Noel

Well spotted JB. Yes both versions were available (i.e. 1 white stripe or two), but despite my 60s preference I choose tippex versions (see below which was at the end of the photo post).

Yes that kit/part scratch built PR does look superb, but what RTR alternatives are there? Not everybody is a talented master builder. I agree with some of the earlier comments, the cost seems a lot for the level of detail, and yes MM Cravens are obviously on another planet, but the RTR laminates and PRs are not bad for low volume resin bodies. Its a free world and I appreciate folks have different opinions, requirements and expectations. If somebody ever produces a complete fine scale quality kit, or better still produces fine scale injection moulded plastic versions of a similar quality to MM cravens I'll bite their hand off. Or indeed if anybody is interested in commissions to build fine scale stock I'd love to know.

Ok so now that I am just beginning to learn how to use an airbrush, here is a fun respray project I am going to attempt. To make this Hornby Stanier coach look very vaguely like a CIE Bredin/Laminate in B&T livery Dismantled Halfords plastic grey primer Now wait 48hr for it to really dry hard before attempting white band above windows,then finally black around the windows, and finally orange tumblehome, under frames and ends. And if I don't make a total hash of it, weathering. Fingers crossed.

Hi Fran, Stephen Light wasn't great but here are some close up photos as requested. The Park Royals and Laminates could do with door handles, etc. The shade of tan on the PR needed to be toned down. Noel TPO 2 axle TPO 2 axle Bulleid heating van 2 axle Bulleid heating van 2 axle Bulleid heating van 2 axle Park Royal Park Royal Park Royal Laminate Laminate Laminate The lot together makes up a nice mixed rake of Irish coach types typical of the 60s and early 70s. Mix and match with MM Cravens and SF GSVs and you can run plenty of variety of black'n'tan era passenger trains. Not bad at all for resin mouldings. PS: Btw I know the Park Royals above had two white stripes instead of one typical of the period, I just prefer the look of the 'tippex' Park Royals on our layout.

Where do I sign up? Brilliant JB, you crack me up. I can smell the cattle sidings and see black sulzers at work, mixed rakes of green flying snail and b&t coaches You'll never see a ford Mondeo at a vintage car rally in 70 years time and 22k's will never be preserved. When they are done, they should be recycled into rare snail species nests, or melted down to make uranium battery cages for hydrogen cell cars, or failing that recycled into electric bicycles Bantry Town Station looks like a fab project though, and as said could span a number of eras.

Hi Fran. Will do, and no prob Link here to clearer 1080p video clip: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3707-Which-DCC-sound-chip-for-MM-141-181?p=98166&viewfull=1#post98166 Noel

Fab pic of 4001 under the bridge

Magnificent. You have some very talented modellers in SMRC.

181 on passenger duty running LokSound decoder with 'Power Drive' (PD). I need to seal the speaker inside the loco body better as it vibrates at certain frequencies. Will PVA the speaker in place and seal in a plasticard box next time I open the loco up. This project has 'Drive Hold' feature which toggles the throttle between speed control and notch control. I'm getting more used to it as I practice, and it is growing on me, but I'm still leaning towards the non-PD version which very elegantly automatically notches depending on speed changes and throttle inputs allowing the driver to look at the train more. Its a variation on ESU's 'Full Throttle' version. PS: Apologies for intermittent auto focus noise from the SLR, I forgot to put it on manual focus.

Looking good Fran. Really looking forward to getting delivery of a rake of ballasts, and later the rake of bubbles. I was able to inspect one of the ballasts close up recently (thank you) and it has stunning detail when you see it in the flesh. Especially underneath. Please post here before any coverage goes to print in the UK mags as I no longer read hardcopy print media, but will buy a physical mag if I know there's a piece in it on IRM. I'm sure you've mentioned this before, but I can't remember or find the answer, are the ballasts weathered or pristine? I know you posted a weathered example here but can't remember if that was an intended finish sample. Thanks. Noel

Hi Noel. Excellent scene. It's alive with busy activity. 071 looks great. Do you mind me asking where you got the mk4 set from? Noel (the other one)

No connection whatsoever, just a happy customer of both. The sound chips were actually supplied by DC-Kits (Charlie Petty), but the sound projects were made by 'wheeltappers' who also sell direct. As Charlie's stuff is mainly by Legomanbiffo I had incorrectly assumed it was biff who'd make it but both he and Charlie pointed me at wheeltappers. As to IFM I have been trying to learn to airbrush and I finally got around to doing a light weathering job on the coaches I'd bought from them over the past two years. Hence the recent interest http://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/shop/dcc_digital_loco_sounds/irish_diesel_loco_sounds http://www.wheeltappersdccsounds.co.uk/styled-5/index.html Hi Stephen. No those two were taken in poor daylight (High ISO), the other one was last evening under poor indoor light hence the narrow DOF blurry effect and the white balance was also incorrect. Almost identical scenes though. Sure can take some closer shots when the light is good enough. Noel

Thanks Jason. I can't stop driving the two new LokSounds from 'Wheeltappers' on 181 and 190. Some more taken in daylight to add a little atmosphere. I am more than pleased with these iconic RTR coaches. The very light weathering helped tone down the shade of orange on the Park Royals, TPO and heating Van. A rake entirely made up of RTR coaching stock from IFM - such a rake but an impossible dream 30 years ago.

That's coming together really nicely Tony. Your rate of progress is impressive. It seems only a few weeks ago you first posted about track plans. Noel

Just finished lightly weathering our fleet of Irish Freight Models (IFM) coaching stock collected over past few years. Assembled them into a rake for pic and video clip below. I am thrilled to have a rake of early era CIE coaching stock, and really delighted with these unique and good looking coaches. Well done Tom. Will try and get a better picture in daylight in the next few days. Enjoy the short video clip. Also has some of my recent attempts at weathering goods wagons. Locos are running 'wheeltappers' DCC sound projects running on LokSound decoders supplied by DC-Kits. Bulleid Heating Van (2 axle) Park Royals x 2 CIE Laminate Park Royal x 1 TPO (Travelling post office 2 axle)

Wonderful rolling stock on a fabulous layout. I love your goods train formations. The bullied heating van looks great, spotted the nice detail inside the corridor connectors. The 141 weathering is my cup of tea. What chasss is the lovely green A class running on?

Oh no it doesn't It's hideous and will never be allowed to run on the layout looking like that. Kevin, You are too kind, but perhaps the photos don't reveal just how awful it is. That would be grossly unfair to the moss I'll enjoy stripping it down, a coat of Halfords grey primer and then start again with actual orange paint. Another training exercise when time permits.

Sorry Dave. But look on the bright side, I haven't destroyed a Murphy Model IR/IE Mk2d! (yet) PS: Anyway those Police constables aren't Guards :) So no jurisdiction down our way. PS2: Any suggestions where can I get replacement metal wheels for the Lima Vent Vans without paying a kings ransom? They have a shorter axle (24.5mm) than Bachmann and Hornby (26.5mm). My Lima's have plastic wheels. The Lima vans now have a new lease of life and are only very lightly dusted, enough to get the shinny gloss off each plank of wood The old Hornby mk2a's on platform 5 were sacrificed to save me from making a mess of the lovely MM mk2d's on platform 3

The one that got away Go back to 'GO' do not collect $200. At least I didn't destroy an MM mk2d. This is when a novice gets it all wrong when I tried to weather this 1970s hornby mk2a Tried a 'wash' type of method on the roof and rubbed it off before a light dusting after, but it went horribly wrong. Also was all over the place with the air spray direction on the tumblehome. When I get time, will strip this again back to the plastic, and instead of trying to weather the orange plastic will try a full respray over a grey primer and attempt to mix up a proper super train tan/orange colour. No harm done, these coaches were scrap anyway but good guinea pig donors for my learning curve. So much to learn but it is fun experimenting.

Jason, those wagons and the paint job are absolutely superb. Hat's off to you. What do you use to seal them after painting. Noel

Cheers Popeye, Apologies I meant to say acrylic thinners, which I have been using, which I understand is basically purified water with an agent to help it mix and flow. Noel

Agree 100%. We use methylated spirits in our CMX. It is so heavy it needs two baby GM's in a consist to haul it without stalling over points. Aside from its weight it's success seems to be the drip-by-drip flow of cleaning agent onto the replaceable pads. It can also be pushed by hand.

Yummie, lovely mixed goods train. Love those scenes. The foliage is particularly striking. The goods shed is also excellent.

Thanks JB, thanks for the tip. I'm going to give the chassis under frames another coat. I'll need to find 'colour' photos if possible of H-Vans and their roofs as they would have been in the 60s and 70s. Cheers Obi Wan (Richie). Yea the mixing in the cup idea came from watching loads of youtube's especially Everard Junction and a few others. Thanks for the 1 second tip. Just today I picked up a few mixing bottles from JM (thanks btw) so in future will pre-mix thinners and paint. I have a tin of precision paints 'CIE Golden Brown' enamel, but I want to try and stick with acrylics so I'm going to try and mix a few colours to get a 1960s 'tan' colour for some resprays. Tried the 'wash' already on some Hornby Mk2a's and made a bit of a hash of it so its off to the 'coach cleaners' and start again. Thanks guys, its very novice, but its a start and more importantly I'm really having fun. Apprehensive about next up which is to attempt a MM 141, but I'll just have to risk it. After that some retaining walls, and then the orange roofed MM Mk2d's. Question: When sealing this lot with matt acrylic varnish, should I use it straight out of the jar, or thin it 50/50%? PS: I'm beginning to wonder if I should thin the acrylic paints 40/60% (paint/thinner) rather than 50/50.

The CMX is very expensive alright, but IMHO on large layouts especially with inaccessible track sections or hidden track it is worth every penny. It works incredibly well and only two or three runs over a section of track and it is perfect again. It would be ideal for club layouts.