Noel

Superb scenes and photos. The C class looks stunning. Love the small train - brings back fond memories of small loose coupled stock movements out west in early 70s. Was it awkward to fit the lights?

I was wondering about that. And the coaches would ride too high at platforms. The "2ft rule" or the "duck test" tends to suffice for me. When we consider what an MM loco hauling MM cravens augmented by SF/IFM stock looks like, its a vast improvement on the CIE livery Lima class 33s and Lima BR Mk1s in B&T livery that were on offer 35 years ago. We are in danger of impractically high expectations given the welcome improvements and diversity in Irish 00 gauge model stock triggered by MM products. Who knows what improvements in 3D printing may take place in the next decade. There may come a time in the not too distant future when we can pay online for a 3D print of any Irish rolling stock item, or even print at home if the quality and cost of 3D printers continues to improve exponentially. IMHO, 3D has a long way to go yet to match the detail and resolution of injection moulded plastic, but the same was said of daisy wheel printers, lasers and ink jets in the early days of those technologies (for those old enough to know what a 'daisy wheel' was)

+1

Watch this space

Sounds like a good idea. Personally I'd have little interest in partial kits such as Worsley Works. A proper kit should supply all the bits needed including assorted transfers, glazing, wheels, bogies, under frame gear, couplings, interior layouts, door handles, grips, roof, vents, pipes, drains, steps, corridor connectors, etc. 'Matchstick' modelling seems more a relic of the 60s before plastics replaced metal - aka Rovex displacing Dublo.

Old tread but ... Interesting a run of 5000? I doubt more than 2500-3000 would sell in the 1st five years. Can't see 5000 selling. When you consider over 9000 141/181 models were produced which were commonly seen prototypes, I cannot see how the prototypically rarer 121s would sell in such high volume once the immediate back log of demand from enthusiasts is met. Sure there will be some collectors who wish to buy every livery combination, but I'd guess more typically folk will purchase two or three at most (e.g: one pair nose to tail, and one as a push pull). Don't intend to sound pessimistic, but there were only 15 x 121 class built whereas there were 49 x 141/181s which is a ratio of just over 3.2:1 (i.e. 9000 x 141/181 : 2800 x 121 models). I do hope they happen though and happy to wait until the numbers add up so that is it proves profitable for MM. PS: Not even mentioning the 96 metrovics 60 of which ran most of the network for a generation.

Nice work. You are really capturing the atmosphere of Greystones so well. Love the way you have done the beech.

Live and let live, we are all model railway fans of some sort or another, and I'm sure would get on and enjoy chatting face to face. As I said the coaches were more than pleasing for my purposes, and I really enjoy running them. I never expected nor claimed they were as detailed as the MM Cravens. I have also seen at close hand some of the amazing ultra fine scale models that were scratch built or modified RTR by some of our very talented brethren. Hat's off to them, but please don't bite me if I don't wear a cap.

Hi Rich I hear what you say. What are the Worsley Works laminate kits like? Do they come with everything including wheels, bogies, couplings, glazing, couplings and roof, or do they need donor models? I've just had a look on their website but I could not find any photos or details (pretty poor website btw). Any photos on here of finished builds? Noel

Wow, Just stumbled across the past post with the biggest Irish consist I've ever seen. Run the video on the link. There is much past treasure on this forum. And superb weathering too. http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/405-BosKonay-s-Baby-GM-s?p=5220&viewfull=1#post5220

Good morning Richie. Thank you, that clarifies a few things. Cheers Noel

Superb construction and finishing.

Doh wish this hadn't got negative. For me personally it was good news and quite simple. I wished to have some CIE Park Royals and Laminates of a good enough quality to make formations to run with my Black and Tan era MM 141s and MM Cravens, and to that end they 'do what they say on the tin' more than nicely. Like anybody I wish they cost less but they are worth paying for rare specialist RTR models produced in tiny volumes. There is obviously no way small volumes can be produced to the same standard as higher volume injection moulded plastics, nor at the same price. But here's the rub, they are more than good enough for many folk, and better than anything I could build from a kit (ie probably botched joints, bent panels, poor paint job, etc). The paint job on these RTRs was actually quite good. (Not replying to anybody in particular, and not trying to start a bun fight). There has occasionally on this forum been the odd hint of 'modellers snobbery' or 'superiority complex' where small producers of Irish RTR stock get knocked or suffer undue levels of negativity. Well I for one am glad these small producers are meeting a demand, just as I am delighted with the top notch quality of MM GMs and MM Cravens, and equally enthusiastic about the launch of IRM. To have a CIE laminate or not that is the question? Last week I didn't, this week I do, it looks well with the other coaches, and that's all that matters to me personally. I don't have the time, health nor skills to build ultra fine scale models from kits, so thank you IFM for your Park Royals and Laminate coaches. I will be ordering more. Equally I do however applaud and congratulate those who have the skills and time to build and finish their own stock to a high standard.

Thanks David. That's very helpful.

Have great admiration for those skilled enough to build quality brass models. Respect. Will watch with interest.

Hi IT, do you know if Legomanbiffo released an ESU sound project for 141 or 181? I can't seem to find one online Thanks Not sure if Tara Junction Noel's 161sa was the new legomanbiffo project, an other one (see below). https://www.facebook.com/shares/view?id=10204947225589324&overlay=1&notif_t=story_reshare This DC Kits product apparently is NOT a legomanbiffo project: http://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/shop/dcc_digital_loco_sounds/irish_diesel_loco_sounds/class_141_gm_bo_bo_dc_kits_.php Getting seriously confused!

I really like the way you have superbly managed to blend the scenery into the back-scene. Looking at that scene I can almost hear livestock baying and cockerels crowing in undergrowth as a feint and distant GM horn hints at a train on the way.

Looks so authentic. 161 sounds great.

Superb tutorial Richie.

Agree MM Cravens are in a league of their own. Like you between sales and haggling I got ours for €39ea from retailers. MM Baby GMS and Cravens seem to be the unsurpased pinnacle of Irish RTR stock. The 071s are not far behind, but the Mk2s and 201s never blew my skirt up which in fairness is probably more to do with the prototypes than the models, although I never liked the bright shade of orange on the tippex models. Does anybody know what price the Baby GMs retailed at back in 2008? Post recession and increasing labour costs in China, one wonders what future prices may be like.

I spent a few mins this evening looking at archive versions of some retailers web sites using https://archive.org/web Interesting to see MM 141/181s retailed new for between €109 and €119 about 5 years ago. But also noticed that rolling stock such as Cravens seem to have remained steady at €49 all the way through those years.

The Lima chassis is nowhere near as good a runner as the Murphy model one, hence value is probably more for static display purposes. Add to that 201 class GMs just don't seem to be as popular with modellers as the earlier era Irish locos.

"Careful now - down with that sort of thing!" It was you who encouraged me to order more!!! - Pot/Kettle :)

Ordered 3 more sets - enough is obviously not enough - ouch!

IFM CIE Laminate in a mixed rake. Two more poor phone shots from other angles. PS: Forgive, but I enjoy my own imaginary model railway world hence the mix of Irish and UK steam stock predominantly pre 1975.