Glenderg

Is that a sticker on the front with the CIE roundel???? Madness altogether.

I read recently that GSR's initial stock was painted a colour called "Crimson Lake" and that it had a beautiful tone to it, and given three coats of varnish to finish. However, as costs rose, and paint stocks dwinded, the original colouring faded, and only varnish was applied, so a desaturated colour arose. This would tie in with a "sort of brown" as it would still have remnants of carmine in the paint. But not much! By the time Bulleid got into his retirement job, a more LMS Maroon was adopted briefly? I'll look up the reference for you, it was in a Des Coakham book, Broad Gauge Carraiges I think. It would be nice to "box this off" so to speak. Richie.

Very very impressive work, and a stunning result. I'm really taken by the rivet detail, and the tender elements. Hard to believe it comes from a kit tbh. Congrats to 5XP and Des .

Very impressive work kevrail, especially the attention to detail. Any chance of some overall shots? Carrig Donn is sweet. Richie.

Seems fine, based on other photos I have. Even the UK variety by Fauve-Girel have the same high bufferbeam.

When the dayglow panels got so dirty, it was an indication that it was time to wash the carriages. No? A weathering vane? R

Nice one, thanks. R

Bigjigs Toys, a toy company that makes wooden railways, has released details of its failed bid for the troubled west coast mainline - despite offering a completely free service. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2013/jan/08/toy-train-west-coast-mainline Bigger version here https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/148978_10151281614048649_1926820579_n.jpg

So is there a definite answer to Kirley's question? Was there all three - dayglow, number and leccy flash, or just numbers and flashes ? Richie.

very tasty modelling indeed Pat, especially that little narrow gauge loading plant, hours of fun! Pity bout "Le Musak" soundtrack though.

http://www.geograph.ie/photo/1693266

Eamonn & Co., Many thanks lads for the responses, it seems I needed only look at your thread Eamonn and I would have been sorted for what I needed. It's a bit of a beast of a thing - 1300mm long and 360mm high, and if I get the bridge and the weedspray done, I might be able to recreate that photo in 00! When google comes up short, ask here! Here's the drawings if anyone else fancies a scratchbuild. I've shown a single deck detail, which needs to be copied four times, or more if you fancy! The drawing is A1 in size and plotted off makes a build template. If anyone needs a physical copy, just shout. http://www.brassjacket.com/IRM/0602_Ballyvoile_Viaduct-Forum.pdf Richie.

I've heard of the "hidden agenda sulzer" in hushed tones, and veiled references to glass cabinets. Like men in brown suits organising a coup d'etat. "Have you seen her?" - "No, but I know a man who has...." I can see why now. Good god almighty gareth, simply phenomenal. DB doing a trade is even more surprising! Richie

I've seen a few great photos of the viaduct in Martin Bairstow's latest instalment, and I have the goo on me to build it, just for the craic really. Anybody got any up close shots of this fella, or photos looking down along the track? I'm assuming it was a single track viaduct, about 16ft wide??? I have the elevations of the steel sections and concrete supports done, and would be happy to post them up, but I'm a bit stuck on the cross-section. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Richie.

Found also at Limerick Colbert last week.... Nice one Wanderer! I was wondering about the photoshopped snow and it's poor blending at the right hand side of the photo! Richie

lovely work indeed. You're rate of progress is astonishig Richie

This project has been going on for bloody ages - I had to clear out the camera.. Mr Bracken turned up at my door one afternoon with a pair of these in hand. Triang "build it yer feckin self" numbers from the late 60's. "Gis a weedspray" says he "the 'aul wan", thrusting the box of chaos in my direction. Challenge accepted. Foolishly.... The box claims them to be "Maroon Composite Coaches", totally unsuitable conversions to the Bredin Weedspray Coach, and a bit short, but they come apart nicely. Note Surgeons Saw to the right... I did up the drawings for this some time ago and posted it up somewhere around here, with prototype and 00 dimensions. Many thanks to Heirflick for the photos he posted, invaluable. A rough fit... Stuck to a 2 x 2 mm piece of styrene - past experience tells me to glue this with the toughest gear you can find. Flexing of the body after filler is applied to the joints is a recipe for disaster at painting stage. A quick tangent here - do not use the gunk on the right. They might smell the same, have the same consistency under finger, and be water soluble but that's where the similarity ends. You'd have more luck using cow dung as a filler and an easier time sanding it too than use this rubbish. I love a shortcut as good as a Maor at a GAA match, but this is a ditch to high to climb. I can't recommend Perfect Plastic Putty highly enough. Begone that lunatic Milliput stuff! The roof should have ribs more akin to the Stanier variety, to cover the jointing between the roof panels. I've used plastic strip to make that feature stand out. I could have used strips of insulating tape but it didn't have the depth I wanted. White primer to highlight the wobbly bits, and it's like me stomach after Christmas - a few additional unwanted lumps. Roof sat on top, and the window rails and mullions look really out of scale. Another run on the bacon slicer for a few of them lumps.... A quick blast of yellow to see if it "has" the look. That's Vallejo yellow on it, and Humbrol RC 407 on the spoil container. The spoil yellow is closer to prototype..more sanding.... The double container doors on each side had to be scratchbuilt, so what better time than New Years Eve? 6 Hours later all four were finished, using an acetate overlay on the drawings, so that all four were spot on. 0.3mm styrene rod and other bits were used to make the door handles and hinges. The "steels" had this beauty board type covering to cover the joints between panels, so finely cut Tamiya masking tape was employed. It's used to paint, so I superglued it down with a cocktail stick... New Years Eve, my house, mad craic altogether.... Cutting out overscale 1960's window parts.... Windows - WD40 sprayed on a clear CD cover and cut with a fine saw. Scalpel/blade only produces fine fissures, so a saw is a must. WD40 is handy to prevent scratching while it's worked, and a file used to round the corners. This is where she's at now. Windows fitted and masked off. This is after 9 coats of yellow, and more end sanding to go..Missing a hinge on a door...but it's beginning to look like a Bredin Loads more tomorrow.. Richie.

The Christmas thing has been a welcome time to get stuck into a few projects, about 18 in total, and over the next few days I'll post the photos up. They're not all buildings either - there are a few rail projects in here too! First up - some stuff that went in the post to Kirley - a few bits enhance his UTA era station... Entrance Canopy and Railside Canopy above. The underside that'll only be seen be spiders! Detail of the valances...hand cut....much craic... Little baggies of stuff are all the rage 'round the North Inner City here. Contents cannot be snorted! A scale GNR (I) enamel sign - I'll be posting these up shortly for all to print out. Nearly done. Two little freestanding double sided heritage signs for the platform. Even though Kirley Junction is in the UTA period, many stations would have left these in place until the late 60's and early 70's. Plus Man With Shovel approves.... Anto sent me on this little number, so I added a backing and it'll be winging it's way north shortly. I have found a bizarre number of 96 inch posters, bus and train from the last 50 years, that will be part of the signage collection I'm going to post. Bus Eireann to Stena Lines to the most recent Irish Railfreight at Christmas poster....

That's for the next - Accessories for the Paint and the Airbrush and the Whatnot - thread!

Humbrol These tinlets are the standard bearer of enamel paint, we probably all have them as leftovers from Saab Viggens or Bristol Beaufighters. The ones above span a thirty year period, and are all in working condition. Prices vary from "stolen from easons limerick 1987" to "€2.40 Easons limerick 2007" As a product, they have undergone a bit of a transformation in the last few years, and I'm endeavouring to replace the aul' wans. Matt paints can still be a bit cantakerous, but the gloss versions are great. Metallic though could do with some help. Available from: The Model Shop, Belfast, Marks Models, Almost Nationwide, Banba/Toymaster outlets, Any Other Retailer - ? Revell These can be found at great value in Banba/Toymaster stores - and as long as you make a note of the equivalent humbrol colour on the pot lid, you won't go wrong. I've generally had less problems with the Matt paints from the Revell range, but they have much longer drying times. Requires a lot of tinkering with dilution for airbrushing and can have a lot of wastage as a result. Same applies to Humbrol above. Available from: Banba/Toymaster outlets, €1.50 Any Other Retailer - ? Railmatch After reading about these for years, I discovered these for sale a few years ago in the ModelShopBelfast, and everytime I pop in, I pick up a bottle, irrespective of colour. They are perhaps the finest paints for weathering with an airbrush, particularly for a beginner. The colours they generate, and their dilution makes them an excellent starting point for dirt, be it a little squirt, or an overall blast. I've never had any trouble with them, and though they are not cheap, they are excellent. A little really goes a long way with these guys, and airbrushes love them. However, the colour range is limited to dirt etc. Perfect for Irish Rail. Available from: The Model Shop, Belfast, Any Other Retailer - ? Jim Poots Paints At Raheny I picked up two tinlets of what I believe to be heritage CIE colours. Forgetting about my discomfort with the colour of the LSD green, they are perhaps the finest paints I've ever put into an airbrush. A quick stir and the colour in the tin matches that of the tin lid. That can't be said of all the paints above. No lumps, bits stuck to the end. My only trouble with these is that there is no text on the outside to remind me if its early or late CIE green etc. etc. I should have marked it on, but I thought my memory was good. Available from: Jim Poots - Fairs and Shows (?) open to correction. Conclusion: There are obviously ranges I am not including, like Phoenix Precision, but the ones above are the only ranges I have experience with. This is not meant to be a definitive list or a "I know it all" thread, but I have 30 years of inhaling this stuff with over 1200 tinlets from all the ranges above. I'd like to include the thoughts from Anto, GeorgeConna, Seamus, and any other "auld hand" airbrushers here, if they'd be good enough to post some thoughts, I'll include them above. Kind Regards, Richie.

Rails to Achill - A West of Ireland Branch Line, and Achillbeg - Life of an Island, the latter not having much to do with rail. His contributions to this forum alone are worthy of printed form. Am I right in assuming he's a relative of the other great Beaumont of Irish Rail Engineering?

Is it just me or is rust a different colour under the south of france skies. It seems a lot more appropriate colour 'neath the Irish leaded skies! Great snaps Bosko, though you might consider bringing the weedspray next year...if Heirflick will let you have it.... R

anything jhb has put his hand to is worthy of being in any book collection. Nuff said!

There was a post a few years ago on RMWeb by a chap who was impressed by a fellas Deltic offerings on ebay. After a click on "other items by this seller" he was presented with class 31's, class 20's, mk 1 carriages, broken freight bits, broken leather bits, blinkers, saddles, bridles, whips, chains, ball gags, restraints and strap ons......All filed under "collectibles" if i remember.... As Digi said " Bigi Curamach"! R

Hmm, that's a dilemma all right. I suppose it comes down to how complex your layout is going to be, and then the proposed cost of the new track, taking into account the trade in/fleabay of your code 100. And is it worth it? I've seen plenty irish layouts here with code 100, where the track is ballasted and weathered nicely, and it overrides the overscale nature of the track. Alternatively, you could do a massive industrial layout and bury all the track in concrete, and nobody would notice