Noel

22 minutes ago, John-r said:

Hi All,

Anyone else having difficulties logging in to the Accurascale website. I have been unable to do so the last few days, I can access the trade page and the eu page but not the UK page, any help appreciated.

Regards John.

No probs logging in, hoping my class 37 D6704  is eventually delivered in next few days.

On the subject of baseboard materials FYI, Woodworkers supplied precision pre-cut to your spec high quality birch ply sheets in 6mm and 12mm suitable for rapid modular baseboard construction. Ideal for constructing WMRC standard 4ft or 5ft baseboard modules. Glue with hot gun in 15mins, then paint 2" fibreglass tape across the joints with PVA, and seal the entire module top and bottom with domestic grey primer paint for permanent moisture resistance and stability free from warping. Lightweight board modules, easy to work on and transport. Grey paint also handy for gluing track bed materials, and scenics to the baseboard double sided tape for temporarily

http://www.woodworkers.ie

2" fiberglass tape PVA painted over glue joints for added strength and bonding

Primed for life

Sits on Plastic folding trestles 

Using back scene boards as a support the baseboard can sit on its side at 90º for easy access and working on wiring, point motors, etc, rather than crawling under baseboards with tools and soldering irons.

Wiring becomes more comfortable when you can stand up and work on the underside of a baseboard vertically. The 6mm backscene board acts as a stand to sit the baseboard vertically on its side.

PS: From past experience the material to avoid if at all possible for layout baseboard is chip board, absorbs moisture, unstable, sags when damp, and ridiculously hard to get track pins into. Not an easy materials to work with.

Fabulous. It could be a miniature for a period drama movie. Stunning.

On 21/10/2023 at 4:06 PM, murphaph said:

Yep, says so in the youtube description:

 

Cheers so no combustion, no cylinders therefore no noise, just a near silent generator. Might sound a bit like the dart. Few mechanical moving parts in power plant so less maintenance cycle costs and better reliability.

22 minutes ago, Jack_Dunboyne said:

First Polish fully operational Hydro engine


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIk4Tht9SZo

She's very quiet, must be a HFC powered rather than HCE

6 hours ago, Mayner said:

Lithium-ion battery device fires (bikes, phones, laptops, tools) rather than cars has become a significant issue in recent years las Li devices have become more prevelant  https://www.fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/home-fire-hazards/lithium-ion-battery-safety/.

NZ fire service have been running a number of 'controlled burns" to show how quickly a Li fire can consume a typical NZ timber frame house. For us the potential killer is the phone or laptop on charge in a bedroom, Li powered garden and power tools are in the workshop.

Don't know if we will get around to changing to an electric car or hybrid, we hope to get at least 10 years out of our current car a 10 year old Japanese import same as we did with out last car.

 

Yip consumer devices don't have the sort of sophisticated battery management (BMS) and thermal management that BEVs have (except Nissan Leafs that still have clock work analog batteries that cook themselves). There's an average of 800 batteries on board every flight and yet air liners are not falling out of the skies in flames regularly, but OPEC news channels would have us believe its not safe to leave a car in an underground car park, or parked outside a house.

There's lots of reasons cars catch fire from overheating catalytic converters, broken exhausts, to engine over heats melting wiring, 12v system fails, poor maintenance, crashes, stolen cars/arson, collisions shorting 12v wiring, ruptured fuel/oil lines etc. Everything can burn. Think about the risk a model layout possesses 3 or 5amps of a DCC controller is enough to set fire to 16v wiring, all that wiring that could become damaged or shorted, even a loco decoder frying could potentially set a layout on fire if adequate short circuit protection is not available. Think of all the lighting on a layout. I keep a smoke detector in the layout room and never leak the electronics switched on unless I'm in the room. I'm sure many of us have electric heaters in layout sheds and rooms during winter, and all manner of solvents and combustable paints, thinners and primers in sheds. Life has risks, once we mitigate enough we can live without stressing over it.

10 hours ago, Broithe said:

Of the six, maybe eight, people who spoke to me about the Newbridge McDonald's fire, all of them believed that it was an electric vehicle.

A local told me it was an old diesel merc. Dunno for certain. New definition of French fries that's for sure. Thank God nobody hurt in that incident.

1 hour ago, Broithe said:

Conveniently, I had a chat with someone yesterday, as she was driving a Hyundai Kona. I might, one day, look at having one, so I quizzed her about it. It was a hybrid, with a small battery under the boot floor, and a petrol engine for when that wasn't enough. She was very happy with it and I mentioned that I was more interested in the full electric version, as I've only ever been beyond 200 miles in one day in my current car in the last 13 years. She, as a fire prevention officer, with a 'mechanic husband', advised against that, due to the fire risk from the battery - despite having a smaller, but similar, battery in hers and a petrol tank...

Yes OPEC's brilliant BEV's burst into flames myths, BEVS banned from car parks, there was a famous fire 3 years ago with a Kona Electric on fire in a US homes garage, it turned out that the cause was a faulty tumble dryer in the garage rather than the Kona's battery. 12 Kona's world wide out of 80,000 had LG battery issues, all 80,000 were recalled and given new complete HV battery packs under warranty. Hyundai realised this could be their 'diesel gate' equivalent moment so they spend $2bn replacing all the batteries as they sought to be leaders in the world BEV market. Approx 3000 ICE cars a year catch fire in Ireland for a variety of reasons, Zero BEVs so far (source Fire Service). The media who earn substationial advert revenue from legacy auto and indirectly OPEC, peddle many of these EV myths cause they make sensational stories and nobody fact checks any more. Ultimately it'll be the consumer who decides how fast the current transition era proceeds. Big Oil now seems like its a sunset industry. Every govt in developed world has lead the charge to dump diesel asap, decarbonise and move to alt energy. No sign yet of useable fusion, but that will be cracked one day, and that will change everything when grids become 100% fossil free.

1 hour ago, murphaph said:

Same. I always assumed H would be the fuel of the future for everything but BEV development is clearly moving at pace. There are (admittedly luxury) cars that already have the battery range of similar ICE vehicles. Batteries are becoming more energy dense, lighter, cheaper and even safer (from the point of view of fire) every year. I am pretty sure we will see BEVs with much greater range than ICEs in the coming years. The trend is really clear now.

H remains a viable fuel for those buses and HGVs but even there I reckon batteries will be so good in twenty years that justifying the infrastructure maintenance costs for H will be very difficult. There is already a Tesla truck tractor unit on the market. It doesn't yet have the range but it has the power. The range will come.

Yes remember the year on year exponential increase in CPU speed every year from 1985 and especially in the 1990 with CPU power doubling every 6 months. Same looks like happening with battery density and chemistry. BEV sales have hit over 25% of market share here, the tide is flowing in one direction at the moment. As the new ICE ban gets closer year on year a tipping point may be achieved causing residual values of existing ICE vehicles fall off a cliff edge. 2040 is still 16 years away and 2035 eleven years before new ICE sales banned. Consumers seem ahead of policy on adoption of alt energy, with the explosion of heat pumps, BEVs, and homes with Solar PV. Where will it all end Ted? Will we all end up driving Pat Mustard's milk float at only 4mph?    Looking forward to the quiet swoosh of electric intercity on CWR to Cork in the future, perhaps eventually quad tracking of Dart lines to Connolly, sooner Dart link to Houston and Dublin Airport, and I asked Santa for an IRM C class for Christmas.   With a rake of laminate CIE coaches.

9 hours ago, Mike 84C said:

JCB have already announced an ICE engine for plant, to run on hydrogen and its had press demo's.

I cannot understand the big wail about no infrastructure for hydrogen as a fuel for IC. Its already there, called a filling station and will be there for as long as petrol and diesel is needed/ available.

Maybe 20 yrs?

 

 

The cost of installing hugh pressure H storage tanks underground and pumps at a forecourt is massive and the distribution costs massive, its a very expensive form of road fuel. There are zero public H pumps in Ireland and only 5 in the whole UK. There are over 5000 electric car chargers in Ireland already as well as the 50,000+ homes already with 32amp type 2 sockets already installed, and the rest of Irish homes that already have a 3 pin socket. The national grid is the most efficient way of delivering kWh from source to a car (ie compared to H road tankers and all the expensive safety gear that entails). Well to Wheel H is brutally inefficient and expensive compared to battery electric cars (85% efficient). Its a free market consumer choice will probably rule the day in the end. HFCEV makes sense for HGVs and Buses due to the limited refuelling infrastructure needed (ie depot refueling rather than public forecourts). 25 years ago I'd have bet my shirt on HFCEV for cars, but then along came Tesla and they proved BEV could work conveniently in half decent looking cars, and the entire motor industry was disrupted and followed suit with the sole exception of Toyota (ie potentially the new Kodak). It'll be fun to watch from the sidelines but glad Ireland has woken up and got in gear (forgive the pun). Existing diesel and petrol cars are allowed remain on roads until 2040 when NCTs will no longer be issued. Only time will tell how all this affects rail transport.

3 hours ago, irishrailways52 said:

hopefully they will preserve an original 071 and 201 engine. 

RPSI might buy one of the 201s from the scrap line, and get their hands on one 071.

8 hours ago, murphaph said:

This isn't a hydrogen fuel cell project. They are modifying the combustion engine to burn hydrogen instead of diesel. It'll definitely make loud noises of some description. 

Interesting a H ICE. If Ryanair introduced the Hindenburg air ship I probably wouldn't be flying with them, and on a train I might be sitting in coach G at the very back of the rake (ie in jest). HFC has very few moving parts to maintain H ICE has more mechanical moving parts. Your dead right if not HFC they'll make noise.

2 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Goodbye to the “hellfire” and “thrash”!

Wonder how the preserved ones will fare…..!

The same as vintage and classic cars which won't be effected by the ban on the sales of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars. RPSI and preserved railways will be exempt (eg coal fire steam locos), due to the tiny cumulative amounts of CO2 they will emit over a whole year. We'll still hear the trash from preserved 141, 142, 146 and A39, etc, but perhaps a dart like whine from 071s and 201s. Some of the 201 scrape line could perhaps be saved by HFC conversions. The big cost down the road could be ditching the diesel power plants in the growing tram fleet (ie 22k ICRs), or converting 22k to electric.

On 16/9/2023 at 5:20 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

Your right. If regular engines could be converted to hydrogen with relitive ease on tractors, trucks or even cars. It would cut out the huge proportion of co2 burned in producing a new engine while making current engines last a little bit longer as well as be great for the environment 

Problem with H cars is there is zero refilling infrastructure in Ireland, and only 5 forecourts in the entire UK, so one cannot even drive to scotland and back, or outside the state of california. Whereas the BEV charging infrastructure is already wide spread through the EU and here, as well as every home has a 3pin socket. Bare in mind 95% of BEV drivers do 98% of their charging only at home on cheap night rate electricity at about 16c/kWh instead of 71c for high power public CCS chargers. Some folks even charge their cars for free from roof top solar panels 7 months a year, and night rate grid during mid winter. The only constant is change, but clean energy has a compelling economic argument despite it being fashionable for folks to dislike the green party. Ireland is on target to achieve 80% renewable no carbon fuels for our electricity grid by 2030, augmented by cheap french nuclear electricity via the celtic interconnector. The rate of invisible change going on under the radar is phenomenal, like it or not we'll all end up driving egg whisk powered milk floats within the next 7 years. Some ecomony models manage 0-60 in 6 seconds which is not bad for an egg box milk float. Rail has the advantage of depot refilling for H and the option for electric via catenary of 3rd rail. Our rail track milage is low so capital cost is not too high to electrify all the main lines over the next 15-20 years or so as per the recent strategic rail review. Its not rocket science when Ireland achieves energy independence electrifying every thing will make economic sense.

On 14/9/2023 at 7:19 PM, Newtoncork said:

Very interesting!

https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/iarnrod-eireann-and-latvia-s-digas-to-trial-europe

Yes and the 201s could follow suit, but the 071 chassis seem more reliable. Sweat your assets, keep renewing and overhauling. In this era of urgent climate action and in particular the amount of dangerous NoX diesel 071s, 201s and the ICR trams spew out its only a matter of time before diesel traction is banned here and across the EU. This is a good first interim step, next step is to electrify the intercity rail network and all commuter routes, darts could be extended using batteries to line extents lacking catenary or 3rd rail. That could rid us of diesel transport. Road HGVs and Buses look like going Hydrogen as most can use depot feeling infrastructure. Athlone already has a fleet of BEV buses. All change but for the good.

On 16/9/2023 at 8:30 AM, MD220 said:

If I read the article correctly they aren't going to re engine the loco, but will modify its current engine to run on hydrogen. Hopefully this won't alter the noise made by these magnificent machines!

It will alter the noise, they'll be almost silent. A HFCEV makes no noise except for the electric motors, wheels, gears, etc. The GM notching roar will be gone.

16 hours ago, leslie10646 said:

Hi Noel

I'm sorry that you have had difficulty with my "website".

The "links" are on the right hand side of the Home page - offering "About us";   contacting us";  "Exhibitions";  "Home" and "News". The last one announces the new wagon 2211N and its UK price £17.

As Dave says above "provincialwagons.com" will take you to the site, as will a query "Provincial Wagons" - my site comes top of the page on Google.

My preferred way to deal with orders is through my e-mail, which gets looked at regularly.

I do apologise for the exceedingly amateur website. I just haven't got the knack, patience or time to conquer "Wordpress" - I even bought the book, but it remains a Black Art!

I'll stick to "The Good Book" - a much better read!

Hi Leslie

no problem and no need to apologise, I just wanted to bring to your attention that the list of kits and list of products was no longer on the website. You used to have a nice listing with photos. PM sent with enquiry. I was also interested in some CIE H-Van kits, you were out of stock last time we exchanged emails. All the best. Noel

@leslie10646 FYI, the link on your web site to your products is not working. 'Kits of model Irish railway wagons' has no hyper link to a products page. Was interested in ordering some of these wagons. Cheers Noel

Claremorris circa 1970 would be an incredible project. 5 Lines once the  countries busiest railway metropolis, I can see 14 coach formations with two GSVs making up knock specials with dozens of black'n'tab breeding, park royals, laminates and cravens taking up all the sidings, and the new fangled mk2 rakes behind orange CIE A classes filling every siding and racked up stabled down the line to the burma road for knock specials. The sheer diversity of goods and passenger traffic that once linked westport, ballina, sligo to Dublin, Athlone, Limerick, Galway and Cork.  Only a single line system but the twin track station layout with the double track crossing is epic, and looks like a twin track mainline station.

Looking left towards Athlone, to the right Athenry, Gort, Ennis, Limerick, Foynes, Cork, Tralee.

Ever since Murphy Models announced re-runs of refreshed baby GMs, there seems a good supply of second hand original MM/Bachmann 141/181s for sale these days on eBay and FaceBook at sensible prices compared to the ebay Rip offs up to last year.

Is this Lima junk heap for real: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126084988109?hash=item1d5b403ccd:g:cLsAAOSwK2hk-1q5&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4H7A9PqdHeNNp42Rvalq8lyE1%2B%2BkmzoGDDUbqHqfsGs0CHt6hVrgc7WqpPNeZBZTeGiTey%2B7NInF3XFcAiXp5JPDc2SUWwOh3ZDVxAuhx7NqV7EdizUq6whhH6Geb8256j0oiU5D2K%2BcOniw6xqabi2ZhXn6RFmOIpdYyV%2Bh%2FeYXQlQ8xZRRRlO2GM0ciwlgrHm6MkaDCdnWG5%2BK9qp3UcBAjTLGXWSzF4zm8%2BzTn7pzu4qjCB5Pr5EjkHAmq8OzL2acaAyLcIukb0TSTY3Tc3jVYcUUeilB9rP%2BcQshzuov|tkp%3ABk9SR6KYoZ7eYg

I've two of those hideous Lime class 33s painted orange pretending to be A classes in the attic for decades and don't think they are worth much more than a door stop nor a paper weight, perhaps static scrap line scenery on a layout. Pure junk, how this clown thinks there are worth €40 0+ is beyond belief. They don't look remotely like an A class even at 20ft.

For completeness in this thread, 4 min video of kadee' shunting in action with uncoupling and delayed uncoupling demonstrated. The layout only needed one strategically placed under track magnet. With short 2 axle wagons it helps to ensure the wagons are close to NMRA weights for reliable coupling and uncoupling (ie without bounce or axle magnet hopping). 

There was a post over on the main FaceBook model railway group asking about Kadee's this thread might be a useful resource to those converting from tension locks to kadee's or those who wish to shunt stock without the hand of God from the model sky uncoupling wagons and coaches.

1 hour ago, James R said:

This worked. Thank you

That good, glad it worked. Thanks for letting us know.

On 29/7/2023 at 5:47 PM, fishplate7 said:

Hi James R.

Try Neil Smith at Wheeltappers in the UK.

His website is http://www.wheeltappersdccsounds.co.uk/ 

His Irish decoder sounds are excellent. But beware, you'll be paying importation duty etc., on them as they come from the UK!

Hope this helps!

Eamonn

To avoid brexististan duty you could order blank decoders from the Euro zone (eg Model Bahnshoplippe) and just buy the serial number locked sound file direct from Neil (via email) if you have access to a LokProgrammer to upload the sound file. His 121 sound project is far superior to the generic ESU one murphy models sold. Better lighting arrangements and infinitely superior prototypical driving characteristics. Blank decoders were about €85 the last time I ordered a batch.

They more than pass the 2ft rule for me. These unpainted dapol wagons are the mainstay of my CIE era layout  along with repainted assorted Bachmann BR big 4 vans vans. 

Even got a flying snail in there. Kadee draft gear box couplings help with closer coupling and reliable uncoupling when shunting formations. I think the main difference is Irish wagons didn't have corrugated ends.

On 21/3/2023 at 12:09 AM, Bob229 said:

When visiting my Grandparents in Dublin, my Grandad often took me out to see Malahide Castle to see the railway layout it was fantastic hope it finds a new home and another treat was to go to Monck Place, Happy days

Yes the old castle layout was an amazing and stimulating assault on the senses it was so full of movement and light, ships trains, trams, constant movement in all directions. It was not fine scale but a visual feast of movement and most entertaining especially to under 10s. Glad to hear the original operating layout models will find new homes.

19 hours ago, James R said:

Thank you. I’ll work out how to do that. 

PS: Remember after the reset the decoder it will lose its previously programmed DCC address and revert back to the default address of 3. Just in case you think its dead.

Just do a decoder reset with only that loco on the test track or main track. Set CV8=8 in program mode.