Noel

10 hours ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Evening all, I'm going to have a go at repainting stock, have any of you bought an airbrush recently, good or bad or alright? Where are they available on this island? I have plenty bits and pieces I can practice on, thanks in advance.

A few visuals better than lots of words.  Started with airbrush about 6 years ago thanks to some advice and guidance from Richie and others.

I started using Tamiya and Railmatch acrylics cause less noxious and less smelly indoors, also was easy to mix CIE orange tan using Tamiya.  I’ve since adopted Valejo acrylic paints. Acrylics are water based so easier to clean equipment after painting.

Best bit of advice was not to bother buying expensive airbrushes, this Veda no longer in production cost about €28. I was terrified of taking airbrush apart to clean it after first session test, it took me an hour I was so pedantic, then I got cleaning time down to 10mins, now about 120 seconds. In the beginning it too more time to clean than airbrush. It’s not rocket science once you get used to quickly dismantling and putting back together.

This airbrush cleaning pot reduces nasty fumes when cleaning airbrush 

IPA readily available from pharmacy shops is handy for cleaning. Do not use white spirits.

compressor was about £80 from Bartsharp in uk prior to brexit costs. Worth spending the few extra euro for one with an air reservoir bottle, and a moisture trap. The air bottle means the pump only runs every now and then to fill the bottle so you get a smoother constant flow of paint and its quieter as most of the time the motor is not running. Acrylics are more forgiving and easier to clean up as they are water based. MY wife would not tolerate the solvents in enamel paints but they can flow better through an airbrush. If you properly thin acrylic paints and use Vallejo flow improver they will not clog up the airbrush. Lower air pressure also a help (ie 20psi rather than 40). Vallejo 'model air' are pre-thinned but I still add a little more water based thinner. 

My first resprayed coach. Good quality masking tape is essential. It takes more time to accurately apply masking tape at the various stages than painting time. Patience also required, don’t rush to next step in a job. This was done using the standard ‘reverse masking’ technique. 

YouTube is your friend and university for learning, and giving it a go, start with some older stock. More than anything have fun and enjoy the learning process. The more you do it the quicker and better you’ll get. My first airbrush stayed in its ca se for nearly a year such was my fear.

https://www.bartsharpairbrush.co.uk/?doing_wp_cron=1684564496.7064940929412841796875

WARNING: Do not airbrush varnish indoors or near your other stock. It will turn all windows opaque.  When varnishing models you will have to remove all glazing and windows or carefully mask over them with tape or maskol paint. Or they will end up opaque milky white.

take me to your leader. We come in peace   
 

In awe a people who can do precision brass modelling. Engineering excellence. 

17 minutes ago, Flying Snail said:

South Wexford is a nice subject to model, with a very distinct feel to it. As one of the quieter lines, I'd imagine it didn't change much over the years, so any images you can find of it will be helpful for you

A pal of mine is planning to build a working 3D beet loader like the one that used to be at Wellingtonbridge station. All those south wexford lines had a standard layout and buildings (eg island platform and prefab signal box).

2 hours ago, Irishswissernie said:

Quite a bit out of my depth here but I believe the CIE Class D /J1A diesel shunting locos Nos 1000 to 1004 later D301 to D305 were quite similar to the UK Class 10  and later Class 08 so would that be a possibility?

 

Personally I’d prefer a proper loco that could haul coaches or rake of two axle wagons. Hence the 141 mention as that could haul resprayed br mk2 O gauge stock or resprayed collets as fake laminates, or any resprayed GWR wagons. Shunters don’t quite fit the bill for that. 

IMHO, No viable market here for O gauge Irish stock. But I'd nearly shave my head for an O gauge 141 to IRM's standards. But reckon over 3 years you'd sell max 200-300 locos if even that.

11 hours ago, Fowler4f said:

I have 3 IRM A Class EMD Sound Decoders for sale. £99 each incl P&P 1st Class Recorded. UK Only ! 
Have been installed, but test run only on rolling road. No offers please.
As per forum 15/5/23, the Crossley decoders are due soon, so I don’t need these for my A12, A15 & A55 locos. 

Are these the IRM ESU projects or your own?

21 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Grab a UTA 7mm scale Jinty for under £200…..https://www.hattons.co.uk/448185/dapol_7s_026_008_class_3f_jinty_0_6_0t_19_in_uta_ulster_transport_authority_lined_black/stockdetail

Not bad price for an O gauge steam loco.

35 minutes ago, David Holman said:

Amazing models. 3D printing is definitely going up in the world and the skills required to produce these are every bit as good as any scratchbuilding.

Yes with these 8k printers they are even better than IMP for resolution. Excellent results @KMCE and excellent CAD work.

1 hour ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Perhaps @BosKonay would be so kind as to move the last few posts into THIS THREAD, as it seems to be covering the same ground.

I guess there's a lot to cover in the debate, and the final calls will be made from a business perspective, with minimum compliance and cost, while maximising return, being the standard.

Not disputing that a hundred year plan would be an advantage for future generations, but I just find it hard to imagine many people in business having that vision - or even caring, as they'll be long dead before their investment pays off.

Also, much as I'd love to see the 071's re-engined to be the future, they can only be rebuilt etc so many times before they just get too old, as @Noel implied in the other thread.

They may have one or two more lifetimes left, whether battery powered, hydrogen powered or OHLE powered.

Or even DCC 800v

3 hours ago, spudfan said:

I do not think that electrification of our rail network will happen. A lot of our tunnels and bridges just have the bare minimum clearance for the current stock. To get over head catenary throughout would probably need a complete rebuild of these. That effects the road as well as raising the bridge or tunnel means a complete new road approach and alignment. This would not be a close the line over night or at weekends effort. This would be a major shutdown of the line for months on end. Even if there are parts of the network suitable for electrification there will be other parts where non electrified traction would be needed. Maybe third rail electrification might suit but that has other issues.

I do not think it is anyway "green" to ditch the 071 class purely on emissions based reasoning. They have been modified since first entering service and no doubt will continue to be. To mine raw materials, manufacture parts, transport them, take into account emissions caused by people travelling to work to make a "greener" loco it will be better to leave the 071 locos in service. 

If we lived somewhere like India where they are building new railway lines, some specifically for freight, then buying new traction makes sense. 

Yes interesting points. Mind you the dart line faced similar insurmountable obstacles in densely populated parts of the capital, yet they were solved by engineering. At that time we were in severe recession, unlike today when Ireland is now the 6th wealthiest nation on the planet and can afford capital projects that seemed unattainable only 15 years ago. We have to invest heavily now in public transport and at scale, dart underground, airport link, intercity electrification, etc. This is a hundred year investment and the capital costs can be spread over 100 years. Rail is vital to public transport success and electrification vital to cutting CO2 quickly. We've run out of time for the niceties of gradual managed transition to cleaner energy. The raw data suggests we have to act now. Not sure how my grandchildren's generation will cope in a world when billions of displaced climate refugees get on the move. There's loads of alt tech to solve engineering problem such as battery packs to enable trains run shortish distances without pantograph or 3rd rail (eg the Luas in Nice, France as an example has no overhead wires in the city centre scenic spots). Same could be done for the Cork Tunnel, instead of dropping the track bed 6 feet lower as they did along much of the Dart line (eg Dun Laoghaire, Sandymount, Dalkey, Killiney, etc) to get overhead clearance for pantograph. We live in exciting times as all the alt tech has already been invented and proven, we don't need to go back to living in caves nor do without the lights on, rather instead we just need to make intelligent 'adjustments' to how we consume energy and food. alt energy is also the biggest economic opportunity our nation has before it. In 25-20 years time energy could be our major export rather than agri-food, pharma and software. Only time will tell. With Dart and Luas we're already 1/4 of the way there perhaps, especially with extended dart commuter lines using hybrid battery for unnelectrified CWR stretches.

46 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said:

The 071's are gonna look wierd with pantographs.

Yea but they could dry cloths too up there!   The 071s have been incredible work horses and proved to be some investment but they must be getting close to that time they become beyond future economic overhauls. One wonders if there is a plan to replace the Rotem drive units with Hydrogen or Electric units, even Diesel/Hybrids so no emissions when stopped in stations idling for days on end belching out harmful NoX.

In time the 22k's, 201s and 071s may also be cut up as they don't meet emissions targets, and diesel will be phased out sooner than we might think as the climate crisis worsens. Hopefully electrification of the main lines is not too far off.

Superb 

6 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

I don't want to be negative, so I apologise in advance if this come across that way. It is genuinely meant in a constructive way.

While Gort is fabulous, and you should be very proud of what you have achieved, the thread is starting to feel a little repetitious, now.

I get a Gort notification and think that I'm gonna see a new video or a new running session or a yellow weedspray train behind a grey 071 or whatever, but it just kind of feels like it's the same stuff again and again, packaged differently. Old photos, plans, whatever etc.

Again, @Noel, Gort is incredible, it takes the idea of prototypical modelling and does a wonderful job, but maybe there's not much to add to the thread until you have something new - maybe the cassette that you spoke of would allow an update or two.

Dugort and Brookhall Mill are examples of layouts that warrant frequent updates, there's always something new or something tweaked.

Gort is more like a Barrow Street in that there is less to post about in general, while still being an amazing layout. Some fresh running session videos would be nice.

No prob. Your right. I’ll stop posting 

On 3/10/2018 at 11:12 AM, Noel said:

Thanks JB.  Oh no pressure then. Hopefully it will be an enjoyable learning experience using new materials and techniques acquired along the journey. 

Well Jonathan, 4 years later it got to this first stage of completion. Now for the 2023 extension which includes a fiddle yard pretending to be Tuam station. Thanks for your guidance and encouragement as well the the book 'Rails Through the West' that inspired the creation of this layout.

On 3/5/2023 at 7:13 PM, enniscorthyman said:

I got another pack of the Mags today,and here are all 19 in action with 027.What wonderful wagons they are.

Looking great as ever. 19 wagons.

On 1/5/2023 at 6:40 PM, Bob229 said:

Well done to Wexford MRC for a great show lots of excellent layouts and Traders, plenty of space and good food in the cafe, met Fran at the IRM stand good chat the model of the 22000 looks excellent as did the Park Royal coach lots to look forward too

Great sequence of photos encapsulating the show.

Found this old video earlier when somebody commented and asked if I’ll be ordering. Chalk and cheese models, the IRM versions will be on another planet. Order placed, looking forward to the IRM versions with great anticipation. This train can be brought up to a higher standard. Still I’ve really enjoyed running these basic resin coaches since 2014.

A short

53 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

Yep, from the announcement, we will launch mainline and ambulance versions anon...

Thanks!

Cheers Stephen. Thank you.

[EDIT] PS will order more when the mainline versions are listed.

Order placed.

@Warbonnet Fran are they all suburban versions or are there any mainline (intercity) versions planned?

16 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Sadly not...babysitting all weekend! Looks like I missed an excellent one.........

Ah but baby sitting a special little one is a treasured gift.

A few pics of Gort's first ever outing to an exhibition at the superbly organised WMRC exhibition. There were 25 layouts, many absolute stunners. Was honoured to be in such exalted company.

Little Siddington in the background behind Gort and in the far distance IRMs stand with the Park Royal 3D sample. (Far away not very small you understand   ) 

View from Athenry end as pax train exits the loop.

View from Ennis end as B134 prepares to enter the yard and take some wagons up to Tuam.

Drone Shot

Glamorous assistant for the weekend. She even learned how to shunt the yard and organise delayed uncoupling of wagons around the yard sidings.

Nice touch for the organisers was a lovely badge to mark our first attendance at this exhibition

Men at work preparing in the yard as two passing goods trains expected in the next hour.

Had so much fun shunting the wagons around the yard and through the shed over the weekend. The Kadee couplings performed almost perfectly as did the uncoupling magnet hidden under the track. In the background is Barry Carses photo from Book 'Rails through the West' that I saw 4 years ago and the photo that inspired reproduction in this layout.

All in all really glad we made the trip down. Interesting travelling down in an EV towing a large two axle trailer. But made it easily on a single charge despite a strong head wind. Superb hospitality and the show with the 'Station Cafe' providing a variety of hot food, snacks, and all manner of beverages and loads of tables to sit at and chat with fellow modellers. It was great to meet so many in person face2face and chat rather than type.  Like the Chinese the WMRC guys are a truly great bunch of lads. Highlight of the show was chatting in person to folks from this forum and the Facebook model groups. Now to plan Gort's extension programme. Two fiddle yard boards already made, which will allow for more continuous operation for the general public who would find shunting rather boring, especially youngsters. Was really pleased everything still worked reliably after transport. What next for this layout? I've a few areas to finish (signal box facia + gutters + chimney, servo drive and light signals, letter box, one extra uncoupling magnet for the pax loop, point rodding links to points, etc). After that its two drop leaf semi-circular boards for the ends to connect to the fiddle yard boards. Good night. Wreaked tired after an enjoyable weekend.