Noel

Hi Dave, that's the explanation I had been given here over the years for the disproportionate shortage of MM EGVs (ie folks buying them to run with their lima coaches)? Ok must be another explanation., your at the coal face so bow to your experience. Noel

PS: Detailed Mk3 coaches after this years release of A class and 121 class remains the last significant hole in Irish RTR passenger stock (AEC, laminates, and park royals excepted). Unfortunately the mk4 CAFs were limited to Cork route, so not as many people may have nostalgia memory for those in 10-15 years time compared to the larger number of folks who travel on the other passenger intercity routes (Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, Westport, etc), with few of those unlikely to harbour fond nostalgia memories of shapeless bland boring yo-yo 22k sets that aren't even pulled by an engine.

That's a risk for a manufacturer that folk only buy EGVs, DVTs and dinners to run with existing respray stock. This happened when MM initially released the Mk2d EGV, folks bought more of the EGVs than other coaches to run with existing mk2d stock (resprays and Lima).

Agree with you SF is and always has been fine at 2ft. They had Irish RTR Coaching stock when nobody else had. Only some rivit counters complained vociferously. John Hazleton did the hobby a favour and many folks happily run his stock on their Irish layouts. A great pity SF have discontinued the mk3 suburban sets.

Love the mk3 suburban set. Do you mind me asking where did you source it. SF have discontued them which is a pity as the tippex MM 121s due anyway now should trigger fresh demand for mk3 suburban sets.

No I think your right, mk3 are so long and they don't look right with just 3 or 4 coaches in a formation. Few layouts can accommodate 5-7 coach rakes. I seem to remember some hints from IRM on here a few years ago that Mk3s were high on their future hit list, but then a few years ago rumours that oxford rail were going to produce CIE/IR mk3 coaches seemed to scuttle that which is entirely understandable given the tiny market size here. Having said that IRM mk3s with their reputation for detail, with the correct doors and bogies, and clear windows and correct coloured seating would be wonderful. Some folk respray Hornby shorties (ie only 7 windows) and stick buffers on them which allows a decent rake of 5-6 coaches look ok on a layout with shorter radius curves and shorter platforms. The old CIE B&T era allows virtually any formation you like from just two coaches (eg GSV + one coach, craven, or park royal, or laminate) to 5 cravens and a GSV and everything in between. I remember the galway train with a fixed rake of mk2d stock, being headed by a mk1 GSV and TPO both in B&T contrasted with the all orange mk2d coaches, with the air lines passing through the TPO solebar's side lines. Its your layout you can run anything you choose. One of the reasons I like the pre-1975 era is you have more freedom to mix'n'manch stock, even stick a few two axle wagons and a 20ton brake van onto a 3 coach branch passenger train. Plenty of evidence of this on youtube for folks who were too young to witness it at the time.

It varies depending on folks interests, some love the tippex era, others the black'n'tan era, some the 1950s green+silver era. I cannot comprehend why anybody would pay €350+ for a baby GM model nowadays, these could be readily got for €110-130 only a few years ago. Its a false market, fake value, just like the unfortunates who payed €400 for poor Lima 201s about 8 years ago, now you could not give them away worth at max €50 as a door stop, or layout scenery. Personally tippex is a very attractive looking livery yet a bit modern for my own personal nostalgia memory. In reality I've covered more miles on board CAF mk4 behind 201s than all the years on board laminates, park royals and cravens behind B&T GMs. Personally I find the A class and 201 class prototypes less interesting shapes than the baby GMs and later 071s which had distinctive walkways and cabs. The 201 shape seems about as interesting as a long peat briquette. Judging by recent eBay sales tippex livery 141, 181s seems the most in demand and fetching the highest prices. I was fortunate to slowly build up a collection of these baby GMs over the years spanning B&T, Supertrain and Tippex. I cannot see a re-run ever happening, perhaps only a refreshed release by MM, or even IRM or perhaps Bachmann who may want to reestablish a small foot hold in the Irish market. 7500 baby GMs were produced in many livery variations, unsure if that would be economic these days. The most unpopular models seem to be the 201s. Not sure why, perhaps it was because MM did a Lima release before their own, or just that the prototype is less appealing and has less nostalgia appeal?

No Kevin, I spent many hours rubbing down the B&T body to smooth out the 3D artefacts. I couldn't have been assed to do the same for 122 nor B130 as the MM 121s are on the way. The duck test applies.

There is a station already an olympic middle distance walk away from the ferry quay. Years ago there was joined up thinking with platforms on quays (eg Rosslare and the Carlisle pier)

I've a load of C-Rail 20ft Bells and some 40ft Bells, super container models, love the detail at the door ends, really pops out the detail with the metal bars, etc

Hi Dave, Yes Shapeways indeed. As was this fellow. A pal of mine has a seriously good fine resolution 3D printer and has promised to print some other rolling stock items for me. The Murphy Models 121s will probably arrive before I have 122 and B130 finished. In the middle of the wire grab rails and glazing at the moment.

Currently on the bench 122 in Hybrid CIE Supertrain livery with IR points logo along the side during the supposed transition period before the IR tippex stripes were painted on. A few more days work and she'll be ready to consist with the anticipated Murphy Model 121 locos due any day now. They may well run before 122 does.

Good to see this. Might increase traffic on the Limerick Waterford line, and it would be wonderful if liner traffic routed via the Barrow bridge saving that line.

Classic 1970s scene as east meets west. H-Vans and Bulleid opens mixed with container wagons and the best A class livery ever Black'n'Tan with the stepped narrow orange band

Thanks

Looking really good. Do you mind me asking what 'spoil' wagons were used for? The name seems almost self explanatory but what exactly did they carry, how was it loaded and discharged?

Needs weathering. Perhaps next week.

Was just thinking the same, but pity they don't have B&I like IRMs

First stab at respraying a mk3 into CIE super train livery. This coach was done with City Gold transfers, the regular 7:40 Heuston to Cork I used to travel on in the 1980s. Great hot food served on these back in the day before yo-yos and trolleys with plastic sandwiches took over in the 00s. IMHO the cork service is but a shadow of its former self. Now this is in the queue for weathering. Installed some passengers and coach lighting but these windows are heavily tinted. Fitted kadee 142 gear box couplings to the bogies. When coach arrived a few weeks ago from eBay. Glazing removed after baking in the sun for a few hours. It's a real PITA getting glazing off these Hornby bodies. Interior got a slight repaint, could not stomach that blue.

Very true

A Long IRM freight train.

IMHO the Galway livery was a short lived abomination that was designed to brand match the newly delivered orange 201s. Instead the 201 locos ran with tippex Mk2 and Mk3 coaches and looked quite incompatible due livery mismatch.

If at first you don't succeed try try again, and learn from any boo-boos. Whoops - I failed to adequately clean the resin body before priming with the result below when removing masking tape. Managed to peel most of the paint off by hand. Removed the first paint job, It actually peeled off by hand and finger nail scratching, brake fluid was not required. Then resin body thoruughly washed down using IPA to remove any trance of release agent on the body, then warm soapy water, then primed again using HyCote. Volla - Masking tape removed without incident. The primer had bonded with the resin body properly. Ready now for white lining and final decoration.

Good to hear the locos will be sheltered indoors from the corrosive sea air there