Irishrailwayman

Thanks guys. Cynwyd is my 4th exhibition layout following Ballybeg (OO Irish), Llangollen (N GWR/BR) and Shunters Yard (OO GWR) - all featured on IRM.com with kind comments from many enthusiasts. I am planning to build a locomotive display "Diesel Depot" (OO CIE/IR/IE/BR blue) and an O-gauge shunter demo layout "Buffers Lock" (GWR) over the next few years. Onwards and upwards.

Thanks JHB. This is a demo of an N-gauge shelf-top/layout-on-a-plank (4.5 feet and only 9 inches deep!) which could be adapted as an Irish outline. There are three-way fiddle yards at each end with the facility to auto-shuttle rolling stock units from either end with a slow-stop-wait at the station! The Goods Yard is fitted to allow for remote shunting of wagons. I have to add more trees and will later post pics with GWR/early-BR rolling stock. Cynwyd is scheduled to make it's exhibition debut at the Wexford Easter Show in 2017 D.V.

A fair amount of the scenery is completed with numerous details added to bring the layout to life. Additional sea foam trees are in development over the Christmas to complete the scene. Functional testing is underway with minor snags with track/rolling stock to be remedied.

Thanks for attending all those Easter and October Exhibitions in Wexford, Seamus. You will be missed as a retailer. Come and say hello at the Wexford Easter Show 2017 if you are around. All the best, Gerry

The ultimate tail-chaser! Also referred to as a pizza box layout. Good opportunity to vary the backscene at each quartile. Some examples I have seen utilise curved points to give two linked running lines/sidings.

I used matt varnish (acrylic water based) on the roof and satin varnish on the sides to provide a suitable finish.

More progress on Cynwyd with additional layers of scenic detail being added daily...

Ballbeg was developed using ideas from Kilmacthomas in mind...

Worth bearing in mind - very easy to get these details wrong starting with UK models.

Ballybeg Goods Yard: IE freight in evening sunshine. The steam-age facilities are removeable - planning on developing contemporary shed/fuel depot to substitute when running S/T, IR or IE stock.

The line can be experienced again now but by bicycle or on foot as it has been restored as the Waterford Greenway! The section to Kilmacthomas and beyond has been completed with the rest through Kilmeaden to Waterford due to open in Spring 2017. Well worth a visit particularly the tunnel/viaduct at Ballyvoile.

...but other than that they are ok?

Thanks Kirley. Lots of action alright. It sounds good also as these locos have RealDrive soundchips from Mr Soundguy. The Lattice distant signal was made from components from Model Signal Engineering but Westy now has a more convenient all-in-one etch available.

A couple of shots of the viaduct/pub end of Ballybeg caught as the sun sets low. 085 is bringing its MK3 carriages across the viaduct with 156 about to haul its load of cement onto the bridge. Bill Poster is hard at work on the Railway Bar while the party outside takes off. A couple of other locos/blues lurk in the shadows also...

Mr Soundguy has upgraded many of his Irish sound projects to include RealDrive on Zimo soundchips which I find pretty good having tried his 071 and 141/181 sounds (see: http://mrsoundguy.co.uk/index.html )

The snow is gone following a coat of undercoat grey (solvent) paint and green (water based) base coat. Beginning to look like a model railway.

Also worth checking out Wellington Bheag, Waterford and Carlow which were done brilliantly in N gauge...

In answer to a query on Cynwyd's push/pull rod system for turnout changes, I use K&S Precision Metal Brass Rod 3/64 inches (1.19 mm) Product #8161 available on-line from Kernow Model Rail Centre, UK supplied as 4 by 30.5 mm rods. I fit these across underneath the layout through 3mm holes enabling operation from front or back of layout with just 1 cm protruding either side (you could have them operate from one side only if you wish). I channel these underneath with short sections of narrow plastic rawl plug glued to the baseboard. The "L" section of rod that protrudes through the baseboard to pass through the turnout/point is attached to the main push rod using standard electrical connectors with screw fittings. I have used this system successfully on my Llangollen (N gauge, DC) as well as my Shunters Yard (OO gauge, DCC) layouts and it enables fast, simple turnout changes especially useful for shunting (both layouts are on separate threads on IRM.com). A couple of pics might make this description clearer. Double-sided sticky pads and insulating tape are used to hold the rods in place under the baseboard.

The polyfilla makes the whole scene look like a bad day in winter snow but not for long. Layout drying/hardening up over a few days. Next up: grey undercoat to seal and harden off the scenic base.

Couple of pics showing build-up of scenery at back of layout: wood scraps, wood glue, plasticard, cardboard scraps, damp newspaper, PVA glue and next up: Polyfilla - high tech!

We had a great Open Day here in Wexford with much support from local families and festival visitors alike. Thanks to everyone who attended. Hope to see you all at the Easter Model Exhibition in 2017 in Wexford.

In conversation with Paddy, he indicated that 2017 would definitely be the year of the 121! However, he is unwilling to indicate when exactly it will arrive. I gather that the technical work is well advanced however. Patience, and lots of it, is the essence of Irish railway modelling I'm afraid.

A couple of extra pics to whet the appetite for a visit...

The layout will be on show at the WMRC Open Day. We got an acceptable offer much quicker than we had anticipated!

This layout has now been sold.