Richard EH

Reasonable run on the original batch, but they've been out a while and are sold through. Ebay or occasionally on the for sale or wanted page on here your best bet! Cheers for now! Richard.

Hi all, Hattons have announced today a new range of four and six wheel coaches in 00 scale, today . Link here They've seen a gap in the market based around recent Victorian locomotives - with nothing to pull! The first batch will be available in 2021 and comprises a number of combinations and liveries - too many to list here, but the link will show you what they plan to do! The only big omission so far seems to be a full brake - perhaps that will emerge in time. They are clear that the models are 'generic' - not based on any one prototype, but aim to provide a generic style and type of the period. Livery application is likely to be good of course, a real plus point with some of the more ornate liveries - LNWR in particular being an, umm....challenge to say the least! Hattons have released key dimensions for us to mull over as well, also taken from the RMweb thread here "4 wheel Body length - 105.2mm Body width (over body, not handles) - 31.9mm Wheelbase - 60mm 6 wheel Body length - 129.2mm Body width (over body, not handles) - 31.9 mm Wheelbase - 42mm centres In regards to accepting 21mm wheelsets, it may well be possible but with the 6 wheelers especially it wouldn't give much room left to play with to negotiate curves." Clearly, at a width of 31.9mm (8ft), they're going to be narrow compared to the broad gauge's more generous loading gauge of around 9ft. For modellers of irish railways, what do they offer us? Something that's a great base to work with, I think, and I've been scouring a few books this evening to try and work out what the first batch might offer us: GNRi - the 6 wheel, all thirds in GNR teak look like a decent portrayal of a GNRi Q3 6 wheel 5 compartment coach - a couple of mil too short and 4mm too narrow, but not bad for a coincidence. These did go early, before 1948 though - but if the teak is a good portrayal - can't see why it wouldn't be - I can see me getting a few of these! DNGR - If only for the livery alone, hattons are producing some LNWR vehicles, example here, which might suit if you squint for the DNGR.... Some of the other liveries/vehicles may also be of interest.... Others A quick look at Des Coakham's Irish Broad Gauge Rolling Stock also might give the following: BCDR No.143 might be a good cut and shut job on a new chassis from the 5 compartment third and the brake third.... There are more, I'm sure! Cheers for now Richard.

Enjoy euro-ex, it's usually a great show! Llangollen diesel gala for me... Richard.

Hi Leslie, Hope all is well with you? Put me down for three kits, please! Cheers for now. Richard.

Ta, bit late for me, in that case! Richard.

Looks great, do we know what era this is - late 50's or early 60's....? Richard.

Oh I know, you're right, the costsa aren't that different just musing, really! Going to need(need... or want....?!) a grey one and a mixed IE/IR pair.....! Cheers for now! Richard.

Re Double packs - a powered and unpowered would work quite well - but I guess not really much change in the price, in reality! Cheers for now! Richard.

Mk1 GSV is an excellent call - loads of cravens looking for a brake vehicle! A WT would be a great steam loco to have RTR, I'd also vote for a S class as well, as that'd also cover the modern era. 85 goes without saying, too Richard.

Hi, Like you'd I been searching for a copy of this book for some time. I finally tracked a copy down to the NRM in York, if you drop a line to them, they can bring it into their reference library. I was disappointed.... It's quite dated now, and as Leslie says, the IRRS drawings are of much much better quality! Richard,

Hi all, Sunrise models have announced a resin kit for a GNRi Regal 3 coach in 1:72, supplied to the GNRi in 1948. Having built one of their kits in the past, I think this will be a welcome release, next month! I'd link to their facebook page, but that seems to be tricky to link through to - those of you on FB might want to take a look if interested! Cheers for now. Richard.

Better get saving then, I guess! Starting to become an expensive hobby....! Richard.

Yep! I've done a number of GNRi vehicles, some of which are up on shapeways. Unfortunately, with the changes to shapeways pricing a couple of years back, it made vehicles like the F16 and K15 unaffordable. That and the lack of my own 3d printer has slowed my output. I do like the W1 though, they're such a great vehicle to model! Richard.

Hi all, For wooden bodied stock, the shapeways materials don't do too bad a job, in my view - with careful finishing the grained effect is ideal for wooden stock. This GNRi W1 is entirely 3d printed by shapeways (apart from wheels, couplings and buffer heads!) - the material formerly known as white strong and flexible does a great job for the 6 wheel flexichass. Cheers for now. Richard.

Fabulous photos all, ta for sharing! Didn't have a huge amount of time to visit the layouts with show duties to do; but it was great to catch up with Leslie, Andy and Richard. As always great to natter, and pick up a few must haves! Richard's done a great job on getting the SLNCR drawings scanned and printed.... Cheers for now! Richard.

See you all there over Warley weekend! If you're passing stand A, say HI, I may even be able to point you in the right direction, no doubt I'll also be able to swing by the IRRS and Andy's layout at some point over the weekend too.... Cheers for now! Richard.

Colin, The diagram books as scanned in will be just up your street. I've been amazed by the quality of the scans; some real gems! Cheers for now. Richard.

The IRRS drawings are being drawn up by a small team - are you heading to Warley? There'll no doubt be some copies there... Richard.

Give it a go, carriage building is great fun, and I've certainly enjoyed building and designing a few GNRi coaches. It's certainly better to build in the extra width to the vehicles, if you can, it is noticeable! Cheers for now. Richard.

That's great news Leslie! Looking forward to seeing these delivered! Richard.

I did the same - valve design body, bullant chassis and detailing. The best option at present - plenty of modelling with a reasonable chance of a good outcome from the build! Richard.

Sounds good! I'd be interested as well! Richard,

Fans of the GNRi MAK diesel may like to take a look at the link below. It's close cousin off the production line appears to be running a railtour in Germany soon: worth a look if you're interested: https://europeantraction.com/2018/04/17/monday-21st-may-2018-railtour-with-german-mak-hydraulic-800011/ Cheers for now. Richard.

Well done guys, that's a fair amount of product to work up and produce. At least with some notification, we can aim to save up - I've my eye on the ballast vans and some fertiliser wagons, I think! Cheers for all the hard work! Richard.

Nelson did a great job of converting a Bachmann C class into a GNRi PGs I think? It's on my long term list to do something similar! Cheers for now. Richard,