RedRich

Truly excellent example of scratch building on the pallet cement. The SSM brake van is a top job also. Rich,

Have a look in the track section here. colincraig4mm.co.uk Colin produces parts for flat bottom rail on wooden sleepers. It may not be 100% accurate, if you can live with that then it is worth a punt. I have a love for all things track myself. I lived in London for a time and I used Clapham Junction a lot, and that is the Mecca for all things per way for me. The junction would be an amazing project in 00 if space wasn't a problem. However it is a model and a condensed version will be great project. Rich,

A couple of questions Junctionmad. Will the rails need to be all bullhead or a mix of bullhead and flat bottom rail. Are you going to use any ply and rivet sleepers in the build. Do you want exact representations of the crossings and switches, ie ABCD size 1-6 1-7 and so on. C&L point kits are a good place to start when wanting to put them together without any of the filing of track. Exactoscale point kits are on another level altogether and come with all the chairs, slide chairs, bridge chairs, and the special chairs for the crossings and vee's. Personally if you want the track to look right in appearance then go for the Exactoscale kits. Exactoscale and C&L also do sleeper bases of the concrete, and wooden type. The Exactoscale wooden sleeper bases have little pimples on the sleepers where the chairs sit on them as the chairs all have holes on the underside. Even with this system if you are thinking of using one of the wider gauges then get some track building gauges. Fran is spot on about re wheeling and compensating anything wider then EM gauge. The only advantage I could see you being able to achieve in 00 gauge is being able to use bullhead rail and having the correct sleeper spacing. If you are happy with using all flatbottom rail then Pete Harvey produces a nice tool for spacing the sleepers correctly in Peco track. Whatever the choice you make good luck. Rich,

Wow great work.The fact that it is in the wee scale makes it really amazing as I would imagine that it takes more care, effort, and skill. Rich,

I managed to catch some of the highlights an TV Saturday night. Although it is never the same as being there. Nile Rodgers and Chic were amazing, would love to have seen Blondie. I loved that whole CBGB's scene in New York, Blondie, Talking Heads, The Ramones, Television. Glad you had a good time lad's. Rich,

Great to see things are moving forward again Dave. Huge credit to yourself and Eoin. Both of you utilizing your knowledge and craft should create a special and iconic part of the railway that is very rarely modelled. Rich,

Irish Railway Record Society Volume 21 February 2003 No 150 is a great source of the information you will need. Try contacting the Society as they still have old issues. Good luck with your search, Rich,

Des has always been a huge fan of the Colin Craig FFA FGA wagons and can attest to the instructions that come with the kit's, 90 + pages. I have seen a thread of a modeller building a set and in bare brass they look amazing. I personally believe that Des has equaled that kit in what the finished model pre-painting looks like. The design of the kit caters for every skill set from advanced to beginner, and that is the genius behind it. As Richie has said there are multiple uses for the wagons, but I think I would run a rake empty on a movement to Limerick for repair just to look at that beautiful skeletal underframe and deck. Top class, Rich,

I take no credit for any design - des crawled all over one with a measuring tape and has all the photos up, under, you name it. I've just been a sounding board. SSM can take a bow. R. My apologies Richie, losing the run of myself in all the excitement. Let's just say you are a top sounding board. Top marks to Des for all the research on the prototype. Rich,

I remember us talking about these wagons last year Richie, and what you and Des have created between the two of you is one of the finest designed etched kit's I have seen. Great work on putting the kit together also. Times are getting exciting. Between your MK1 Weedspray coach, and these wagons it has raised the bar again. A proper Weedspray train is now possible with a freight liveried 071. Amazing work, Rich,

Looks very good Noel. Lot's of flowing track, it will be really enjoyable and never boring operating it. At this stage it is very easy to walk into the room with a plan of action for scenic and other work, then sit down and run trains and the evenings plans are gone. I look forward to seeing more of this, it has the makings of a really top layout. Rich,

The layout forum is the place to go. Plenty of top work and inspiration to see in there. Rich,

Richie this has been one of the most game changing pieces of modelling I have seen in a long time. The use of plasticard as opposed to brass is completely new to me as are the windows. In practice it works, and it works really well. You have changed my perception of what can be achieved with what you have been doing in the last year regarding coaches, I could see a package being delivered and on opening the package seeing the contents like I would see a well thought out kit which would be a pleasure to work with. I also think it will make this area pf the hobby more accessible to modellers who might be a little nervous working with other materials,.Which is a very clever idea on your part, and I am sure very welcome to the hobby. Great work, Rich,

Very nice John. The kit looks very well thought out. I can imagine the work that has gone into the design and to what you have in front of you now. You deserve huge credit for what you are bringing to the Irish scene. Rich,

I think this could be an epic thread, enjoying it already, can't wait for more. Rich,

Looking good Des. Rich,

Nice scene as usual Noel. I always look forward to updates on the layout. Rich,

Unfortunately not Sean. Wish I had, but I'm sure someone has it somewhere. Rich,

I remember it Sean. It was a model of how the station would look after being re-developed. I think it may have been smaller than N gauge. The rolling stock resembled MK4 stock. It was a fine model probably designed by the architects. Rich,

You have done a smashing job Sean, top marks. Rich,

As has been said the as delivered locos were in a shade of orange that had a brown hue to the over all color scheme. The as delivered locos were also fitted with Sinclair Antennas (the black antenna behind the cab at the mechanical end of the model) but lost these later. The NIR 111 class locos still carry Sinclair Antennas. MM really went all out on detail for these models and the later liveried models have yaw dampers on the bogies. Rich,

Always enjoy the videos as it makes up for the fact that I don't have as much time as I would like to have, to get out and about like I used to. Top stuff and thanks for sharing them. Rich,

That's because the new grey livery models are a limited edition like the NIR 111 AND 113 Locos. The other earlier releases are still the same price as when released. With wages rising in China the next releases from MM will be more expensive. I don't have a problem with the price increases as I think the models are worth the money for the enjoyment I get from them. Rich,

It starts tomorrow anyone want to make any predictions for the winners. I have a sneaky feeling that Arsenal could do it this season. They have bought well in the summer and I think Sanchez could be the catalyst for them this season. Winning the FA Cup last season should make them push on for more success this come May 2015. Rich,

That is beautiful Jim. Never seen it before, thanks for the pics. Rich,