RedRich

I agree with the above that our MK11's are more akin to the BR MK11e-f coaches. There are smaller single fan units on the BSO MK11e's and the box housing the fan is smaller than ours. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the roof hatches on a MK11f are bigger than the MK11c-d-e coaches. One standout feature of the MM coaches is the underframe of the EGV, it looks stunning. As for the windows you have to live with it, and I can. Rich,

The only way to judge them is in natural light outside. It will give a much more accurate representation then photos taken indoors. I remember the Supertrain livery that was used on the coaches when they started their working life. There was of course a different shade of Supertrain livery on the as delivered locos from La Grange but is wasn't as radically different from the coaches as the photos of the models show. Eoins photo of his 071 has an almost salmon hue to the colour, no doubt down to the fact that the lighting is poor where the pic was taken. If this is the case then it's impossible to judge the coaches in those pics. As has been said reserve judgement until you see them in the flesh. Rich,

May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family J. Rich,

Stephen as Fran has said it was the EGV which suffered worst from the warping. It could be that there is no interior in the EGV (except the generator rooms and Guards area) whereas the Standards suffer little warping or enough to cause concern. The Restaurant suffers from some warping in the kitchen area of the coach. The warping can be sorted out by adding bulkheads or fillets of plastic card in the coach. The bulkheads or fillets won't be seen when the roof is re-attached. The warping could also be down to when the models are released from the mould and are still to hot. Rich,

Welcome to the group and thanks for sharing. I love anything garden modelling related. I'm off now to have a look at the link Broithe posted. Rich,

Stephen I respect your opinion. I made mention of the windows in my post. I wasn't howling or complaining, I was referring to an area of the model which let it down when compared to the prototype and other areas of the model which look fine. I still bought an EGV, Restaurant, and 3 Standards regardless of the issue with the windows. I am always willing to support manufacturers who bring something new to the table, and have always done that. I think that a picture is always the best way to put across an opinion that is being discussed. It would have been just as easy to get the issue right as it was to get it wrong. However it wasn't right. It won't make a difference for 95% of the forum who will still support MM and I am one of those 95% that have supported MM in this venture. There is nothing wrong with a bit of healthy topical debating once it is civilized and that all concerned in the topic are allowed to offer their opinion. Rich,

I can understand the comparisons with European prices and the current exchange rate, also the rising manufacturing costs in China. As has been put forward the extra cost can be squared out over a period of time if some spare change can be saved. I always compare the relevant model to the prototype it is modelled on and not other manufacturers products and their costs. I have bought five MM MK11's in the IE livery and intend to add a Composite and Super Standard when they are released in that livery. I have ponied up and made my choice and I say that gives me a right to comment on what I consider the pros and cons of the MM MK11's. There are lot's of after market products available to tart up the as bought model and take it up a notch or two to give it a lot of kudos. The one disappointment that I have always had about the MM MK11's is that the windows are positioned higher on the bodyside when compared to the prototype. The top of the window surround should be just over nine inches below the gutter strip. I worked for a time for IE and had the good luck of seeing the MK11's every day and it stood out to me when I first saw pics of the models. Bowing sides on the EGV can be sorted out with some work. In fairness MM made sure that the hinges on the corridor side of the EGV were corrected for the Galway EGV and should not go without mention. My own personal feeling is, these models aren't jaw dropping or perfect. No matter what PM has done for the hobby, and what he has done has been immense. These models are like a lot of school reports, good but could have been better. The saving grace for me is, I have 18 MM locos, and 10 MM Craven coaches that I am extremely happy with. Thank God we live in a democracy where freedom to express our own opinions is a right for every person, and this group also follows that. Everyone has an opinion and should be allowed to express that opinion, more so if they have bought the actual model. Rich,

James Rodriguez plays for one of, if not the biggest supported club teams in the world. It stands to reason that Real fans would vote for a club player in a FIFA Award. As great as all three goals were I thought that Tim Cahills goal in the World Cup against the Dutch was a better goal then any of them. To beat a keeper from that angle with power and accuracy is one of the hardest goals to try and score. There is something about shots that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce into the goal that hold a lot of peoples fascination and I'm sure that it led to a lot of people voting for the Rodriguez goal. Rich,

True Noe, and look at how much like the prototype the look. Both the accuracy and the fans of superb running are catered for. Everyone is happy. Rich,

Plenty of modellers are more concerned with running their trains rather than looking at them. Plenty of modellers also add extra details and have their models weathered to give them more realism in the looks department. In lots of cases weathered by people on here who provide that service, because those folks like looking at their models on a layout or as static models. It's horses for courses. what someone does with their model and if it gives them great satisfaction then more power to them. Rich,

Noel I understand and respect your opinion. I would fight for the right of everyone on here to be able to have their opinion and their voices listened to, even if I didn't agree with that opinion. The SF A Class can't be compared to a top link MM model as it isn't an injection plastic molded model. SF chose to put that chassis under their rtr models and they are inaccurate and awful when compared to an MM chassis. There are lot's of inaccuracies in the body shape and the cab front on the SF model. So much so that SSM released some etches to improve it. Saying the SF model looks like a duck is in my opinion like looking at a duck with no beak when compared to a MM 141-181 or 071. The dimensions are so critical and can make or break a model, and it has done so in the past for some manufacturers. I remember Bachmann threatening Rail Express with legal action for their review of the 37. In the end Bachmann retooled the model and now have a healthy relationship with Rail Express even down to producing ltd editions for the magazine, Rich,

In this day and age we are lucky to be able to expect fantastic looking miniature models with fine running characteristics. The machinery and the workers from designers down to the workers that do the printing in the factory are working with the latest equipment and we are lucky that the models that are released are most of the time of amazing quality in looks and livery with all dimensions correct. I'm not talking about a bolt or vent missing or another cosmetic part of the model which would be nigh on impossible to scale down from the prototype. Is it acceptable for a top link model from Hornby, Bachmann, MM, Atlas, Kato, etc be lacking in correct livery overall accuracy in the dimensions just because the running characteristics are fine. Irishthump, do you think that the Lima 201 body is more highly detailed and accurate when compared to the newer MM version irrespective of the running quality of the Lima chassis to the MM one. That's what people expect today prototype to model fidelity in looks when comparison between the two is made. Any review of a model in any of the publications always gives more scrutiny to overall dimension and detail than running quality because they expect quality running in what are the current expectations for what a model should perform like. We pay enough for them because we love the hobby so what's wrong with wanting a cracking looking model. If a motor is dodgy bring it back and get it replaced. Bachmann got hammered when they released their first version of the class 37. The errors in the dimensions were so wrong that they eventually retooled the model to correct it, and I am talking about a production model not a pre - production model. I will also add that the loco was a great runner from the outset. Rich,

Paul asking anyone to turn a Lima class 33 into a CIE A class is like asking someone to turn a ship model into a Boeing 747. It would be like asking someone to have a tooth pulled without anesthetic. As an example, when the Hornby class 50 (which was the first of their top link diesel models) was released people noticed that the front cab windows looked wrong because there wasn't the correct slant in the shape of them. Within a small period of time an etched brass window frame was produced by one of the cottage industries and when the conversion was done it really lifted the model to a higher plain. However lot's of people never made the change as they thought their skill was not up to the job. Now compare doing a small cosmetic change like that to turning a Lima class 33 into an A Class. I don't think the man from Nazareth could have pulled it off. Rich,

As long as I have been involved in the hobby I have never once heard anyone make the statement that running is more important than looks. If it is not accurate in dimension or livery, putting a Rolls Royce engine under it won't make it a good model. Not at the prices that we have to pay now. Accuracy of the model when compared to the prototype it is modelled on is hugely important and the most critically important part of how the model is perceived by the prospective buying public. Nothing worse that looking at a sows ear even if it has a smooth running chassis. Rich,

Spot on Fran. The 201's and MK11's were made in a separate factory to the the 141-181, 071, and Cravens. Just put a Craven next to a MK11 and compare the B4 bogies. Rich,

Speaking of Cathedrals Tom I was in the Church of Ireland Cathedral last year. There was an Exhibit about the buildings history and they had a model of the Cathedral as it was when it was first built. It is a beautiful building and well worth a visit if you are in town. Rich,

True Ed. Luckily I have a bottle bought many years ago. It is still nearly full by the way. Here is a link which say's it all. http://www.scalemodelguide.com/hints-tips/general/using-klear-floor-varnish/ Rich,

Johnsons Clear or Klear as it is sometimes called is a floor polish that dries clear. I first became aware of it when a chap was using it on the cockpit canopy of an Airfix kit. After the canopy was dipped in the Clear it was left to dry overnight. When the Clear had dried the plastic looked like glass and amazingly took on the appearance that the glazing was thinner. I have also used it on attaching nameplates to models. They are still there to this day even having been handled many times. Google Johnsons Clear and it will give you all the info you need. I believe it has been renamed in the USA but the Google search will give you all the answers you need. Rich,

If you can get your hands on some clear it does a good job of getting rid of the prismatic look on the windows and makes it look like glass. Sanding them sounds a bit extreme and you could end up removing the printed black parts of the glazing unit. Rich,

Looking good Eamonn. I've always had a soft spot for the plough and ballast wagons. Rich,

The Birthdays are coming fast and furious. Happy Birthday Pat. Rich,

That's a nice selection of rolling stock Vincent. I like the Galway EGV and IE liveried MK11's. It was a regular occurrence on the network to see some Galway and IE coaches in the same rake, so it looks authentic. Rich,

I watched the program this evening on RTE one. The work that was carried out in returning Saint Mel's Cathedral to it's former beauty after the fire was amazing. The people of Longford who were naturally shocked at the outset pulled together as a community to see this beautiful building restored. The people working on the restoration commented on how they had no idea how the original build took place without the tools and machinery that are available today. All in all a great program and if anyone missed it, watch it on the RTE player. Rich,

Happy birthday Fran. That was a fast year. Rich,

Looks good John, also liked. Rich,