Irishrailwayman

Thank, not sure if the video uploaded here (I am using a rather old camera) but I posted videos of the working gates and signals on Facebook.

Fitted SSM Irish Station Lamps to platform at "Ballybeg" along with Peco SmartSwitch servo system to operate the SSM Irish level-crossing gates and Home and Starter signals all with working lamps! DSCF4007.AVI DSCF4008.AVI DSCF4008.AVI DSCF4009.AVI

Presumably therefore the grey/yellow model should have no other buffer beam detail than the vacuum pipe, the black/tan would only have additional hoses added later and Supertrain would have the full array?

Presumably this depends on what the prototype had fitted?

Other upgrades to "Ballybeg" include rebuilding the two signal cabins in plastic sheeting and quoins (corner blocks) to replace the printed card which was becoming faded: A new alternate engine shed was developed from a Ratio kit complete with lamps from Studio Scale Models: Studio Scale Models wooden pole lampposts were also added to the Goods Platform, Cattle Dock and Coal Stages: Finally, SSM steel lampposts are prepared to replace the existing UK-style gas lamps on the station platforms:

Thank you all. This is just a Metcalfe kit but it fits together well and looks the part. The inspiration from an Irish railway perspective is that it echoes the viaducts at Kilmacthomas (which also inspired my Ballybeg village where the house roofs just reach the rail level) and Borris.

Thanks Noel, the viaduct will hinge from the right as you enter the door making it easier than "duck and dive" as before. Drop over again sometime when the restrictions are lifted.

Ballybeg viaduct ready for installation of tracks and wiring. Note different scenes under each of the arches.

Ballybeg is getting a refurbished (lifting) viaduct as part of an overall upgrade:

During lockdown I am working on a variety of my (7!) layouts including Ballybeg. I am currently working on some Studio Scale Models kits (thanks Des) to increasingly ensure Irish features predominate. This includes the level-crossing gates which I intend to add working lamps and to operate using servo motors in time. Here they are loose-fitted to Ballybeg:

The MM locos are delivered DCC-ready with a blanking unit in to allow running on DC only. Could you have confused this blanking unit for a DCC chip I wonder? Checking each loco's number on the Programming Track in advance of running is good practice - if you can't read the loco number then the DCC system is not happy that all is well and vice versa. If it is not happy on the PT then don't run it on the DCC Main Track until the problem is sorted.

Good progress on Little Siddington since the lockdown was eased with more scenery and a servo-operated level-crossing added:

For interest here is a photo of B123 presumably just out of the factory in the USA!

No doubt but for the price I would expect the model to work straight from the box.

The multi-levels look very effective.

The speaker unit - I swapped the soundchip between each model.

Unfortunately, I know of a number of people (at least 3 so far) where the sound was muffled/distorted when the 121 MM soundchip was activated. Thankfully others including mine arrived with sound functioning well from the off.

A couple of shots of "Shunters Yard" in its new GWR livery:

Working at present to repaint "Shunters Yard" OO gauge buildings/fencing in GWR colours borrowed from my recent work on "Buffers Lock" O gauge buildings. First up I have repaired/repainted/detailed a signal box gifted by a friend to replace that on the layout at present:

How will you work the uncoupling for shunting purposes? PS chipboard is prone to damage from damp.

Nice pic NIRClass80. Yes the 141/181 was the first of the post-MIR locos to be released RTR and stands up well over the 10 years or more that it was released.

Just for fun I took some photos of my older (2008) 121 model made from Model Irish Railways resin kit (hand painted) and put it beside Murphy Models fine new RTR model. MIR's version is fractionally longer, taller and the bonnet is less slender/detailed than MM's. However, I seem to have caught the grey colour fairly well. The MIR transfers included a border in black around the logo and numbers which is absent on the MM model? I used a DCC-ready US SW1500 chassis but never managed to find one which incorporated sound although I did use the twin directional headlamps to good effect. An earlier (2005) perhaps less successful effort by me of an MIR metal kit of the 121:

I like the C with the yellow panel - is that a Silver Fox model?

No Noel, I plan to operate the points and signals on "Buffers Lock" using my Z21 set up as I have done successfully with "Diesel Depot"!

Timber Track's cattle dock painted and now complete: