Glenderg

@ Anthony and Hidden Agenda - Thank you sirs. @ Wrenneire - Double entendres everywhere, beginning to sound a bit like Carry on up the Siding! @HeirFlick - There's really no restriction, but the bigger a kit building gets the more that the end user has to add their own reinforcement to ensure it remains as square and solid as possible. For instance, Athlone is an enormous building, but there's enough "modules" in it to break it up into smaller manageable units. Same goes for portlaoise, portarlington etc. The more difficult would be some of the larger goods sheds - like Croom, Co. Limerick. It works out at a scale 156mm x 603 mm and it would not be easy to hide the joint between the three sheets. It would also need a lot of client side reinforcing, and if there were to be a visible/used interior, well then it becomes a real headscratcher. Nonetheless, it's a stunning building, and I'll tackle it sometime. The largest I have completed, but as a straightforward model, is a cathedral scale 1:100, all internal arches colums stained glass etc. Big is beautiful! @ Mayner - I'm not sure of the costs of Wills' sheets, but I know to tackle a large building would require a lot of plastic, and I love the idea of using brass to form window surrounds and reveals, the only down side being that it has to be painted to look right. The costs for me are minor, it's time that it takes to get things right. For instance, I did a quick sketch of Collooney window, and put it together roughly, which all took under an hour. As you can see, the windows would be better drawn onto clear plastic, and the ope is a too small to accept the sash of the window, but the depth of the brick surround looks right. All part of the prototyping process, but once it's done it can be coloured in and copied multiple in no time. Bigger buildings are easier and the deeper the window, the more realistic a card building looks. 'Elf n Safety man not happy... Regards, Richie.

Fabulous videos, thanks for the post. R.

Apologies for the delay in responding lads. I inhaled a bit too much spray mount glue, did something to the lungs so was out of action for a few days. Today's glorious weather gave me a chance to get back to things, and hoke out the respirator.... @Garfield - thanks indeed, I spent a lot of time up wesht in the last two years, and love the buildings. Was thinking Edgeworthstown for a station, but it's waaaay down on the list. Thankfully I've loads of good photos as a result of IE's 10 minute pit stop on the return to Dublin! @Weshty - Brass etched sash windows would be lovely, but they'd put the price of any kit out of my ideal price range. Regarding the bridges, MGWR again. The footbridges have immaculate detailing that I think only brass etching can bring out, and I've done a detailed set of drawings of the one in Carrick-on-Shannon. I'll PM you during the week if that's ok? @Wrenneire - Your reply brought the biggest grin to me puss, you wouldn't believe! I did all the kit artwork for Malahide, and started on the prototype, [the one I posted] the external hard drive I had all the drawings etc. on died, so I would have to redo the whole thing to bring it to kit form again. Not something I relish after putting about 100 hours into it! MY own fault I suppose.... You're welcome to the one I have when I finish it, though it is only a prototype, and but there are no internal rooms, and it looks a bit "empty" if you know what I mean. The signal box in Malahide has moved [?] or has the platform extended. Would you want the old version - freestanding, or the platform version? I did the drawings for the waiting room too, wouldn't take much to get into a kit. As far as calling up to have a look, that'll have to wait. I've exams all next month, and the wife would not be best pleased, but you'd more than welcome to pop over at the end of may to have a look at me bits. I'd have to dust em off first..... Meanwhile, I copied scahalane's most brilliant idea for making corrugated iron, and have about 200 scale sheets of it for Connolly Shed. Only another 200 to go, but I've come up with a cunning plan to make light work of that. More on that when the roof starts to go on. I've made the trusses to suit the model, not the real thing, as the roof was gutted years ago and new steel frame put in, along with ventilation and modern cranes, not to mention being altered from being a 4 road shed with brick arched entrance to three road with concrete lintels and steel shutters. I plan to put the old 4 road brick arched elevation on at the end with bricked up arches, so that there's a choice to use either option. It's identical to the shed at dundalk works, so could be used to represent a whole bunch of eras. You won't get to see much of them anyway;) The real building is twice this length, plus a bit more for the water towers at the northern end, but this is more than enough for a model! The joint will be hidden with some downpipes. Another 5 trusses to be added to get her ready for roofing, and mushroom ventilators. Thought I'd show a comparison of it to one of the smallest buildings on the IE network, the signal box at foynes. 'Pologies bout the bone, we can all fantasize! Regards, Richie.

@ John Mayner I've looked into laser cutting but unfortunately neither the cost nor the technology suit this kind of niche. €5000 min for a laser cutting machine, and you're kind of restricted with the media you use.... If I can get enough out of this for a super high resolution printer, I can worry bout maybe getting custom dies cut for chopping out sash windows!

I spent 5 hours looking at Scandinavian flat pack in IKEA, got thirsty, and spent a few further hours re-hydrating with Uncle Arthur's Restorative Tonic. I'll tweak the sheets and upload tomorrow if that's ok. I'm thinking of full 3D instructions, rather than text, a bit like the Airfix effort long go. Part 01 meets Part 63, here's how -> etc... I apologise for the confusion, I should have explained. Good card is available from Eason's Nationwide, Read's Dublin, WHSmith Belfast, and most good art shops, and the camera shop who's name I can't recall [Jessops?] in the Quays in Newry [it was there for £11.20 last week] , though don't pay 50 cent a sheet. It's likely there's a pack available for around a fiver for about 50 sheets. If not on the shelves, ask them, they'll get it in no bother. Certainly sir, I've seen your mucky work, and would be happy to supply, grizzly roofing and all. Yes, but I'm gonna take it slow - Categories of buildings that are already complete - kit wise... [some will involve resin, like water towers, and are not finished] Platform Facing Kits - All the way from Granite slabs and gravel, trackside facing and platfrom facing - 1860's - to current concrete pads with visually impaired bump textures, along with "Fan Taobh [Thiar Den] Line Seo", yellow line imprinted upon - All weathered - enough in a kit to do an 8 rake MK3 carriage and Loco, twice. Signage - Everything from the finger pointing of the 20's "Way Out" to whatever CIE are up to at the moment - Custom Names included - more than likely gonna give this away free Railway Station Buildings - Currently Middleton Station in Cork, Laytown and Malahide in Dublin Railway Waiting Rooms - Currently Westport and Malahide Signal Boxes - Clonsilla - Limerick Check - Carrick-on-Shannon - Longford - Foynes Goods Sheds - Attymon - Enfield - Skerries - Bruree/Croom Water Towers - Dunboyne Road Bridges - Resin more than likely. Foot Bridges- Need to talk to Weshty bout this one... lol Engine Sheds - Enniskillen - Connolly - Westport - Gort Station Master's Houses - Maynooth - Howth Junction Lineside Infrastructure - Freebee Friday - small stuff that can be printed out - will be a monthly thing to encourage young lads Other Buildings - Pubs, post offices, small railway houses, small agricultural holdings, all vintage - Five so far all finished Buildings I don't like - Modern Shite - Footbridges and Fancy Modren Railway Stations, lol!, happy to do, have the drawings, and if people want it... Any of the small buildings will potentially cost the price of a pint [Printing] and a bag of peanuts[Postage], the larger buildings a bit more. However, each are available in pristine condition, slightly worn, or tattered [god bless CIE & Anto], with or without custom signage or graffiti. What'smore, I'll upload the drawings of the buildings, as I go, to http://irishrailmodels.com/, such that anyone can have a crack at scratchbuilding, and if anyone wants drawings of a building, I'll happily oblige, information pertaining, and a few bob forthcoming. I'm kinda passionate about these buildings that have fallen to rack and ruin, and if I can help in any way restore them, even in 1:76.2/00, then I'm happy! P.S. I've no intention of interfering with/upsetting the current excellent manufacturers on the site, but if mutual collaborations are possible, let the dog see the rabbit. Rebuilding the lost Iarnrod Eireannach, albeit to scale! Richie.

I certainly can, but its a big sucker! I'm still tweaking the sheets to make each part fit perfectly, and then I suppose I'll have to make up instructions... Yikes! Then there's the roofing..(worry about that later.) Tell you what Anthony, later on I'll upload the main sheet with some written instructions, and maybe get some feedback so it suits whoever wants a go? You'll need between 180 and 230 gsm card, steady hand and some patience! @Scahalane & RedRich - thank you sirs!

The external leaf was a bit wobbly, and the whole thing started to twist, so tabs removed and mounting board put in to firm the whole lot up. The external and internal faces assembled... What the internal face will look like, with pillars added to support the roof trusses.. The complete external bay. Only another three of these to be built [bosk, have I that right? lol] and the first prototype of the front elevation to get an idea of scale...More shots later in the week. Richie.

Nice one, only two sheets... A fair bit of twist has been introduced with the size increasing so further tweaking required.. Much tweaking later, and its colouring in time! and it's swelled to three sheets. Cutting out carefully.. Damned vandals.

Hey lads, Just thought I'd post a few pics of something I've been working on, prototyping as I go, as there's a few of these to be made. No prizes for guessing where it is, or who it's for..... 1st Prototype - the basic idea works.... 2nd Prototype.. an arcade of 4 bays,

We're truly in the golden age of Irish Railway Modelling with quality models like these available. Stunning Dave. What materials are they made of, do mind me asking? Super job. Richie

Christ, she's a beauty at full tilt, never mind static, and fair play to the beeb, when they go to film something like that, they are world class. Thanks for posting. [Fair point about the pubed goon too, ha ha] R.

Tonight Sunday 22nd April - TG4 - Boithre Iarainn - 19:30 - 20:00 - The most photographed railway in the world the Tralee to Dingle, Co. Kerry. This episode and the previous four are available worldwide on the TG4 player also. http://www.tg4.ie/en/tg4-player.html Well worth watching, look in the documentary section. Richie.

That's hilarious especially the offer at the end... "if you come to Fuxin depot, you simply must use our bog"!

I have to go for a pint now, but will re-read this later. It's a bloody cracking thread. R.

What's the optimum size for pics though? Is 800 x 600 a bit Windows 95 or is it still current? Is 1024 x 768 optimum?

Thanks for the invite Bosk!, Well done on the site, and it looks and behaves super on a tablet. Richie