Noel

That's an easy fix. Just cut away and file off the coupling box under the wagon floor, and screw or glue a kadee draft gear box coupling in its place possibly no 148 which has fitted all my converted Bachmann 2 axle wagons Kadee chart Bachmann wagons converted from TLCs to Kadee no 148s which screw directly onto the flat wagon floor. On most of the Bachmann wagons I had to cut away plastic mounts for the old TLC (tension lock couplings) and file flat to the underside of the wagon floor. Quick and easy to do with a snips and file. When fitting the replacement coupling test fit it before making permanent so that the trip pin and coupling are at the correct Kadee height above the track (NMRA standard). If converting a lot of stock the kadee height gauge is worth the cost. Greatly speeds up the conversion process. If coupling is mounted too high a few thin pieces of plastic card shims should be enough to lower it. The idea is the trip pin should be just 1mm over a kadee track uncoupling magnet. Gaugemaster in the UK are stockists for kadee full range (ie hattons only do the NEM pocket versions). The draft gear box kadee's such as no 148, etc, are usually better at automatic uncoupling and delayed uncoupling than the NEM versions. Hope this helps. One of the things I like about the choice of draft gear box kadee couplings is you can usually choose a version where it is totally hidden under a wagon floor rather than the box protruding past the buffer beam which is rather ugly (eg kadee no 5's not great for this reason). PS: a 143 may be a better length for that wagon

Excellent job. Enjoyed reading and viewing that post Robert as I have some of those kits up in the attic and this will come in very handy when the time comes. Resourceful and neat job.

The thing with plastic card is to protect it from warping over time due lack of structural support, against heating and excessive exposure to UV and sun light. But if it is structurally well supported it should be as stable as brass. Even some IMP RTR coach models end up with a noticeable hint of banana shape after 15 or so years with a slight droop in the middle between the bogies. Drives me nuts, something off square even at 20yard visual range pokes my intermittent OCD.

It certainly was as has been JHB's valued input. I still have to acquire or fashion a silver tin van for that era.

The old adage "whatever tool you know how to best use today is probably the right choice of tool for a job today", I guess the same for materials, whichever medium one may already be familiar with may apply.

And one day the creative man who has had an excellent business career producing top quality models over decades may want to retire from business.

Wonderful. Thanks for posting. Pure Irish Railway treasure.

Agree . . . and they were too big, tonka tank big. I substituted the 3D buffers with sprung metal buffers from Peter's spares.

No Problem. I just realised I may have put kerosine into B135 instead of diesel Hopefully the dutch will keep RPSI customers warm and happy

Oh great I'll rip them out Cheers (in jest) But I'll keep them in the RPSI original dutch GSV

I don't know where DC source them from. Silverfox didn't release a rebuilt version. I got basic kit from IFM last year but where Tom got it from I know not. Since had to make some chassis box gubbins for under the chassis. I only bought the kit to have something to run with my Bachmann mk2a intercity coaches. I put sprung buffers on mine and boiler tanks inside.

Bachmann Woolwich Mogul N class with a local mixed goods train Market day. Cattle and fuel coming to town. First test run below after DCC conversion. Wired Lenz Silver decoder in the tender as no space in the loco body or boiler. Had to make some mods to the loco and tender to facilitate the conversion including replacing the original plastic articulated coupling with a traditional wire hoop on the tender and a wire hook on the back of the loco body. A bit of fun fitting it anyway. Steam379.mp4

That's my favourite livery especially without the walkway hand rails as per the delivery grey 121s early 1960s. One of the things that struck me about these models is the incredible glazing with scale sized rubber window seals. A master piece. Interesting on B125 the walkways rails have not yet been added yet the tablet catchers have been removed. IMHO, the most attractive livery scheme CIE ever had.

How on earth do you get the tissue cover paper back on those boxes Dave? Horn sounded a little anaemic at 01m47s and 02m40s. EMD sounded great at idle. No rattling plates.

PS: Like the old expressway bus on the RH bridge

Superb Job Eamonn. Super sharp paint job. TPO looks well. Its a difficult one to mask. The Layout looks fab.

Some MM baby GMs are going for more sensible prices https://www.ebay.ie/itm/284082786267?ul_noapp=true

I Guess the first which was B141 probably flew off the shelves. See list below. 'CIE Black' is actually CIE 'Black'n'Tan' livery (ie black all over with white mid band and orange band at sole bar gunnel level to match coaches. That's 8,500 baby GMs in total produced with an extra 500 B141a preserved produced about 7 years ago (ie RPSI version without the tablet catchers). PS: It is only 12 years since the baby GMs first appeared and started the transformation of the Irish hobby. Ok the Lima 201s were early naughties but it was the Bachmann/MM 141/181s that changed everything.

Indeed €290 for an unpopular livery?

IRM have shown their colours by doing the current re-run of the original Ballast wagons and past re-runs of the cement wagons. Fear not all in good time. Looking forward to their next new Irish wagon project (hoping its of the 2 axle variety) The hobby has never been in better shape.

Holy moly. Thank you MM. Worth the wait, the best yet.

Fab-U-Lous

Our 183 cost €106 four years ago.

Lovely job. Line up and hold!