Noel

Wills - when used with balsa structural members it can work quite well. I used to build structure with balsa 1/4" strips and then cover with plasticard sheeting.

Thanks guys. (slightly embarrassed). It has great personal nostalgia value so I will run it despite its odd prototypical pedigree. I'll put some weight in it and change the wheels. It may inspire me to repaint these LMS Staniers which are close enough to CIE laminates in appearance. But I'll learn to use a spray gun and masking tape this time. LMS Stanier as donors for CIE Black and Tan laminate stock

Everard Junction video series covers every aspect of modelling. Top notch videos. He as loco paint videos and coach weathering videos.

Well I promise not to wait over 40 years before the next paint job! Was about 12yo when that botch was done. What's next for me is foam blocks and modelling plaster to get some landscaping done on 'Kingsbridge', then paint, scatter, and may attempt some static grass.

Fabulous pictorial resource and nostalgic

Cheers lads, I just posted it for fun. I hand painted it with a brush when I was a kid over 4 decades ago I need to put a bit of lead weight in it, those old Triang coaches weighed nothing.

Another old rolling stock item dug out from storage Please don't slag too much My first repaint to CIE colours - over four decades ago when I was about 12 or 13 I was desperate to have some Irish trains to run so decided to repaint my LMS train set coaches Hand painted Triang LMS coach - I actually remember mixing multiple samples of humbrol paints and test patches to try and get a reasonable CIE tan colour. Can't believe I hand painted the white lining - My hands couldn't manage that anymore. It used to look like this LMS toy coach - a lot better (not my photo) The actual body shell seems a prototypical botch job, a sort of mk1 shell with makey up side panels pretending to be old world LMS. Don't think any such coach actually ever existed. What will I do with this now? Could convert it into an imaginary presidential coach. I vividly remember seeing President Childers sitting comfortably in an armchair on the then presidential coach about to depart Heuston station some time in the early 1970s, but that was a much earlier style coach and shorter.

Hi Dave Thanks. What's the purpose of the regulator, is this not handled by the air compressor? Presumably some extra lengths of hose and fittings are needed to hook it all up to a compressor. Any recommendations for an air compressor type suitable for occasional modeller? It sounds like it is better not to get a small pokey one that's constantly kicking on and off. I had read somewhere recommendations not to get a spray gun that has changeable nozzles - any sense in this for non-pro use? Noel

You won't believe it but Todd Andrews wants to close the Harcourt Street line. It'll never happen though.

Nice photo and great idea. The sky in that pic is so atmospheric. Looks just west of Castlerock - Downhill? Lovely part of the coast.

I would tend to agree about the limited space. It felt very crowded at times and one was constantly bumping into folk while viewing exhibits. It would be nice to have a venue with a sit down cafe area on site. But it's a good complaint to have too many visitors than too few.

Hi BTB, I think it is Kevin who is looking for buildings. Noel

Hi WRENNEIRE. In truth, I don't know if I still have the boxes, I doubt it, I would need to search the attic where I store the boxes of my rolling stock and locos. I have retained all boxes for the past 35 years, but before that it's a bit hit an miss. I will consider your advice about retaining them 'as is'. I have been considering either making or buying some display cases to retire stock for static display on track that I don't intend to run or run again (e.g. old Dublo, Triang, early Hornby locos that just don't run well and won't lend themselves to DCC conversion). These Limas and a lot of my old plastic wheeled hornby goods wagons may be candidates for static display. Cheers Noel

Think I might know someone who might have one lying around... Wow - you guys are amazing and my memory is awful. Your post above got me digging and yes I have one - totally forgot. I just found it and took this pic. When one has been collecting this stuff for over 45 years and a near 20 year break from the hobby one might be forgiven for forgetting the contents of a few cardboard boxes of stock wrapped in grease proof paper and padded with old news papers. Lima CIE Brake Van meets MM 083 with Lima CIE coaches in background (circa late 1970s I think, repainted BR mk1s). If I remember correctly this brake van came with an o'rrible white roof so I painted it grey - about 37 years ago! I will have to dig out some of the retired old Dublo locos.

It was nice to meet you Eoin. Loved the developing layout, but I was astonished at the stunning Dart models. DMUs, railcars, Darts and Luas have never been 'my cup of tea', but your stunning Dart models could prove very tempting for this dinosaur locked in the GM loco and steam hauled train era. Noel

Hi Dave. Do you mind me asking which one? Was it just the air brush or one of their complete kits. Thanks Noel

Thanks, well hopefully it will get a lot busier this winter as I have almost completed 'tooling up' for the start of the scenic work now that the DCC wiring conversion is nearing it's end. It's thanks to the modellers on this forum and Murphy Models that my dormant interest in the hobby was awoken again this autumn. I've got enough locos DCC converted for the moment to operate it a 'little' while engaging in the scenic work over the winter. I'd never thought of a name for our layout until coming on this forum, so have decided to call it 'Kingsbridge' as that what was what I remember Heuston being called in the 60s before renaming in 1966, and for a decade after many Dubliners still referred to it as 'Kingsbridge'. The main terminus on the middle level of the layout is loosely based on an 'artistic' impression of 'Kingsbridge' or at least will be when I start on the buildings. The track layout was designed for 'steam' era operations with the old release road between platforms 4 and 5. My main interest is 60s and 70s operations as well as British outline steam, so this layout will have a bit of split or dual personality. The 60s/70s CIE/IR GM era mixed with 30s/40s UK steam era and hopefully a few 1950s ex-GSWR and ex-MGWR Irish steam trains. My first arrived on the layout last night thanks to MRSI show (i.e. 2-6-0 mogul). Post 071 class my interest rapidly falls off, probably for excellently observed reasons in the 'Dinosaur' thread - reversion to 'childhood' view of an ideal world. Upper level through station which has been invaded by Irish stock thanks for Murphy models, yet one GWR/BR Pannier tank pilot loco is on the inner road waiting to be over taken by a MM train of cravens behind a recent weathered 073 addition. Newly rediscovered Lima CIE vans behind weathered MM 183 (before detailing added but at least with apron). The weathering on the 183 was a little light compared to the 073 especially on the roof.

Only recently re-discovered that I had six late 1970s Lima CIE vans. I vaguely remember buying these in packs of three in WJ Owens of Bray which was 'the' best RC model aircraft shop in Ireland until the owner retired about 10 years ago, and during the 60s and 70s had also been quite a decent model railway shop as well as a specialist camera shop and an air-fix mecca. For me personally Bray lost its retail attraction when WJ Owens closed its doors for the last time. Aero modellers used to drive the length and breath of Ireland to get 'specialist' items from his 'Aladdin's' cave of goodies. Thankfully though Ireland now have some fabulous model railway shops. I presume I could re-wheel these wagons, change the couplings, and add a touch of weathering to make them semi-CIE passable. Any suggestions welcome. Lima CIE vans

Thanks. I'm not familiar with US models, any brand suggestions. If one was lucky I guess the ideal find would be a 'centre-drive' co-co chassis that is exactly the right length for a SF 001 body - might be a tall order for my limited skills to avoid having to shorten an RTR 'centre-drive' chassis

Hi DV. Thanks for that. This has been exercising my mind over the weekend. Nearly bought a pair of SF 001s at the show but felt the chassis that had been used in the stock on offer were too basic, sort of 'toy' railroad running spec. The more I think about it I feel these 001 class bodies deserve 'center drive' systems with all wheel drive on both bogies and all wheel pickups as per MM 071 model spec. Centre-drive really seems the way to go for quality diesel model locos nowadays. Most of the newer decent hornby's and bachmann's have gone this way.

I'd never seen a decent Dart model until seeing these at the show this weekend. Absolutely stunning models and an achievement beyond words. You are a very talented engineer and modeller. Fabulous attention to detail and quality. They looked better than factory produced products. Loved the little detail of the occasional flickering pantograph spark. Congratulations.

What a superb 121 - spotted at the show today - exceptional

At last an Irish steam train has joined our layout. 385 via Chris Dyer stand at the MRSI show weathered in CIE snail livery. Newly acquired 385 N-Class on platform 5 with goods van and two CIE snail coaches circa 1950 Surrounded by coaching stock of the big four - at last an Irish Steam train in our version of Heuston (before the roof is built) Have been building up a stock of MM GM's and mix of CIE/IE/IR coaching stock for the diesel upper layout level, now the lower level steam layout has some Irish steam at last. Now to repaint some of my older hornby LMS Stanier coaches to olive green.

Popped in for a quick second visit after lunch. Really enjoyed it and picked up a few really useful modelling bits'n'pieces. Saw some fab customised mk3s being hand delivered.

FYI, be aware of the Dublin city marathon route today if crossing city to get to the exhibition. Out of towners may prefer M50 route around city. Or east link bridge if off the merrion road before Vincent's hospital.