Colin R

Having had another look at the drawing, I think the plan will be to make up a pattern in say micro strip and then cast some off in resin.

Speaking of which, has anyone got any experience of using resin? the reason I ask is that in White metal you are supposed to allow so much for shrinkage but I am not sure when dealing with resin.

Colin

You never know

What you won the lottery and you haven't told us?

Cheers Tony, I had wondered that to be honest, I have found a drawing of the standard GNRi 16ft 11inch wagon chassis, I am in two mines at the moment about what to do with it.

Do I ask Worsley Works if they can do an etch of the chassis or do I try and make some out of resin myself? I could if I have a better computer try doing them in 3D Print and making a master of it to then do more in resin.

Either way the drawing I have is OK but is not to a scale I reckonise, all the dimensions are there but it is not in a position to just cut and paste on a computer.

Back to the drawing board I guess.

Colin

Hi all, I have just come across one of a number of drawings which I had though I had lost, I am sure I have others but can't find them at the moment.

The question I have is:- has anyone produced a RTR model of the Guinness vans? I think someone once produced a freelance version based on a UK OO scale van body, but I can't recall the details

Help please?

Colin

Hi Guys I know it has been sometime since anyone wrote on this thread, but I was wondering does anyone have a copy of the standard 20ft chassis as used by the CIE? I am sure that there must be someone who has a copy and also some one who is up to date with 3D Cad drawing.

If it could be done in 3D then all it would require is the person who buys a print is to clean it up, paint it, fit wheels, top hat bearings and coupling and you have a RTR chassis.

Colin

It is not often that railways feature on the BBC news unless it is involved in an accident. But tonight it appeared in a section about the up coming UK General Election and boarder controls, not really interested in the politics, but just watching the railways has made my day, I think it was the enterprise (no not the one with Capt James T Kirk) which looked fantasic.

I can understand the direction that the owners of MIR may be going in, but unless you can offer something new, the market for a second or third manufactures of what I would call modern day rail operations 1970 to date rolling stock must be limited.

If it was down to me I would look at the period from 1940 to 1970 as that to me has more change than at any other period, lines being closed, a transformation for steam to diesel, the realisation of block container trains, mechanical to electrical powered signalling, all these things where going on and it would be great to see a model of the Irish railway system during that period.

While the Irish Railway modelling scene may be small compared to some others, it has the potential to grow.

If there was, say two or three van types from the 1940 to 1960's period, a cattle wagon or van, a combination good/cattle van, a mineral/open wagon and a brake van where to become the core models for a new range of models then you might be on to a winner.

In an ideal World, they would be plastic injection moulded kits, like those from Parkside Dundas, or Ratio as examples.

It certainly won't make you a fortune over night, but knowing that the range was there will lead to an up take of Irish modelling.

The 009 world has for many years relied on kits alone, a few years ago it started to get popular to look across the waters at the Irish narrow gauge World and for me I was and still am hooked on those railways, I decided that I would get out of my model narrow gauge coach in Victoria Road, Derry and explore those other railways stations with Blue and black steam locos, only to find that this was an area that was just as fascinating as the narrow gauge scene was.

Colin

Hi Tony that Paddy Mallons archive looks interesting, can you recall what else was in there? it state it has some drawings of Locomotives and Carriage's, do you think they would photocopy them for research and modelling use?

Colin

Be wary, though, about anything that this "organisation" might have to say about others in the entire preservation world, and even more wary of the endless and bizarre plans outlined on the website. I notice, incidentally, that the website has been revamped. This is doubtless due to the removal of some potentially libellious content in recent times!

Yes some one else told me to be wary about the group, which from what I can find out is nothing but a one man band.

I have as yet to buy any of the publications, but there are a few which I would have though deserved to remain in print but are not at present.

As for the groups heritage aspirations, I don't think that is going to happen, he is still advertising that they are after two UK standard gauge steam locos, which having spoken to one of the former owners, I understand that they have both been sold to another railway in the UK.

Sadly the heritage railway World has more than a few people who want to preserve every nut and bolt, but are not willing to co-operate with an established group to achieve their aims. They prefer to go off and do their own thing.

That said he appears to be have a lot of knowledge about the B&CDR for which I am very thankful.

Colin

Hi Tony

If you need rolling stock plans you can also contact this guy at http://www.countydownrailwaymuseum.org.uk/trust-publications.

It may not be fast, but you do get an answer from him and he has helped me out no end with a load of extra details about the old Downpatrick railway station that was.

I should add that I have been told that a lot of GNRi and other northern Ireland railway paperwork was put in a skip when it was moved from the old Belfast archive rooms to the public records office, as there was just to much of it to move, some of it ended up with IRRS and some ended up in private collections but the rest has gone sadly.

If it is building details you require try the local council to where the station was located as sometimes they had on to the old plans for a building due to planning approval for years and they might not even know what they have got, either.

Colin

Typical opportunist rural politicians' drivel, like the Sligo - Letterkenny - Derry fast freight line devised by some amadán up there years ago.

 

They'd be better off campaigning for better rural health and post office services.

I heard about this a couple of years ago and I recall at the time replying asking for what people though.

I got a reply on the lines that part of the old County Donegal and Londonderry and Lough Swilly trackbeds where to be used with part of the disused GNR(i) from Strabane to Derry was the preferred route.

Never did hear anymore after that. But it would make a great back story for an imaginary 3ft gauge railway.

Hi DC.

 

Over all it has to be welcome news.

 

A lot of the popular kits they used to sell are now redundant as high quality RTR models are already available, or due within the next few months. More than detailing or new moulds needed to bring some up to today's standards Below George about to rescue this loco that derailed and ran into a chocolate orange fountain.

 

 

Redundant - about to be replaced by RTR from Murphy Models

 

From what I've read many folk were more than happy and satisfied with their MIR kits back in the day, especially if they were talented builders themselves or commissioned a talented model maker to build and finish them. However I suspect the bar and expectations have since been raised, yet there probably are some past MIR kits that would fill gaps in in what is available today, so that is a welcome development. There is room for all vendors, and I appreciate some folks prefer and enjoy kit building.

 

Redundant - about to be replaced by RTR from IRM (below MIR bubbles but built and finished by a skilled pro - George)

 

From my limited experience many kits available from other vendors can be quite expensive given the amount of additional cost to finish them, never mind the time, and they end up costing the same or even more than RTR.

 

I suspect we are going to see more and more stunning RTR rolling stock from vendors including IRM and MM over the coming years, reducing the demand for kits, and yet the Irish modelling well is only so deep financially.

 

Noel

Don't forget that 3D printing is getting better every year (I know some don't believe me, but it is true) and it won't be long before some of the kits from this source will be very good or better.

While it may be good for the reintroduction of white metal wagon kits we all know that most OO locos will have a problem if you want to run long trains of these wagons.

I don't want to buy them but can someone point me in the right direction for the kits on eBay thanks

Colin

Thanks for the contact and please kept me posted when the new list is out.

Regards

Colin

Hi Noel the ones I have had in the past are printed in such a way, that once they are glued in place they give the feel and effect of a grill/ rivet detail.

If you scroll down the same page, you should come to some S scale, HO and N gauge grills of different sizes.

Like I say they are not cheap, but they do add that little bit extra detail to a model if you want it.

I have used the rivet detail in the past, they tend to be used more by war gamer's rather than model railway enthusiasts to super detail such thinks as 2WW tanks and other such models.

Here are a couple of links to some people who have used the rivets, this first one you need to scroll half way down the page http://www.009.cd2.com/members/how_to/rivets.htm

http://sidneyroundwood.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/rolling-into-action-completed-project.html

as much as I tried I could not find a link to someone who has used the grills, but you get the idea from what to do with the Rivets.

Hope this helps.

Just come across this bit of the site.

To save looking over the whole forum to find one post about a certain supplier I have started a new thread which I hope we can all add out favorite suppliers web address.

To start with I have re posted a link to archers transfers

http://www.archertransfers.com/

Hi guys

Have you heard of these people? they are not cheap but once fitted look the part

http://www.archertransfers.com/AR88036.html

they come in different sizes and scales as well

Thanks Nelson, you beat me to my next question, I looked up the brass master tender kit and they do look the part, I just need to make sure they are the right width as I read somewhere that those sent over to Ireland from the UK where made wider to make use of the larger Irish loading gauge, but sadly at the moment I don't have any drawings to confirm or denia that statement.

I will check out the model from golden arrow as I know Chris from our narrow gauge world.

Colin

Hi Mike great models, Yes I have got those in mind as well, there is a station on the Irish network which could use one or two old Airfix station buildings I think it is Bray which comes to mind, but I could be wrong.

Hi Jhb, what I was looking for was the tender with the springs on the outside, I am not sure why some of the U2's where given the older style of tender, but it makes for an interesting model.

you need to get this into the British model and heritage railway press and may be some one like Pete Waterman with all his contacts might be able to help.

To be honest going to see this collection would have been one of the main reasons for coming to Ireland for a holiday.

Colin, as a conservation architect and having built a few buildings over the years, I'd have to say that GNR has the most modular of all styles.

 

Station masters houses, signal cabins, platform shelters, all follow a defined pattern. They are also the most difficult to reproduce, such is the level of detail.

 

MGWR might appear austere in its design, but it ranks second when it comes to buildings and patterns.

 

Anything in the GSWR world is a mess. You can see stations on both sides of limerick, Croome and Pallasgrean come to mind, and they are wildly differing styles.

 

If you like a building, build it, rename it, and cherry pick other buildings from other stations as needed. The right effect can be achieved. Richie.

 

Edit - I have that shaffrey book, the rendering of Thurles is lovely.

Hi ya, yes I have a feeling that is what I will end up doing.

Great stuff, I look forward to seeing some of it, I do know the feeling of taking on to much, I am looking for any drawings for the BNCR 6 wheel tender that went with the NCC U2 locos, I might have a need to build a couple of them if things go to plan as I am not sure if there is anything out there in 4mm scale which I could use.

Please forgive the question, but what is the IRRS Wagon Book? Would I be right in thinking it has a lot of drawings of Irish Railway Wagons from years past? and is a copy available to buy anywhere?

Colin

Thanks guys for the input, looks like there is still more to do at this stage.