jhb171achill

Some talk of these lately; here’s Cyril Fry’s model of a GSWR one. Some of these survived to the end of horse traffic in the 1970s. Note this model was made by Fry in 1969; thus, it was one of his last….

These things are absolutely essential for a 1950s or 1960s CIE, GNR or UTA / NIR (GNR area) layout - as much so as an ICR today. I hope IRM do one some day, but I am under no illusion that it won't be this year, next, nor the several after. Until then, the wrongly-liveried, unreliable, pricey (for what you get) and fragile Silverfox one is the only thing going. On that basis i am still considering ordering one, however, provided he does it in correct CIE green livery. Jury remains out at Dugort Harbour............. another thing from that era that few if any models seem to get exactly right, though it should be easy, is a B101 "Birmingham Sulzer".

I very highly recommend them.

It's one of these cases that if that's all there is available, we may take it or leave it! Was thinking of getting a green one, but only if he did the right livery.

Absolutely superb!

Got three of Enda Byrne’s SUPERB grain wagons the other day. Here, A42 shunts the empties from Castletown Mill into a siding to get them out of the way of an incoming cattle special one day in 1965….. the loco is about to go to Inchicore, from where it will emerge in black!

Main line set stables at Castletown West tonight…. Hoping to make a start on scenery here soon.

Never knew BR had their own cement lorries!

I saw them in odd ones and twos, in amongst ordinary goods wagons heading for Belfast in the mid to late 1960s when these wagons were brand new (and standard wagon grey). Dunno how they were dealt with at what then would have been Grosvenor Rd goods yard….

I think originally they all had only 1 windscreen wiper - a quite stupid economy!

It could be an imitation beetle, in which case it's a GWR "oasis".

I had a French teacher at school when I was about 13/14, who was notoriously absent minded. He lived sufficiently close to the school to walk, albeit a long enough walk, but normally drove. One day he walked to school, taught all day, and at home time noticed his green Triumph Herald was not in the staff car park. He reported it stolen to the local constabulary…..

Yes, in white coats!

I’ve none myself. loughErne, can you oblige with this?

You mean those railbus things?

“”Spot” green’s the one!

I remember reading that, yes! The late J I C Boyd once told me of hopping into a six-wheeler somewhere (knowing him, probably narrow gauge, which suggests West Clare) and the weather was awful - it was absolutely hammering down heavy rain. He sat himself down and made himself comfortable. Then the drips started from above onto his head…..

NOW I need to dream up a reason for an elderly TPO to be seen on a very remote West Kerry branch line! A Cusack 1st is tempting too.

What about his recent apparent agreement to do 4mm MGWR 6-wheel coach etches?

I find the best way is the Park Royal or laminate behind the loco, and six-wheeler at the back..

The RPSI had a special train today…. IMG_6150.mov IMG_6149.mov

They WERE considerably smaller, though, same width but MUCH lower roof, like most bogie coaches pre-1910…..

Yes, I'm likewise delighted! While 3D printing is opening up all sorts of possibilities now, when I bought the above from him, there was no other way of getting anything authentically Irish from this period, with the sole exception of Provincial's GSWR brake van which, of course fits perfectly with these yokes for GSR era. While Dugort Harbour is based on the 1955-70 period (and a sole supertrain-liveried 141 will push that out to 1972!), if I ever live to be a zillion, it's my long term intention to also build up a collection from GSR era. If IRM brought out the J15, I'd be down for half a dozen, as a line like Dugort, had it existed, would almost certainly have been exclusively worked by J15s. Cue a run of Hattons (IRM??) Genesis coaches in GSR maroon.....................!

That's an excellent adaptation so far, well done! Looking forward to seeing progress. One thing I've noticed is that British horseboxes of many edsigns, possibly most, have doors to the groom's compartment that are structured and panelled like passenger coach doors, while irish ones are a great deal more basic, and almost wagon-like in design. This can be seen in the photo above versus the etch. See the windows and vents, though this etch you've chosen is as close as you'd get it. In particular, (English) Midland Railway ones show this tendency and some even have coach-like curved in ends, thus rendering them entirely unsuitable for Irish conversion. At least you won't have trouble with snails and roundels on omne of these, unless you go for 1945-55 livery. When initially dark green, they seem to have had snails, but once repainted lighter green, no snails, just lining. After 1963, and repainted into grey never appear to have carried either a snail (initially) nor a "roundel" at all, so only a number is needed. In GSR times they were plain dark maroon with black roofs. No GSR crest, but shaded "coach-type" lettering "G S".

Saw that - and even Cyril Fry used LNWR crests on some of his models, and hand-painted GSR crests on others! I have an original one mounted on a board with actual GSR coach paint, so I could have that photographed and copied if necessary....