Andy Cundick

The flat is 336 a Ballymena coach chassis purchased from the NCC in 1947.The problem with the BR containers were that they were slightly wider than the ordinary opens/flats however they got round that by using dropsides and running them with sides down,i was a bit sceptical about that until i found a photo of just that hence Brucklees has one running round on it.Andy

343 was a Shell tank wagon purchased from the Swilly in 1954 as a chassis The tank being owned by Shell as is usual didn't form part of the deal.The same setup is shown in"County Donegal Remembered" p130,in much better condition supposedly Sept 1960 though i have my doubts.oddly A2103 is lettered up as Shell I wonder if that is all to do with the joint trading agreement between Shell and BP at the time and as the tank wasn,t big enough to have both companies on each side they each had their own side.Food for thought.Andy

Simple way bolt and washers check with vernier.Andy

I did one years ago using the Perserverance chassis with all the wobbly bits.I used a Hornby Jinty body and checking underneath theres enough room for the wheels without replacing the splashers just a bit taken off the back.as for the High Level chassis not used his one but Chris's stuff is always well thought out and easy to assemble.If you are thinking about going down the Special tank route its a bit more involved as the DNG tanks are to all intents and purposes DX goods with saddle tanks ie larger wheels it can be done as London Road will sell you the cast brass splashers from there DX kit Andy

No they're not It fits at the body end to strengthen the bottom end and with a nut soldered over the hole thats how you attach the body to the chassis thats what the hole at the end of the floor is for Andy

The wheel situation is such that for 4mm at the moment the only ranges available are Gibson and Scalelink.Sharman wheels to all intents and purposes went a long time ago other than that there is Ultrascale as long as you have the patience and pocket.For 21mm you are looking at Gibson as Scalelink uses Romford/Markits axles.For 21mm axles i use 1/8" bright mild steel rod and cut them to length usually 1" depending on the boss depth Its eay enough to get the exact size just take the two wheels and a back to back gauge and measure the overall size and no you don't need a lathe just a hacksaw and a file'its the system i've used for all my Irish standard gauge locos. Andy

London Road kits are on the whole well thought out kits though not all of them are designed by them ,the North British R Classes for instance were done originally by Ian Rice (2 Built 1 to go).Its worth bearing in mind that they Nickel Silver rather than brass and to my mind makes them more user friendly. If you want to have go at an etched loco i would suggest you start with an 060T,My own preference for construction is a 40w iron and 180 cored solder and make sure the brass is clean (glass fibre brush time).Its basically down to practise like a simple wagon kit to start with you can use the srcap etch from the kit to practise on first.Bear in mind the great thing with soldered construction is that if you mess it up you can easily undo it and try again.Andy.

Saved again wrong gauge and i already have Tailte built and Macha as a rolling chassis not the best choice for either Valencia or Courtmacsherry.Andy

Theres a drawing for her in The County Donegal Companion by Roger Crumbleholme ( Mr Alphagraphix) Published by Midland Counties.Which should be by every right and proper thinking persons bedside cabinet,and a small but useful diagram drawing in the revised Patterson Donegal book. If you are looking at doing it in 4mm the standard Halling variable 4 whl chassis is just right.Andy

Bear in mind that Alans etches are scratch aids not kits,and if you treat them like theres no issue they certainly make modelling Irish lines a lot simpler Andy

Simple answer is yes pretty straight forward the trick is to treat it as an 0 6 2 . Main almost gets round Arigna just like the real thing .Though mines in its Passage condition to go with the coaches.Andy

Then you'll have to be patient its a bit of a toss up which 3 footer comes next it depends on which hits critical mass first Andy

Well if it helps i've just started on the boards for the next Broad gauge layout however this one is the proper 7'01/4" stuff however there is distinct possibility that next years layout will Newmarket Andy.

I'm there as well with Llanfair Caereinion one my Welsh 009 essays.Andy

AS far as my Irish narrow gauge layouts are concerned so far i have done Donegal Town,Castlefinn,Letterkenny,Strabane, and Brucklees for the County Donegal as well as Castlederg and Arigna.For the standard gauge the list at the moment is only Valencia and Courtmacsherry. However there are plans ahead for Newmarket,Ballybehob and a yet to be decided Clogher,it depends which one reaches critical mass regarding stock etc,the problem is mainly getting side tracked.My Devils Bridge layout is just about finished and out on the circuit and the boards for a Broad gauge layout (GW 7')have just been built.with the added possibility of a Snailbeach layout as well as i seem to have most of the stock for one.The West Clare may be a possibility in the future as theres a certain amount of stock built so who knows. Andy