Glenderg

"1, Try not to burn the sleepers when soldering: it's not railwaylike." - I laughed at that and realised I did not understand most of the previous text. I read it twice, and my mind is blown with the additional technical stuff I've yet to grasp. I've printed this thread for the day I have a crac at 21mm. Lads, ye are gold mines, ye should write a book. Richie

What's weird about the development of the series, it seems, is the difference in interpretation between the UK and US, aside from the really disturbing plots and outcomes. " In the UK version, the Fat Controller says he'll brick Henry up "for always and always and always", while in the US versions, the punishment is only until Henry "is ready to come out of the tunnel I wonder what the Irish version might say....! Richie

Comin along nicely Stephen. How long is the rake of autoballasters? Richie.

God bless you my son! Richie.

Havin' a fairly crap week, but this little rant about what those railway characters are doing to corrupt the youth gave me a lift. Enjoy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/04/tyrannical-world-thomas-the-tank-engine Richie.

"STOP" would have been easier, no?

He's gas! Rail Layer contraption at 4:15?

Shikansen, is there any chance you'd have a higher res shot of the second last one? Brilliant and sad at the same time. I have a desktop slideshow type background, and I'd love to have that shot in it? Cheers. R.

Nothing in the Planning File, and google street view avoids it somehow, though it appears it's been in this state of "readiness" for at least 2 1/2 years. Nice photos btw.

Glory be, but it's one of my favourite stations! Super photos indeed. Here's a few more..

True Dedication.

Langers. I did build it myself. I got into the hobby aged 6. Ryan's Decorating on Patrick St. in Limerick had solvite, wallpaper etc. and trains in the window. Mesmerised I was. Got a Class 33 with 3 coaches from Satan Claws, and on Christmas Day it was assembled. It kept falling off the track so my aul' fella decided to cut all the coaches in threes, so they could navigate the circle of track. Devastated I was. Still haven't forgiven him:( 10 year later on exchange in northern Spain & chasing skirt I saw an old shoe shop with a mother and child staring in the window. Same thing, a roundy roundy with shoes all over the place. Mesmerised all over again. Moral of the story - Give or show a child a loco and let them drive it. Even for half an hour, and it's gotcha for life. I'm an avid gamer and can happily find time for both. I can't afford either 201's, 071's nor autoballasters. But I'll do the same I did growing up, I'll hack, slash, scratchbuild, and cut n' shut to achieve what I want. Maybe the aul fella taught me a valuable life lesson after all Richie.

Hey purple, welcome aboard! As Bosk can testify, I can barely swing a cat in my tiny house. My only possibility is a 4 x 1 foot IKEA shelf for some dockside shunting action but Chris Nevard and others have shown that small can be sublime and operationally fun. I'd love to have the space for the dream layout but the thoughts of weeks on end of ballasting track, wiring, cleaning track, landscaping gives me the goolies. And don't worry about the neighbours in Dublin, most would barely care if you were dead or alive! Richie.

Cheers Ant, but for others the vid is, in summary - - Shiny bad, matt good. - Use Dullcote matt varnish. - How to bend a bit of wire. How do I get those 12 mnutes back!

Wow, what a resource you are Rich, super photos!

Thanks Rich! [lovin' the English Garden Bond on the signal box bricks!] Vince, it's worse than that. They are going to turn the car park at the rear of Connolly and the old baggage hall into an inner city tower block complex, and essentially build over the DMU sidings which will involve knocking the Maintenance Shed and the Motive Power Shed. The scheme was dreamt up in the boom times, and only recently got the go ahead, so whether it happens or not is a mystery. What's more upsetting is that An Taisce, the national heritage body, who made a submission on the scheme said nothing about conservation, railway history, or the butchering of the last remnants of the iconic complex that is Connolly. Incidentally has anyone seen any activity in the shed recently? Shutters always appear to be down?

'Little Result' as gaelige would be Beagán Cinneadh [i think], and anglicised might be Kinnabeg or a variation on it. GAA specials!

You made those 27 years ago? What warping, they look like the real thing?? Nice find though!

That's the one Des. Now get an adult to help you with them scissors! edit - Child of the late 70's, still got the photos of homemade bowl cut hairdo's to prove it.

Off topic I know, but there was a tale told about a kit maker in the UK some years ago who's kits were notoriously bad for fitting together, which required substantial sanding and grinding to fit, all to the point that when the chap passed away, the craic was that when they put him into the coffin, nobody could get the lid to fit.

How do you do that? I can't find the "Create New Article" button or whatever?

Still sowing the wild oats and praying for crop failure Bosk!

May I suggest a few topics that need fleshing out in the hope it kick starts a few threads here and there? - Use of poster paints and backdrops, do's and dont's, making your own, curved backscenes versus flat etc. There must be someone here with an interest in landscape painting/photography who could add some thought? - Lighting - There must be a sparks or a leccy engineer here who understands lux, luminaires, and can give tips on places to source affordable lighting to suit model railways etc. - Scenery - tips on cheap and easy ways of customising lichen etc. to make bushes, sharp sand to make ballast etc. Again, Do's and Dont's rule the day. - Layout operation in general - we all desire to have something operational, DCC or Hand of God. What do you do with it when it's "finished" [lol] the best way to maximise your enjoyment. - Signals - Could somebody explain them, in a completely "idiots guide to signalling"? - Layout planning - Facing crossovers and catch points - the terminology of the real thing still baffles me. Can we have a proper stickied thread so we can learn? And the things not to do? - Papier Machier - Learned it 25 years ago, since forgotten. Can you still buy chicken wire, and where? General large landscaping too. Make and do type - Mary Fitzgerald please? Toilet Roll inserts at the ready....! - Running Line Underlay - Necessary? Tedious? Cheap Alternatives? Discuss. - Ballast - Cheap alternatives, weathering it, glueing the stuff down. - Painting - people and small incidental objects that bring layouts to life, tips in general that may help the beginner - LED's - polarity, sourcing, dimming, colours, wiring, and general layout lighting that's not for rolling stock. - Free stuff - The internet is littered with it. If you've a source of stuff - buildings, signs, photos etc. post it up! - Scratchbuilding thread - How to source excellent materials for sod all [happy to take this one up] - Model Photography - How to get the best from the iPhone to the Canon EOS - So Called Professional Materials - crappy do-all glues, fillers, dodgy spray paints, what to AVOID, rather than anything else. - Experts on handling the perennial Mother In Law problem, perhaps with a penchant for leather gloves, bald head, 20/20 vision, and twin glocks. To be stickied beside the "Weedspray" thread=)) Richie

Templemore used to have a titchy platform before it was extended, the whole train over hung/hanged? Limerick station too. Jump out at the wrong door and you meet the signal cabin face on. I think it would be a great view to photograph the running gear and weathering for your locos if there was a bit of loco sticking out. BallyK is progressing nicely, will post up some pics over the weekend.

There's a shot of a big yellow Sperry track measuring/cleaning/weathering 40' container behind a 071 on smugmug. I wonder was that supposed to fit there?