GNRi1959

I'm really gutted that I didn't get to hear about 00 Works earlier and maybe I could have put in an order for both locos also. There certainly are none left and nothing coming out until the end of the year. When were they first advertised and how long ago were orders placed? I don't suppose anyone has one for sale?

Thanks for that, glad I got it.

Bidding ended just half an hour ago, I've no idea but there are experts here who no doubt will tell me!

Just managed to win this on eBay at £15 Really nice to add my first to the layout from CIE

I just met an old friend Leo Flanagan who in 1950 at 9 months old, lost his father when 5 permanent way men were killed. All five stepped into the path of the oncoming Derry train. It was a foggy morning and visibility was poor. The men were told to clean the line because 'someone important' was expected in the station that morning. He said his father jumped from the line in an attempt to clear the train but was dragged under. His mother visited him in hospital but he died the next day. What a sad day in the history of the railway in Omagh.

Noel, I am assuming that the picture (TOP) is the real thing and the one below the model. The grass looks like it really is growing. What is the ballast type you're using - looks great!

Leslie, I got a sample piece of Andy's 'System' that he kindly made up for me. Unfortunately the small DPDT switches are a bit fiddly for my 'sausage sized' fingers. In the meantime I have simply screwed a piece of electrician block connectors to each wire and it does the job until I find a suitable knob. Thanks for that Leslie.

No better man to advise on paint, thanks Noel. I presume that I'm going for acrylic based paints, I imagine the oil based would be quite messy.

Ok, everyone who has followed Omagh North. My track is laid, wired, tested and points now on mechanical wire and tube system. Am I right to go ahead with painting of the rails? I've no plans on buying an airbrush so can someone advise on a couple of things. 1. The correct paint/make/name to purchase 2. Best brush for the job 3. Do I avoid contact with sleepers?

I saw the A380 in Adelaide airport last year while parked at Adelaide Airport, massive.

I'm on the look out now for a small push/pull knob that I can slip over the ends of the wire to give me something to hold when operating the points. I'm thinking of a small knob with grub screw on the side that I can tighten to secure the wire. Should I trim off the small lugs on the peace points that are normally used when changing with finger tips?

Thanks BurntheBox, just this moment finished the remainder of the layout and tested all track after wiring back together again. Everything runs well and its nice not having to stretch over the layout to manually change points.

My God, its looks fantastic Kirley. Is this layout going to be on display in Bangor in April?

Did you use Ratio points modified or is there a supplier out there doing Irish?

The 1mm wire is bent at a right angle up through the tie bar from under the baseboard and then out through the front edge of the baseboard frame. I'm sure there is a small knob I can get with a grub screw that will attach to the ends of the wire.

Very impressive, don't forget the chimney pots, fascia boards, barge boards and guttering. Every little bit of detail helps.

Today I connected copper coated 1mm wire to some of the points in my layout using flexible curtain wire as the outer sleeve to slide inside. The wire was fixed to the underside of the baseboard with cable clips that I screwed in position. The movement of the points are sound and all I need to do is source small knobs to attach the wire. Total cost less than £1

Beautiful, never seen anything so nice. I'm sure you are delighted with them.

Junctionmad, good question. I was told it was migwire. I'm just wondering if I would be able to solder it. If its a poor choice, what would you choose?

To be honest, the drawing is far from complete. Basically there are two parts to the wagon. The framework and the sheeting and once cut will be glued together to give the wagon depth. We don't really know the full capabilities of the machine as it is new but if it can do this sample with ease I should be able to add much more detail as I develop the drawing. I really need a detailed drawing or good photograph of the old 'single lever braking' to draw an accurate representation of this. To be honest, I have been using CAD for over 20 years so on reflection, it has been a learning curve to begin with but easy when you know how. I actually have designed many roof models for my Carpentry students here in College.

Didn't get much time since last posting on the development of this drawing. Today a colleague is going to run the drawing through the laser cutter so hopefully I'll be able to report how the model parts came out.

Kirley, good question. When I took this picture I hadn't yet taken a measurement of the loco clearances. Since the photo was taken I have raised the internal load-bearing wall and in effect raised the bridge to give clearance. I'm trying to think of a way of allowing the loco and wagons run under the bridge and return in the opposite direction without the need to build another baseboard - which I don't have space/nor desire to build.

It probably wasn't a good idea starting to work on buildings and structures before dealing with point control but I wanted to look at all the methods of control before I jumped in at the deep end. In order that I connect my points to manual controls I will have to dismantle the baseboards to get underneath them. This is going to mean that great care will be of utmost importance. The method I am going to use is wire running inside flexible curtain wire. It is so smooth in very way and I will be soldering the wire to PCB strips that will throw the point via a piece of 1mm wire. Does anyone know if copper coated wire solders well?

The 'Modellers Corner' in Enniskillen is quite good and stock most items from the Hornby, Peco and Wills range. Omagh lost its model railway shop many years ago.

Low relief girder bridge at North side of Omagh. Used a sheet of plasticard to block out background fixtures in room for the photograph.