next projects, having a go at some buildings and scenery for a change. Speaking of 0 gauge, took the Battle of Britain pacific down the club last week and it seems mostly happy on the the main circuit, though It may be that the springing on the front bogie still needs attention. For now though I'm looking forward to doing some modelling that doesn't involve motive power!

Thanks Paul - have always seen it as a bit of fun, so keep telling myself not to get too precious and there are plenty of other projects in the pipeline. Equally, one of the many joys of this forum is how endlessly helpful folk are. Advice and info are always appreciated and every bit as much as kind comments.

Indeed - since been looking up the history (ok, Wiki). Seems they were armed to the teeth and almost paramilitary in nature - perhaps unsurprising given that things got volatile at times, long before the Easter Rising. The pay trains would have been quite a tempting target, so am guessing my coach 'strong room' may have contained a small arsenal, as well as the cash! Fairly sure Henry Forbes of County Donegal fame chased off would be attackers of one of his trains - armed with a pistol, I believe.

Yet another little job then, but thanks for the info - I just looked up Edwardian policemen, reasoning that uniforms would be the same, given Ireland was still part of the 'empire' then. Every day's a school day!

A tad more progress with the pay train, but still keep finding stuff to do. Loco crew and a policeman arrived promptly from S&D Models, so they have been painted and positioned on the loco and coach balcony. However, made a bit of a horlicks with the loco cab roof, while the transfer rivets haven't turned out as well as I would have liked either. So, new roof and a sand down of the loco buffer beam and coach sole bars needed, so I can apply individual plasticard cubes to better represent the rivets. Meanwhile, also realised I'd missed out the the water tank filler caps... Ho hum! Have decided I won't apply lining, as judicious use of weathering powders has taken away the overall blackness which I've never liked. More weathering to do on the chassis though. At times I wonder if a model is ever finished.

All power to you, Commerlad!

The Big question appears to be: How Much? How much would it cost to buy the rights to use the art work How much time would be required to manage the art work - liaising with potential customers, the etchers, running a website and so on How much time would be required to manage sales Always had the impression that Allen was a one man band, while you don't have to be a genius to work out nobody gets rich from running niche operations like this. Am guessing that with WW already starting to fragment, the best we can hope for is someone to take on the Irish elements - if only to ensure the artwork isn't simply lost. Trouble is who? Maybe if the cost of acquisition was known, it might tempt a group or individuals to put their hands up? I think there are other factors to consider as well. In particular, going forwards, how popular will etched kits be compared to the ever increasing use of 3D printing? From what I see on this forum, I think the latter could well be overtaking the former and as home printers get ever more affordable and the files themselves ever more accessible, will etched kits simply start to disappear for lack of interest? There is cost too - the new Finny7 kit for an 0 gauge LNER B1 looks superb (and the cab detail is jaw dropping), but it will set you back £1000 and is by no means the only one that has crossed this rubicon. Remember, this is a kit, not a finished model. Ideally, whoever takes on WW - and indeed other cherished brands as their owners give up, need to be young enough to ensure their survival going forwards - otherwise I can see scratch and kit building disappearing, simply for want of the components to do so. Incidentally, how easy might it be to convert 2D drawings for etches into 3D ones for printing? Is it an AI thing???

Looking great and compared to mid April, all the charm of a J26 is coming out now.

As others have said, that is a huge space and filling it with model railway will likely come at huge cost - in both time and money. Whatever you do, consider essentials like work bench space and likewise storage for materials and tools. Sounds like you are interested in a multi track circuit, with a junction to a terminus station? If so, will be an Irish theme, or will it be a generic one, to run trains of all kinds? If the former, a space like that gives to opportunity for an American style point to point layout, often built to include a hidden continuous run. Check out Model Railroaded Magazine for ideas. The key to this sort of layout is you operate each train as it travels around the various scenes, dropping off and picking up freight from various line side industries and stations on the way. Very prototypical. Like JHB says, you could model much of the Achill branch, or indeed Clifden, Valentia or indeed Derry or Burma roads to name but a few. Very specific though and not easy to get the right stock for either. Whatever you do, near in mind that filling a space like this will take years - five or more as a minimum, so think of it as a journey, not a destination and enjoy every step of it.

Fascinating - thanks David! I can't imagine Fairy or Sprite could do 85mph, but comparative dimensions between them and The Bug are interesting, Bug first in each case: Boiler pressure: 175 v 150 Cylinders: 11x18 v 8x15 or 9x15 Driving wheels: 5'7 v 5' or 5'2 Heating surfaces: 550 sq ft v 273/362 Water capacity 1000 gallons v 500 Coal: 1 ton both Bug was clearly much more powerful and the larger drivers would certainly give a greater top speed, but the pay trains had longer lives and covered much greater distances. The Green Bibles giving the 1901 WTT as as a two week cycle: Tuesday: Inchicore - Tullow - Kildare - Limerick Wed: Limerick - Ennis - Sligo Thurs: Sligo - Limerick Fri: Limerick- Roscrea - Maryborough - Waterford - Bagenalstown Sat: back to Inchicore via Carlow The second week took in Cork, Mallow, Tralee, Foynes and so on. No wonder Sprite is recorded as covering nearly one and a quarter million miles in its 37 year career!

Indeed! Lovely details in all these pictures.

Great project - very well done.

Maybe it's me, but it seems that the nearer I think I'm getting to finishing a model, the more things there are that still need doing. Certainly it is the case with Pay Train - although as you can see, it is getting there. Neither the loco, nor carriage roofs are fixed yet, while I'm waiting for some figures to arrive. I'm also trying to decide whether to add some lining to both vehicles. The carriage could be easily done, as I have in the past, with gel pen on top of the waist beading. However, not sure if the curved tops to the loco side tanks, nor the somewhat ugly cab sides lend themselves to GSWR red & white lining - maybe just lining the boiler bands, splashers and perhaps the valances would just lift things a little? Photos of Fairy and Sprite don't show any embellishments, but I can't help thinking thinking my model would benefit with a few. As you can see, I've named the model "Sidhe" [pronounced Shee, as in Banshee]. The name plates are made from 20thou plastic sheet, with 40x20 edging strip and Slater's letters. The brass finish has been done with a gold gel pen. The other work done recently on the loco has been in some basic detailing in the cab - though have just this minute noticed that it is still lacking a reversing lever. What was I saying earlier...? However, most of the recent efforts have been with the coach - in particular its interior. As it seems likely that employees would not have been allowed inside the carriage, but collected their wages from the balcony, I rearranged the interior a little, though kept the 'strong room' nearest the loco. There is seating for 6-8 staff [am assuming one or two of these would have been policemen], with cupboard & desk space in the middle and likewise across the end, with a lifting flap/counter across the door. Glazing, hand rails and so on complete the picture so far. I'm waiting for a couple of standing figures and will need to make another chair, I think. Also need to add a bit of desk clutter, though most of the latter would probably have been put away while the train was on the move. Would there have been a toilet on board? Given the frequent stops, perhaps this is unlikely. A similar question arises over whether there might have been a basic gas stove, to boil water for tea? What I have included are oil lamp tops and ventilators on the roof. Still to be added are some rivet transfers to detail the loco buffer beam and carriage sole-bars, plus a bit of weathering too. Add in wheel cleaning and test running and it is by no means finished yet - albeit starting to look the part.

That one would be a challenge to model, given it is not articulated. Guess you'd have to make the coach wheels as a bogie, otherwise it would be very hard to get it to go round curves and even then those floorboards would get in the way. Another one not on my Northport Quay list! Shame, as it is a nice little combo.