RedRich

Yes you are 100% correct. I should have said Dennis Lovett. I must edit my previous post. Rich,

DCC wouldn't have anything to do with the cosmetic changes, and you would still be left with Bo Bo bogies. If (and for the life of me I couldn't imagine why) someone was prepared to do something like trying to dress up a class 33 as an A class and was prepared to ignore anything below the chassis a Heljan class 33 would be a better donor. Rich,

The class 33 is Bo Bo bogie, and the A class is a Co Co bogie. It would be a complete waste of time to be honest. Where did you hear that it was possible, just curious. Rich,

The 201's are MM and not Bachmann Noel. I can't understand where this idea that the 201's are in some way related to Bachmann has come from. It's been discussed here enough times that were weren't. What I will say is that the I reckon the 201's and MK11 aircons were manufactured in the another factory, and the 141-181, Cravens, 071's were manufactured by Sanda Kan. Sanda Kan is owned by Kader Holdings which owns Bachmann and Farish. Still doesn't mean that Bachmann had any involvement in the Craven's and O71's even though they were involved in the 141-181 classes. I remember Dennis Lovett of Bachmann addressing the very subject himself in the past to quash the rumors. Rich,

If you contact PM I'd imagine he will advise you to contact Jim in Marks Models in Hawkins Street. Might be worth ringing Marks Models tomorrow to see if Jim is there. If all else fails PM me and I'll see if I can find the spare one I have lying around somewhere. Rich,

If you can lay your hands on some butanone, put the broken piece in position and brush a tiny bit of the butanone on the area and hold it for a few moments. It will set solid and give no more trouble. With the types of plastic used in the hobby today it's no bad idea to have some butanone in your tool box, because at some time you will need it. If you do go down the butannoe route do it outside or in a well ventilated area. Whatever method you use good luck. Rich,

That looks really good color wise. I like the shade of orange it looks spot on. Rich,

Wagon looks fantastic John, and thanks for the info re the container flats. Rich,

Well done John. I hope I am not dragging this a little off topic but is there any news on the 20 and 22 foot flat's. Rich,

They are Stevie. I remember seeing a 7 coach set in Connolly many years ago it had an EGV, Super Standard, Restaurant, Composite, and 3 Standards in the rake in that order. An 071 was pulling the set, can't remember which member of the class it was, but it was IE orange and black. Rich,

Very informative John and well explained. I am a member of the society myself and I must have a good look through the online library of scalefour news to see if there is any thing 21mm related. I was ready to make a start 2 years ago myself on some test track but unforeseen circumstances got in the way. All being good a start on the test track will begin in the new year and hopefully a proper home for the railway the following year. It's nice to know that there are several experienced and helpful modelers of 21mm scale on here for me to learn from as I progress. Keep the updates coming and once again huge respect for the great work you are doing now. Rich,

Orange. Rich,

Definitely Cravens in that pic. The roofs, water filler pipes are a giveaway as is the tumble dome, and the double white stripes did wrap around the end. I do remember seeing a pic of a Vic Berry MK11 in Inchicore in the IR livery and the windows were picked out in silver. Don't know who long they stayed like that. I can't ever recall seeing them in the IE livery with orange roofs and silver windows. I wonder were the roofs painted black when they got the new IE logos. I stand open to correction if anyone has a pic to say otherwise. Rich,

Bogies are very poor representations of the prototype. I don't think it was ever held in high esteem, it all comes down to what an individual thinks and if he feels, ah it looks like one. SSM do some fine etches to at least make it be able go outside without a bag over it's head. Comparing it to a MM GM is like comparing a Trabant to a Ferrari. Rich,

I think the poll that was open was a good sound board and gave good indications of what people would like to see. The kind of money that is involved when added to the small amount of folks that would participate is way to high for most of us. I can't see a project like this ever getting off the ground, the market is too small. You sound very enthusiastic about the idea of such a project taking place Noel and more power to you, but I just can't see it happening. Rich,

Excellent, well done to the owner and all the staff. Rich,

That pic sums up Rapido Trains. Imagine a 22000 three car set to that standard. The prototype isn't my cup of tea, but if one was produced to that standard I'd cave in and buy one. As I and others have said before, what is wrong with wanting models to that standard. Compare that model to a Silver Fox MK111 push pull set and visualize what these guys could produce if they were to produce a five car set. Rich,

Fantastic Eoin, the photos are a window to how much work goes into one of these models. The evolution from the beginning to where you are now has been amazing considering how you have kept pushing yourself to get the best possible model you could. You are a one man enterprise and I salute you for what you have achieved. When funds permit I will certainly invest in one. Rich,

These guys go all the way when it comes to the detail being spot on. There is detail beneath the model you will never see when it is on the tracks, and some interior detail that will be out of sight unless you remove the body. Any modeler that expects that level of detail gets labelled with the old rivet counter bull, and yet here is a manufacturer that demands that level of themselves. Those that have pre ordered their's will not be let down. Rich,

I always look at the Bachmann metalair PCA and think how good would it be to have a Bubble produced to that standard. I've seen trains bound for Limerick leaving Waterford with anything form 11 to 22 wagons in a rake. Even the odd beet added, going back to Limerick for repair. Rich,

That would actually be a nice idea. If only a decal where a solution would fully dissolve the carrier film leaving just the number applied could be manufactured. I think it could open up a whole new avenue within the hobby. I think Heljan did a similar thing in releasing class 47's unbranded and unnumbered in triple grey many years ago. A lot of people are put off of renumbering models as they are iffy about removing tampo printed numbers should they damage some of the paintwork underneath . Rich,

If a bubble cement is going to be produced it should be the complete wagon. Correct chassis, body, ladders walkways, underframe equipment discharge units brake gear, buffers etc. I think it is the one area of the the hobby that is in need of being brought into the mainstream. As a modeler I am more attracted to the freight side of the prototype. The bubbles can have three liveries, weathered versions of the three, single packs, three packs. I'd shell out 200 notes for eight rtr bubbles or beets as opposed to a loco. Can you imagine a wagon to the standard of the GM's. Rich,

I also think that the De Dietrich sets are geographically specific and if you are modelling a scene on the Dublin to Belfast line they will look right at home. The D&M models are still for me some of the finest models of Irish prototypes that we have seen. Rich,

Yes the money is always a stumbling block. It's not as disposable to many as it used to be. Yes the 121 is a smashing prototype and I'm confident we will see a model sooner rather than later. Rich,

To be honest I can't see a MK1V DVT ever being produced without the correct coaches being available. It's like taking one step forward and two steps back if repaints of UK coaches are used between the 201 and DVT. An example of how to do it right is the De Dietrich stock that D&M have produced. They produced correct DVT, Restaurant, and passenger stock. Rich, Rich,