Noel

ROFL - Ah now that might be going a little too far. I do like travelling to Cork on mk4 city gold, but on my iPad I listen to sound tracks with clackety clack noises, whistles and steam chuffs. But not a patch compared to the comfort of travelling in a laminate corridor coach.

Oh I hear you JB, I'm with you. I don't like coaches over 61ft myself, nor goods wagons that have bogies, nor pax trains without an engine pulling up front. A goods train without a brake van seems like a sentence missing a full stop. Container trains seem so dull and rather 'Fischer price' compared to goods trains of old carrying all manner of nostalgia. Don't mention 'yellow' unless it's C201 black livery with the yellow warning panel.

Those two photos are superb. Track maintenance works alongside an operational line must be quiet tricky. The shot of the sweeping Belmont train passing Wicklow is really eye catching.

I am really chuffed to have a 121 on the layout, especially in Black'n'Tan livery. Thanks for kind comments guys but most of the credit is due to 'Rail 3D Prints' (Jack) / Shapeways, I just did the painting and fitted a chassis. The 3D body shell cost €54 when I bought it 18 months ago, but I see the cost has since gone up. It was worth it to have a half decent looking 121. In general I still have some reservations about 3D printing for 00 gauge, but in this case the quality was very good and it turned out better than I had dreamed. I did spend some time rubbing down surfaces post primer to make it even smoother, but it was pretty good as supplied. The structure was also rigid enough and did not warp. I am really impressed with the running quality of the Athearn SW1500 chassis which fitted with minimal bodging. She can run over Peco insulfrog points and crossings at slow speeds without stalling or juddering, a very smooth slow speed runner, yet can easily haul a rake of 8 coaches or 20 wagons due chassis weight. It was worth sacrificing the superb US body shell to have an Irish B121. Spent ages yesterday playing trains on the layout. Now trying to shape wire hand rails and guard rails using lengths of wire from Eileens Emporium.

Your welcome. Looking forward to running the rake of ballasts in the near future, and perhaps even daring to weather them. Great video too by Eamonn showing them off on that wonderful layout.

Hi JB, Good question. I was only recently wondering the same myself. It's something I'm going to have to tackle over the coming months. Every inch of line boundary is going to need some sort if realistic border be it hedge rows, overgrown fencing, walls, embankments with foliage, trees, etc. I will probably study some of the fantastic 'photographic website updates' albums from our resident photographers to get ideas. Noel

Absolutely fabulous photos of the Ballast wagons. Well done team IRM, a superb achievement to get this over the line so spectacularly well.

Video Clip: CIE 121 class no B121 operational trials on layout today leading consist with B181. B121 is a Shapeways 3D print on an Athearn chassis. Detailing to be completed in due course. I just could not resist a little 'play' session with this new loco earlier today. Now I'm going to have to weather B181 Video Lightly weathered in consist with B181. It will take another few weeks to finish detailing. Holes drilled in front and sides ready for hand rails and guard rails Replacement bogies sides are in paint shop and will be replaced in a week or so. May I take this opportunity to thank those on here who gave me advice, tips and encouragement over the past few months, and in particular one of the forums most talented 'master model engineers' Richie (Glenderg) for the time he generously gave me two years ago on air brush painting, advice on recommended equipment and paints, and general modelling tips.

Hi Mogul, thanks yes that was the original plan, but the MM 141 chassis is just too long for the 121 and won't fit in the body shell without a savage cut'n'shut through the middle, in addition to laterally cutting the metal chassis block to narrow it where the 121 body narrows at the cab joint. By contrast the Athearn SW1500 was a perfect fit by length and width once I cut away the two metal lugs at each end of the chassis. When I get around to adding the correct 121 bogie sides it should look better with wider bogies (i.e. less HO looking). For the C class ironically the MM 141 chassis was a near perfect 'drop in' by length and width once I cut away 4mm metal from each end. I plan to change the bogie sides now that I've figured out how to retain the Bachmann bogie frames which act as gear box seals and host the NEM pockets. Replacement bogie sides in preparation for both the C class and the 121. Fuel tanks also in 'plasticard' shop. Cheers Jonathan, the 121 is progressing slowly with chassis trails today. She's now ready for detailing and glazing, but I will probably 'play' trains for a bit before fitting the all the metal grab rails, etc. I'll pop a video on the layout thread later. The very early B&T 121s didn't have full length walkway rails like the original delivery models, rather just each side of the steps at the bonnet end. I'm debating weather to paint them original weathered tan, or black as per later B&T variants.

Agree GBP£148 seems expensive for a mediocre running chassis with no lights (not to mention a 'shovel') Myself included, and has indeed admirably filled a gap in the RTR market but can be detailed and improved by folks with both the experience and time . . . . . . while waiting for the Inevitable RTR Model that may one day substantially raise the bar for quality and precision

Agree. IMHO that baby GM B&T loco livery was the sharpest and most eye catching livery until the GM 201 mk4 green/grey era. The super train era livery was dull as ditch water from a marketing perspective as well as classic 1970s colour blind dowdy. Reminiscent of soviet era dullness. At least tippex lifted ST livery substantially until green'n'grey. . I like the freight grey 071s if not a little plain.

Oh Yes - pic below posted in the original 'retro livery' thread by NIRCLASS80. Superb photoshop. A73 - Black'n'Tan in wonderland livery Now you've tempting me to try this fictitious livery on an 071 model

Thanks for the encouragement guys. C class ready for finishing in next few days. Due matt varnish today and perhaps some more weathering before adding details and finally chassis runs. Waiting for a sound chip.

Yummie - that looks so real. Clever idea.

CIE 121 progress. White stripes cut, light weathering prior to gloss varnish in preparation for decals. Holes drilled for guard rails and grab handles Tea for two! CIE 121 Class no B121 and CIE C class no B233 both nearing the end of their visits to printshop before detailing and fitting of chassis. The 121 class has an Athearn SW-1500 donor chassis and the C class has a donor chassis from a Murphy Model 141 loco. Had lightly weathered both before varnishing with Humbrol acrylic gloss aerosol can prior to application of decals. Now will seal with Humbrol acrylic matt aerosol varnish to get the shine back off both of them and hopefully make the weathering as visible as it used to be before the gloss. Detailing, glazing and hand rails will be added after they have been sealed. These are my first loco kits so taking it easy and not being to adventurous with specs. Need to learn to walk before I run. Both have centre drive DCC chassis and both will have sound. PS: Yes the B233 decal is too large on the cab ends! As are the roundels too, and the wrong colour!!! Decals are not something I get on with.

Apologies Fran, no prob. That's why I made short post here with the other 121 related posts, but a link to the long post on the workbench thread. Noel Btw, any news on likely ship date for the Murphy Model 121?

121 class. (Next project while waiting for C class bits). This will be an 'iterative' job and take time to bring it up to a standard I am happy to run. Starting with fitting a chassis, painting, glazing, then adding hand rails, grip rails, bits'n'pieces, possible bogie sides, couplings, etc. The MM model is hopefully just around the corner for release, but I was just mildly obsessed with having a 121 class to run in the mean time. Video - Chassis trials before painting Athearn SW-1500 chassis bought on eBay seems to perform well with centre drive, all wheel drive and all wheel pickup. The fuel tank will have to be replaced and investigating replacement or covering of bogies sides. 3D body shell from Shapeways. 8pin DCC socket. It only has head lamps (i.e. no running lights), but these can be easily transferred as there are no daft optic plastics to engineer. Had to cut away metal lugs at each end of the chassis which were used for body screws and the kadee couplings. Not a bad impression of a 121 for a 3D print with some bits added. 1st prime using Halfords which is great for filling the 3D effect. The 3D surface texture will need to be rubbed down Made up some pads to rub 3D surface texture down a bit to get rid of that 3D effect Cut out shapes for chassis mounts and cab flooring Chassis mounting plates installed after height checks for buffer alignment and Kadee gauge test Running trials to check chassis clearance, coupling height, ride height, etc. Note the scale width gap between the buffers (i.e. for 5'3" gauge), ideally I should replace these buffers with sprung oval buffers and move them inboard slightly to match the buffer gaps on rolling stock designed for 4'8.5" gauge. Compromise will be required for compatibility with other stock. Masking - I made the same major boo-boo as on the C Class making the white stripe 1mm wider than needed and had to redo it again later! Mask template on grease proof paper for front end This had to be adjusted to centre the masking After correcting the width of the white stripe - I decided to paint the white strip as a single continuous line and the later paint black over the correct broken sections (i.e. for grill and numbers), because it was easier to mask once in a straight line. Step 1 complete - Next break the white stripe, weathering, decals, rails, grab rails, lights, few bits'n'pices, etc. Pre-finishing track trails - I couldn't help but play trains A pair of black'n'tans at work Now working on varnish, decals, wire fittings, glazing, brake pipes, fixing paint snags, etc. More to follow in due course.

Oh I'm getting just a shade impatient waiting to operate a 121 model. Had been wondering if pairing one of these . . . . . with one of these might carry me over until MM (Murphy Magic) release a 121? It would be a far cry from the detail and correct precision of an injection moulded MM, but may pass the 'duck test' running around the layout in a B&T livery paired with a 141 Ah well, in for a penny, in for a pound: 121 class model to play with in the mean time

Hi Paddy, you may find some of the pics in the thread link below interesting. Noel http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/6024-Track-bed-ballast-experiments

Hi Richie. Interesting idea and I'll look into it. I will see if I can fabricate rigid enough replacement bogie frames in plasticard that Eoin's or even SF's sides could be glued onto (i.e. Eoin's may be a different length to suit the tenshodo spud drive he uses). Cutting the GM sides off the existing bogie frame destroys its integrity which is part of the sealing mechanism for the bogie gears, and the NEM pocket. I know, I know, but sure it'll have to do for now, but almost certain not for too much longer Well Richie I'm really looking forward to seeing the CAD drawings of the IRM A class RTR model when it is announced, and even more looking forward to buying a few IRM A classes when released in 201?. Then 'shovels' will be banished forever from Irish model railway layouts, except for PW track side crews and fire plate crews on Woolich N class. No doubt the IRM model will have working lights, fans, windscreen wipers, opening doors, sound, transparent grill mesh, cab drivers with blinking eyes, and glazing quality yet to be seen on a model loco. We will then be able to nickname SF metrovicks 'Shovel Face', but in the mean time I like them and they continue to pass the 'duck test'. I have absolutely no doubt you can save us all from shovel faces, and looking forward to it. Hi Paul, ah - that's an RTR SF A class I bought two years ago. Its a hideous runner on a Hornby 'rail road' spec chassis. The one on this thread is a resin kit SF C class. I'm hoping it will be a better low speed runner and have scale acceleration/deceleration characteristics without juddering. C classes did a lot of shunting in goods yards. Noel

A light dusting of weathering before a few final touch ups and decals

That's a marvellous series of layouts and photos. Love it. You must have had so much fun with those layouts and the children growing up with model trains.

Hi Paul, Thanks. By 'body' I presume you meant the 141 chassis. Yes, I bought a 'used' MM 141 model on eBay for €90 a few years ago as a donor. Originally the chassis was intended for another loco project I was planning, but I then discovered it was an almost perfect 'drop in' fit for the SF C class. Just had to cut about 4mm off each end of the metal chassis, otherwise its a snug fit and the bogies just clear the forward side panels once the forward brake cylinders are removed. I used a carborundum cutting disc on a mini drill rather than a hack saw. Hopefully it will run really well. Hoping to gloss varnish on Wed, then decals, matt varnish and finally glazing. With some luck it may be finished at the weekend. I'm going to save the spare 'body' parts off the 141 chassis for weathering practice using washes. Thanks Jason, your very kind, but I think not! It's hard enough to find time for the hobby myself. There are plenty of excellent folk on here offering top class respray services. I was just curious to try a few loco projects myself. I have another loco project in the pipe line when this C class is finished, and more goods wagons to convert to Irish and weather.

Hi Paddy, it should be fairly dry within 24hr if you used 50/50% water and PVA mix. If the ballast is actual stone of some kind (rather than synthetic materials) it is known to sometimes darken depending on the stone type, and some granite stone actually almost goes black. There shouldn't be a shine on the ballast after 48hr. PVA mix usually dries and become invisible. Is there any chance you may have pre-wet it with water too much before spreading 50/50 mix on it (i.e. effectively diluting the mix)? It is fairly normal to spray the dry ballast with a mist of water to help capillary action when you subsequently drop 50/50 pva mix on it. Noel

Popeye they are absolutely superb photos. Thanks for posting.