MikeO

You can certainly cross post any of the photos from my T-Trak thread. The photo you included above with my converted Vossloh G 2000 also shows the intercity coaches which have the Electra Graphics sides( referred to by Noel) added. The coaches are Graham Farish MK2 coaches with the paint work removed.. this needs to be done to ensure that the windows on the Electra Graphic sides are correct.

For a list of Irish diesel locomotives look at this link, it is for Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotives_of_Ireland and for coaching stock look at this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaching_stock_of_Ireland Both are useful to give you some basic information. Another source of coach photos is this site http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ie/car/IE/pix.html There are some photos of Cravens near the end of the list. You will not be able to just paint a British locomotive in Irish livery because they do not look the same.. For an early C class a BR class 22 is roughly the right size( it is a little larger) and has the right number of wheels(ie 4 called a Bo-Bo) on each bogie but the body will require a lot of work to make even passable. For an A class which is similar to a c class but bigger a BR class 31 is roughly the right size (again it is a little larger) but also has the right number of wheels for each bogie(ie 6 called a Co-Co). Again the body will need a lot of modification. On the basis of passability Hobbytran make a Vossloh G 2000 BB which has a cab at each end, a narrow body and guard rails running between each cab on both sides. It is a Bo-Bo and with some work to the narrow body and the roof it could become a class 181. It is a slightly smaller scale 1/160 as opposed to 1/148(British) or 1/150(American and Japanese) but the small scale makes it the right length. British MK2 coaches can usually be passable intercity coaches. This is a link to my t-Trak thread which shows some of my conversions including( at the end of page 1) the Vossloh G 2000 and some painted MK2 coaches I hope this helps

There is nothing in RTR for Irish N gauge. While Shapeways have bodies finding a suitable chassis and making it fit will present major challenges in respect of the two locos in your photos. A more modern option of a class 201 using a Shapeways body and a Dapol class 66 chassis is some what easier. Have a look at this link to Connolly station in N by driver301 There are no other British outline models that are the same size as Irish locos, some come close but again making a suitable body is not going to be an easy task. In my experience to have Irish n gauge stock requires a lot of compromises and inventive ways of doing things.

In my experience over the last 5/6 years it is difficult to get the types of MK1 coaches jhb mentions. The types that are available are not really suitable as they have different configurations of doors/windows etc. While steam locomotives are more readily available these will need some work to make them passable.. Below are some photos an S class I converted from a Union Mills T9 . The photos show the T9 in its original form, the alterations I made to the sides and front and finally the finished article Union Mills T9 Alterations to one side Alterations to front Completed version

Anything from around 1.5mm to 3mm in height is fine so applying lettering, crests, loco numbers, coach passenger class door numbers is relatively straight forward even though the transfers are considerably smaller then OO scale. However i find that transfers of less then 1.5mm are more difficult to apply because they are hard to read and can be applied incorrectly. MikeO

A few photos of the T-Trak layout at the SDMRC Show at the weekend. This was a collaboration between the of us so not the modules or stock was Irish. The first four photos give a general view while the next seven photos show a little of the detail. The layout comprised one outer loop and 3 inner loops. We had 4 trains running at the same time on the outer loop and one each on the inner loops. The rolling stock comprise British, German, Irish and Swedish outline models; some RTR and the rest scratch built or conversions. MikeO

Noel Thanks. In video mode my camera does not provide any option to adjust the shutter speed. I will try more light to see if that helps and also slow the trains down even more than i do already. i will experiment with the slow running qualities on my German DCC layout. MikeO

Noel A very comprehensive set of tips. I have tried the side and slightly elevated views but still get a "blurred" picture of the passing train due to the movement of the train itself. My camera does not have image stabilisation, as far as I am aware. Any other tips on taking shots of a moving train. MikeO

I will be there and hopefully get to talk with as many as possible.

Speedy Thanks for the endorsement about the Impressions of Ireland Display. Attached a a few photos of the display Two overviews front and rear A few details from the layout A selection of locomotives and stock running on the day MikeO

I hope everything goes well for Séan and that he will be up and around for the South Dublin Exhibition in October. MikeO

Not quite up to date, i will be there with my T=Trak layout. MikeO

All aspects of wiring layouts including bus wires, dropper wires and how they are connected and fed to the controller and switches such as DPDT etc. Another issues could be the cutting and shaping of plastic sheeting and the tools used. Particularly how is the plastic cut straight and how are openings for doors /windows made and kept straight. MikeO

Thanks for the info. I will try to get to Enniskillen and will definitely be at Dublin. MikeO

Belfast to Wexford is a long trek but maybe a few days in Wexford might be a better option. If you are at either the UMRC show end of August or Dublin end of October I may get some time to talk to you. MikeO

For an Enniscorthy layout I was thinking of something larger perhaps 3 boards for the scenic sections each about 60cm long (making 1.8m in total) and about 30cm deep with something similar for the fiddleyard. I looked at your Cynwyd layout which is very impressive. The electrics look very daunting way beyond my abilities at the moment. The Heathcote Electronics unit you have sourced for Llanuwchllyn does it work the same way as the one used in Cynwyd? MikeO

An interesting idea. On the eiretrains website photo 12 of Enniscorthy shows a track plan diagram and some of the other photos show a tunnel and a river crossing. Incorporating these features could make a very good small layout. A fiddle yard behind the backscene would allow a variety of trains to be run fairly easily. MikeO

JHB Very helpful. I can now say with authority that when I put different styles of coaches together that this is how a train could have looked even with a birdcaged brakevan or a GNR coach in its original livery as well as some in CIE Green. Would that have been the lighter green? Do you have anything similar on GNR train make up? MikeO

I would be interested particularly in wiring. Would these be day time courses which would suit me as i live in Belfast? MikeO

Andy Thanks exactly what I wanted. My estimates were very far off. MikeO

Does anyone have or know where I could find information on the size of these locomotives excluding tenders. The length from front to back including or excluding buffers would help me identify possible donors for conversion. The J5 has 5ft 8in wheels which would suggest a length of around 22ft. J18/19s have 5ft 3in wheels suggesting a length of about 19 to 20ft. MikeO

Noel thanks for the compliment on the rolling stock. Expanding the collection is becoming addictive but finding suitable donors, time and information slows things down considerably. MikeO

Broithe Thanks I will pass on the comments to the module's owner. Perhaps in time the House will be extended and the dog and bicycle added. MikeO

Colin Have you considered Alphagraphixs kits for station buildings and signal cabins. In 4mm scale there is F514 Station based on Glenfarne F527 Manorhamilton Signal Cabin based on Saxby & Farmer Type 5 F536 Goods Shed based on Glenfarne F552 Florencecourt Station F555GNR Signal Cabin These generally have stone or stone covered render. F570 GNR W H MIlls style Station This is the distinctive brick work usually yellow/cream and red. The photos below are of N gauge versions where I scaled down the 4mm kit components. I have not yet built the W H Mills station. F514 F527 F536 F552 F555 MikeO

I had a small layout at the show in Bangor on Friday and Saturday last. It was not totally Irish as some Japanese influences crept in. Below are are few photos of some of the trains that were run. The S class in the foreground is running some of the GNR Enterprise stock that I made. These ran circa 1948. In the background is a GNR V class with freight stock. The class 181 in Arrows livery is a conversion of a Hobbytrain Vissoh G 2000 and the stock are MK 2 coaches with Electrographics sides in Arrows livery. The Mogul(K1) is a Fraish Southern N Class and the stock is a mixture of printed sides on MK 1 coaches or scratch built. Here we have the Class 181 again and a Class 121 with stock in black and tan livery. Some scratch built Cement Bubbles and a cement wagon plus a Ranks wagon. The Japanese House crept in partly for variety and partly to help its builder ensure that the module could successfully connect with others. Some Japanese trains also made an appearance from time to time. Another new temporary module for variety is the Pond made by yet another modeller. This uses a different technique for making the water bed but has had around 6 coats of varnish applied. There is a small river in the foreground. MikeO