Noel

Yea, if I cut the resin I'd want to ensure the grills ended up flush with the body sides rather than protruding, same for the window frames, well almost flush.

Hi Kieran. Thanks for suggestions. I have considered same, but I've decided to walk before I run on the first loco project. I have the SSM detailing kit, but the grills don't match for C class (i.e. the SF body grill seems incorrectly much wider), I've already filed off the headlamp as the loco will be pre-rebuilt era, and I quite like the existing resin grill on top, which leaves brass for just the front window surrounds, wipers, etc. I will save the SSM detail kit for an A class project where I can use all of the brass. For this C class I have a modified centre drive chassis which fills the internal space, so little point having a see through grill (i.e. on the prototype you could see right through the loco from one side to the other). The three areas I wan't to concentrate on for this first loco 'training exercise', is the quality and precision of the paint job, chassis running performance as per the prototype (i.e. due weight, all wheel drive and all wheel pickup), and DCC sound. Noel

John, thank you very much. You are truly the 'jbikipedia' of this forum all matters Irish railways.

Next project is this. Now what livery to go for? I am torn between Black'n'Tan 1960s, but really like the black livery with the yellow front panel, and then there is the flying snail green livery which would be great for hauling some of my green flying snail coaches. Decisions decisions. First one was to file away the head light boxes. Does anybody have any colour photos of those liveries, very few on the internet?

Wishing our model railway friends a very happy and special Easter. Noel "God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." John 3:17 (Msg)

Excellent research and photos. Did the line cross the Shannon at Portumna or terminate on the east bank? Doesn't look like it from Sat images, but if yes, did it cross the Shannon using the current iconic road bridge which looks more like railway engineering than a road structure? There is an old disused commercial harbour on the east bank just 350m north of the current road bridge (i.e. Munster Harbour) which may have connected the railway with commercial Shannon traffic. Waterways Ireland now use it as a storage depot for hardware, buoys, pontoons, etc.

Nice job so far. Are you using solder or superglue? Is the Dapol chassis 9ft, 10ft or 11ft? I will probably run the imminent delivery of IRMs as 'dolomite' wagons instead of ballasts, so won't need plough vans. Yellow didn't seem to be around in the B&T 60s and early 70s era.

Superb. They look really impressive especially considering they are N gauge. Well done Eoin.

Steam trains at speed

Seems a bit like reinventing the wheel! It probably cost him more in time than buying one retail, but I suppose fun for folks into that sort of thing. China is the new economic super power, and as Fr Ted would say, "they are a great bunch of lads", sure they even make toy choo-choos

+1 Wishing Seamus well, comfort during medical care and a good outcome. Noel

Truly impressive. I take my hat off to folks who can make fabulous precision models out of brass like this.

I thought ballast wagons could be rough shunted.

Yes with 4 ballasts packs paid for and a 10% voucher in each pack, thats a generous 40% discount on a rake of tara's I think not, but appreciate the 10%.

Hi Guys Is IRM going to the Wexford exhibition (WMRC)? And if yes is there any slight possibility you may have some boxed production samples or even stock of the Ballasts there? Thanks, Noel

Fabulous photos of the rail tour and especially the RPSI cravens. Great lighting. So much so you are really tempting me to try and re-paint one of my modern era tippex cravens into that lovely blue/cream livery. The freight grey 071's look fabulous in that livery.

Really looking forward to this exhibition. I've heard many positive things about it and the quality of layouts it attracts.

Only found this old post tonight as I was trawling old threads. An absolutely stunning example of scratch building using plastic card, detailing, and then finishing off with a precise painting and weathering finish. Sublime and inspiring as to what can be done. Clickey for page 1

Thanks Railer. I presume modern locos like 201 class have cab voice and track data recorders much CVR and FDR used in commercial aircraft (orange boxes btw not black), but did any such equipment get retro fitted to older loco classes here? Noel

Interesting. Is there an operational or safety reason for this (e.g. weight restrictions, driver training, equipment, etc)? Was that because drivers may not have been trained or familiar handling 6400 hp on acceleration?

Ok, thanks for explaining. I vaguely remember hearing some funny story about 201s doing multiple working on a trip some years ago.

Sounds an interesting curiosity. Please forgive the question, but why are two 071's required? I thought 071's did not double-head under power during their operating lives, only when one had broken down and was being towed, or the transfer of a loco. Are 071's setup for dual control? Presume one has enough HP to haul 8 coaches on that route.

Agree, it is excellent. Reeks of real atmosphere. Superb job on the rolling stock.

Thank God the entire modelling community has long been waiting for a top quality RTR model of the popular A class The gaping hole on the superb MM product line. The "Dalek" is a very nice looking model though.

Model engineering master class