Noel

But as I understand it, WW are not complete kits, hence the builder has to source quite a few separate components to complete it including the roof.

Thanks Josef. I feel a 121 and an SF AEC conversion being pair up.

What happened?

Initially I got confused reading you post and misread it as the old short Killaloe/Ballina line that used to run from Limerick via Birdhill to Killaloe. (Lexdisia strikes again). Sorry can't help about Killala. As an aside, there are good photo's of the old Killaloe line in the Lakeside hotel in Killaloe as well as plenty of memorabilia posters (e.g. adverts, excursions, special fares, etc). Part of the old station is now a fashionable bistro and another a family home on the edge of the Shannon.

Yip my favourite era - 3 x 121s for me: 2 B&Ts plus one grey/yellow for static display case in sitting room. PS: Did any of the baby GMs ever get used for push/pull with converted AEC sets, or was that just C class?

In fairness the 3 wagon pack approach seems to be well proven and successful with consumers in the market for some years, with Bachmann supplying many wagons in 3-paks. It seems unlikely that a single ballast wagon would have been hitched to a train. It also reduces cost to the consumer by reduced packaging costs per wagon, and more efficient to box and pack larger boxes at end of line. You are right about it being a 'golden age' for the hobby here. Hopefully we are NOT in the final flourish of a sunset industry (i.e. due age profile active in the hobby).

In fairness one of the reasons folk go for RTR is quality - they usually look better than the average outcome of a kit built loco (excluding some master kit builders). I've never seen any kit built diesel loco of any class get within a mile of the quality of an MM 141, not even close (appearance + mechanical/operational performance).

The improvements in living standards, road transport and eventually motorways would have happened either way. Rail wiped out canal traffic, road did and continues to replace most rail transport.

No wonder the French, German and Swiss railways have such good reputations.

Kap'n shes'a nout gonna take much morea this!!! She'll flat spot if we go above warp 9 any wee longer.

Monty Python couldn't make this up!!!

Ted - I was seriously confused - Ah! I hadn't a clue what this tread was about til just now.

Thanks for posting those. Looks really nice inside. Especially the business service coach. I looks like all the coaches have window blinds. Pity Irish Rail no longer have a decent business service on the Cork line. I presume the photo on slide 6 is the DVT.

Glenderg's comparison is very interesting. Just to throw another angle on it. Sometimes accurate colours do not scale down from full size of 4mm scale with predominantly indoor lighting. Pigment reflects light, and the colour of the light is also a factor (e.g. white balance in photography). Some model colour schemes lend themselves to slight adjustment to make them "look right" when scaled down. Also shadows just don't work the same in artificial light. Viewing angle is also a factor, as most models are viewed top down at a 30-45 degree angle, whereas prototypes are predominantly viewed side on hence different light reflection. I guess the correct shade is the shade that looks and feels correct for an owner.

BBC2 7pm 'Walk the line' Antrims lost railways

Agree. It is just a shame the price may severely restrict sales of what seems like a good product. It's just basic business to balance sales with costs to make a reasonable return over time.

Sounds very promising. Presume pre-order folks will get a status update sometime during Q1 2016.

Maybe, but effectively not at such staggeringly insane prices of nearly €80 for a flat pack cardboard "kit" of a signal box. Seems priced more for commercial use than typical hobbyists. €220 for a station building that needs to be painted!!!

Seriously expensive kits

Nous sommes avec vous dans votre chagrin, et prions Dieu vous réconforter. "We stand with you in your grief, and pray God will comfort you."

Shocked and just feel a sense of deep sadness. Such awful plain and suffering for hundreds of innocent families whose lives have been changed utterly.

Is HLV = Heating & Luggage Van? Presume it ran with Dynamo lit stock if no generator.

Pity - the Hornby's are not the greatest runners, not bad, but not good either. Is there a Bachmann chassis that fits as they are mostly all wheel drive, all wheel pickup with flywheels and centre drive chassis?

Thanks. Were the tanks always fitted to these vans? I vaguely remember seeing photos of models some with, some without the tanks.

Great. I'm exempt so <1kg