RedRich

I don't know Des, sometimes you get ideas and before you know it you're turning it into an obsession. I have been taking a look at Brassmaster point rodding, pulleys and all other matter of detailing bits and bobs. I like the look of the Colin Craig etches for trackwork also. Rich,

Well spotted Fran I can't say that I have noticed that before. Rich,

Only as long as you bring you're airbrush Anto. I could not miss out on the opportunity of letting you loose on some of my rolling stock. Rich,

Just been checking some shots I have of the 071 class and a good few of them seem to have retained the plate that is present on the pre production pics in the IE and freight liveries. 072 has them 074 has then on one side only 078 has them 081 has them 082 has them 085 has them 088 has them I haven't managed to find a pic of 083 so I can't tell if she retained them. 075 seemed to have escaped from the works in the freight livery without the IE logo on the cab fronts. I remember seeing 080 in IE livery with a rain strip above the cab windows that wasn't present on other members of the class. Rich,

I dismantled my last layout before my last house move and decided that for my next layout I would have a go at building the track to 21mm fine scale standards. I joined the Scalefour Society and when funds permitted I acquired the relevant track and wheel back to back gauge's, ply sleepers, steel bullhead and flat bottom rail, all the switch and vee crossing filing jigs, and I also purchased a templot license. I spent a lot of time photographing the Station building and signal box at Clonmel so I could make scale drawings. The plan was to draw up the track plan on Templot and begin building the track. I had to take a back seat from modelling when my mother became terminally ill and I only really eased myself back into the hobby this year. We will be building a permanent home for the as yet to be built layout this year and when it is built the wood working will begin, and then the trackwork. It will be a slow build as all the track will be completely hand built to the correct gauge for 5 foot 3 inches. I spent a bit of time dyeing the ply sleepers a few years ago and they have faded a bit and it looks even more prototypical. When I begin building, a step by step account will be posted here. Everything is at the planing stage at the moment but I want to get everything in place before I begin so that progress doesn't get delayed. I will put up some photos of my scale drawings of the main station building in a workbench thread and I suppose I could build a length of track to use for testing the converted rolling stock and also stick that up in the thread as well. Rich,

I was in Inchicore in 2002 and 5603 was in ex works condition after being overhauled. There was a composite there as well in ex works and the shades of orange were considerably different on both vehicles. When asked about it the IE employee said it all comes down to who mixes the paint, and that a little bit to much or less thinners can dictate the final shade of the color. They were also using a new type of paint that would make it easy to remove graffiti if a vehicle got vandalized. Rich,

Considering the way things have gone with the economy and with people having to tighten the purse strings I guess it just wouldn't be feasible for MM to release any more models until the 071 111 program is complete. I am happy with the 201 models I have purchased as they fit the period I am modeling. I was looking forward to 230 myself. I know that a lot of people including myself will be gutted with the news regarding the 121, but thats the way it goes in business. I would have sacrificed the 201's for the 121's myself, but if we didn't have the 201's would Dave have gone ahead and begun producing the De Dietrich coaches. We have been spoiled for choice over the last five years and there are at the moment as many locos and coaches available rtr to keep most of us happy and that's what matters. Rich,

Excellent Anto, I will be restricting myself to the IE period from around the time 112 was down this way. Especially during the beet season. I am on two minds as to whether I will purchase a freight livery 071 as no matter how I try I just can't take to it. Rich,

Paddy Murphy should also be commended for releasing pre production samples at various stages of design for the public to have a good look at. Also having that kind of faith in your product is going to generate huge confidence in his potential customers. It's going to be an expensive year with 071 111 models and the Autoballast wagons, but I'm worth it;). Rich,

Fair play to the man. Rich,

I don't think so Fran. Hopefully it will be etched finer for the production model. The model really captures the bulk of the prototype. I had a good look at 075 on Friday up close, and you really forget how huge they are when you see them from the ground as opposed to the platform. It's hard to believe that by the end of the year we will have had 4 different classes of GM locos produced by PM in what is a very short period, when you compare how long the prototypes have been around. The more pre production pics I see, the more I can't wait for October. Rich,

He's got the real look of a character from a Blaxploitation movie. Rich,

That's the one Jim, thanks for that. Rich,

Stephen please stop this is torture, Rich,

Anto I should of course have added excellent work as usual mate. Rich,

Anto I remember seeing a tool a few years ago for painting rail sides. I will see if I can find the resource again. Rich,

Thanks for uploading the pics Kirley, you're a star. Rich,

That 21mm track looks nice when you see it up close. Rich,

Loughrea seems to have had some cosmetic work done since I last set eyes on it , and it looks all the better for it. Any more pics of layouts Kirley please. Rich,

He lured you into his spiders web then. Rich,

My sentiments exactly Stephen. That pre production model looks far more advanced when compared to the other models that were on show in Wexford. The bonnet side grille looks tasty, and so do the tablet catchers. Rich,

I will be getting some help with the scenic side of the layout myself as I feel that is the one area where things get the better of me. I don't mind the ballasting and road surfaces. It's twisting florists wire to make trees that does my head in. Rich,

600 feet you're making me jealous Stephen. I haven't even got my man shed built yet. Luckily the inlaws are builders. Rich,

I managed to get a shot of 075 today and noticed the weld seems on the bottom part of the skirt. It looks dimensionally identical to where the filler piece will be on the 071 model. Is this a case of Life imitating art. Rich,

Good to see you here Des. Rich,