Noel

That looks a really clever idea. Looking forward to its evolution.

Stunning video clip of the damage. It shows just how strong welded rail can be as the land slide pulled the track intact off the ballast and tight like a piece of string across the valley floor. Brave flying the drone into the tunnel potentially out of RF range.

Roxyguy, don't mind such tongue in cheek remarks, you are a "real" modeller (whatever that is supposed to mean) and I very much enjoy your posts and your layout. Looking forward to whatever you decide with a G class irrespective of how you do it. Just enjoy. Let he who is without rivets cast the first sleeper shoe.

B121 hauling GAA special from Ballygowhatsit to Waterford in simulated 1963 old film footage. Wagon at the rear carrying spare hurleys and six milk churns. Reworked iMovie version using multiple effects filters and silent movie style sound tracks

Hmmm - after cutting up two MM chassis with rotary tool that sounds like more bother than its worth Super photoshop. Agree. The low speed running quality of the chassis might be a mitigating factor in its favour if its good enough. Shunters need to be ultra smooth at low speeds and be able to maintain electrical continuity moving slowly over points. DCC stay alive capacitor seems vital for 0-4-0 configuration but where would a DCC chip fit never mind a capacitor in that little beauty.

Kenya's new railway line will be diesel hauled. BBC piece. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40171095 Looking at the pics the track is jointed rather than continuous welded rail. Could that be because it's a hot country and CWR is outside heat expansion limits, or cost factor?

Good find. Possibly move the door from the rear to sides, remove walkway behind cab, trim roof a little, paint and weather with a bit of sleeper grime or frame dirt and she'll look like a G on anybodies layout. Personally I'd prefer an 0-6-0 shunter to 0-4-0 for slow speed running over points, etc.

? That's really helpful ?

Signal box looks absolutely superb. It reeks of atmosphere and authenticity. Detailing is excellent and I like the open window. Class job.

Interesting the controller labelling is calibrated from 0v to 9v. Were those old locos not designed for 12v?

Glad you liked it. A bit of simulated nostalgia fun for 1960s rural CIE era on old cine film.

. Simulated nostalgia film Apologies, couldn't resist

Hi Jonathan, does that mean Cravens never ran when the AECs were powered rail car sets, but may have run with converted AEC push-pull stock hauled/pushed by C class or the odd 121 on Dublin suburban pre-dart? Noel

Agree absolutely Jonathan. Engines, carriages and wagons that made train noises. A far cry from todays boring uniform modern image yo-yos. 1950 to 1975 seemed the golden era. Me too. I can almost hear the distant rumble of the new Murphy Models 121 class if I put my ear to the rails and listen carefully. Its only a matter of months now. Watching videos like these has convinced me to buy one in the grey livery as well as a few in black'n'tan. As Jonathan says we can run almost any stock mix behind them.

That makes sense. I originally thought it was a C class myself, but from some angles especially 6m37s the side profile looked eerily like a B113/114 with sloping front. I presume the second loco was travelling un-powered. Thank for info John. Even 50mph seems a fair old lick for loose coupled wagons over the long bridge.

At 52 secs look at the speed of 121 class hauled train crossing the Barrow bridge in 1963 - no H&S speed limits then! Was that because the structures were better maintained or the wear and tear on the structures not known at the time? 52 secs high speed over Barrow bridge 53 secs not exactly a speed restriction on the viaduct. 2m6s 121 is fairly pushing on and 5m27s on viaduct and especially 5m43s!!! Note at 6m10s the two Sulzers double headed (or one being towed), a B101 in front and a B113 behind (Dalek). I love these old film clips from the zenith of Railway trains in Ireland.

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.