Colin R

Hi all. Yet another hare to start running, I have been reading DSM Barries book on the DN&GR, now while the locos are still available from the GEM successors and Worsley work do most of the ex LNWR 6 wheeled coaches, I am at a lost to find anything about the Bogie Composite coaches they used on the Belfast Boat Express. I understand they where 54ft but that does not make any sense as far as the LNWR is concerned since they where only building 50ft coaches at the time so to build something which was longer does not make any sense, so I am wondering if anyone may have that rare photo of these coaches while the DN&GR was still operating. As far as I know there is not a kit for them so it looks like a butcher job on some Ratio coaches. I have had a look on the net but so far have not come across any photos of them. Regards Colin

Yes most definitely rule one applies here thanks for your thoughts Robert Colin

I am sure the IRPS will have the details in the files somewhere, but who to ask. Colin

Hi guys the proposed 21mm gauge model I am planning on doing needs some rolling stock, I have about a dozen or so wagons ready to convert to 21mm and I have about 6 Triang GWR clerestory coaches which I plan to do the same with. However as an experiment I would like to buy some Mk 2 coaches and run them as a set. The question is which manufacture does the better coaches closer to the Irish type Bachman? Hornby? Lima? Airfix? I am not in to the Orange and Black period so I also plan to use them to work on my paint spraying technique so they will be turned out in something like CIE coach green (well that's the plan anyway) so any preference would be welcome. I think I read somewhere that mk2 bodies shells of type A, B and F have been used in Ireland but I just wanted to be sure. Colin

This link should help http://www.cometmodels.co.uk/ Look for Building Coaches the Comet Way then download and enjoy reading Colin I still need to download it (again) and re read it as there is always something which I missed on the last time I read it.

I did ask some one at Peco a couple of years ago and the answer was if you can find some one to stump up the design cash they would do it, just need to win the euro lottery in that case, if that happen I would also go to Bachmann and ask them to do all the MM in 21mm gauge as well (now that would set the cat among the pigeons). Colin

Sadly I think this is a chicken and egg situation. which comes first, I would love to have RTR 21mm gauge track (set to EM standards) that was not to fine but robust enough to allow modellers to get things running without having to use a micrometer, while this will not help the P4 modellers as such, it would I think give a bit more support to those that wish to model the correct Irish Gauge, and who knows what will happen if you start to get say 5 or 6 modellers take this up and display this at Exhibitions not only in Eire but in the rest of the UK as well anything is possible. Colin

I totally agree with Eoin start simple and work your way up, a word of warning about Worsley works kits they don't come with instructions. Look for the Comet Coach web site as they have the basic instruction manual for a lot of brass etch kits or the suggested way to put a coach together. Tools this is a personal thing but scalpels are a must as are Pliers, side cutter and long nose pliers to start with small screwdriver's both flat and pozi drive a good cutting mat and a good piece of 3/4inch Ply wood about 18inch square will serve as a work top for soldering. This is very basic but get a good soldering Iron and stand and if you can afford it a soldering Iron station this will give you different heats. Files (loads) do not use the same file on white metal and brass, get a separate file for each type of metal. Most of the basic stuff you can get from the local DIY super market, but go on line and find a modelling tool supplier for the finer stuff. If you can get them (via Amazon) look out for any of the John Ahern books the one which is a must and that is Miniature locomotive construction it is some what dated but I still find it to be useful after 30 of owning the book. Colin Rainsbury

Thanks Ernie once again, I have a model kit in mind, which I think could be used to give the L&LSR feel to the layout. Colin

Thanks Ernie I have just ordered the front shot from them, from what I can make out the back of the cabin was almost identical, except for the blind spot where the chimney was located. The next question from this is was there a standard L&LSR station building design? Colin

Hi guys I wonder if anyone can help me I have most of the published books on the Swilly railway but I need some clear front and rear photos of the Signal Box at Tooban Junction on the Swilly. I have been able to work out the end details but not the length of the box so the photos need to be clear enough to count the number of bricks use per course. It has been said that the box was 31ft long but when I tried to work that out in 4mm scale from the photos I have, it appears miles to long. Colin

I stand corrected Broithe you have far better eye sight than me, looks like I miss spelt it. Colin

Hi Mayner Those photos appear to be much clearer and I can now make the Ham and Sausage they are for Matherson products which should now be much easier to find. As for the Wheatley's advert I have found that it is for a non alcoholic drink and made in Sheffield of all places. Thanks for all the help so far guys Colin

Hi yes I did manage to do that, and having looked at them I notice that many of them are Irish based and not typical UK based companies, One looks like some sort of Boots another two are for food one is for someones Ham and the second is for Sausages, then you Wheatley Hop Bitter and Ross's Belfast Ginger Ale, and two small one for Pears Soaps. It would be wrong for me to build a model and plaster it with UK based advertising, I would love to know more about the two small meat based adverts. or even the boot advert. Ross's advert is providing difficult to find on line but the web does acknowledge them as a company. Wheatley's advert I have got from the web already, the pears soap ones don't appear on the web at the moment so I could use any Pear soap advert. Colin

Thanks Eoin I have just done that. Colin

I hope some one on this list can help me with a second question, at Crosshaven, the station had a few enameled signs on it? Is anyone aware of a collection of such sign's today, or a location where I might be able to get some details about the correct signage used on the station building in the photos. Thanks Colin

Thanks Eoin that is a start. Regards Colin

Hi Guys I need some help and I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction. In the Stanley C Jenkins book on the CB&P Railway there is a photo Crosshaven station building, now from what I can see it was a wooden frame covered in corrugated iron. however the photo is not clear enough for me to guess at the size of the building or to work out just how many corrugations there are in it width or length. So I am looking for a source of drawings or better photos of the building itself, I understand that there where other CB&PR station's built in a similar way so any photo's of them would also be welcome Regards Colin Rainsbury

Hi Guys i wonder if anyone can help me, over on eBay I purchased a few old Lima HO scale bogie coaches, nothing new there but I was looking at them to make into OOn3 Tralee and Dingle Spanish style coaches. I can only guess at there size from here, but I wondered if anyone has put a rule over them with the idea of making some models of them at some stage. What I am looking for is the length of the body, the width of the body, the overall height from rail top to top of roof the size of the wheels in the bogies, the bogie wheel base and distance between the bogie centers, not much to ask but just in case anyone has looked at them. These are not going to be built to the nth degree, but just to get the impression of them. Thanks in advance for any help given Colin

Hi Mayner, Is there a ball park figure for the etching only kit available at the moment? If it is not to expensive one of each type will be nice to have to start with, Irish kits don't come along very often so it looks like you could build four variations from one kit, if this is so then I might be ale to squeeze out the readies for four of them in that case (its another matter if they get built), but as you are doing all this work the least I can do is to support your efforts in buying some kits, May I suggest, that if you can supply the technical details about wheel dia etc for both classes of loco that would help me get the right sizes from Markits or Gibson's when I get around to it. I look forward to hearing more about them i n due course. Colin

Hi John I can only guess at this but, I was once told it was popular to paint the ends of carriages in a red lead colour as it was cheap, not sure if this is correct but a photo of a L&LSR carriage when new looks to have 3 colours on it, when I get around to it I might just do one coach in this scheme just to see what it looks like. regards Colin

Hi Eoin There is a good reason why you haven't heard back from Malcolm Savage, he is no long with us he died about three or four months ago I think. The good news is that some one is thinking about taking over his range, so hopefully it won't be too long before his bits become available again. Regards Colin I must get on with my own Class F loco model at some point.

Hi Sy Sorry for the delay in getting back to you what with work etc, the good news is that 00n3 is still a live and kicking you could try Branchlines for the Beyer peacock 2-4-0T kits or if as I understand it Worsley works are planning to do a few new Irish models, they do a number of Isle of Man kits as do Roxey Mouldings http://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/category/59/4mm-scale-/ Ninelines still do the Donegal Van and what they called a flat wagon http://www.nine-lines.co.uk/home page frames.html I should not forget Alphagraphix as they do some wonderful card kits not only of rolling stock but a number of Irish buildings as well, you can contact them for a catalogue at the email address of sirberkeley@hotmail.com, they normally ask you to send them two British first class stamps and an A5 sized addressed envelope ( don't put the stamps on the envelope as I think they use them else where). Most of them are ease enough to find on the web via Google. the exception to this is in fact Branchlines, but you can find them via a Branchlines Blog site which hasn't been updated for some time now http://branchlines.blogspot.com/ Almost forgot Dundas Models and their T&D Kits https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php I don't think I have forgotten anyone but I am sure if I have I will add them to the list once I have the details Hope this all helps. Colin

Hi Guys I am in the process of adding a few L&LSR coaches to my fleet and I am thinking what livery did they have in the early days. I have read that it could have been based on the LSWR of salmon pink and a shade of brown, with a dull red on the ends. I have to admit that sounds very interesting, but I was wondering what are your thoughts on this? I didn't want to go for either the all over black or grey liveries but something a bit brighter. Colin

That's the one thanks Broithe Colin