Colin R

I will give credit to OO Works for doing these models, but one thing which bugs me, when I enquired about UG and asked if I was able to fit a 21mm gauge chassis under it, they said it was not possible and I would need to rebuild the whole thing, which to me would be a waste of my money, so I did not buy one or a J15 as I have two form SSM still to build. I now have five or six 21mm gauge locos to build at some point, so unless new models have that added space then as they say I am out of buying one. Colin R

Hi David yes it is 12mm gauge but for now I plan to use Peco track on this section (since I have been given a fair bit). This is more of a test bed than a layout for now, however, who knows what will happen in a couple of year’s time. I really need somewhere to test and run all these kits I have. It may not be pretty but it will be the first layout I have build in years. I won’t be the first modeller to start a project and not finish it, but I have high hopes for this one. Colin

I am sure they can be done Colin

That would be my next question.

Wow that is great thank you, pity you don't have the Heritage groups that could make use of them if they every get sold.

Hi guys this is the start of a new mini 00n3 layout, the plan is more of a suck it and see, it has been a long time since I built a model railway and there are so many new products out there to try, so here goes. The 1st photo is of the Cork and Muskerry and this will set the overal tone of this layout. The 2nd photo is the proposed plan for the new layout, nothing to fancy, but I hope it will have enough interest to allow me to play at trains now and then. Colin

Moved to new Thread

It does not help matters when one department at work tells you one thing and another tells you something else, well I am self isolating just to be shore. Colin

Nice one Noel I am waiting to see what my boss at work (not the one at home) has to say if I should go back to work next week, as I have Type 2 Diabetes (all Diabetics in the UK are being lumped into one box fits all) I am told to self isolate for 12 weeks (I will go stir craze if I have to stay at home that long, if I didn’t have my modelling to get on with). But at the moment it appears to be very much a suck it and see approach to this virus, no one know what is going to happen. Lets just hope we are all here in six months time to carry on this discussion. Colin R

I have just read on wikipeadia that white lead based paints (it is the basis of all paints up to the 1950's)i where considerd to be dangerous by 1912, so why did Inchicore continue to use white lead based grey paint? I understand that at the time no one really took the problems seriously so anyone who was painting the locos could have had a shorter working life. As for adding pigments Black was expensive at the time, the second cheapest colour was Blue, so I wonder did Inchicore ever experiment with a blue coloured steam loco? Colin R

Thanks for the explanation John. Well I now have a reason for using all that Tamiya grey paint, I have six different pots ranging from a dark to a light grey:- XF-20, XF-22, XF-24, XF-25, XF-53 and XF-66 I think they where done for the old Japanese WW2 ship models, the great thing is as they are all different, so I can paint a wagon in one colour and a second wagon in a different shade and it is all ok. Having seen some colour photos of some of the Donegal vans, they vary in shades as well, so if done on a subtle basis, with the except of you guys, no one else is going to know if it is right or wrong. Colin

Yes I agree John some heritage railways do get it wrong, while on the other hand some railways try to hard to get it right. I recall the horror that was shown to the guys at Lakeside years ago when one of the Fairburn tanks appeared in Caledonian Blue and the other in LNWR Blackberry Black. (Not done sir, not done) I happen to like it, after all they where not owned by BR at the time and as you say, if the owner wants to paint his steam locos in his colours who are we to argue, Many heritage narrow gauge steam locos do not carry the livery they worked in, but it is at the whim of the owner what colours it has. I don't understand why Irish locos where painted grey, unless it was a case of cheapness in the paint, or was the first one a mistake and they decided to carry on with that colour? Colin

Yes just a bit, I also have a copy of David Lloyd Jones book on the Manx Peacocks, which has a lot of information about them as well. But when it comes to true enthusiasm of the IOM, I take my hat off to my mate Robin Winter who has modelled various bits in his time and also produced a couple of books as well. Somewhere in the back of the workshop there are three IOM loco kits which he built but he was not happy with, so they have ended up with me. I think I have enough bits now to produce all sixteen steam locos, so that is my long term goal, I think there where 4 greens and 2 reds to deal with plus the MNR livery. Getting back to the Irish link I also hope to have enough bits to make up both Ballymena locos as well. Colin

If you are in to OO scale Irish 3ft or better known as 00n3, then there is a growing number of kits, both in brass and 3D print. The biggest problem is finding a RTR chassis for the locos, however there are a few TT gauge chassis about on eBay and other such places, but most of the kits come with the chassis frames, so you just have to find the wheels, bearings, motor and gearbox to complete. Worsley works are more scratch aids than full kits. Branchlines do a number of Irish/IOM loco kits. Narrow Planet does a couple of 3d Print bodies for 009 but they can be put on a 12mm gauge chassis if you fancy building one. If you look on the Shapeways website, there are now a few more Irish kits for 00n3, but once again you still need a chassis. I should also mention Roxey Mouldings for mainly their IOM stock but these kits come with everything, wheels, bearing’s etc. On another thread I am trying to find some more details about the Cork and Muskerry railway stock, there is a lot more mystery about this one railway than all the others put together. I should also mention that DJH do a Breton Tank in HOm, but I am not sure how much it is or if it is still available. Also there are a few British Industrial 3ft gauge locos about to come on the market, they will be 3D print so will require a chassis to fit. I should also mention Alphagraphix’s with there card kits for OOn3. I think that just about covers what is available, but once a number of working chassis become available, I would like to think some of you guys will be building Irish based 3ft narrow gauge layouts. Colin R

Hi John I agree with you, the only problem I have with JIC Boyds IOM books is while they are very detailed some of the points that appeal to modellers are missing. I know we could go round and round on this one subject but like the discussion on CIE steam era green the same can be said about IOM era Green and just what shade it was, the same can be said for the exact shade of Red they used as well, no two IOM steam locos came out of the works with the same shade of Red it all depends on how the paint was mixed at the time and most of the locos had different lining which just as well makes getting it right almost impossible to do. Colin R

The above reminds me of a story I have heard from friends on the Isle of Man, It nearly caused a riot on the Manx Steam Railway, back in the 1960's those involved where Dr R P Hendry, JIC Boyd and Mr Sheared. While I don't know just who was to blame, I got the impression that Dr Hendry and Jame Boyd didn't hit it off very well, may be it was down to the fact that they could have been both cast from the same mould so to speak. But I guess I will never know, I am just glade that more Information about the Manx Steam Railways is now coming to light and I can only thanks all those involved in saving this information in the past in the first place. Colin Rainsbury

Hi Guys, I know this might sound an obvious place to start here but you can never tell where this is going to lead. I am looking to find out as much as I can about the old Cork and Muskerry Railway, notably the steam locos, followed by the rolling stock, I am looking for loco plans and if they exist rolling stock plans as well. I am not sure if an expert on this line exists but if he/she does, then I am not aware of them. Finally if I can’t find anyone who can help, does anyone have a suggestion as to whom or what I can ask in Cork City for further information, Is there a Cork Heritage department in the City Council? Or a local library perhaps. Regards Colin Ransbury

Thats the one I was thinking of................... small world sometimes. Colin

An interesting poster for ex-LNWR signalling. Also looks like they are all lower quadrant, which was the norm at the time, until the introduction of upper quadrant. Lower quadrant had the problem of if snow or if ice froze the signal arm in the clear position a driver would think the line ahead was clear, but as we all know some railway accidents happen because of this and the railway companies via a kick in the backside by the government review (pre H&S) where told to replace all lower quadrant signalling ASAP, the fact that in some places this is still the case up to the 1980’s I thing in some parts of the UK, not sure about Ireland. Colin R

if you want to order it over the internet go to this site as he does most of the mail orders https://www.titfield.co.uk/Wild-Swan/MRJ-Journal.htm Colin R

It is funny to think that when Backwoods released the Killybegs turntable all those years ago a modelling group I belong to started to build an 00n3 layout based on Killybegs, sadly we only got as far as building the basedboards and then we lose the storeage facilties for them so they got broken up or reused on other cluib layouts, since then. Roll on into 2020 and I think I shall have another go at building Killybegs, but I am not sure if it will be a fixed layout, I will need to look at building a new station building, but I don't think it will be up to the same high standard as the 10mm scale version I recall someone making on here a few years ago. Colin R

Hi Guys I have just tried ther archive link and it now sends me to a dropbox link which has all the stuff which went missing https://newirishlines.org/archive/ https://www.dropbox.com/s/3la276btpjciian/New Irish Lines - Vol. 4 No. 1 - 2005 May.pdf https://www.dropbox.com/s/xrgk5h1z95zw5go/New Irish Lines Vol. 8 No. 2 - 2017 November.pdf?dl=0 regards Colin Rainsbury a very happy subscriber

I don't have anything at the moment, but have you tried the 009 society? They have bits for sale to members and the new website will have a sales list (so I am told). If that does not appeal try this group http://ngrm-online.com free membership and they do have a sales and wants page but not just 009 hope this help, Oh and by the way I hope the wallet has sufficent funds in it, as it can get expensive, it can be a bit like a kid going into the candy store. Best of luck Colin R

Nice looking model, out of interest what is the gauge of the wheel sets? Colin R