Irishrailwayman

Would anyone have a decent photograph of MkIII Restaurant coaches in IE livery particularly the roof detail please? I am modifying a Hornby MkIII coach with MIR brass sides and would like to add roof vents as appropriate. I think the UK outline MkIII restaurant coach roofs may differ from those on IE? Thanks in advance. Gerry

The reason was the unavailability of Loksound chips at reasonable prices. I know he is working on an improved version of Zimo which will allow GM engine notching to be varied at full speed and hopefully better capture the 071 at full cry.

It may be a matter of opinion, but I have been working with Mr Soundguy since 2007 to enable Irish soundchips to be available and find that the larger Bass Reflex speaker (when left intact) is best for the 071 sound while the smaller Bass Enhanced speaker is much better than small round speakers. Bass Enhanced speakers fit the MM071 models without any problem but some filing is needed to fit them to the MM141/181s. Its a matter of choice really but I think the full sound effect is worth achieving even if this effect is muted at exhibitions due to general acoustic interference. Mr Soundguy is working continually to improve the sound from the Zimo chips which are in continual development. It is worth checking out the video Irish Rail Archive Volume 5 GM Powered which features 001, 071, 121, 141, 181 and 201 Classes starting/stopping/in full cryto remind us what the prototype actually sounds like! Reproducing these effects in 4mm/foot is the challenge.

The great thing with Kadees is that you can lift out a coach without derailing the whole rake unlike Hornby style couplers. The Kadees couple up easily and tend to make a rake more tolerant of less-than-perfect track. The Cravens do have prominent buffers and tend to buffer-lock on tighter curves.

See discussion also at: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2840-CIE-Park-Royal-Surburban-Coaches/page6 including video of IFMmodels. Gerry

Paudie, I like to paste Peco Cloudy sky paper using wallpaper paste onto the plywood backdrop, harden with matt varnish and then paste a cut out of a photographic scene on top of that. I have done this on my original OO layout Ballybeg (see http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/109-Ballybeg) and more recently on my new N-gauge layout Llangollen (see: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3054-Llangollen-in-N). The continuity from the passing clouds appearing from behind the scenery seems to work well. Gerry

Opening times amended: 12 noon to 5 pm each day. There are 10 model railway layouts booked to attend as follows: 1. Joseph's Bridge by Wexford MRC: OO Irish Cement and current/recent railway scene. 2. Rathmichael by Wexford MRC: NEW OO South Wexford station set in countryside with trains from the 1960/70s. 3. Dulnain Bridge by Gareth Lloyd: a OO BR Scottish Region set in the 1970s. 4. Mayglass by Michael Martin: OO layout set in South Wexford. 5. Benwaddingtown (Thomas and friends): a OO layout popular with younger family members! 6. Colindale by Wexford MRC: a OO layout set in the UK including a Faller road system. 7. Waynton Vale by Wayne Thomas: N-gauge layout set in UK with stock representing 1990s to present day. 8. Wexford by Vincent O'Leary: a OO layout featuring a wide range of stock including circus,Tesco and Stobart. 9. Sandown Valley by East London MRC: 7mm narrow gauge layout set in the UK coast. 10. Llangollen by Gerry Byrne: a NEW N-gauge layout depicting a might-have-been restoration of Llangollen station in NE Wales. Trade support will be represented by: Seán Ryan Models Seamus Graham Toymaster Michael Morris card kits Additionally, a railway themed video showing will take place at the rest area and a raffle will be held. Wexford MRC acknowledge assistance given by Wexford Insurances and Wexford Credit Union. Thanks to the CBS for the venue and to Seamus Graham, Seán Ryan and Michael Morris for contributions to the raffle prizes.

DCC sound is expensive. Steam sounds can be very convincing as the sounds are affected by the loco accelerating, coasting/decelerating etc. Distinctive diesels such as the GM Irish engines can also be impressively like the real thing. Some of the more generic sounds available can be a bit bland and harder to stomach the high prices.

Wexford Model Railway Club are pleased to announce that their annual model railway exhibition (held as a fringe event of the Wexford Festival Opera season) is on again this year in the CBS School Hall, Thomas Street, Wexford on Sunday October 26th 12 noon to 6pm and Bank Holiday Monday October 27th 11am to 5pm. There are expected to be up to 10 model railway exhibits and trade stands. Details will be posted here when they come to hand. Admission: Adults €4, Children €2, Family of 4, €8

Enniscorthyman has taken a few photos of IFM running on Ballybeg which will give some idea of how they look in the flesh: First the 40 ftflat (with and without a C-lines Bell container) Next C Class with a pickup goods including IFM's corrugated bulleid and Lyons Tea wagons: Next a B101 in green has charge of an IFM Tin Van in silver: Finally, a video showing many of the above and, in particular, an IFM Park Royal happily in the company of A20r and a rake of Cravens with a GSV - Enjoy!

Llangollen in N with trees and river in full flow... (Note:images lost to Photobucket) And a short video as a preview of the Exhibition debut of Llangollen in N at the Wexford MRC show at CBS Wexford on October 26 and 27, 2014 (thanks to Enniscorthyman for his excellent photography):

A couple of updated photos showing Llangollen before trees added... (Note: images lost to Photobucket have been replaced...)

I purchased a Park Royal from IFM along with a number of other models. The PR is a fine model and runs well with my rake of cravens on Ballybeg. I added one of the cravens end-boards to the PR, did some weathering and added a functioning corridor connector to make it part of my collection. I also got their silver tin van, bulleid wagon, Lyons Tea van and their 42 foot flat. All delivered within a month of ordering and being given suitable touch ups. I am happy with each of these models and they fill important gaps in my period Irish rolling stock collection for Ballybeg. Will post some videos shortly of these running on my layout.

Nice work Eamonn and looks well in the flesh also. Best of luck with exhibiting.

I used Alphagraphix card kits of Irish railway buildings extensively on my layout Ballybeg (see under Layouts section of forum for photos and videos).Michael Morris visits most of the MR exhibitions in Ireland during the year. Probably will be at the Wexford MR exhibition at end-October next.

Great shots of lovely models. The photies really capture the scene well.

Busy workbench as always with some great results streaming through!

Some additional shots - the Wales Tourist Board may be happier with those blue skies albeit with a few clouds!

A couple of updated photos to show progress (Note: new photos uploaded via edit as originals lost to Photobucket/may differ from those originally posted).

They are often available at exhibitions including the Wexford MR shows at Easter and October each year. Michael Morris is the retailer (Tel 087 7870447/email clamm05@eircom.net). Alphagraphix have a nice catalogue with a wide range of card kits in O and OO for wagons and buildings many of them Irish. I have used their "stone" 2-storey wayside halt/station cottage (Kit F506) based on Kiltubrid on the C&L; a 2-storey crossing keeper cottage (Kit F505) and a single storey version (Kit F530). They are easy to put together and have an authentic Irish feel to them! They are also very reasonable costing only a few euro each. Gerry

I'm delighted that you like my work as you know the locality so well. In addition referencing my own photographs, I have a very good illustrated book on the Railways of North Wales: The Llangollen Line: Ruabon-Barmouth by WG Rear and N Jones (2012 edition). The cover colour photograph shows a quintessential view of the station from the bridge. I used the book to design the section "east" of the bridge as if this had been preserved. I have used modeller's licence to add a curved cross-over at the west side also and rearranged the waiting room (in "stone"rather than brick as on the prototype as is the secondary road bridge) locations to suit the layout. I selected the Metcalfe card kits and plastic Kestral kits which most closely resembled the prototypes and kit-bashed these to resemble the prototypes. I have now added Peco clouded skies paper to the backscene and will consider using a generic woodland overlay perhaps with a few cut-out photos of actual buildings in the background (including perhaps Dinas Bran). Gerry

Some of the OO Alphagraphix kits in card may be suitable as a crossing keepers cottage. I have used these buildings extensively on my layout Ballybeg (see layout section for videos/photos etc). Regards, Gerry

A few photos to update you on progress with "Llangollen in N". Next tasks include completing hard scenic base and adding cloudy sky... (Note: new photos uploaded by edit due to loss on Photobucket/may differ from original posting).

Thanks for the positive comments guys. I plan to keep the controls simple i.e. DC using a Morley N gauge twin controller and push rods for the turnouts. I have collected some rolling stock mainly new Graham Farish or Dapol which are of very high quality including Foxcote manor steam outline locomotive, Class 20 BR, Class 108 DMUs in green and blue liveries, goods wagons, and rakes of BR MK 1 coaches in choclate/cream, maroon, carmine/cream and BR blue/grey liveries. I plan to get a few 0-6-0 tank engines for the autocoachs in various liveries also. Early days yet, I looking forward to seeing how the layout shapes up as I add additional layers of detail including modelling a fast running river, trees etc. I have mirrors for each end to develop the illusion that the river/trees extend into the distance...

Heirflick, I have posted up a new thread under British Railway Modelling on the early work on Llangollen in N with pictures!