RedRich

Lazerglaze makes a huge difference to a model as it removes the prismatic effect of the plastic glazing favored by the manufacturers. I am having some done for my 201's as the non flush glazing on the windscreens just looks poor and plastic looking on the models. I'll be sending over a body for measuring and manufacture of the glazing soon. This was all meant to be undertaken during July but due to other circumstances I had to delay it. Rich,

There are many different companies producing rtr track In 00 EM and P4. C&L, P4 Track Company (Exactoscale) SMP. There are several different ways to build your own track using components from the above mentioned companies and Peco. Some of the P4 Track Co bases have chairs and you thread on the rail as has been mentioned before. Other track bases and panel lengths for LMS GWR etc are available and you thread separate chairs 4 bolt 3 bolt 2 bolt depending on what railway you are modelling on to the rail and with the use of gauges and pips on the track panel you glue the chairs on with Butanone. There are also ply sleepers available from suppliers and some people use these attached the same as above or sleepers are produced with holes for rivets to be fitted and the rail is soldered to the rivets. You can then cut chairs in half and fit them cosmetically. There are also fish plates available. Flat bottom rail soldered to copper clad sleepers is also a popular choice among modellers. P4 Track Company (Exactoscale) are being taken over by C&L Finescale at the moment and their products will be introduced to that companies website when time allows. If you want any more info don't be afraid to ask. Rich,

Thats a great piece of work Fran and very informative. I love the class 59's myself, very close to our own 201's. Rich,

Welcome Rob, it's nice to have you here. Rich,

Thanks for that Wiggy. Where there's a will there's a way. Rich,

Probably the most requested BR model on wish lists ever. It looks like a winner from the pre production shots. Rich,

Fran I also think that there was one of the earlier ones in Foster Yeoman and DB Schenker blue and red livery loaned to DB Schenker. I also think the light clusters were different on the earliest builds and one of them had a bell on the cab. Good news about the laptop I look forward to the blog update. I may replace the pc with a laptop eventually, a 17" monitor would be preferable, any tips. Rich,

I wonder could it or the CMX one be converted to 21mm. Rich,

Ah the Floyd Richie. A man after my own heart. What a history they have had, the Syd Barret era, the Dark Side of The Moon to the Wall. Roger Waters leaving and the legal aftermath. Live 8 in 2005 is one of the gretest moments from the history of popular music when Gilmore, Waters, Wright, and Mason reformed for the show. I am listening to wish you were here at the moment. Rich,

Now this has really got my attention. Anto I have no doubt that you will produce a first class 59 from this project. I am assuming that it is a 59-2 class. You have all the ammunition needed for such a project. Have a good look at some class 59 pictures especially the outer ends of the bogies as they may need some extra bits added. If you can come across an A1 models class 59 detailing kit along the way snap it up. It would include brass roof grille, side grilles, chassis skirt etc. A set of class 66 sprung buffers would look nice also. I think it's great that yourself and Fran (working on his American loco) are working on projects like this at the moment. This is what modelling is all about and more people should be having a go and testing themselves. If things aren't going as planed don't give in relax and try again. Anthony and Fran didn't get to the point where they are ready to tackle something like this without trying and having a go. As I said I have 100% faith that this will be a winner, and my own personal hope is that more people will be inspired to have a go at something similar. You don't know until you try. Rich,

I'd have thought Bachmann would have been the most likely candidate Fran. The model doesn't look bad at all, the bogies look quite good compared to the previous incarnation from Lima. It makes you wonder will they still produce that in the Railroad range. Rich,

Confidence and willpower, I reckon you'll be fine. Rich,

First time I've seen it myself Gareth, thanks for that. Rich,

I seem to remember a model of Bray head many years ago. Anyone know what became of it. Rich,

Your layout and the inspiration for it would be taken to a whole different level if you did Stephen. Spend your spare time building it and if it takes a long time what harm. Most modellers say that when a layout is finished it's time to build a new one, so use it as a lifetime project and always add to it and improve it and you will never tire of it. Rich,

Great work all round. Is the Restaurant coach the Hornby model. I was thinking of using a standard and some filing and roof details to model one. Rich,

Will any other county have the continuity, hunger for titles, and success that Kilkenny have had over a period. I don't see it myself. All Ireland titles aren't won in September they are won over a year or years in Kilkennys case. The belief and togetherness of the whole panel and the driving force of Brian Coady is what makes them successful. Look at how they celebrated today. The hunger and desire is there in bucket loads and as long as that is the case and the squad continues to build on success and new talent it will continue for as long as they want it. Rich,

My Dad is from Kilkenny so I was delighted for him and everyone involved with Kilkenny to see them win today. Looking at the success that Kilkenny have achieved over the last 14 years other Counties (including my own) should be burying the bitterness and trying to emulate what they have done. The commitment and effort from the panels in that time has led to their almost invincibility in hurling. Try to be like they are mentally, play like they do and you might have a chance. Rich,

Conor nickle silver rail has a habit of getting very dirty even if it is not visible to the naked eye. This can lead to deposits adhering to the wheels of rolling stock and being spread around the layout. Always keep wheels and rails clean even if not running anything for a period of time. Rich,

Yes you are perfectly right and I have seen 3 car sets in Killester station. It is more common to see them in 4 car sets and rarely in 2 although I am certain it has happened. You would be resigning yourself to model a set in a particular formation on a particular day. It would be safe to say that most modellers would want to run a 4 car set, and that is what I would imagine a supplier of the models would be hoping for in a business sense. Rich,

I agree with you on the point about the loco being an existing kit. It's the finish and quality of the kit parts provided that is most important whether you build it yourself or whether the designer or a professional builds it for you. I have seen finished DC Kits DMU's and Bratchell EMU's painted, motorized, and finished to a very high standard and that is due to the design and quality of the kit parts. The Dart kits from the OP's post are designed and built by himself and it is the quality of the finished kit on the website and it's price that are the issues. Even the underframe boxes are printed and the windscreen wipers. Things are a bit different when you are modelling static buildings or platforms from Scalescenes or the buildings Glenderg has built. Also all of Glenderg's buildings are three dimensional when built even though most of the parts are printed. Darts run in four or eight car sets and on a four car set one car would only need to be motorized similar to the Bachmann BR EMU models with a black beetle motor or something similar, and as myself and Fran have said geographical wise you are limited to one line where overhead catenary is as important as the train. I hope the chap has a rethink and designs something that will have the wow factor to deserve the price tag, and I truly wish him the best of luck with whatever he decides. I will certainly pop over to have a closer look at the models and have a chat at the October MRSI show. Rich,

Eamonn I remember talking to a chap at a show some time ago and he had bought a Worsley Works G class. I remember he was talking about using a decoder designed for n gauge from Digitrax and he was pretty sure it would be fine. Mind you some 00 decoders are so small now that I have heard of people fitting them to Bachmann class 03 models. Rich,

If you want to produce a model of an Irish prototype for the type of price you are quoting you will have to produce something that would at least match something from Southern Pride, DC Kits, Bratchell Models etc. One of the lads is building a 21mm model of an SSM kit at the moment and judging from what he has done so far in his build your models are at the moment a million miles away from that quality and craftsmanship. That's not in any way meant as an insult. You really need to up your game with this model as at the moment what DK models are producing are millions of miles away in the build and quality of the finished models. One of the lads on the group produced an E Class a few years ago from a Shapeways body and a motor that was designed for the kits wheelbase. Hidden Agenda scratcbuilt a number of fantastic locos for some group members and Anthony painted the finished builds for him. Thats the kind of level of quality and model to prototype fidelity you need to be aiming for. In this day and age it's quality over quantity every time. Rich,

Amazing work, I could see myself spending hours down there. Mind you I would have to have a Chiropractor on speed dial. Rich,

I'll let you know at the show in October Des. They were originally done for my own use but I will speak to the manufacturer soon and let you know. They are designed as replacement sides for the Bachmann coaches and not overlay etches. They require a bit of rolling (a template is included along with the tanks for the underframe) and folding on the fold lines and the side clips into the chassis and roof. Because they are thinner than the plastic sides that Bachmann use a small bit of filing is required where the sides meet the end of the coach. I will be using a few spare Craven corridor connections on the ends and removing the MK1 corridor connections, cables, steps and alarm gear from the Bachmann coaches. I will model the roof detail from some brass shapes and sheets that I have to hand already. I have a few photos of side attached (unpainted) and semi completed coach sent to me by the manufacturer and it looks great, the coach ends aren't completed but it gives a good overall impression of what a finished coach might look like. Instructions are also provided. Rich,