Noel

Thanks. Curiously suppliers have run out of 6mm Birch Ply as it normally comes from Russia. No more baseboard modules for now due to sanctions. They've offered me 12mm but that's just too heavy and too thick for modular baseboard. Time Travel Gort 1969 to 1975 - some modern era fitted wagons visit Gort. Weatherd IRM Cement Bubble + Ballast Wagon, in the long siding awaiting kadee couplings being glued on.

Impressive engineering

Gort extension commences. One more 5ft x 2ft baseboard module assembled today. Hot glue gun makes the process very quick, no screws, nails nor stables, nor PVA. WMRC birch ply baseboard design constructed entirely using only hot glue gun, later joints reinforced with glass tape and PVA. Cross bracing gives the boards torsional stability so they will not warp or bend. I will paint them top and underneath with a grey undercoat to ensure they are moisture sealed forever. Also the grey paint is a good base to stick scenery and track bed to, and underneath a good surface to screw and glue DCC + point motor cabling. Ready for Painting This board will house part of the future fiddle yard hidden behind the back scene

No probs, we live in a free enterprise market. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ZU6UMDfgY

No trolly nor food today on the Cork-Dublin train, nothing, not even in 5h1ty Gold. Not as much as a packet of crisps, never mind a cooked breakfast.

Yes it was great to meet JHB and west cork. We probably all look quite different to perceptions based on keyboard persona. 226 sounded great. Presume that was a GM/EMD power plant we were listening to rather than a crossly. What livery is she destained for CIE ST, or CIE B&T?

If this was 40 years ago it might probably have been a service offered by model shops (ie when we had about 25 retailers covering model railways), now we only have one left with 3 outlets. I cannot see how it could be economically viable for anybody to make a living out of it or even generate supplemental income that is proportionate to the hours of effort involved. Most that have done it seem to be motivated more by the love of doing it then the true economic cost. What might be fun is to organise some training workshops to help spread the knowledge to others. WMRC did this a few years ago, focused on weathering stock. But its not a massive effort to set up an airbrush in a club room with some samples and literally show folks how to do it from a practical point of view. There's no better way of learning than doing and having a go, but getting a starting steer is a great help. Richie O'Hanrahan ran a number of free training demos years ago, and that's where I got my kick start for which I was grateful. It helped me overcome the fear barrier, and convinced me to risk having a go. It would be interesting to know how others got started. Having said that Youtube has been the best modelling university for most folks, every thing from resprays, to weathering, track laying, scenics, etc.

Yes it would be great to see these reopened rather than more daft greenways: Foynes Waterford-Wexford Midleton (Cork) - Youghal Athenry-Claremorris . . . and perhaps even one day Sligo Claremorris?? Strange as it might sound, a little birdie suggested that Youghal chamber of commerce actually voted against the 9km rail line link to Cork being reopened as it would invite anti-social behaviour from Cork City out to Youghal at weekends. In Any event its not their call. The commuter traffic from Youghal to Cork city every morning is substantial. In the era of urgent climate action would it not make more sense to run cleaner trains rather than cars? Hopefully common sense will prevail. Its encouraging to see that Ballybrophy line linking Nenagh and Limerick had a major update this fast few years. It had been on the vulnerable list. Hopefully brexit might bring more traffic to the Waterford-Limerick cross country line (ie tomorrow's Tailte rail tour), especially when linked back to Rosslare port. The countries two principle greenways 'Westport' and 'Dungarvan' are truly excellent with absolutely stunning scenic views (ie: sea, cliffs, mountains, rivers, viaducts, tunnels). By Comparison others have hardly any visual scenery to see except mile after mile of midland boring hedgerows and bogs. I have enjoyed both the Westport and Dungarvan trails. Superb hospitality infrastructure along the routes. But peddling along the Dungarvan line all I can hear in my head is baby GM notching and scenes from Joe St Ledge films of the line (eg IRRS videos). Happy days its all looking promising.

No Idea, I bought that 3 or 4 years ago I think

https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/vehicles/products/bedford-tk-horsebox-green-brown

Even though the big Wexford show is two weekends away today stripped the layout and started packing for the show. These dual layer Warley stock boxes are very handy. Just two boxes will fit all the rolling stock needed for the show. Even got the wagons pre-loaded with show loads I might ship the layout to Wexford in the 20ft Bell container Now all I have left to do is make the modular base boards transport rugged to protect the scenery from damage during transport.

Almost ready for the big Wexford show weekend after next Busy Gort yard. Point Rodding installed A busy Gort station Circa 1968

Almost ready for Wexford. Last bit of point rodding fitted. Just the cattle fence left on this side of the station. Little details needed attention like point rodding and painting the siding buffer stops. B165 and standby loco B165 fully tested on shunting duties Now just have to pack it all up and bring it back home in one piece.

Right so Ted

Sure, but don't want people to suffer falling into repeating history such as the great Lima 201 debacle selling for close to €1000 when rare on ebay, but barley fetch €50 once the superior later MM 201 was later released. Its not like fine art or stuff like original beetle music score sheets. This false market is temporary, don't like seeing model train enthusiasts exploited.

Nicely done.

Your right Sometimes there can be a sad story behind the selling of a lot of models or memorabelia.

Awe diddums Vive la difference

Collectors and hoarders? You'd like to think they'll be played with and run on layouts, but at those prices will they ever be run?

expensive cupboard fillers

Thanks. I've not yet been able to find LEDs small enough, so was going to try a 3mm one under the baseboard and fibre optic it up to the lamp house

Hi Dave. Cheers. This pic from Page 1 of thread showed the track work in the station mouth. All the BR big four rolling stock is now gone, its all black'n'tan and orange, no more GWR, LMS, LNER.

Love the signal. Presume the LED is under the baseboard with fibre optic running up the post.

Looking back. Step 1 - Transpose track plan Step 2 - Dry fit track and general arrangement Step 3 - Test Lay track Step 4 - Lay track on track bed - 3mm closed cell foam Step 5 - Ballast track Step 6 - Weather track Step 7 - Scenics and landscaping - add some small details Step 8 - Let people in Step 9 - Drive trains

Seems daft for what in truth are Toy trains, that will one day eventually be re-run with better specs, so collecting 1st gen models now will devalue not appreciate. This seems like a repeat of Lima 201s all over again and you couldn't give those away now even as a door stop.