Noel

Thanks Popeye. Yes it looks better with a little more grime on the second set. But that's enough weathering 'spinach' for my personal taste even if not strictly prototypical. Trying to simulate them in their first year of operation with the then new blue Irish Cement livery, so they look smart and fresh on the layout. Just me but I don't like the way they looked filthy at end of life with all the blotch marks where caked cement chipped off. Have two more sets to do over the weekend and will try vary them a little. I've very tempted to keep one set or at least one wagon absolutely pristine as an example of the superb model untouched.

OO Works have an RTR J15 due to ship next autumn, admittedly its the older variant like RPSI 184 and will be GSWR all grey livery. But for me 461 in GSR green would be the ideal for hauling either RPSI coach rakes, and in model form probably a good runner being 2-6-0 rather than other 4-4-0s. 184 being 0-6-0 should run ok if the gearing is ok with DCC to make up for the absence of a flywheel.

That's interesting. Any theories why the Green m2a RPSI coaches didn't sell as well as the Blue/Cream livery Cravens? (e.g. attractiveness of livery, familiarity with coach type, public exposure to seeing the full size in operation, nostalgia, recent rail tours, etc)

Marks models may have a few sets. The good news is having sold so quickly the RPSI will almost certainly go ahead with plans for a matching set of three standard coaches sometime in the next 12months. I will have to get the finger out on a BR mk1 BCK conversion to the maroon RPSI GSV 3173 to run with them.

One from the second set to get a just a little bit more weathering, but still in first year or two of operation with the new Irish Cement livery. The pristine IRM ballast wagons in the back ground are now demanding parity - weathering beckons!

Got three more bubbles lightly weathered. A little more grime added this time and some weathering powder mixed with water and decals administered using a cotton bud before air brushing the grime and then the concrete (i.e. for very barely visible vertical and weld seams streaking) IRM rolling stock is taking over Woodvale Junction. I put a little more grime on these three IRM Cement Bubbles but tried to avoid going too heavy. It is fun experimenting and learning as I go. Still scary on such fab models. Have to be ultra careful handling these as there are so many added bits that are so easy to knock off when handling for painting.

Hi Brassnut. Not sure if your query is 121 related. I doubt she needs a new motor. Probably just needs some minor servicing with lube and gearbox grease to free her up. If you remove the motor temporarily and run it direct off 12v to see if its free and running smoothly, and then check if the chassis wheels are running freely. If not clean any hardened grease off and lube axles and gears until she runs free again. Noel

Oh wow - one of the top maestros shows how its done. I like that you can still see the logo. Can't wait to see the next ones.

Cheers Fran. I had to pause and take a very deep breath before I dared to touch such beautifully pristine models, but a bit like skiing you don't hang around at the top of a black run, you just go over the edge before you get a chance to think too much about it, likewise I thought if I didn't start weathering the wagons that night I might never. I have to say again its the thanks to the kindness of Richie two years ago when he gave me some time on an air brush demonstration and shared his knowledge, that both gave the inspiration and courage to have a go (and risk making the odd mess, but thats when you learn the most). Thanks John. But I have to credit others in this community who have shown the way by just getting on with it with various modelling jobs instead of talking too much about it. I've learned so much from others on here. Others have inspired action.

Nice pics of BGH Gordon. Interesting, 5 x 4 stateroom coaches = 20 x 2 pax staterooms = 40 total passengers. Formation looks like: EGV + Crew/Services + 5 sleepers + Dinner/Seating + Dinner/Seating + Observation car. So for 7 day trip @ €9009/pax = €360k revenue per week for the train = €10m revenue PA assuming 30 week season.

Thanks Richie. That photo is exactly what I was looking for. Noel PS: Thanks also to original photographer @RedRich (or whoever took it). Great shot.

Browsed this interesting little booklet from 1987. Lists info just about single every CIE/IR diesel loco and coaching stock up as far 1987. Some nice photos of coaching stock. DMUs and shunters included and corresponding NR stock also. One of the interesting snippets was the date each loco went out of traffic and subsequent dates of scraping, sale or storage. Some very unusual coaches covered. Picked it up on Amazon for £1.86 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0947773088/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hi Barl. Thanks. I'd like to get the roof detail right rather than just copy from photos of other models like the Silverfox GSV, I'd prefer if possible to look at roof photos of actual GSVs like 3185, but so far I haven't found any decent or close enough photos on the internet. Most photos seem to be from ground level or side on at distance. Cheers. Noel

Advice is always welcome from a professional model maker and one of the forums masters. I had previously mentioned there was more to do. Will try harder master and thank you for the tips and advice.

Now what about one of these CIE full brakes? Could my Bachmann ex-LMS full brake be adapted? Photo (C) Peter Jones Bachmann ex-LMS Full Brake (BG).

Some minor progress while I got joyfully distracted with weathering other stock. Test fitted the roof before adding the vents and exhaust. A lot of internal fettling was needed to fit around the reinforcement strips added to the coach sides where panels had been added or moved. B5 bogie kits from Replica ready to be fitted and Keen Systems LMS suspended gangway corridor connectors. Also have sprung oval buffers ready to go. The divil is in the detail, there's still lots more to do to the chassis under frame, interior, ends, and possibly some grab rails.

Hi Jason. Thanks, yes very much planning to keep the lovely two tone blue Irish Cement logo clearly visible. The plan was a very light dusting of grime over all, just to tone pristine look down, and a dusting of light grey paint and powder on top and the horizontal surfaces of the chassis (i.e. cement). I just personally prefer these looking smart and cleanish with only light weathering rather than how they looked when filthy near end of service life, even if this is not prototypical. Hope this makes sense. I plan to weather the remainder of the rake during the week, and will vary it a little but not too much, might even try a slight wash on the next set and/or a very limited bit of maskol to simulate just a few patches where cement flaked off. I'm newish to this so taking it one step at a time to minimise the risk I ruin these lovely wagons. Noel

Awe diddums! Yea, well you Four Musketeers have now devalued all non-IRM rolling stock - so high has the bar been raised PS: Do you have a spare ladder?

Busy early morning goods traffic at Kingsbridge's Woodvale Junction. B121 about to depart with some empty beat wagons and a few vans, as 190 arrives hauling recently acquired IRM cement bubble wagons. B188 and B165 recently weathered with a heavy rake of IRM ballast wagons waits for the road to clear while a fuel train behind overtakes the slower ballast train on the down loop. Later B121 double heads with 190 to haul a heavy train of IRM cement traffic in that era when B&T and Supertrain livery co-existed for some years. B188 + B165 wait as another Irish Cement train pulls into the up loop in preparation for being passed by an express passenger service on the up through road. I'm just loving this hobby once again. Choo choo!!!

You can have a day off after you guys take over the ailing Hornby and give Bachmann some proper competition at the high end of the UK market.

Congrats Gerry on winning the award. The detailing and subtle blending of the scenery on 'Cynwyd' was such a high standard, and photo realistic yet 'alive' in multiple micro scenes of human and animal life beside a working railway. Cynwyd is an inspiration to the rest of us and shows what is possible. It was an honour to see it in your home earlier this year. Well done.

Wow George that's a great line up of your typically superb work. The finish on the plough is fabulous. The master at work. Looking forward to watching and learning from this space. PS: I am lucky enough to own four of the exquisitely weathered MIR orange Cement bubbles built, painted and weathered by you. They inspired me to 'have a go' at modestly weathering my newly arrived IRM wagons.

Is there possibility of a link to that picture? Would love to see it.

Thanks for posting such a superb folio of exhibition layouts.

Scary evolution of bubble weathering - so far! I was terrified I was going to completely ruin them. Stage 1 - Pristine out of the box (I half wanted to keep them this way) Stage 2 - Light dusting of frame dirt and more on chassis to get rid of the black. A little grey power on RHS wagon as an experiment Stage 3 - Mixed up some grey from Vallejo white + a few drops of black Vallejo paints are a total joy to use, they just flow so well through the air spray, mixing is quick and easy and cleaning the air brush afterwards take less time than after using either rail match or Tamiya.