RedRich

Excellent find Eamonn. The in laws live in Cheekpoint and I really miss the traffic on the Barrow Bridge, especially the Beet season. I believe that the central span of the Red Iron bridge is in Africa now. As Seamus has said it's interesting to see the ship travel at that speed through the Barrow Bridge. The view from the in laws looks directly at the opening span so it is hard from that viewing point to gauge the speed. Rich,

I agree with Fran and Richie. A classic example of the difference between resin and brass models is the LMS twins 10000 class (brass models) released some years ago and the Silver Fox versions in resin. D&M have produced amazing brass models of the Rail Cars and Enterprise rolling stock, imagine how they would look in resin. Even the recent LMS twins from Dapol look miles ahead of the resin versions. D&M have proved themselves extremely capable of producing a cracking kit or rtr model of an A, C class to the standard of their other models. Rich,

It is definitely a 47' 6 bogie wagon that the container runs on as has been pointed out. It would be impossible to run it on a 42' flat as there would be no room for the Hose Stowage and other boxes at the ends of the wagons. It looks a great model by the way Tom. Good luck with it. Rich,

I think we'll have to make you the chief corespondent for IRM Eamonn. Superb photos, you even caught Dave with a half smile. Rich,

I thought so Des, they look fantastic as does the complete finish on the model from Seamus's works, top work all round. Rich,

Should be a good one Eamonn. My brother went to see them some years ago and Simple Minds were also on the bill. I remember Jim Kerr saying he and Charlie Burchill felt like men out of time when they heard Oasis, at least Simple Minds and OMD are still making records and playing live. Rich,

Without a doubt Fran, especially when you look at the standards of the latest Steam and Diesel models. If you want to start to rebuild an economy you need to get people back to work, but if rebuilding an economy from inside means higher labour costs and eventually higher retail prices you shoot yourself in the foot. I couldn't see the US based companies bringing manufacturing back home if it meant costs sky rocketed. Even with the market being small for Irish Railway models I would hate to imagine the costs if they were produced here or in the EU. It is a case of swallow hard and hope for the best. I wonder are Phoenix and Rail Match produced in the UK. Rich,

Fran Dave Jones from Dapol was saying that if you don't have a presence on the factory floor in China mistakes do creep in before you can do anything about it. Paddy Murphy did say himself that the Chinese know lot's about model trains but nothing about real trains. Rich,

I preferred Ultra myself Eamonn. It's No Good and Home are great song's. I was watching some of OMD's performance at the Henley Festival the other night, they played Electricity, Souvenir, and Enola Gay. They sounded good. Rich,

DM have remained relevant and proof of that is how many new songs they play every night on tour. I do have a soft spot for Black Celebration myself, Stripped is a classic, the live version on 101 is epic. Blasphemous Rumours is also a favorite of mine. Rich,

Stephen I think that most modellers would want MM coaches to compliment the EGV and Restaurant. Although you would need seven for the full rake. Maybe if they released two different running number Standards you could buy the required amount and renumber them. Personally I would prefer to see Super Standards and Composites released in the IE livery. Rich,

I agree, DM had a purple patch with Music for the Masses, 101, Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion. I think the change in direction that the group began to take after the Devotional tour led Alan Wilder to quite the band. Never let me down again is always a high point during their shows. Enjoy the silence is still my favorite music video. Rich,

the set of Galway coaches originally consisted of, 5601 EGV 5411 Restaurant 5209 Standard 5213 Standard 5216 Standard 5225 Standard 5232 Standard 5233 Standard 5235 Standard The set ran like this for a while, but as you say it was broken up over time and IE liveried Standards would appear with Galways. The Galways also included a refurbished interior. There were no Super Standards or Composites converted for the set. The Lima MK11's are actually shorter than the MM ones as Lima made them the same lenght as MK11A's in their range which as with the prototype were shorter. I'm led to believe that the Galway EGV on show in Nuremberg had an orange roof, but with MM's track record recently for correcting livery details before full production I'm sure this will be corrected. Rich,

He was on Later with Jools Holland last year, what a unique guitar player. I was catching up on Game of Thrones over the last few weeks before the new series, he looked every part the executioner. One of Canvey Islands greatest. Rich,

John there is definitely a different shade of orange (or as you say browny tan color) on 088 when compared to 086 in the link of the photo to Model Shop Belfast with the latest released models in post 784. Rich,

A completely under rated guitar player Fran. I saw him in Cork years ago what a band, musically very tight. It was one of those gigs where everyone danced, all it was missing was Bootsy Collins. Rich,

Thanks for that Minister. I've been to Inchicore on a few occasions and I have never seen it. I was too distracted by locos and coaches. Rich,

It is a bit strange looking as you say Iarnrod. In the end they are a fantastic model and it can be corrected. Personally I think the panels on the models that have them are a little well nourished looking, but it isn't a deal breaker. Rich,

That's a great photo Eamonn. I don't recall ever seeing one of those wagons in a Bauxite livery, only Grey or a very heavily weathered condition. Rich,

John it seems to offer a lot of consistency across the batch, and you should feel very pleased with the results. Rich,

You're welcome, it does give the model a nice bit of character. Rich,

I have never seen any pictures of 078 in any livery with the panels on the cab sides black. It might be that a photo of the loco was used as a guide for the as modelled livery that may have been taken in poor light or at an angle that make's the panels look black. Rich,

Yes they were when the loco was on loan to IE. There are some that say there were only three sliding windows done. It is possible that all four were done and the loco also received the LED light clusters. I believe they were salvaged from 151. Rich,

KK that pic really shows the different shades of orange livery on 086 and 088. Rich,

12 locos Mark, that's impressive. The latest batch look great in the more familiar orange shades. Rich,