Broadstone

Richard, the engine is a J15 that I built from the SSM kit over 30 years ago. Seen here alongside my S Scale model of an earlier J15. The 7mm one generally needs restoration, detail, the correct wheels and a new chimney.

Wolfdog is really coming to life now David and is looking really attractive. I think your colour choice is very good - it just looks right. Ah domes, they are probably the most difficult items to produce on a lathe! I do flycut the base on mine but others, including Trevor Nunn, file, heat (to soften the brass) and once cooled, squeeze onto a solid bar the same size as the boiler. I've yet to try this latter method but who is to argue with Trevor's results? I have taken the plunge to rewheel an Irish loco I have to the correct 5'3" gauge and I have ordered some Tyrconnel MGWR coaches and Slaters wheels and 5'3" axles. 7mm is tempting! We'll see what happens. Its either going to be something inspired by Liffey Junction or Athlone Midland in S, or something else inspired by Balladereen, Kingscourt in 7mm. But not both - space, time etc!

Looking really good David. Who is to say what the exact colour was, but what you have used looks right. With all the detail and other parts picked out in other colours then it will form a whole, add a bit of light weathering and it will be real. I cant wait to see it in the flesh one day!

I read in the Irish Times earlier this week (my Wife has a subscription and it's a very good newspaper) that Belmullet has the highest rate of Covid in the the Republic at the moment! Nothing to do with railway of course but I thought you might be interested. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-search-belmullet-still-has-highest-rate-but-how-is-covid-19-spreading-in-your-area-1.4470444

Looking great David and with the lathe you are further extending your skills! I learned the hard way about leaving a chuck key in the lathe and was lucky it flew past, rather than at me! Some people put a spring on the key so that they have to push it into the chuck and hold it there and it comes out by itself the minute they let go. But after a while (or an accident!) it becomes second nature. The lathe does open up a world of modelling possibilities, chimneys, axles, buffers etc, etc. Enjoy.

It's a great book and gives this important subject the academic seriousness it deserves. I am only part the way through properly reading it after the obligatory browse and all my positive first impressions are borne out by more detailed reading. It is a comprehensive and weighty tome. On balance I am glad they have avoided gloss paper and gone for quality matt - not only are my limbs and bookshelf grateful, but also for the reasons set out by Galteemore above. I have just finished reading the history of the 0-4-4 back tanks, one of my favourite engines, and their derivation from very successful single Fairlies. And within this tale the avarice of Fairlie himself for swingeing patent charges that reminds me of the current greed of various already wealthy American retailers! I'm enjoying the read and heartily recommend this book.

Thanks David, just had a look at the Fintonagh thread and it is very useful - also liked the tips about avoiding geological faultlines across baseboards!

Great work David with the mail train for Belmullet! The reasons I am posting here is: 1. Double slips on Irish Railways - please see the sad photo below of the lifting of Killorglin station in the 1960s. There clearly, is the double slip on the mainline at the end of the main running loop to give access to the goods yard and another slip, single I think. I replicated this on my Kilbrandon S Scale layout and a great flexible space saver it was! So, all power to your arm. 2. How do you join your backscene boards so that there is no join showing? I can't see the join and need to learn from the master! Paul

I so wish I'd got a photo of the 3 of us that day. Oh well!

This is really excellent David and the good old MGWR was such a fine, though neglected by modellers, railway company. So all power to your arm! I am deciding on my next project, either Athlone MGWR in S, or Ballaghadereen in 7mm. I cant decide whether I want a small 'big' layout, or a big 'small' layout if you get my drift! Best wishes and good modelling for 2021, Paul

This is a really impressive layout! I've spent a lot of time there over the years and would also love to build a layout, but it is big with the Sligo side - you are right to leave it out. I particularly like the circular refreshment room and signal box at the junction. But also, the combined engine shed and accomodation/offices - 2 features that are unique I think. What a station, what a model!

I can also confirm David, Mayners earlier comment about double slips in running lines at Killorglin. And somewhere I've seen a photo of said Killorglin double slip, which I was very happy to replicate on Kilbrandon as a great space saver!

Hi David, you have made my evening! It is a long time since I've dipped into Irish Railway Modelling and I had no idea that you were building a new Broad Gauge layout! It is, as are all your layouts, absolutely superb. You have a great ability to capture the atmosphere of your subject, both railway and scenery. And Belmullet is no exception and is an absolute inspiration. After the demise of Kilbrandon I have been getting the NER Rosedale Branch out of my system with my model of Blakey Junction. And I have just finished converting my garage into a railway room. So with all that out of the way thoughts are turning to my next layout and it is going to be another Irish Broad Gauge model in S Scale. Having mainly concentrated on the GSWR, I have over the past few years become absolutely fascinated by the MGWR; in hindsight I should have modelled the Midland from the start - my Wife's family live about 10 minutes walk from Liffey Junction in Dublin and one of my favourite walks when I'm there is along the canal from Phibsborough to Broombridge alongside the MGWR! So my next layout will be some sort of link, junction or joint station between the Midland and GSWR - difficult because they were at loggerheads most of the time. I'm thinking about a change to railway history around Athlone or perhaps Collooney. But David, I can't wait until the virus recedes, exhibitions resume and I can see you and Belmullet at a show! Best wishes, Paul Greene

Hi David, you have worked it out and done it right - the boiler and firebox are indeed flush with each other on most of these locomotives. Earlier ones had a smaller boiler and therefore a step up to the firebox, while later ones with Z boilers had belpair fireboxes, superheating, piston valves, the works in fact! I think that Terry's idea was that the boiler and firebox could be removed for painting. It looks to be yet another good job David! Cheers, Paul Reading back over the posts: 1. Firebox - yes it needs fettling and poking to get the firebox to fill the cab cut-out. 2. Yes, clearances are tight in the splashers. On my S Scale model I have some 5 thou plasticard inside the splashers to prevent shorts, necessary because of compensation. You should get away with it because you have a rigid chassis. You clearly have more level track than I am capable of building!! Paul

David, I have just read through this very interesting and inspiring thread about your brilliant new layout. It absolutely oozes atmosphere about the area with the trains running through the towns. Another slice of absolute brilliance David! And lots of great ideas for us all. I look forward to seeing it in the flesh the next time you are in t'North! Cheers, Paul ps Is Arigna Town now off the road?

I have built 2 of these kits, one in 7mm and in S Scale. They are a great design of a fine loco. I would like to clarify that they were designed by Terry McDermott. I have the original paper artwork drawn by Terry, which was then used to produce the photo-tool for etching. It is a brilliant piece of design by Terry and has all manner of additional parts for different cabs and splashers to do the original and later Coey versions of these very fine locomotives. Good luck and enjoy the kit David! Best wishes, Paul Greene aka Broadstone.

Hello David, I turn my back for 5 minutes and you have started and made amazing progress with a new layout that is absolutely stunning! Well done and I look forward to seeing it the first time you are up North. It also shows the benefits of retirement - just 15 months to go for me, but the buggers are determined to get their pound of flesh in the meantime................Best wishes, Paul G