Noel

Hmmm! Having just watched a few YouTube videos of Hornby and Bachmann RTR class 08s running, I would now only buy the Hornby chassis models. The Hornby 08s and 09s seem to be significantly better low speed runners, smoother and more reliable at crawl speeds over insulfrog pointwork which is what one needs for a shunter. So a change of mind. It's normally bachmann chassis that run better but in this case Hornby seem to win on running quality and on detailing quality (ie for BR versions). This thread is motivating me to buy a Hornby and repainted it!!!

Nice. I'd buy one of each if the euro price is sensible. Being a bachmann chassis with three all wheel pick up axels means it should be a quality runner at low speeds over point work which is essential. If it doesn't run right perfect looks matter nil.

Drifting slightly off, but having watched many hours of DVDs on Irish railways to jog my memories of GM and MV loco sounds, I could not help but notice A class locos sounded rather tame and nondescript compared to the evocative and distinctive sound of the baby GMs notching up and down.

Very impressive model engineering skills

Wow your landscaping is incredible. Do you mind me asking what sort of plaster did you use and what is the structure supporting the raised profile sections of the paster (e.g. foam, newspaper, etc)?

There are old pilots, and bold pilots, but very few old bold pilots - he was one of the few exceptions who thankfully lived to pass away in a bed of natural causes!!! The still photo at the end of the video suggests he very nearly had a prop strike which would have been fatal. Superb skills but NO kudos for pushing the envelope so far outside the safety margin even for top display pilots.

Horses for courses. For some it will be authentic scenery through which railways run, for others it will be more about trains on the move and track work accompanied by scenery. Both equally valid preferences. Many middle to older members may have been introduced to the hobby as youngsters with 'table top' model railways where designing and plugging different track formations together almost like meccano was as much part of the hobby as running trains, or adding scenic accessories to enhance the 'imagination'. Others may have evolved or were drawn by the challenge of incredible modelling skills to represent authentic scale scenes. Reading 'Railway Modeller' mag 30-40 years ago inspired many by showing what was possible.

+1 A little on the fast side for my taste too. Not very realistic at all. If you watch old B&W video clips of UK yards the speeds were quite low.

Thanks. I just found this clip of 3173 the 'successor' you mentioned. Seems half way through a repaint or at least primed. Wonder what the final livery will be. LMS maroon? It will greatly improve the look of a rake arriving in a station, especially if it is 1st coach. [video=youtube;Tk382-5T-08]

Super photos. The RPSI loco and cravens look great, but boy are they let down by the junk heap of GSV which looks like it came from a breakers yard.

Just On-off switches on our set up. Only need isolation breaks on one rail side. It means only single wire needed for each block section. For quick conversion to DCC just flick every switch to on and connect DCC in parrallel to former DC controller output pairs (ie after disconnecting DC controller physically or via switches).

Each layout continuous loop is split into 4 switchable block sections with a split in the middle of stations so two locos can be isolated on the same track. Most sidings have a switchable isolation block at one end, and engine shed, service roads have isolation blocks ever 12inches. All wired up to a switch panel with switches located over a schematic track diagram. Terminus switch panel Level 1 switch panel (2 x continuous loops) Electric schematic of Level 2 (2 x continuous loops)

Happy Easter and Blessings to all.

Just an idea Kevin, but have you thought of renumbering models that are still available from sources such as CD and others?

+1 John has done custom finishes for me recently at no extra cost.

If it has on board wifi I could be very interested Seamus!

Hi Rich, Yes I have quite a stable now of MMs incredible 141/181s, a few 071s and a single 201. I've decided to operate more of the baby GMs on our layout than the 071s as they are so versatile for mixed traffic 60s/70s use with shorter coaching stock, 2 axel loose coupled goods wagons, etc, and can double head for longer pax trains and long good trains. The 071s are also very nice especially the IE/IR tip-pex livery, but I only need two mainline express locos. The 201 looks quite out of place on our layout simply because of the era we are operating the models, and I find it just too long a loco as well as not being a fan of the prototype. I just hope any future 121 has a chassis that runs as smoothly and geared as perfectly as the MM 141/181s. I had considered cannibalising my single super train livery MM 141 into a 121 by building a cab and nose out of plasticard, adding deeper side frame panels, and respraying black and tan livery. But if MM release a 121 any time in the next 5 years, I'm happy to wait for that and buy a pair to run nose2nose. Noel Noel

121 in Black'n'Tan or 124 in IR/IE Orange livery

Very fair comment. The glass is more than 90% full as far as I am concerned with this vendor. Changed the whole hobby here in Ireland for the better. Ok, there can be ups and downs, and when there is a problem its fair to highlight it, but there have been vastly more positives than negatives. However in the future I would prefer to pay significantly more for a Bachmann produced 121 loco model than the plant in China that produced the more recent 201s. IMHO, the MM/Bachmann manufactured 141/181s have not been equaled nor surpassed for supreme running and quality detailed finishes - they are sublime in every respect. Business can be full of risks and one can only wish MM well.

Best of luck with such an exciting and interesting project. The space opens up many possibilities. Really looking forward to watching your layout evolve and progress.

At last I have collected a full house of superb MM 141/181 black'n'tan locos and a b&t 142 in the making! 141, 142, 165, 181, 188 I just love this livery with b&t coaches, mm cravens and ifm park royals. Now about to attempt a respray of LMS stainers into CIE b&t laminate look-a-likes.

Superb. Love the cracks on the tarmac road surface.

There are some amazing historic maps. Point depot: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,717943,734617,7,9 LNW&R north wall station: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,717264,734696,7,9 Amiens Street: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,716837,735140,7,9

Your welcome. It was fun and interesting to do. Might try and team up with clubs to run a more comprehensive survey in the future (e.g. 25 questions).

Kingsbridge main yards and terminus (copyright OSI) Kingsbridge link to Guinness sidings (copyright OSI)