Noel

Side one: Body modified, now filler and rub down, see blemishes, refill and run down again Humbrol model filler seems to dry in a few hours and then files and sands very easily Side two: Completed modifications to other side. Twin doors swapped with window, two single doors filed flat ready for filler. Vent window squared off. Plastic panel RHS inserted to replace double doors moved where LHS 2nd window used to be. Next step filler, file, sand and first prime to reveal any blemishes. As these Lima roofs are snap fit and pop on and off really easily will leave interior for another day, but will have to make mods to under frame and source B5 bogies. Haven't really worked much with plastic card before but enjoying trying to figure it out. This is kind of fun.

Step 1 - Swap double doors with window and file away two unwanted single doors Step 2 - Fill in unwanted door windows and small window Step 3b - fill window + door window with plasticard Step 4 - Use filler to fill the two unwanted door panels and plasticard joins + File out window square for grill More anon over the coming days . . .

Never ends? But don't you just love this sort of IT challenge. (even if in secret)

Really like the new BB software. Folks may not realise what a big undertaking it was to migrate from vBulletin BB software to Invision (an IP.Board derived BB). Lots of unseen work going on to migrate data including user accounts, posts and treads, PMs, attachments, internal links, etc, and lots more. Possible upgrades to the LAMP/WAMP stack as well. Hats off to Stephen for the successful effort. Functionally the new software is a big improvement over vBulletin bringing lots of new features many of which were on folks wish lists. It is a brave undertaking to take on such a large and complex migration project, and all the unseen work associated with test migrations and setups that have gone unseen in the background over recent weeks. Visually it is also an improvement, but the new software functionality is the big gain here. Thanks Stephen

Hi Eamon. After seeing your post I just tried from my iPhone and it worked ok. When I use 'click to choose files' on the bottom of a new post I then get asked where to upload the photo from on the phone: 'Take Photo or Video' or 'Photo Library'. If you are using Android you should be offered a similar facility to browse your phones photo library. Click the required photo but do wait for it to upload to the site. You should see a little progress bar scale as the image uploads, then type the post message body and 'submit reply'.

Ok I have started an attempt at BSK conversion using Lima donor. Attached pic from my iPhone of first cuts. Also test attachments using mobile theme. Will do one side at a time to keep body rigid and avoid warp. Now to fill in two doors and one windows this side. Oh if this was balsa, spruce or lite ply I'd be so at home.

All will be revealed in due course JB Ah, I noticed that too. There is space for a Tara wagon plus a short two axle wagon.

Thanks JB. That's really informative. I was going to paint the brake/plough van bodies brown with grey roofs and weathered grey/brown chassis, but I like the idea of a dark grey all over.

Alternatively I could have a go at RPSI Maroon GSV 3173 using a Bachmann BR Mk1 brake 1st corridor donor. It is quite a different layout to the more common ex-BR Mk1 GSVs CIE used (e.g. 3185).

Lima BR Mk1 BSK to CIE GSV Conversion (or perhaps RPSI 3185). I'm thinking of having a go at this. Any words of wisdom or advice would be much appreciated. Picture below is an SF GSV with the proposed Lima under. Will change bogies to B4s.

Well spotted WT Class 2-6-4T No 4. However I've just spent a while examining the three craven variants and discovered the later MM Craven bogies and the RPSI craven bogies are identical. MM first batch of Cravens were IR/IE 'tippex' livery dual white stripe livery, but the later batch of CIE Black'n'Tan Cravens (single white stripe at roof level) had different bogies and corrected shorter NEM pockets. The RPSI coaches also have these later bogies with the shorter NEM pockets. Monty Python's quest for a solution to wobbling Cravens. RPSI Bogies are identical to later MM Cravens MM Cravens and RPSI Cravens weigh the same Wheel sets appear to be the same on all three RPSI bogies seem to have more play (i.e. pivot hole) PS: None of the real cravens wobbled on the excellent RPSI Munster Double rail tour last weekend. Much more comfortable than any of the ICRs. :) Photo One: Top to bottom: 1st batch MM Cravens IE/IR, 2nd batch CIE B&T, 3rd batch RPSI (identical). The bottom two have the same bogie sides (checked spurs for same tooling). The only difference I can find is that the RPSI bogie pivot holes have more play than either of the two MM variants. Will investigate Dhu Varrens excellent suggestion and also a method of reducing the diameter of the holes for the bogie snap in pivot hinges. Photo Two: Identical Bogies on later MM B&T CIE and recent RPSI Cravens Photo Three: Bottom two coaches physically identical I've just spend the last hour testing all my MM Cravens running and none of them wobble like the RPSI/MM Cravens!!! Tis just one of life's little mysteries I think this is going to be easy to fix with some sort of shim or even tick paint narrowing the pivot holes in the coach undersides to reduce play.

Hi Stephen. Thank you. The work on site upgrades is much very appreciated. A few suggestions as requested and some minor CSS tweaks for the new desktop style: Post rating: Like, Agree, Thanks, Craftsmanship/Clever, Informative/Useful, Funny, Friendly/Supportive. This may reduce the number of trivial one line responses that can clutter an informative thread. (this is separate from the existing star based 'Thread rating') Forum list: Make last post title standout more (i.e. bold, darker colour), it is currently same as 'poster name' below it Thread list: Make thread title stand out more (i.e. bold, darker colour), it is currently lighter than the 'started by' person name under it. Reading thread: Calibri or similar Font against pure white background might be easier to read than Helvitica Editing post: Calibri Font or similar might be nicer than existing Courier fixed pitch Font against the white background Below an image of the existing new style adjusted with just a few tiny tweaks to improve readability on the forum list: Below an image of the existing new style adjusted with just a few tiny tweaks to improve readability on a forums thread list:

Hi Dave. Beautifully built and finished maroon GSV, but that's the GSV layout of RPSI B&T 3185 (BSK) rather than their maroon 3173. Does anybody have side on photos of both sides 3173? Thinking of bodging one from a Bachmann BCK RPSI 3173 (BCK) Bachmann BR Mk1 BCK

Nice gentleman @ 2m23s in shot Most folks seemed to try their best, but there were one or two who got 'short shift' and verbals from the passenger 'paparazzi' pack in Cork when they wandered into shot.

Excellent video Robbie. Tastefully shot and edited. Love the opening scene. PS: I was surprised how 'some' folk just jumped in the way of other folks cameras without any apparent consideration.

I wouldn't wait, they are truly superb coaches and bound to be popular. The wobble is a relatively minor issue which I'm sure should be easy to rectify.

Thanks Admin. I prefer the desktop theme because it gives an instant 360 degree view of activity on threads and active posts. As an aside, I tend not to like mobile themes on any website, because they minimise info too much for my taste, and after all Steve Jobs went to such effort to invent pinch to zoom when he invented the smartphone and demonstrated reading the New York times so well. Appreciate the background work going on. Cheers. Noel

Please, I too would welcome the return of the "IRM Old Style" theme which I've always used until last week, or perhaps as an alternative a softer looking theme. I find the current theme very hard on the eyes. I do appreciate the excellent and hard work put in behind the scenes by the site admins running the forum and maintaining both IRM web sites.

Yes, same with my set.

Superb David. What sublime realism.

They are beautifully finished but do not run well unlike MM Cravens. Will have to replace wheel sets to get rid of the excessive wobble on all three coaches in my set.

Only 50 left according to post below on RMweb. They are selling fast. Perhaps I've been unlucky but all of the wheel sets on my set are out of alignment causing excessive wobble on all three coaches. Haven't experienced this with any MM cravens before (CIE or IE B&T liveries).

Video clip of RPSI Craven coach set (designed by MM). Not the 'Munster Double', but two 071s namely 073 and 085 in consist hauling the 3 coach set. Need to fix the wobbly axle on the 1st coach. The build and finish quality are as good as Murphy Models own Cravens.

RPSI Craven coaches arrived on the layout today. couldn't wait to unbox them for a play session. These are superbly finished coaches, as expected right up to Murphy Model standards. I hope to respray some of my MM tippex cravens (IE) the same livery over the winter to make up an RPSI rake. I have enough single stripe CIE cravens for the B&T era so happy to lose a few IE ones to RPSI livery.

That is set in concrete.