Noel

It's slow but enjoyable. Gort ticket office. Track side and rear car park side.

Yes swings and roundabouts but overall with the thinner sides and flush glazing it seems an improvement. It’s easy to add detail like door hinges and handles before painting.

A DCC decoder has very limited and basic functionality on a DC layout. Our layout was DC converted to DCC but I can switch it back to DC mode by swapping two cables. I usually do this to test run new locos and run them in. The decoder you have obviously has been DC enabled as factory default setting (ie bit 2 of CV29 is on). You won’t have any control over CVs 3 & 4 ( acceleration and deceleration), nor CV5 (max voltage=max speed). If you had access to a DCC controller or somebody else’s DCC system these could be programmed. Questions for you: if you turn on your DC controller and turn it to max, leave it at max for 60seconds, does the loco accelerate extremely slowly but eventually attain a higher track speed? How does the loco respond on DC with the decoder removed and the original decoder blanking board is plugged back in? Worth checking that a stiff chassis is not the problem (Ie in need of lube)? is it the same in forward and reverse? I’ll test run my sole MM supplied ESU LokSound 5 decoder tomorrow on DC to see how it behaves on DC at max voltage (using a gaugemaster DC controller) and report back. basically you have no control over CVs 3,4,5, and 6 (mid voltage) without access to a DCC controller, nor access to light functions or driving functions, horns, flange squeal, etc, just default engine noise and default running lights once the loco is moving (ie getting at least 4-12volts). PS as Eoin has already advised ensure you don’t have a DC track cleaner (Eg Relco O’R gaugemaster wired in orbit will destroy a DCC decoder). Good luck. Will let you know tomorrow how I get on with the DC test.

A little progress on Gort's 4th building the cottage sized tick office, a strange little building. Laminated embossed sheet with structural sheet behind Stone window surrounds It should blend in a bit when its all painted grey. A strange little building with an open court yard.Lots more to do but fun chipping away at it.

Hi Paul. Why possibly the end of modelling? Fortunately have one of those, but not sure I understand 'end of modelling'?

Well done sourcing some rare items. That's a great collection

I don't know, my pair also flicker on DCC track

More modern era guff! mk3 resprays in progress. These two are Lima donors formerly BR swallow livery. I didn't like the shade or Orange I originally sprayed on last week so mixed a fresh batch of Vallejro Yellow 71:002 and Red 71:102 ratio 35:1. I'm reasonably happy these are the CIE shade of orange I was looking for. The MM orange Mk2d are 120:1 ratio (ie more yellowie). Just the black left to do and transfers. The white stripes were already done but hidden under the masking tape. No sooner than I finish this rake of mk3 resprays I wouldn't be surprised if IRM announced Irish mk3 coaches. The even bigger problem is these resprays are too modern to run on our layout, and certainly modern era stuff like that never ran through Gort. I'll end up rotting in the bogie of eternal stench for allowing such modernity infest our model rails. Its fun repainting them anyway. And when IRM do CIE mk3s I will not be able to resist buying a rake. Paint mixing chart I use

Very tasty job. Really liked the way the white steps were done too. Very subtle and effective result. Pity the lights in the plough vans don't come wired with an anti-flicker capacitor.

One of the transfers lifted on an RTR SF weed van when I was applying water based powder wash, luckily I was able to get it back on and in position. I don't think the RTR versions were sealed with varnish.

Back to buildings. The ticket office is a strange little building comprised of three elements. This is the facade of the two elements at the northern end. The RHS has a flat roof! The LHS element seems more like a staff room with the ticket office in the central section which has a pitched roof and a chimney. Presumably for the station master. Gort was mainly a goods traffic station rather than pax.

The basics are starting to come together. Hopefully will be able to test run some stock in a few weeks (ie as an electrics check pre-ballasting) Need to get the structure of the station ticket office building done now.

Test fitting the remade goods platform. I wasn't 100% happy with the original versions shape so when remade this one added embossed high grip cobble at the cattle dock end. Was able to adjust the track to give it a better flow while enabling stock to get close to the edges for loading and unloading. Now have to make a small loading dock crane. The original platform will get recycled and reused on the other layout. Peco platform edging strips make it really easy to make platforms from plastic card.

Two that come to mind are Kieskemper and Modelbahnshop-lippe. Excellent service from both and the latter has good shipping rates to Ireland €3.90 UPS my last few orders. It would be great if MM appointed a stockist in Germany.

Re making some of Gort's platforms. Using Peco platform edging which I'll cover with embossed stone sheeting on the sides. I wasn't 100% happy with the sides nor the surface finish. I've now put some cobble grip finish under the cattle dock end, and paving at the other end. The rest of Gort's platforms were pebble/grit based (ie 1/2" down). The platform surface is laminated from white styrene card with a layer of embossed card on top to make it the correct thickness for the platform edging pieces. I bought a bulk load of styrene card from a graphic design supply company in Camden street years ago (O'Sullivans I think), they sold large sheets that were about 2ft x 3ft in size very inexpensively. The large 2ft x 3ft sheets of styrene cost about IR£2 twenty years ago. They've proved good value and useful over many years and I still have plenty left for future projects. Buying this stuff in small A4 sheets from model shops is very expensive.

Ditto I've also stopped using UK. I've discovered a few german retailers who can supply all the scenic and electronic bits I may need in the future. I've discovered the prices are better than UK especially for electronics. The key is to find model retailers who have good postage rates to Ireland, some do, some don't.

In time I'm sure all will be revealed. Mk3 coaches seem the gaping hole remaining now that A class is in progress, given all the MM locos and soon A class with so few coaches to haul. Personally I'd prefer CIE B&T laminates or Park Royal's but that's just not gonna happen The glass seems 110% full as it is. We've never had it so good.

Yes the detail especially the locking mechanisms on the door ends really pop with the painted parts. I have a rake of 20ft container flats with their Bell containers on them. Just about straddles the end of my era.

Excellent work Eoin CME O’Bulleid-Murray

Ready for decoration and glazing now

Platform for goods shed. Slight recess for loading bay for lorry's to back in

Very nice. Especially the J15

Some more progress on Gort goods shed. Guttering, ridge tiles, skylight and sliding doors left to do. Its fun hopping between parallel micro projects.

Love those massive distinctive round buffers on the AEC sets

Looks like a black and tan livery 141/181. Yes interesting to see a few mk2 coaches tagged on at the end of the formation. Wonder how that worked (ie mix of vacuum braking and air braking stock in the rake)? The two mk2 were downstream of the Mk1 GSV. Might just have been repositioning