Colin R

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

Hi Guys I am starting a thread here to first of all ask any of you to have a dig out of any plans or drawings you might have stashed away somewhere of any of the NCC 'S' class locos first of all. I am aware of at least four variations of this class:- S class as built S class as rebuilt with rear coal Bunker S 1 class S 2 class 2-4-4T total rebuild I am hoping that a brass etched company will look at all the information I can gather together to produce the various etched parts I need. I have some drawings already, but if you have any which have not been published for some time please let me know. Colin R

Thanks john for the update, that is most useful, like so many things in modelling, it takes time to get them right and this forum proves yet again just how helpfull it is to the modelling trade, as they say onward and upward. Colin R

Hi all I have a guy on one of my other e groups who is running some Irish Transfers for the group, If you can help him can you reply to him on the above email address if not then please reply here and I will send you responce to him for you. Thanks one again Colin Rainsbury transfers@oldtimeworkshop.co.uk Good afternoon everyone. I am now fairly advanced with filling a large sheet with black & white waterslide transfers and looking for information to allow me to fill the remainder of the gaps with 00n3 transfers. I would like to get things wrapped up within the next fortnight or so, if possible. After this the next few print runs are going to be colours, so anything that misses this window will need to wait for a while. I have a few outstanding queries and would appreciate any contributions towards this: For a selection of Great Southern initials, are these required in sizes other than 12" (common) and 16"? Do I also need to include a smaller one for low sided (1 plank) wagons? Did the CIE logo come in any sizes other than 6" & 12"? I am hoping to cover the following railways on this print run: C&L; CDR; CVR; & Lough Swilly. Could folk suggest any vehicle types they would like to see covered? I can look at kit manufacter's catalogues, but if that's not going to tell me what people have taken out of the cupboard recently & built. As long as it can be printed in black & white, there's a fair chance it can be included. To complement the West Clare open wagons sheet, I was pondering doing one covering a handful of covered vans. Would there be any interest in this? All I need is a handful of running numbers and photos if there are special details are required beyond company initials and tare. Finally for Irish railways, was any 3' coaching stock lettered in white? I have only seen a modest number of photos and in B&w this doesn't let on whether the lettering was a cream, yellow or white. These new sheets are to go alongside: CIE logos; T&D Vans; & WCR open wagons (already printed) and T&D opens (already expected & mainly drawn out for printing). I appreciate the IOM is a bit more mainstream. However, I am still in need of inspiration. Could you please let me know what is wanted for freight stock lettering? I would like to print both white with black shading and plain white lettering. Locomotive & coach transfers will need to wait as they are in cream or yellow but are on the lists to do in due course. Regards, Simon.

Another source of Irish shop fronts is the old book by Patrick O'Donovan called Irish Shopfronts by Appletree Press a great source if one was needed can be picked up second hand on Amazon or Ebay for about a £5.00, so not expensive (now I have said that, you watch the price will go through the roof). Colin R

That being the case, they won't last long, as I will soon cut them up for template modelling, I have been experimenting with some old Builtiteeze prints I am trying to build a station that will give the effect of Burcrana on the Swilly Railway from the Hotel print (now out of stock so I am told). What I do is to take a number of photocopies of the card print and play around with them untill I am happy, then I wll transfer my mock up over to wills stone or some other effect to get the type of finish I am looking for. Might sound like a lot more work but I think it is worth it. Colin R

Yes I see what you mean Colin

Somewhere on the computer I have started a list of the state of the C&L vans, it is by no means complete but it is a start, as far as i can make out there were three basic styles, Low roof, High roof and cattle van's all built to the same size. well that was the plan at the start what I have found is that in the rebuildins dimensions did change, I have wheel bases from 7ft 6ins to 8ft. As for building a prototype C&L van well go for it, as I don't think anyone will know any different now, there is a possible 100+ variations but only 70 vans to play with so if you are not sure and you get asked that it never happen, then asked the person to come up with a photo. It is most unlikly that any two vans looked the same by the 1950's anyway. Colin

Hi Porky If you look at Google earth you can get a lot of detail with out moving from your computer, that said there is nothing like a site visit to get you in the mood for modelling. Colin

I agree with David Card modelling is very quick and cheap, I must take some photos of a couple of Isle of Man buildings I did so i can get some idea of the size of the layout, these are only basic shells to give me an outline, they do not have any detail on them. I have also given them a basic coat of paint to get some Idea of the overal colour as well. That is the plan George, just as soon as they turn up. Colin

Hi Guys I am in the same boat as you, still trying to find a source of decent Irish looking buildings, my search has come across this lady, I am not sure how this will work but I have just ordered some from her https://tinyireland.ie/

Hi Phil Going to the personal library I find in Tom Ferris Book Irish Railways In Colour (1955 to 1967) page 103 has 10 L (1956) in a clean but flat Black / Dark Grey colour, it certainly is in used condition but at that moment in time does not look to bad, no big bits of rust etc. However on page 104 10L is shown at a later date in a much more used condition with rust on the smoke box door and the chimney as well. I would think the guys on the railway knew that time was almost up, so the spit and polish of a clean loco had gone years before, I am not sure how often they got cleaned in the last few years, if at all. To me the final colour looks more like a very dark grey, but with a fine covering of coal dust and oil, not the most easiest of finished to achieve, but it is possible, the guy from Golden Arrow has done it on a few custom paint jobs for people I know, it can be very effective, good luck with it. Colin R

That is just fantasic modelling well done.

Hi Pat contact him direct, as he has a few items for sale now with some more coming on line about mid July next year, I am waiting of the 3 Donegal Coaches to become available, also he hopes to have Donegal railcar 12 available about the same time next year. There has been some chat about West Clare steam locos, but nothing has happen yet. Allen of Worsley works continues to produce a number of brass etches in both Irish Broad and Narrow gauges, these are not complete kits but just the basic etching, as you will need to source wheels, motors , gearboxes and any castings required for the kit. Colin