RedRich

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,

I'm not really surprised that the €400 price shocks people. With all due respect and I am being honest here and not trying to be hurtful but, there seems to be a lot of printed detail on the models and very little 3 dimensional parts. The windows not being transparent glazing makes it look a Little toy like as there seems to be no interior. I've seen a lot of model railway products in several different gauges over the years hand built by some fine modellers, but never anything that expensive and lacking so many separate details. The cost of buying or building over head catenary for an EMU layout would make a four car set seem very expensive. As an example the 2600 DMU's released last year which were, researched, computer drawn, assembled, glazed, decaled and painted seem more reasonable price wise. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to go back to the drawing board and rework some details, or lower prices to substantially reach a wider customer base. Most of us will be buying the 071-111 models when they are released and those models are the standard that punters expect these days of economic uncertainty. I congratulate you on attempting to bring something new to the market but i think you need to sit down and have a rethink regarding the price. Rich,

The ballasting looks very neat Stephen. I am looking forward to hearing some first hand news about the performance of the cube magnets. Rich,

Those are three very generous deals Seamus considering the fact that they are all really nice models. Rich,

Thank you very much Seamus for taking time out to have a look at the model. The very fact that there are people who remove the body for DCC decoder (sound) fitting or changing or installing LED's it makes a huge difference. It is also very important for the lads that provide weathering and respraying services (all to a great standard) on here. I totally agree with Seamus (Heir Flick) about the gap between cab and chassis on the babies once the cab is removed. I had to do some filing and sanding myself with one, but thankfully it looks spot on now. I really hope that the cab chevrons on the IR - IE locos are corrected before release, and that the IE logos are the correct size on the bonnets of the models. I cant wait for the models to be available to buy especially 112. Rich,

The scene looks like a winters evening Eamonn, great work and a lot of thought has gone into it. Rich,

We had Guinness trains Seamus and there were rails in James's Gate. Rich,

Cheers Fitz. Rich,

Could be Anthony. It would be nice if they were a one piece moulding like some US models. I've seen some 141-181 models with broken handrails from removing the bodies from the chassis and footplate. Rich,

Kirley things are moving at a great speed when you consider that the build only started in July, great work. Rich,

It might be a bit of more informative information if the contents of the plaque was mentioned in the post. Rich,

A picture speaks a thousand words Dave. I see screws in the chassis does that mean that the body, foot plate and skirt is one moulding. Rich,

Gareth I am listening to President Gas as I am reading your post and posting mine, what a coincidence. Rich,

That's another fine bit of kit bashing Popeye well done. Rich,

A fine model, great work and a nice paint job. Rich,

No probs Fran, will do. Rich,

I hope that the 67 is a return to the quality of the 08 and class 60 Fran. I'm not bothered about the gimmicky details like opening doors etc. I just hope it looks like a 67. Will it have brake disc's on the wheels also. Rich,

That would make for one inspirational layout John. Its always nice to add something prototypical to a layout if it is in the vicinity of the area you are modelling. A chap I know is in the planning stages of basing a layout on Campile during the 60's early 70's and is hoping to add Ballycullane Viaduct to the scenic part of the build. If modelling in this area of the country it would be a good idea to try and have a talk with Jack Kennedy if you get the opportunity as his knowledge of the area is limitless. Rich,

I was passing that way a week ago Eamonn, on the road where the Currabaha level crossing was. It would all make a hell of a model including the viaduct. Rich,

Eamonn looking at your work and the way you are improving all the time in every area I honestly think you could do it. Rich,

He'll love it. 078 would make a nice renumbering exercise for one of the IE led light cluster models with a small IE logo on the side of the loco. Come on Eamonn you have to do it now. Rich,