Glenderg

There is no deficit in 1950's coaches, because there is no demand for Bredin MK1 or the like. Let's close that one right away. Laminates/Bredin MK2 are however -> Park Royals are available RTR from IFM, Kit form from Worsely Works. K series GNR coaches are available from SSM. Laminates/Bredin MKII's and their variants are being tackled by Mayner of this parish, and others. The MK2's and MK3's are catered for in RTR and RTR resprays. As is the Enterprise stock. The MKIV stock will be online this time next year I believe, in either kit or RTR format. The CAD for the 22k is complete, awaiting improvements in 3D printing etc. Not me who's producing it either, I just happen to know the man behind the counter. Essentially, all the coaching requirements will be catered for by mid 2015, and there are kit builders out there who can get your stock up to the MM standard, if it's a respray or a kit build. R

Another poll wouldn't add anything further to the debate. We know the 121 and the A Class are the crowd pleasers loco wise. Box that off and leave it be. The other side is 4 wheeled freight wagons, and I think that could be described as cement bubbles, double beets, and ballast wagons. From my dealings with other manufacturers, small and tiny, every coach type from the mid 70's up until 2014 will be taken care of in kit form by the end of 2015. Richie

Interesting thread Dave. The only photos I've ever seen are the three below showing a buffer clamped snowplough (2012) so one assumes IE took two years to design and produce it after the 2010 Big Freeze. Not sure if it's ever been trialled or fitted, mind.

Santy did visit regularly in the late eighties, dropping lima points, BR buffers from Marks', and such so they are heroes of mine. I despair at their delays of getting in Evergreen and Deluxe Materials - (heroic status slighly diminished) but fair dues to them. Not easy to get that accolade whilst up against the boxshifter brigade.

If you are going to repaint more than a few, buy an airbrush. Hand painting is for garden fences and figurines.

No, but thorough rub down with light wet and dry sandpaper to remove the decals helps - then wash with soapy water and let dry out fully before painting.

My fetish for brake vans stirs once more.... glorious workmanship.

Nice work Rich. Those bleed lines can be tidied up with a ruler and a black fine tip marker, if you fancy cheating :-)

More than welcome Burn. Lima irish and br are the same, and if you get the "fear" sell it to wrenn instead. I might do a tut on how to paint a mk3 proper like if theres interest? Bells and whistles version? R

Updated with photos. R

Hold on Paul, I've photos coming for ya in a few minutes.

New Irish Lines publication, MRSI, South Dublin, Wexford Railway Club - word about scandal, gossip, and new goodies spreads faster than the Heuston Driver can make it up sometimes.

I think you're missing out on the people who don't frequent these forums, or those of a certain age who are keen irish modellers, but don't internet. There are also the glass cabinet collectors, who have no interest in running. I think 109 votes represents only about 5-6% of Irish Railway Modellers. R.

Wait, heres a proper explanation. You'll need a flat headed screwdriver and a couple of flat items like two rulers. Take corridor connection plates off at either end using thumbnail at either top or bottom. insert screwdriver into end windows and gently push inward. This makes the roof at that joint open slightly. Insert a thin ruler (non scratchy version) and run along the coach separating any glue/varnish/dirt to the far end of the coach. Repeat on the other side, leaving the other ruler in place. Once the glass and roof have been separated, move the rulers along each side, lifting the roof gently as you go. About half way down the entire roof and glazing section will be removable - don't force it. Remove internal seating. There are several thick plastic tabs either side beneath the seating - 7 each side I think. Note non-photoshopped arrows. Using a screwdriver, gently force the corner one out - plastic is brittle, so take care. Move along the same side of the coach and pop the central one. Lastly do the one on the corner, same side. The underframe will pop out, and you can remove it. Done. Stout optional, and that's where I return to. Richie.

Have you got the roof off?

Congrats lads, 50 punters at 200eu a piece. 10,000eu 1 guy expects 2500 to pay the bills for a month. 4 months design work just paid for, and not a squirt of plastic in a mould. Are we realistic now folks, and have you got this madness out of your system?

Real men do it with their GSOC's on.... happy birthday dave.

237 views and only 21 votes? Is that 21 people checking this forum 10+ times each, or just a load of forum lurkers not bothering voting? Hup yer game folks, this is truly appalling. Log in - vote - simples.

Cheers Dive, but at somewhere between money and the seller there has to be either an independent project manager to tie the whole lot together, or like Kernow, Mark's or Graham's to be the face of the project. That's a tough goat to wrestle right there. The A-Class is a prototype for someone who has already provided a chassis and 3D printing is the only solution for the cab. Unlikely to released into the wild. R.

The standard top 10? Lemme have a go. 4 Wheeled Ballast Wagon 4 Wheeled Cement Bubble 4 Wheeled Double Beet Double Bogie Tara Wagons 121 A Class 4 Wheeled Cement Bubble MK4 DVT A Class Sambo 4 Wheeled Cement Bubble A Class Never any good at maths....

Yes I can, and will, though it won't be in any way psychiatric unfortunately. The D and E class locos are a rather simple affair, with little variation within their classes, and given the existence of the E Class, a survey and a CAD work up is possible. Also, the chassis is relatively easy - a powered pair of axles and a dummy axle at the front to suit the rather offset axle arrangements. Also the cost of design, dcc, lighting and cab would be significantly less than that required of a 6 axle all wheel pickup all drive chassis. I've already done the CAD for such a project and produced a prototype, but trust me, the amount of research and design that has gone into it runs into about 80 hours. €€€ -> that cost goes into the model. Just for the craic here are some shots of it - this isn't a sales pitch or anything like it either. At least I can crank out prototypes here, I don't have to send a CAD model to China, take a trip over and confirm the mould etc. Also more €€€ -> model, but I also can't produce 50 or 500 of them Now the reason I mentioned an easy start is that this 22' flat model below took about 30 hours to design, and that's after the third prototype, but it's not a huge investment in either time or material. I know it's a "cheat" version designed to have structural integrity, but looks the part when a 20' container is stuck on top. I can't see why this, brake gear and all, would be such a hard act to produce in China, and moreso, sell in buckets. I'm sure Mayners superior version also took some time and prototyping - that would apply to Dapol, MM etc. If successful, it would give a manufacturer the confidence to roll onto other more mature subjects. That brings me onto the A-class. I'm not sure how many hundreds of hours I've put into this, and researching of various production techniques, to try to keep costs down, but I think on last tot, it was around €275 for a rtr version. Frankly that's absolute nonsense, and in order to bring it into the domain of most punters, can be no more than the 201's. And yes, the CAD has been done, all unpaid for as yet. Have a cab shot. What I'm trying to get across is the sheer amount of bloody time, skill, money, effort and sweat it takes to get these things designed, no less plastic squirted into a mould, before a finished product is ever in ones greasy paw, and unless you get these four stars in perfect alignment, you will see sweet sod all, kickstarter or no. - perfect cad work and technical design - large financial backer - experienced manufacturer - a way sell the models ala Kernow

Has anybody approached any of the above - dj models, dapol, paddy murphy, rapido etc.? to see if this would work in theory? Just from my own limited experience, doing cad for the likes of a H van, or bullied open would be far easier, and if successful with an established manufacturer, would lead to further projects, like Kernow has been doing for some time. An A-class straight out of the box is delusional for a loco - a D or E class would be far more realistic. Just my tuppenceworth. R.

Most excellent John, best news i've had in a while. Hope lives eternal for gareth & co. :-)

I've held my tongue thus far. I always found the shop on Queens Street more focussed on panzers and dioramas of belfast street riots. Railmatch paints were the only thing in stock - couplers, point motors, track pins - all "next week" Was disappointed when they moved to boucher road big box territory for the tourist southerner especially but reckoned it made sense . I'd heard of RC enthusiasts with outrageous delays on repairs, and i understand why they occur - i'm prone to them myself. If there were only 30 hours in the day....but communication is paramount. None of us knows what pressures these lads are under, but i'd hope they would at least get talking to their punters and let them know whats going on. Modellers on this island have put up with a lot of crap for years, but would happily endorse their local hobby shop if they knew where they stood. Fingers crossed this gets worked out, and all gets sorted satisfactorily.