JasonB

18 hours ago, Noel said:

I “feel” I like in time to eventually weather all my rolling stock. 75% done so far.

18 hours ago, Noel said:

I “feel” I like gentle weathering which is quick and easy to do, and low risk too.

I "feel" a hint of sarcasm off your post. Has somebody got a bee in their bonnet?  

18 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

One of four IRM/Accurascale Rawie buffer stops has been installed on siding one at Tara junction.....

Take care when fitting the buffer stop as they are fragile.

 

Great paint job on the coaches. Not bad for a first attempt at weathering, especially on a loco. Nice work  

I could never quite make up my mind as to whether I liked that livery on the Mk2's. But I have to say they do look well with 229. 

17 hours ago, burnthebox said:

I know you posted  a video of two Ploughs that seemed to have LIGHT PROBLEMS...

Have you been sipping on the Blue Nun again BTB? 

Looks great, and a fantastic line up of motive power also. 

Nice work Noel. Looks straight forward enough to install, and seems to run at a nice speed. I noticed the Shamen playing there in the background, very oldskool  

2 hours ago, spudfan said:

Sorry about that,checking back it was a quote in your post. Many apologies

No worries. I've been accused of worse. I was more concerned about if I had asked, I now couldn't remember. I get days like that occasionally. 

9 hours ago, spudfan said:

JASONB wrote "Do we have a model shop in Ireland that could compare with long closed “The Model Railway Shop” (also known as Leinster Models) on Monk Place Phibsborough? "

I used to cycle over from Drimnagh and spend my three hours overtime on a Lima loco. Sometimes I'd walk over with the dog. On arrival the dog would collapse and Kieran would give him a bowl of water to help him recover. I swear that I can still smell Kierans pipe smoke on the boxes of some of my Lima locos, some of which are 30 years plus and still doing great service. Any way when I'd had the craic and completed my business and the dog had recovered we trek back to Drimnagh. The walk or cycle usually cleared the smell of pipe smoke from my clothes by the time I arrived home. Happy memories

Don't seem to remember asking that Spudfan. Think you might be mixing me up with someone else. I've been going to the the same model shop for years. 

1 minute ago, Ironroad said:

Thank you for that, I did not start what is being viewed as a digression, but the issue is real and frustrating and my comments are not an attempt to divert attention from what promises to be a fabulous model.

 

No problem but the point may be lost, I resent the inference that what I'm saying is bull****  I acknowledged at the outset that this  may belong elsewhere, nor has it anything to do with Brexit.

I mentioned bullshit before you replied to me. I wasn't directing it towards you. And if you look back, Brexit and everything that comes with it has been mentioned. As Fran has suggested, I'll leave it there. The Moderators have enough to be doing this weekend. 

15 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Where

General Chat. Letting Off Steam. Wherever you fancy. This thread is about the model itself. Not Brexit, or how it will impact on VAT etc etc etc... Nor is it about what discounts Irish Retailers give to their customers. 

13 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

As was suggested this topic probably belongs elsewhere, but it is not bull****, it’s a serious matter that Irish model retailers need to pay attention to, and I for one would like to hear a response from that quarter.

 It would be very nice and desirable to support the local Sheriff but only if he deserves that support.

Do we have a model shop in Ireland that could compare with long closed “The Model Railway Shop” (also known as Leinster Models) on Monk Place Phibsborough? Most here won’t remember that shop and won’t know what I’m talking about, but that was the real deal and worth supporting even at a cost. But I submit that we now have nothing like that on the island of Ireland and there is nothing to distinguish any Irish model retailer and accordingly they need to get real and that means getting seriously competitive if they expect to survive. No store has a given right to your business, loyalty is something that must be earned continually.

And before I go further, why are some on here being derogatory to UK retailers by calling them “box shifters” Please be specific and name who you are applying this term to.  I’d really like to know and understand what the perceived problem is, because my experience of UK model retailers over 50 years either over the counter, by mail order, or online has been superb.  Generally their reputation for service and price has been the reason they can shift volumes.

There is a significant difference in population between the UK and Ireland and accordingly it may be claimed that this places Irish model retailers at a disadvantage and that affects the range and volumes they stock. However, in this time of the internet and online retailing I cannot fathom why the Irish business model (pardon the pun) is so stuck in the past. Surely there exists an opportunity for Irish model retailers to compete and go head to head against UK model retailers for customers in the UK and elsewhere in the world for everything and anything (not just Irish interest). And before anyone says it, Brexit should not have a significant effect on this.

Surely IRM are a perfect example of a business that understands the limitations of the market in Ireland by expanding to attack the UK market.  The same principle holds for retailers who want to survive and be in a position to continue to offer service in Ireland.

All of us have a pretty good idea of the quality of Peco, Bachmann, Hornby, Murphy Models, IRM, etc. etc., to the point that we can have confidence ordering online. So visiting a store for these products is a bit of an unnecessary extravagance unless one feels the need, or it’s really local and convenient to do so. I accept there is a risk of receiving a faulty or damaged item in the mail but in my experience that is an extremely low risk.

And when visiting an Irish retailer why should a customer have to demean themselves by having to ask for a discount? I’m not comfortable with that. The asking price should be competitive end of story. Nor is a mere 2% difference in the VAT rates charged in Ireland and the UK, an excuse for significant price differences.

The sad fact is that Irish model retailers are not at the races. So why is this and why are Irish model retailers probably failing to achieve their real potential in securing online sales of any significance outside Ireland and also losing local business to foreign retailers?  At least five good reasons;-

(a)    Unrealistic pricing (their perception appears to be that they have no competition)

(b)   Limited range of products

(c)    Cost & Speed of Delivery (Hattons knock the socks off everyone on this)

(d)   No Marketing- they do not promote themselves and have limited horizons, they need to find a competitive edge (start with a niche area) and advertise.

(e)   Failure to zero rate VAT on sales outside the EU (IE they don’t sell net of VAT). In fact they are unresponsive when asked about this. So effectively they are pocketing this VAT (VAT is not payable to the Revenue non EU export sales) and they are also potentially causing the customer to pay local tax calculated on an inflated price that includes an improperly applied tax (double whammy). I’ve also had the experience of dealing with someone who as it turned out was not registered for VAT but was still selling at full recommended retail price and thereby profiting not just on the normal markup but also on the difference between VAT on purchase and the VAT on sale.

In dealing with UK businesses, with the exception of one retailer and very small producers whose turnover is probably below the threshold for VAT registration in the UK, I have not had a problem on the VAT issue. But for what I’s worth for anyone outside the EU (and very shortly this may mean anyone outside the UK), the UK retailer I do have a problem with is Olivia’s Trains because they  charge an administrative fee for the privilege of purchasing net of VAT and accordingly that is a store I avoid.  

End of Rant

I take it you're referring to my comment. It is bullshit, when it's being posted in this thread. I'll say it again, post elsewhere, It's taking away from a fantastic model. 

On 10/21/2019 at 10:41 AM, Mayner said:

The run down of Irish Railfreight during the last 16 years is mainly a result of a combination of IE implementing  Irish Government transport policy and increased competition as a result of EU de-regulation.

While the Irish Government is allowed to subsidies loss making public transport services, the Government is apparently not prepared to subsidies IEs freight operations due to a potential breach of EU competition regulations. One Transport Minister (round 2002-2005) is on the record that the Government is not prepared to subsidies IE to transport freight by rail because of competition legislation.

CIE and Irish Cement came into existence during an era of protectionism when it was acceptable for a government to grant a monopoly to establish or protect and industry.

IEs cement traffic was operating on borrowed time from the  mid-late 1980's  Cement Limited lost significant market share as competing cement manufacturers and importers entered the Irish cement market in the late 1980s, IE lost its near monopoly position in licensed haulage when the Irish Road Transport Industry was de-regulated during the 1990s. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry I didn't go into the politics behind my comment. But whether it was Irish Rails decision or their paymasters, it has resulted in the demise of freight movements before and since. That was the point I was making. I never said cement, or any other freight carried by Irish Rail wasn't loss making. Whatever way you look at it, it's sad to see. 

Any chance the bullshit regarding pricing etc can be shifted elsewhere. It has nothing to do with this thread, and is taking the good out of what is a long awaited model. 

Love it Noel. Looks fantastic with the new lighting. Really adds to an already superb layout. 

Love it Noel. I do like my buses, and that's a seriously impressive collection.  

078 & 232 Dublin Heuston 

232 at a rather wet Cork 

078 now at a much brighter Killarney

078 & 232 back at Heuston 

Stunners

Right, I'm off to put my paper underpants on. 

As always.The Junction never disappoints   

Oh they are just stunning. This project might have taken that bit longer than expected Fran, but the results just go to show yet again, that good things come to those who wait. You and the lads at IRM should be immensely proud of your achievements to date.Highest of respect from here. 

20 hours ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said:

Hi Jason,

It's 1.5mm balsa sheet, 70mm high, with 6.5mm x 10mm x 1.5mm thick pillars on 50mm centres.

All wrapped in ancient Superquick red brick paper.  Proper old skule!

 

Thanks for the info. Nice work all round, it's looking really well. 

Great news, really looking forward to the arrival of these. Another must have from the Irish freight scene. Once I get my hands on these, it'll be one less from a very long list  

I'm liking that wall Mr Fritters. What did you knock that up from, if you don't mind me asking. 

9 hours ago, John-r said:

Hi Jason.

                  Really enjoy your workbench, the silo is brilliant looking, same here I also have a fondness for cement wagons and cement traffic in general, looking forward to your updates.  Btw. did you do any more to your ammonia wagons they were taking shape really well ,any pics of them finished.   Cheers. John.

Hi John, 

Thanks for the positive feedback. To answer your question regarding the Ammonia and Barrier wagons. Unfortunately they haven't progressed any further since the last post, spare time for modelling has been hard to come by since the start of the year. They are currently sitting on the bench along with my IRM cement bubbles. The Ammonias are a personal favourite of mine, so I'm itching to see them finished myself  

3 hours ago, RedRich said:

Great work Jason. That's looking amazing. I love cement traffic myself.

Rich,

Cheers Rich. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated. I'm looking forward to getting it painted now and adding the finishing touches. It's also nice to know there's someone else out there with a cement fetish