Noel

Your welcome. I was only affirming what @WRENNEIRE had already posted. The RPSI coaches are beautiful and mine are just waiting for a 3173 maroon GSV to run with.

Thanks @popeye. Ok thats good, I have a pack of those. BTW, Absolutely fabulous job on your C class above. Classy professional paint job and like the steps added to the bogie sides. Do you mind me asking if and how you did the lights (i.e. fibre optic to LEDs, or 1.8mm LEDs through body, or other, etc)?

Not so. I understand RPSI contracted directly with a factory in China rather than Murphy Models. I understand Murphy Models kindly allowed their Craven design to be used and assisted RPSI with same. They are the same moulds as MM Cravens, but the blue/cream coaches were contracted by RPSI directly from a different factory.

What oval sprung buffers do folk recommend for A/C class kits? I would like to replace the resin ones on the SF kits. I was thinking about using Hornby X9313 BR class 31 oval sprung buffers.

Ah that's clever using Glue'n'Glaze

Thanks Gerry. Did you fill the apertures with fibre optic or put plastic lens in?

Hi Gerry. Did you use a lighting kit for the two Metro Vic locos, or DIY? LED through body or fibre optic from internal LEDs, etc? Noel

Two links here: CIE Bauxite 20 Ton Brake Van CIE grey 20 Ton Brake Van

I got a pair of 20 ton RTR from IFM, both planked. Expensive but worth it to have the real McCoy behind my rakes of loose coupled pick up mixed goods trains. http://www.irishfreightmodels.com/index.php/shop.html#!/CIE-20-Ton-Planked-Brake-Van/p/45444642/category=3587606

Fabulous. I nearly fainted. All fab scenes but that first photo.

I have no doubt IRM have many other really interesting projects planned for the Irish market. This may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Not my era, but I suspect, there may even be more sales opportunities for IE mk4 than mk3 anyway. Good luck guys whatever you have planned. Happy to wait.

If I was a cynic I'd wonder if Ox just made some rumour noise to discourage potential competition from IRM. I'll believe the rumour if and only when I see their IE coaches which I doubt will be anytime soon (if ever).

Thanks Stephen. The newly released mk3s are not exactly receiving glowing reviews over on rmweb.

Hi Stephen, there had been rumours about this for a year or two, has something substantive actually happened or could this just be more noise from oxford? There is no mention of it on their 2018 catalog nor website. Noel

Agree 100% and based on recent track record IRM coaches would have been in another league for authenticity and hyper detail.

Thanks Fran. Understand. Noel

Hi Fran. Are mk3 on IRMs radar?

Heard that alright. Sounds promising. Any idea if EGV is to be included? Will be interesting to see what shade of orange they go with.

Eoin, have you considered making any of the bodies very slightly longer or shorter than scale length so they might be a snug fit for a popular RTR chassis which out the need to cut metal?

Four started. Spent a few hours removing flash and preparing these before first stage prime using Halford plastic grey primer in the spray booth. A few hours filing and sanding, but the resin bodies were in pretty good shape, mainly work to tidy up around the windows and buffer beams. The SF B101 sulzer will be first to get attention as next before any more painting there is the matter for fitting a cut'n'shut 071 donor chassis and figuring out how I can transfer the lighting from the 071. The chassis will need two cuts to shorten it each side of the motor so the cardan shafts will still be long enough to allow both bogies move freely when she goes around bends and over points. This is when it starts to get exciting . . .

That's an excellent conversion and an absolutely superb respray. Top class.

Agree different shades can look well, but the roofs on those Mk2d's are a bit like H&S hi-vis jackets. They are so bright marshals could use a pair of them to direct aircraft.

Also https://marksmodels.com/?cid=692

Marks models and ID models sell Humbrol weathering powers and Humbrol washes. Also less expensive powders using by the Warhammer community. https://marksmodels.com http://idmodels.ie AK pigments/powders https://marksmodels.com/?cid=692

Over on the FB group the topic of the various shades of Tan and Orange used by CIE and IR/IE over the years popped up, and the shades used on some models. In the pic below the colour of MM Mk2 coach seems to have too much yellow and doesn't match the shade used on either loco variant. Personally while the coaches are lovely models the colour especially the roof seems to scream out on the layout as it appears too day-glo bright and I'm wondering how I might tone them down a little them to suit my personal taste. 4 options to adjust the shade or tan/orange for the coaches: Full respray but that will be a big job requiring a complete set of decals for each coach Weather the coaches (i.e. much as I did with the Orange cement wagons) Sell them and instead respray eBay sourced Hornby/Bachmann/Lima Mk2e/f coaches also requires full set of decals but will obviously need to keep and respray the MM EGV and restaurant car. Leave as they are I'm leaning towards option no 2 as it seems the least work and quickest solution. Any suggestions welcome. Coach below does not match either loco, mind you 177 is mildly factory weathered. The bright orange coach roof might blend better with some weathering. 177 roof seems unaffected by the body sides factory weathering