Noel

Interesting Rich. All mine were glued at one end near the top of the centre walkway steps, but the stanchions were just fiction fitted, as is the end that fits into the cab sides. Maybe its just my eyesight and shaky hands! When weathering B181 I found it easier to leave them on as they nicely picked up some of the grime I was spraying.

Just a suggestion, don't bother removing the walkway hand rails if you need to remove the body of a Murphy Model 141/181 to fit DCC decoders, or for weathering. They are a nightmare to re-fit, especially because at one end they are glued to the chassis where the steps are, and you need a microscope to refit the other vertical stanchions. It's relatively easy to get the centre body shell off using two ice cream sticks to pinch the body in and upwards over the two pairs of snap fit lugs, leaving the walkway rails in place. Just unclip the rails from each cab end which is easy.

Black'n'Tan fleet visit paint shop in preparation for light weathering - B141, B165, B188 Basically I just take the bogies off, mask the wheels and pick ups, then lightly mask the windows just in case of over spray. B181 was weathered last week as a test for these. I have to renumber another B&T 141 to B142 and that'll make five of these babies.

Thanks. Ok, if any of those mags sell once off 'digital' editions please let us know. Cancelled my mag subscriptions years ago and stopped buying retail (mags on aviation, photography, electronics, model rail, mac, linux, yachting, AV, etc) when I realised I wasn't reading them much, lack of original interesting content, and were taking up too much space on the coffee table. I did enjoy reading 'railway modeller' in years gone bye, and have a crate full of them in the basement. Autumn will be exciting with IRMs Cement Bubbles and Murphy Models 121 hitting the rails. PS: Btw not being pedantic, but are recent posts on this thread not now 'Breaking news from IRM in Dublin' :)

Glad to hear of the review coverage. Not being negative, its just a bit like Des, I no longer read paper media nor buy magazines. Be sure to let us know in due course when online reviews become available. Having been blown away by the quality of the Ballast wagons, which has fuelled anticipation, one can't help wondering when you expect the Cement Bubbles may ship?

This wonderful warm sunny weather is not conducive to working indoors with models nor playing model trains! The great outdoors and summer beckons!

Two intrepid modelling travellers made a pilgrimage to Wexford last week to receive a guided tour of four stunning layouts. We were treated to multiple stock operations on the layouts. A huge thank you to 'Irishrailwayman' for his hospitality and showing two visitors some of his wonderful layouts. Llangollen - N gauge - After seeing this stunning layout and its incredible detail I was won over to N gauge. Llangollen - N gauge - There is so much detail your eyes almost miss it. For example the kayakers in the river, the insides of buildings, drapes, curtains and roller blinds, the roof detail, weeds, weathering, it is a master class. The road traffic can changed to match the period of railway stock from 1930s right up to the 00s. Cynwyd - N gauge - West country BR scenes right up my street. Just reeking of the 1950s, and a GWR pannier tank to push me off my perch. Ballybeg - Stunning scene outside a country pub - the placement and use of figures makes it totally realistic and alive Ballybeg - Lock scene of a summers day - again this layout is alive with model humans doing real life. Amazing! Ballybeg - Signal box - wow, one working and one looking on as the kettle boils on the stove Ballybeg - Beautiful B101 running with stunning DCC sound chip (similar to BR class 24 engine) Thank you Gerry for your time and hospitality. Your work is totally inspiring.

Thanks for the response guys, that's really helpful. It looks like 'Vallejo Model Color' 70.891 intermediate green for diesel locos and post 1955 coaches, and 'Model Air' 71.009 'Eau de Nil' for the lining, and perhaps 70.850 medium olive for pre-1955 coaches? Railmatch 307 also looks like a possible match for diesel loco body. Vallejo have different colour charts in their range for 'model color' and 'model air' ranges of paints. Model Color Range: http://cdn.acrylicosvallejo.com/2d567ed91fb58cdc74108685395ac19a/CC070-Rev14.pdf Model Air Range: https://www.everythingairbrush.com/media/wysiwyg/PDF/Model_Air_Colour_Chart.pdf Any further advise would be welcome.

That's interesting

Yes that's the main purpose I have seen them used for in recent years. Mind you, if ya had taller clients and stopped working with shortie builders they might be able to reach! :)

They are very much 90s and early 00s presentation aids, now obsolete. They may still have limited application for architects, engineers, etc.

Ps: this is the type of green livery I was asking about the shade or Ral no? Don't know if there was a darker one or just this?

What was the shade of green used on the A and C class diesel locos, and for the pale green lining? Equivalent RAL number if matches would also be useful. I've been trying to visually find a match on this chart https://www.everythingairbrush.com/media/wysiwyg/PDF/Model_Air_Colour_Chart.pdf Thanks in advance. Noel

Hi Eoin, is that product a flux, or a paste containing flux and solder? If the former, is ordinary electronic solder suitable for model brass work? Noel

Well done Eoin. Super job for on split chassis, and very neat. They are a nightmare to DCC, and have to be run-in again after reassembly. Your tools to machine the metal chassis is a great help. I gave up on split chassis conversions after doing two of them some years ago, but I wasn't as neat as you have been here. On my poor effort, isolating the motor connections from the chassis sides was a real pain, and tapping each side of the chassis for pickups was equally awkward. What method did you use to connect the decoder to the chassis sides?

Thanks. Ok so, B121 and B233 will only be operating 'specials' from now on

Very funny! Seplling is not my storng piont. Combine with Lexdysia and its a precipice for verbal unreasoning. :) Below is the closest they have to Black'n'Tan livery headfones

Hi Ian. The baseboards are looking really good. Do you have a track diagram? Noel

Hi Fran. For now I would view 3D merely as a 'holding exercise'. It would never compare with the quality of what you guys or MM could produce. Noel

I am awaiting feedback from a designer on the feasibility of an 00 gauge 'A class' body in 3D. Not convinced 3D stepping can be minimised on the compound curves of the A class cab roof, nor the cost of using materials suitable for higher resolution prints. Some interesting 3D prints of Irish Locos https://www.shapeways.com/product/ED2F7SGHT/cie-e-class-421-oo-scale?optionId=40683661 https://www.shapeways.com/product/TUAAF8NZS/cie-e-class-401-oo-scale?optionId=42307672 https://www.shapeways.com/product/PZZCYVXM6/cie-b-class-sulzer-locomotive-oo-scale?optionId=42321334 https://www.shapeways.com/product/S3QTQFYCT/irish-railways-121-class?optionId=57420082 E 421 class E 401 class Sulzer B113 - Looks like curves would need a lot of filing and rubbing down! 121 class Beet wagon Double beet wagon N gauge C class

http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/6303-CIE-lamps-on-diesel-locos I wondered the same when I was researching photos for B121 and B233. I am going for white lamps as they look more attractive visually on a model than the black ones and stand out better.

Super scenes Kieran and especially your NIR stock looks great, but this shot in particular is stunning. It looks like a calendar photograph taken out in the country side of a real train. You half expect to see a '© The Wanderer' or '© Kieran Marshall' on the bottom of the image such is the realism and composition quality!

Blast - I missed Bray today! Thought it was next weekend and was planing to go, my mistake. Great idea for new times.

Hi Tony. Pinch of salt here, as a relative newbie to spray painting I found rattle can aerosol paints such Halfords plastic grey primer superb for priming, almost needs to be used outdoors but you need to hold it at least 12 inches from the subject and keep it moving cause its like a fire extinguisher its so powerful. Also happy with Humbrol rattle can sprays for matt and gloss acrylic varnishes - outdoors or in well ventilated garden shed. However rattle cans give you no flow control, so hand movements back and forth past the subject to be painted needed, hence I'd guess at least 50% of the paint is wasted. Rattle cans seem to work well, once you get the distance right and keep them moving, but there is a lot of waste. Personally I'm glad I went through the 'pain' and 'reservations' barrier I had about using an airbrush, as it uses hardly any paint, and allows precision and indoor use (i.e. cause you can regulate the flow of paint with these double action airbrushes). There have been some fab jobs shown on the forum by folks who've painted stock with rattle cans. Noel

New bogies sides on B233 and B121. The Bachmann (Murphy Model) 141 chassis fits the SF kit like a glove and runs as you would expect from any centre drive chassis. Planning two more of these with 141 donors, one in 'Green' and one in 'all black' livery with the yellow flash. The Athearn SW1500 chassis less obvious now inside the 121 body shell with GM bogies and change of fuel tank A little fettling was needed on B121 body mounts to ensure bogie sides did not foul the steps. The surfaces of 3D bogie sides for 121 were very smooth, and a different material to that used on the body shell (i.e. no evidence of 3D, more like IMP). Question please, what do folks use to prime wire before painting? (i.e. for hand rails and grab rails).