Mayner

Tower Building print (10hrs!). I had hoped to salvage the print using model filler and scribing as de-lamination had only affected one corner and print quality was otherwise good! Filler has shown up some misalignment in area of de-lamination. Possibly re-print to 2nd floor level, then re-check alignment, before committing to a total re-print!

K27 #464 once again in the workshop, this time to re-place (and simplify) the wiring system after the origonal failed. The wiring system in the Large Scale Bachmann K27 was a little overcomplicated. The main circuit board located in the tender, linked to the loco bay a cable loom with 2 multi way connectors and selector switches in the smokebox controlling smoke and lighting functions! (cable loom right of photo). I simplified the wiring by removing one of the connectors (power pick ups and chuff -timer) following conversion to on-board battery power & fitting chuff-timer to a tender axle! I decided to replace the wiring/loco tender connection after the - negative connection on the lighting circuit failed and the loco did did not appear to be holding a charge for prolongued running despite recently replacing the batteries.. Circuit board in firebox & motor cooling fan. Main circuit board in tender loco is almost 20 years old! In the absence of an agreed "Large/G Scale DCC interface Bachmann developed their own hybrid! Track or Battery power was selected by a slide switch with screw connectors for battery power, with a separate plug-in circuit/baseboard for DCC decoders or RC control boards with hard wiring (ugg!) Loco and tender stripped down to the basics Bachmann wiring and circuit boards removed. Wiring on left connected with battery and Phoenix sound board. Putting it back together! I use these 2pin in-line connectors as standard between loco & tender on my large scale locos. Two wires from tender/power controller to loco and two for lighting. I am using a second connector on the lighting circuit so I can separate loco body and chassis. Found a use for a redundant Bachmann circuit board, should prevent lighting circuit getting tangled up in flywheel. Smoke unit adds some weight to the front end! Managed eventually to get classification lamps and headlight working by salvaging LEDs from a spare smokebox. Everything worked perfectly while testing lighting at each stage of the installation, but nothing happened when I replaced the loco body and re-connected the tender, discovered a day later that I had managed to cross wires on the engine-tender connector! Loco is almost ready for re-assembly, a section of running board/air receiver had broke free on one side of the loco and need to fit cable clips to some of the loose wiring in the tender. Poor performance of loco/ possible power drain may have been due to loose adhesive tape inside loco rubbing/binding on flywheel. Original wiring on lighting circuits partially bound with adhesive tape.

Angus Your Callander and Oban plan takes me back to time I spent exploring the area and its railways during a year spent in Stirling/Alva over 30 years ago. Always remember tramping/walking the line across Glen Ogle Viaduct as an RAF fighter practiced low altitude flight below in the Glen, and excellent opportunity for modelling a railway in the landscape! Staying in Alva I usually drove to Oban & Fort William, on one occasion taking the train to Glasgow Central and over the West Highland to Fortwilliam and Mallaig.

Strangely the Belfast & Northern Couties 7' Compounds No 50 Jubilee & No55 Parkmount were similar in general appearance to a Precedent (cab, splashers, running board & slotted valences) until re-built as 4-4-0s in 1897. The MGWR K were mixed traffic locos with smaller 5'8" driving wheels compared with the 6'6" of the LNWR locos, though Class 7-12 "Mail Engines" (similar in outline to the K) had 6'3" drivers, but the last had gone by 1922 replaced by /renewed as C Class 4-4-0s. GSR 800 of this group has struggled to re-wheel the Hornby Claude Hamilton chassis with suitable wheelsets for a 3D printed MGW A Class 4-4-0 (6'3") Modification to a MGW loco would involve considerable cosmetic modification (cab, sandbox splashers, deeper (unslotted) valence, flush riveting) but might pass for a GSWR loco due to the greater similarity in styling (assuming GSWR continued building express 2-4-0s into the 1880s)

Interestingly John Allens orignal (1948?) track plan appeared as a wild west plan in 'Railway Modelling" a 1961 book by Cyril Freezer (long time editor Railway Modeller magazine UK) Interestingly location/depot names changed and no mention of John Allen or Gorre & Daphetid(Gory and Defeated). Most "American" layouts visited during conventions tend to be of the round the wall 'walk around' format sometimes with a peninsula section sometimes multi level similar in principal to layouts featured in American layout planning books/magazines. Until the last 10 or so years many homes were built with double garages or had space for a large shed/workshop. Oddly enough the one basement layout I visited in the States was basically a large oval of HO track on a solid baseboard in the centre of the basement with access on all 4 sides, signs the owner was struggling to maintain his layout and large collection Union Pacific locos and stock. Two other layouts visited were of the American O Gauge Toy Train compact in a living/reception room rather than basement. Similarily many suburban homes in the States had basements, but newer developments are tending towards town houses/appartments. The main drawback with the solid 6X4 is that one of the longer sides is out of normal reach (re-railing/track cleaning unless access is available on all 4 sides or an operating well provided. Sn3.5 Helensville Club layout featuring model of station and Wharf Auckland mini AMRA convention 2012? Multi-level 'walk around' layout. Three levels of single track main line passing through scene Multi level 2 distinct scenes Lighting pelmet/underside of upper level. Seems to be a different layout/home. Three possibly 4 distinct levels with emphasis on switching industries at Towns (stations/yards) on each level. I may have photos from earlier conventions stored on CD, but unable to access.

All six (3 articulated coaches) to Tramore according to Locomotives of the GSR & other published sources. Possibly 2-4 coachs possibly used regular services, strengthended to 6 coaches to handle peak traffic Races & Hoildays.

Lost wax brass casting produced using 3D modelling/printing techniques may be an option for producing detail parts. The main drawback with 3D printing is that resin printed parts tend to be extremely brittle (and easily damaged/break off) unless printed with a resin with an engineering resin with resilient qualities, expensive and in my experience difficult to achieve on a home printer I used a jewellery industry supplier https://morrisandwatson.com/casting/3d-printing to produce some of the detail castings for my GSWR 52 Class loco kit from my own CAD work. Ideal for a small/one off project where no suitable castings are available

The Cormey opencast pit is about half way between Kingscourt Station and the much larger Gyproc Knocranon mine. The Cormey pit appears to have been accessed by a laneway off the Kingscourt-Carrickmacross Rd.

Its possible that the gypsum railed from Kingscourt was originally sourced from an underground mine close to the station rather than the current Knockcranan open cast pit. When I visited the area in the late 90s a laneway lead from the R179 past the old loading ramp up the hill to what looked like an abandoned mine site . Although no mine buildings remained the OS Mapviewer satelite view indicates mining subsidence on the site. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6 Its looks like gypsum may have been railed from an opencast pit in the Cormey (townland) just south of the Cavan/Monaghan border. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6. This pit is/was accessed by a minor road/laneway east of the R179 approx-2-3 miles from the Kingscourt station workable for the 2 axle tippers in the photos of the ramp & turntable. Its possible Irish Cement sourced its gypsum from locally owned mines rather than gypsum Ireland.

There are several 1950-51 photos of Kenmare including D19 Kerry Bogie No 13 on the Mixed in Ivo Peters "Lines of Character" (Ivo Peters Oxford Pub 1976) Includes the usual views plus D19No 7 on the turntable, backhead view of No 13 with partial view of loco shed & 3/4 front view of No13 departing with partial view of cattle bank and gable goods shed. Don't know if Ernie has access to Ivo Peters collection, but I would be happy to scan if anyone would like a copy for their private use. For those complaining about todays postal charges, import duty and Vat, I paid charge, duty and VAT when I bought "Lines of Character" by mail order from IRRS London Area all those years ago but well worth while.

Kingscourt The ramp and rotating table for loading gypsum traffic appears to have been installed at some stage during the 1950s The ramp and table were built in the space between an existing siding and the loco shed https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6 The loco and its train appear to be in the area once occupied by the loco shed/depot. The shed appears to have been demolished at some stage during the 1960s. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53507644047/in/album-72157661623942928, A photo of an IRRS steam special indicates that at one stage gypsum wagons were moved by rope and capstan shunting (P84 Lost Lines Ireland Nigel Welborne Ian Allen 2006). https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/191024-ropecapstan-shunting-in-4mmft/. A capstan and rope was located in the area of the left of the power pole/lamp in the 1980s photo and a rake of open wagons (mainly wooden bodied) was positioned in the run-round loop. I visited Kingscourt on an IRRS special (001 Class hauled!) in 1974/5. At the time gypsum for the Platin Cement factory was loaded in Bulleid corrugated opens, gypsum was being unloaded at Platin by crawler cranes with grab, the hopper unloading plant had not been comissioned. The old goods yard was full of Opens and a solitary ex-GN 6w Ballast Wagon, track was flatbottom dating from MGW days, no working signal interlocking points manually operated, facing point between running line and loop locked by clamp & padlock. Re-visited Kingscourt in 1982, still original FB track and ramp and table in use. Work had started on new loading area and storage shed, old goods yard area cleared and sidings removed. Not sure if there were any hopper wagons in the yard, operation likely to have been altered to out and back fixed formation to and from Drogheda/Platin following the ending of loose coupled working & capstan operation. Gypsum Industries Siding. Its possible that at one stage gypsum was mined/quarried in the immediate vicinity of the factory, in a similar manner to the way to the way cement, gypsum and brickworks are located close to the source of their principal raw material. The GNR (I) introduced six 20T Hopper Wagons (6015-6020) for gypsum traffic in 1944, with CIE introducing 3 20T Gypsum Hoppers 23963-6 in 1953! possibly for traffic from the Gypsum Industries Siding to the Boyne Road cement factory Drogheda. I remember reading about hopper wagons placed in the siding in a 1950s article of a journey over the line, possibly John O'Meara's "Meath Road" article/paper in a 1950s IRRS Journal. Another possibility is that the GNR may have routed gypsum from workings on the Cavan/Monaghan border on an all GNR routing via Carrickmacross and Dundalk to Boyne Road, rather than a CIE/GN routing through Kingscourt and Navan. Both routings involded a road transfer from mine/quarry to railhead and certain working closer to Carrick than Kingscourt. Personally I think its likely that the Gypsum Sidings may have sent out bagged plaster and possibly plasterboard in vans in a similar manner to bagged cement, until it became viable to ship by road direct from factory to the builders merchants permises. Changing colour of gypsum load. One of the noticeable features of the Kingscourt branch for many years was the the red gypsum carried by the trains and streak of red gypsum in the ballast (leakage through hopper doors) along the branch, in later years gypsum carried took ojn a dark grey hue, possibly a change to a different mine/quarry or being stored under cover before loading at Kingscourt.

I found 'system' layouts rare enough when I spent some time in the States 20 or so years ago, I suspect those featured in Model Railroader were rare enough but inspirational. Those visited tended to be in homes with basements in the older part of town, a lot of newer construction even in the Mid-West tends to be compact apartments/town houses without a basement (essential from a model railroading perspective. I visited several several large "system' layouts (usually American outline) on "layout tours" during model railway Conventions here in New Zealand A common feature was older modellers who were struggling to maintain/operate their layouts, but usually supported by a network of friends. Locally the hobby tends to be organised around regional and national conventions rather than the major public exhibitions. Conventions are organised by the New Zealand Association of Model Railway Clubs https://nzamrc.org.nz/conventions/ and by special interest groups including groups representing American outline and Garden Railway operators. One of the main features was 'tours" visiting layouts (often permanent) in the region, town/city hosting the convention, conventions usually held in public hall/school over a long weekend usually featured a number of exhibition layouts, running tracks/modular layouts, trade stands and modelling clinics sometimes featuring a guest speaker.

Brian McCann built a 3mm scale model of Castlefinn on the CDR https://3mmsociety.org.uk/castlefinn/ . 1:120 scale (Continental TT) is correct for 3'6" Cape Gauge models inclNZ, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia?)

I always seem to have been interested in model railway operations and down the years built a number of Irish and American layouts where prototypical operation was an important factor. Irish outline branch/secondary main line bedroom layout late 1970s-early 80s My first successful layout was N gauge Irish outline inspired by Richard Chown's Castle Rackrent system and Brian McCann's N gauge Bagnallstown (compact double track oval, but with beautifully modeled buildings, structures and scenery). My layout was single line tracked terminus to fiddle yard with intermediate station/junction with goods only branch, with sequence operation based on Sligo/Mayo line. U shaped shelf layout in 11'X11' bedroom in my parents house during the late 70s early 80s Pair of 121s working 3 times daily Intercity services to Dublin, 141 working local goods services (Sugar beet in opens, Oil or Pallet Cement (6 wagon cut)and Night Mail to the 'main line" and 001 working the overnight goods or Liner to the North Wall. Locos stock was repainted/modified British/American rtr, CIE diesels American rtr chassis with modified or scratchbuilt plasticard bodies. Operation was reasonably reliable usually operated before lunch on Sundays, could run reasonable length trains 2 locos and 5 coaches on Intercity passenger, up to 15 4w wagons on goods. Layout was dismantled as a result of a housemove during the early 80s. American outline N scale attic layout early 2000s Years later I erected an "American Style" N gauge operating layout in the 17'X8' attic of my home, layout featured a single track folded 8 track plan to maximise length of run with a Division Point (marshalling yard, loco depot at junction between two lines) as focal point and scenic section with tall steel trestle and small station with passing siding (loop) and industry spur (powerstation) a secondary focal point. Again the focus was on sequence operation running the long distance symbol freights (scheduled) that operated over the section of line modelled, even with 2-3 operators (2 drivers 1 dispatcher/controller/signalman) we were too busy running the scheduled freights to have time to switch/shunt the local industries, or operate the pusher/banker over the hilly scenic section that was such a feature of the prototype. Apart from the change from Irish to American outline was the conversion to DCC in 2000 and uprating of powersupply/control system to run multiple multi-unit power consists (2-5 locos) and DCC control of points in the staging and most of the main line reflecting the CTC control used on the prototype. Running the 4-5 scheduled freights required up to 15 locos and 100 freight cars! All good things come to an end and layout was dismantled before we moved to New Zealand in 2004. Colorado narrow gauge garden layout 2018-onwards. My current effort is a Large Scale (1:20.3) garden layout based on Rio Grande Southern 3' narrow gauge operations in South West Colorado during its final years when the roads freight services basically ran 'as required" with a daily 'Motor" (railcar) operated passenger/mail/sundries service over its southern section! Track layout is basically a large oval with 3 Depots/Towns on a 2% ruling grade around the perimiter of our garden inked to our garage staging by the "High Line" on a 4% ruling grade. Operation is RC (radio control) using on board battery, switches/points are operated hand using scaled down models of the vertical switch stands used on the prototype or the more compact/robust ground throws. Operations is bascialy running an as required freight to or from the garage staging to Jackson City the principal town/depot on the road setting-out (dropping off) or collecting cars at other depots/towns en-route and running the odd Stock Special. For a back to basics low tech operation cars are/were selected using computer generated 'switch lists" using JMRI "Operations Pro" rather than the traditional coloured dot, one of the advantages of large scale modelling is that its easy to read stock running numbers. At one stage we ran operating days with the local garden railway group which is now largely defunct, as our younger members no longer have the time, (work/family committments, older members leaving the area, no longer capable or have passed on. Typically operation required a two man/person train crew one to drive, the second to act as conductor/guard, brakeman/shunter read the switch list, identify the car/set the road/uncouple/couple up and ensure the train is complete before giving the all clear, someone once said that switching/shunting on a model railway takes as long as on the prototype which can be tricky if working to scaled down time. Currently I am trying to catch up on a backlog of maintenance on a railway thats been in existance for almost 20 years, hopefully I will be able to resume running sessions later this year. Experiences with exhibition layouts. Personally I think operating layouts should be built primarily for the enjoyment of the operators and don't really work well as exhibition layouts unless designed specifically for the enjoyment of the visiting public and ease of operation. One of the best I remember was a circular N gauge continuous run layout at a UK exhibition (possibly Berks or Hants) about 40 years ago, layout was simple and operation utterly reliable, small through double track main line station 70s-80s era with a running loop served by a (very large) hidden staging. Continuous procession of trains (mainly Minitrix diesels & coaches), the odd goods/parcels placed in the loop to allow a fast train to overtake. Watched the layout for about half an hour never saw the same train goin around twice. I was a member of the MRSI Loughrea layout crew from the mid 90s until the early 20s and unsuccessfully attempted to introduce a running sequence on the layout, one of the challenges was that the public quickly lost interest unless something was constantly moving and the small crew that operated the layout seldom had time to rehearse before an exhibition, busily occupied getting the layout ready for an exhibition. One of the main challenges was trying to keep two locos moving when we attempted to operate Fair Specials and a passenger service due to the limitations of the track layout, you could shunt or run round the passenger or the Fair Special but not both simultaneously! During the Inchacore 150 exhibition casual visitors tended to loose interest and walk away, but off duty drivers seemed fascinated when I shunted a Fair Special with my 001, placing the 'laden" wagons against the Brake Van in the loop before departure and commented that I had a 'Mayo Touch" with my shunting! Under exhibition conditions operation was often by whoever was available and it was often simpler to run the passenger train (ofthe GN loco & coaches) and run round, than attempt to run a mixed with the added complication of additional shunting. One of the disadvantages of Loughrea was the sheer length of the layout modelled to scale length without compression. I successfully exhibited a compact industrial layout based on an Iain Rice plan with an operating quarry hopper and "spot the woodland animals" to keep the public interested when nothing was moving. Normal operation was to use an industrial diesel/steam loco to place wagons under the hopper, then draw the laden wagons to another siding and eventually make up a train ready for collection by a main-line loco. Although nominal train length/loop was set up for 5 wagons longer (10-15 wagon) trains could be handled when collected to a friends layout, the layouts were exhibited in this gusie at a Cork exhibition and Warley in 2005. At Cork one of the challenges was to try and make up trains that would be longer than the runround loops/fiddle yards on each others layouts. Layout was DC Gaugemaster hand held controller, points controlled with tortoise motors.

Like Sam Carse Kiwi modellers tended to select a proprietary gauge and adjust the scale to represent the 3'6" gauge - 9mm scale on 32 mm gauge, S scale on OO/HO gauge track (Sn3½) 1:120 Scale on N gauge track (TT). While 1:120 modelling is largely based around proprietary N gauge track, and loco mechanisms, 9mm & Sn3½ modellers have designed and developed their own 3'6" track systems and loco.stock running gear. Recently some modellers have adapted American On30 locos and stock for modelling New Zealand Bush railways (logging) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1080932674061524 Not sure about Australian Ng as such scale and gauge used tehds to vary from State to State although apparrenlty Auscission ( equivalent Accurascale, Revolution Trains) have produced RTR Queensland 3'6" stock in HOm. Although Tri-ang produced its 'Transcontinental' range in OO for the Australian & NZ markets, Australian modellers and manufacturers use HO scale for modelling Standard and Broad gauge locos and stock. The Transcontinental double ended diesels is based on locos supplied by GM to Victorian Railways.

Interesting the Rapido parts diagram reminded me of another loco manufactured by Chines factory almost 20 years earlier. While there were issues some quality issues (mechanical) with the first batch of Bachmann locos, durability of injection moulded pony & tender trucks became a significant problem. Interestingly the loco I bough second hand almost 10 years ago is still running reasonably well approx 18-20 years since manufacture.

Here in the Waikato I don't even get to town about twice a year . Its twelve years since I attended a 'convention' our equivalent of Gauge O Guild/Scaleforum/NMRA convention rolled into one. Standard of modelling at conventions and exhibitions tends to be high (locos, stock, structures and scenery) , but few traders stocking scratch/kit building supplies of use to British outline 4 or 7mm modelling. (stock mainly British & American outline and second hand rtr The majority of Kiwi modellers tend to brew their own or import parts/components from specialist suppliers in the UK or the States just like when I lived in Ireland over twenty odd years ago. The absence of trade support led Kiwi modellers to develop their own scale & gauges to model the NZR 3'6" gauge using scratchbuilding techniques and later to develop their own kits and manufacturing capability, these days shifting from conventional to laser cutting, 3D modelling and 3D printing to produce composite 3d printed and etched models. Neil Ward a local modeller gave a persentation on the potential of 3D modelling at an Auckland convention almost 20 years ago, before going on to produce S and 9mm scale NZR stock and structures, his example inspired me to have a go with Irish outline stock and structures. https://newzealandrailwaymodels.blogspot.com/2016/06/124-50ft-car-first-class-bpx25175-neil.html I guess where there is a will theres a way! Going back to the origonal topic inspired by my first visit to Amiens St, I was sorely tempted by a Hunslet & coaches in the original maroon and blue scheme, but decided to pass go as I get more enjoyment out of building/assembling a model than acquiring a rtr model and storing it away.

Managed to escape for last Sunday's/August running day arrived after 3pm not many visitors about, volunteers closing cafe after last train, small diesel pushing/pulling single coach on final train (no run-round loop at upper end of line. August almost spring roughly equivalent of March in Ireland and UK, very cold overnight temperatures, clear sunny days, this week snow on beaches in South Island and people flocking the ski fields now that kids are back at school after mid-term break. looking up the cutting towards the actual junction with the 'main line" Glen Afton Branch and Pukemiro Coal Company line. Main line on right branch on left. npow used for storing p.w. and out of use stock. Site of triangular junction with the coal companies line, roadway now to a landfill/coal processing site on the trackbed of the branch line. Meanwhile back at Pukemiro Junction Climax 1650 outside the running shed, back section with windows is the 'Works". Cabin on left adds to the atmosphere whatever about the satellite dish. Second working steam loco this Peckett was originally owned by the Pukemiro Coal Company used to work trains between the Junction and the colliery. A piece of Kiwi ingenuity 1936 A G Price E Class geared "Bush Lokie" logging locomotive combining Climax (anged cylinders) and Heisler (coupling rods trucks) practice. Boilers/firebox NZ Bush Lokies typically unlagged. A G Price an engineering firm and locomotive manufacturer established during the 186os continues to operated from its Trames (Cromandel) premises and continues to carry out mechanical engineering work for a number of Austraiian rail operators. E Class crank shaft complete with eccentrics, valve gear missing. Powerbogie, perhaps some day I'll have the bogie and drive 3D printed in metal Last train of the day! the diesel was bascially an A G Price version of a 150hp Drewry, coach A328 Mines Car started life as two 4 wheel carriages during the 1880s rebuilt into a bogie coach 1891 similar to IOM practice, sold by NZR in 1945 used to transport miners at the neraby Rotowaro (Maori "pool of burning embers") coal mine. Ex-NZR A Class carriages with 'turtleback' roofs dating from the early 1900s once the standard main line NZR coach these cars run on open spoke wheels! This set is the normal consist for topped and tailed workings on busy days, a loco at both ends of the train (steam loco at up grade end). A number of New Zealand's heritage/tourist railways tend to paint carriages in a brown or yellow livery, for much of its existance NZR appears to have painted their coaches in a red/maroon livery

Ceased producing 3D printed wagons in late 2024. Produced a small batch of etched Bulleid Vans and MGW non-passenger stock 2025. CK Prints/Enda now produces the GSR Grain Wagon under license. I produced an etched GSWR/GSR/CIE 60 Class D14 4-4-0 in 2024, but at this stage have not had time to assemble Both RTR wagons and brass kits were produced to order rather than held in stock Produced a small batch of updated versions of the 20T Brake Van steel ducket, planked or ply body, GSW/CIE Covered, LMA and GSR Grain wagons. May turn up on the second hand market at some stage.

This thread has gone severely off topic. The handful of model railway shops that existed in the Republic were never really geared up to supplying kit/scratch building supplies, in a 1960s Evening Press article on his (Dublin) County Donegal Railways system Sam Carse spoke about obtaining tinplate for his scratchbuilt locos and stock from a supplier in Belfast. Back in the 70s Monch Place (Leinster Models) & Southern Model Railways (posh shop Grafton Arcade) carried a small stock of parts otherwise mainly various brands of Continental RTR, British Trix, Triang-Hornby rtr and plastic wagon kits. For the past 40 odd years sourced kit/scratch building parts from a handful of suppliers almost exclusively mail order, though usually stocked up at exhibitions while visiting the UK. Dave Cleal (Mainly Trains (West Somerset) was my 'one stop shop" for parts until he ceased business about 12 years ago, I currently use Wizard Models as my main supplier of parts (reasonable stock), DCC Concepts (solder & odd DCC stuff), direct to AGW (Alan Gibson Works) wheels and wire, handrail knobs, buffers & High Level gearboxes and motors. I usually order several items on a single order keeping the value above €150 both to keep my unit shipping cost down and avoid the recently introduced duty on "low value imports" that now applies in most Countries. I guess the way to look at is ordering direct from the UK and paying An Post and Customs charges is still likely to be less expensive than placing an order for a non-stock item with an Irish hobby shop (if they are willing to accept such an order and your prepared as a customer to wait. Back in the day (about 20 years ago) I remember a New Zealand model railway importer/retailer complaining bitterly about modellers importing American and British outline locos and stock from the UK & the States without having to pay duty and Vat. He recently sold his "Hobby City" business (similar scale to Marks) the new owners quickly ran down the model railway side of the business to focus on RC aircraft and die-cast, business still going strong model railways side reduced to Hornby, some Peco no longer stocking Bachmann never mind parts like wire solder or flux. Oh I use a 'homebrew" phosphoric flux, mixed from a phosphoric based rust remover diluted with rain water.

@DERAILED David Parkes (deeply involved several preservation attempts during the 80s-90s) passed away last October. I suspect he was being sarcastic when he mentioned an old GSWR 6 wheeler being a major asset on a Waterford/Rosslare preservation scheme. During the 80s-early 90s David was deeply involved in the GSRPS, Irish Narrow Gauge Trust-Cavan & Leitrim Dromad.

The Tower Building or my interpretation of the building ready for printing after several eveings work. Estimated print time 8hrs on my Photon Mono X! NZ is going through a cold snap at the moment with -0 night time temperatures, switched on the print room heater this morning to raise temp. to 24+c for the print job. Brickwork only modelled on the two elevations visible on the layout, will be using Wills 'Coarsed Stone" to model stonework at groundfloor level mainly to match stonework in quayside and retaining walls, also may computer/internet connection struggling in handling the sheer amount of data! Computer theoretically upgradable to Windows 10, but would need to upgrade graphics card or buyt a gaming computer! Oh for the days of Superquick and Faller brickpaper and cardboard buildings. The building was part of a complex built by the Guinness family at Grand Canal Dock in 1859 for storing/malting barley, now incorporated into a prestigious ofice, residential and retail complex. I got to add a water tank to the roof and a lattice footbridge link to the Malthouse in the background

21mm gauge. To a degree laying plain track is the simplest part in modelling the Irish Broad Gauge, re-gauging stock and adding pointwork is the more challenging part as it involves making a decision on track and wheel standards. I understand that Rob R has produced 3D printed plain track bases, other options include assembling 21mm trackwork using individual components such as C&L https://www.marcway.net/point.php system using plastic based chairs and sleepers, or rail and copperclad sleepers such as Markway Models https://www.marcway.net/point.php who will also produce custom track and pointwork to the customers requirements. David "The Colonel" comissioned Markway to produce Irish 5'3" gauge track & pointwork for his 7mm Arigna exhibition layout. While Murphy Models and IRM have produced locos and stock that may be re-gauged to 21mm gauge, a prospective broad gauge modeller has to make a decision at an early stage on wheel and track clearances, basically whether to re-gauge the model with the existing (MM, IRM) wheels or adopt a finer OO/EM or P4 profile wheels. The choice of wheel profile affects wheel back to back (B-B) gauge and running clearances through points. Traditionally 21mm gauge modellers used B-B gauges of 19.5 and 19.3mm with OO/EM profile wheels. (Tim Cramer wrote about using 19.5mm with Romford/Jackson wheels during the early 70s, TMD supplied a 19.5mm B-B gaauge and 12mm track gauges during the 1980s, a 19.3mm B-B appears to be derived from EM standards. Brendan8065 on this board has re-gauged IRM stock to 21mm gauge using the existing wheels with the B-B set to 19mm, the B-B has to be considered in setting running clearances in designing and assembling pointwork. In the absence of a published standard for 21mm gauge trackwork using the NMRA 110 profile wheelsets used in models produced by IRM/Accurascale, it should be feasible to use the Double O Gauge Association Intermediate Standards https://doubleogauge.com/intermediate-track/ to work out a standard for 21mm gauge track suitable for stock using 110 profile wheelsets. Locos. I regauged a 1st generation MM 141 using the existing wheels on new axles, but re-gauged wheelsets fouled bogie sideframes, ordered 21mm gauge Ultrascale wheelsets for to re-gauge remaining MM 141 &071s, haven't gotten round to re-gauging MM 121s or IRM 001s. Possibly would need to replace axles and wheelsets. OO eye level bullhead or low profile OO track. The gauge difference tends to be less noticeable when viewed from eye level possibly Peco Bullhead track used on the Navan-Kingscourt section mid 80s onwards.?

A friend successfully used the Bemo originally Rivarossi coupling modified for magnetic operation on an EM gauge layout during the early 2000s. His father who worked for the Irish Railway Clearing House had adapted the Rivarossi coupling for magnetic operation on a large OO gauge layout during the 50s-60s. One of the advantages of "hook and loop" couplers like B&B, Bemo, Rivarossi, Liliput is that the coupling can be set up so that the loop will couple up to the coupling hook on a locomotive buffer beam. https://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/Accessory/Accessories/gb/liste.html?spur=H0m&hersteller=Bemo&grup=Couplings The B&B coupling used in 2mm, 3mm & 4mm is similar in principal/operation to a modified Rivarossi/Liliput coupler. I successfully used B&B couplers on British outline locos and stock during the early 2000s I have a 'stash" of 4mm B&Bs somewhere, just got to find them/time to use them.

Photo likely to be pre-1934 .No 94 was a 60 Class/ D14 rebuilt with superheated boiler and belpair firebox 1934 transforming its appearance. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/i-W3PLw8P/A Main spotting difference between 60 Class -D14 & 52 Class D17 viewed head on was that 52 Class were fitted with a raised firebox while 60 Class had flush boiler and smokebox. Interestingly at least one 52 Class retained double smokebox doors in CIE days. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/i-zC9Ff7f/A