Scots Mac

Hi Leo, would you believe it, the tender drive unit just stopped working, absolutely dead.It was a lovely smooth running quiet unit and it just died.I can't see anything obviously wrong so I'll need to strip it down when I get a chance and see what the problem is. But having said that , the three Mainline loco mechanisms on my 800s are running fine so adding tender drive methinks will be overkill because I never enviseage big long heavy trains.The mainline units are a wee bit noisy but they actually don't sound un-steam engine-like in character when doin so.So they'll do the job. I'm afraid due to work and other commitments all modelling activity has had to stop for now .But work is work. A living has to be made !! But in the words of Scwarzeneger...... I'll be back !

Hi Guys, any of you interested in steam locomotives will appreciate this old film of NBL Glasgow back in the day. Shows all the skills and trades involved in building steam locomotives from the ground up.Fascinating film. And old smoky Glasgow as I can just remember it when I was a kid. And to think all those machines were built without the aid of computers eh ? Enjoy..... http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1276

Hi Leo, I think your Airfix scot will be OK for an 800 (though the mainline rebuilt patriots in my opinion are easier especially vis a vis the cab). The blue King I wouldn't attempt as the motion is too simple and the other locos for 400 and 500s ..... better with Replica/Bachmann B1 for the 500s (irish B1 too coincidentally) and ditto for the 400s or as | have used the older Hornby King arthurs . I think you'll be giving yourself a lot of xtra work. The two airfix engines royal Scot and the 4f I'd keep and sell the rest to finance easier choices.

Hey leo. those houses look great...and incidentallly would look totally at home on a Scottish layout . That type of traditional celtic type house is abundant in Scotland too.

I find it strange that Mr Murphy hasn't done the 121 bcause it strikes me its probably the most popular irish diesel of them all .I'd certainly be up for one or THREE !!

Hi Guys, the modelling has had to take a back sat the last couple of days and this will probably be the case for a few days to come unless I can squeeze in some time .Anyway I've been studying all the pics I can find of the CIE J5 0-6-0s. I intend to do 2 of these out of the airfix 4f. ,What I notice about this class is that there was quite a variety of running plate formats. Pictures of locos 634 and 635 show straight running plates but with the hollow type bumps adjacent to the wheel splashers. From what I've seen these variants would be the easiest to model as no cutting and reshaping of the airfix running plates would be required. The hollow humps could be done in plasticard on an overlay and glued to the airfix running plate. Othr members of the class had higher than buffer beam sideplates curved to buffer level at front and back and I even see one with the running plate higher curved down to buffer beam level at the front but straight all the way under the cab and all the way to the rear with no dip. Other than that only a cab rebuild is necessary and a tender top from a Hornby B12 looks about right. to get this to fit the airfix motorised tender will require reducing the metal traction weights so a bit of hack saw work's required but the finished article shoud look the part. On the smugmug CIE steam gallery 634 is shown sporting a larger longer tender but 634 has a tender similar to the B12. Anyway, hopefully I'll get on the case shortly.

Hi Guys, dead day today,other commitments having to take priority .... such is life. Aye I;d love to see that picture of the green 400 JHB. Is there a view of the tender ? I;m curious to see how the tenders were lined .Especially those with the outwardly curved top body flanges as opposed to flat sided tender or the 800 tenders.???? As for the green. I think the green paint I'm using is maybe a wee bit on the dark side BUT its as near as I could get to the Bachmann Irish 2-6-0 I have and the accompanying Bachmann coaches so I'll stick to it,accurate or not.

Nice work !!

Hi JH, you could be right about the lining. I did read somwhere thouigh that numbers on drawbars were dispensed with on locos that got smokebox door numbers. This seems to be the case on 402, theres also a photo of Macha or Tailte? without drawbar numbers , On that photo you have of 401 in green JH is there any sign of lining ? Cheers Davy

Hi Jh, that grey looks lighter because of the close up photo-flash.In normal light it does look not too bad and quite dark As for the 400s in the Mclements book they are definately recorded as having been given the green treatment in the 50s. On the smugmug CIE gallery there are monochrome photos in which a few of the 400s look very clean and could quite possibly be in lined green but its hard to know if its rivit lines or lining on the tenders. This photo pf 407 certainly looks like shes imacculate and quite possibly in the,lined green....http://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/18279129_TbnP49#!i=2844309905&k=m57B4cv&lb=1&s=X2

Hi Jhb,I'd love to see that picture,is there anyway you can scan/send me it ?..or post it here ? Anyway heres a pic I took of my two 400 types and the 650 tank. I've now done the 650 rear end but still need to do some work inside the cab/cab steps and fit a trailing wheel and some handrails etc. Likewise the two 400s need a fair bit of tarting up yet too.

Hi Nelson, I don't mind brush painting.I like Humbrol paints,Railmatch,and Revell enamels too, but I always use satin spray varnish for finishing.Speaking of which I just ran out of satin varnish 5 minutes ago while trying to finish this second 400. However this picture of her next to 402 shows the difference in the running plates. Neither model is perfect but I think I've managed to capture the essence of the real thing. When you consider that both locos together cost me around £60 to £65 in total its no bad methinks. Still some detailing to go of course !!

Hi Nelson, Humbrol dark grey Matt No91.Brush painted. Will be finished in satin varnish.

Hi Guys, well here she is,wheelsplashers fitted and first coat of grey paint

hi Guys, smokebox wrapped and chimney applied...starting to look like a locomotive again !! The tender in this pic is from a Hornby LNER B17 . Its too short but its the nearest looking tender I can get and is similar to similar shorter types that some Irish engines sported.