Noel

Clever and very neat.

Yes. Any outside view pics of the rail cars?

Hi Richie. Ok, I still doubt 3D could ever compete with the lower costs and quality of injection moulded plastics employed for volume production, but for one offs or very small volumn it does seem to be gradually improving. I've seen some well finished WSF Shapeways models of UK stock that weren't entirely on a different planet to RTR. Recently I've acquired some Shapeways FUD (frosted ultra detail) which surprised me for quality and smoothness bordering in IMP. No evidence of 'tooth paste' effect whatsoever. As you know I recently did a 3d loco but it was Shapeways WSF which indeed had some 'tooth paste' effect that I choose to rub down and fill with Halfords grey primer, but the FUD material seems a vastly finer resolution with no evidence of layering, stepping or pitted surface finish. The loco bogie sides I acquired were FUD and were every bit as fine as bachmann IMP ones. Strangly after layers of priming, painting and varnishing it's difficult to see much difference between resin models and 3D WSF/WSFP. FUD is too expensive right now, but for a unique model body (e.g. Mk4 DVT, A class) it might be worth the cost, and if costs ever come down in the future I wonder if 3D may end up having a role replacing resin and in some cases even brass components or some etches? I may be interesting in five years time, to look back and see if and how many non-mainstream Irish models may or may not be available as 3D models (presume kit form) ready for painting by markets such as Shapeways, or DIY modellers using various print service providers. For modellers It could be a game changer, or an empemeral technolgy. Cheers Noel

Sounds very promising and exciting. Due to the high cost and time to build current kits I'd love to one day see RTR versions of CIE H-Vans and Bulleid open beat wagons, both the most numerous wagons to ever run on Irish rails. And perhaps one day . . . no I won't mention the obvious dream! An A class loco

Is 3D printing finally improving? Been reading this incredible thread over on RMweb about this chap 'bmthtrains' fascinating journey learning CAD and progressing from 3D printing average quality rolling stock to very well detailed stock including wagons, coaches, complex PW machinery, locos, etc. He has evolved some incredible 3D tips and tricks. Dayrl's post here today showing the 3D geni in his superb GSV was also striking. It's well worth scanning through 'bmthtrains' thread below from the beginning. It's N gauge but the process is the same. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/61710-3d-printed-n-gauge-pendolino-and-on-track-plant/page-31 Are we on the cusp of a big change in the hobby? I've been a firm sceptic myself but not so sure anymore.

Hi Daryl. That is an absolute gem. Superb modelling on every level. Thanks for posting such close up and in-focus photos that show the end result up in detail. Simply astounding. Noel

Hi Paul I found this FAQs document by Vallejo very helpful including the Health & Safety info in section 15. I presume Tamiya and Humbrol acrylics are similar as they are used by 'Hobby' users. I guess nothing is 100% safe, but reading between the lines I just felt acrylics were safer than enamels for spraying indoors, and far less smelly due to the lack of solvents. http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/en_US/model-paints/faqs/3 For painting stock I started using Tamiya and very happy with it (i.e. CIE B&T coaches), but have since moved to Vallejo 'Model Air' range (pre-thinned for airbrush) and occasionally Vallejo 'Model Color' (paint brush use, or can be airbrushed if thinned). I still use rail match for airbrush weathering. Halfords primer and the Humbrol varnishes smell pretty noxious so I use them outdoors or in well ventilated shed. Cheers Noel

Thanks Eoin. Good advise. Had been using a mask and ventilation, but have since acquired a spray booth with an extractor fan with hose to the outside. I haven't used rattle can aerosols such as Halfords grey primer or Humbrol acrylic varnishes indoors, instead in well ventilated shed or outdoors. Noel

Tend to Agree. Many current kits in the Irish market seem too expensive when compared to RTR prices. More often than not kits end up costing more by the time they are finished, yet don't look half as good as quality RTR. €40 for a superbly fine detailed RTR model versus €30 for an average moulded kit requiring a lot of additional work is a no brainer.

Hi Paul. Thanks. I don't know which is better. Personally as a newbie, I choose acrylics for spraying because they are water based and therefore more user friendly inside the house. I also perceived them as less harmful to health (i.e. vapours). The big advantage is ease of cleaning airbrush and paint brushes with just plain water instead of smelly solvents. In relation to covering, I think varnishing is needed anyway with either enamels or acrylics to seal the paint finish and especially seal decals. But I've about 10 wagons that I never bothered varnishing yet. My visit to Richie's two years ago, consolidated my decision to try acrylics after I saw how and what he was achieving with Acrylics. I'd never say never to enamels, just hadn't a use for them yet, but I may end up using some matt enamels to brush paint by hand the interior seating in coaches (i.e. no spray mist). May also use enamels to brush paint the wire hand rails for B121, B233 and B230. Reading between the lines on youtube and RMweb enamels may spray slightly finer than acrylics and clog airbrushes less, but the other advantages seem to have more folk moving to acrylics. Noel

Very true TDR, but the well is only so deep. Modelling consumers will be spending significantly on Murphy Models 121 when released later this year, as well as IRM's new range of top quality RTR wagons (i.e. Ballasts, Cement Bubbles and Tara's). The small Irish market is a finite size. Noel

Current signalling is also a limiting factor with traffic sharing lines and the numbers of block sections.

Hi DC. Over all it has to be welcome news. A lot of the popular kits they used to sell are now redundant as high quality RTR models are already available, or due within the next few months. More than detailing or new moulds needed to bring some up to todays standards Below George about to rescue this loco that derailed and ran into a chocolate orange fountain. Redundant - about to be replaced by RTR from Murphy Models From what I've read many folk were more than happy and satisfied with their MIR kits back in the day, especially if they were talented builders themselves or commissioned a talented model maker to build and finish them. However I suspect the bar and expectations have since been raised, yet there probably are some past MIR kits that would fill gaps in in what is available today, so that is a welcome development. There is room for all vendors, and I appreciate some folks prefer and enjoy kit building. Redundant - about to be replaced by RTR from IRM (below MIR bubbles but built and finished by a skilled pro - George) From my limited experience many kits available from other vendors can be quite expensive given the amount of additional cost to finish them, never mind the time, and they end up costing the same or even more than RTR. I suspect we are going to see more and more stunning RTR rolling stock from vendors including IRM and MM over the coming years, reducing the demand for kits, and yet the Irish modelling well is only so deep financially. Noel

B&T baby GMs €99 one week with only 2 bids, but €227 a week later with 36 bids albeit with a sound ship! Not to mention another B&T for €160 and €175 for an orange 181 a week earlier. Strangely fluctuating market forces! IE/IR and ST liveries seem to be commanding higher prices these past few months than B&T.

160mph?? Good luck with that. I'd settle for some second hand 125s. Agree - wishful thinking by Cork Chamber!!! To achieve an average speed of 160mph between Dublin and Cork, a max cruising speed of nearly 200mph would be required. In addition to either quad track all the way or many more high speed passing loops to facilitate the other slower traffic, not to mention the removal of all vegetation, hedge rows and trees within safety distances of the existing line, requiring gazillions of € in CPOs from property owners. The aerodynamic suction effect of a passing 200mph train has to be seen to be believed. We simply don't have the population size nor density to economically justify any high speed rail links on this physically small island. The money might be better spent converting the old DSER to quad track from Bray to Malahide junction and/or a Heathrow express style non-stop link between Dublin Airport and Heuston+Connolly. Nice idea though to run existing mk4 sets with pairs of 125 like power units. Faster and lighter.

Thanks Eoin. That work is really precise, neat and looks superb.

Hi Guys. I am about to start converting my four wheel goods wagons to kadee couplings, none of which have NEM pockets, just bachmann tension lock couplings screwed to chassis. The objective is realistic wagon shunting. Question for short wagons should I use kadee no 5, no 58 both with the 232 gearboxes, or 145, 146, 148 whisker springed couplings with 242 gear boxes, or just no 18, 19 glued directly to the wagons without gearboxes? Cheers Noel PS: I have a kadee height gauge

Hi Colin. Please forgive in case I am misunderstanding, but are those not just flat 2D transfers rather than physical louvers in relief, and for O gauge? Noel

http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5443-Daryl-s-Workbench?p=87675&viewfull=1#post87675 and http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/67-Tara-Junction?p=52345&viewfull=1#post52345

I'm just loving this thread. Fabulous collection of N gauge Irish rolling stock.

Model master at work - superb. They say leading artists have a great eye - you certainly do. Eoin, I notice you went for plasticard rather than brass for the valance sides, do you have a method to stop it potentially warping with age? Noel

PS: The best Louvres I have seen close up were on some of the EGVs on Ballybeg. You could see through them and I think they were brass. Don't know how Gerry painted them without filling the very tiny gaps with paint?

Hi Kevin. It was a real privilege to see these layouts up close and operating. I understand Llangollen was recently exhibited in Wales. Noel

Not my idea. User 'Barl' came up with the ingenious idea 4 years ago: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/1485-SSM-B101-Sulzer-a-personal-review?p=22372&viewfull=1#post22372 I'm going to use it on my GSV conversions. The simplest ideas are often the best.

Not sure about a suitable girl to help with the conversion but for a grill I understand some on here have used these (e.g: on SSMs Sulzer kit). Side of CD/DVD case cover Top of CD/DVD case CD/DVD plastic case surfaces!