Mayner Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 1 hour ago, David Holman said: Interesting editorial from Karl Crowther in the latest Model Railway Journal. Musing on the future of the hobby, he wonders whether the quality of ready to run models these days "makes the question of gauge superfluous". Coming from a magazine that, over the course of 300+ issues, has always been a champion of fine scale modelling (EM, P4 etc), that is quite something. Suspect the mailbag in the next issue could be bulging with protests, but food for thought maybe? Back in the day, RM editor Cyril Freezer once said that you can't count the spokes on loco driving wheels when they are going round. Mind you, he also once wrote that you don't notice a lack of scenery if you are running an intensive service. Less sure about that one... Its an interesting point about the "question of gauge (EM/P4/S4) becoming superfluous & Operators not noticing a lack of scenery if they are running an intensive service. Not really an issue among the majority of Irish outline modellers who seem happy enough to stick to an established gauge. I head a comment several years ago about fewer UK modellers converting to OO because of the vast improvement in the quality of OO stock and Martin Wynne's (Templot) efforts to achieve improved running for OO RTR stock by reducing the gauge and adapting EM gauge running clearances the so called EM-2mm. Nobody had much time to notice the scenery during an operating session with several operators on a single track line (layout?) with switching (shunting) at most towns (stations) arranging meets and trying to avoid blocking delaying other traffic. Kept me busy as despatcher/operator/line controller, the crews tended to want to get over the road as quickly to have a tea break-knock off duty. 17 years after starting the layout haven't got round to building/finishing the building and structures planned and probably never will get round too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 On 16/7/2024 at 9:53 AM, David Holman said: Interesting editorial from Karl Crowther in the latest Model Railway Journal. Musing on the future of the hobby, he wonders whether the quality of ready to run models these days "makes the question of gauge superfluous"....... If anything, that quality should be gravitating towards a more accurate gauge.... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhb171achill Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 On 9/12/2022 at 12:17 PM, Flying Snail said: Yes please! Wouldn't be right not to honour the oldest heritage railway in Ireland. Hon Laois .. there's a C&L connection in that picture too! Indeed! C&L bogies and other bits incorporated into the bogie coach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayner Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 17 minutes ago, jhb171achill said: Indeed! C&L bogies and other bits incorporated into the bogie coach! Apparently the bogies and parts of the underframe of 7L the 'Bus Coach" were incorporated into the Stradbally toastrack. The "Bus Coach" passed to BNM after the C&L closed, but the bodywork was too far gone when the preservationists rescued the remains. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
commerlad Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 (edited) On 15/7/2024 at 1:45 AM, Mayner said: OOn3 never reached the same level of popularity among British/European modellers as OO9/HOe, I remember speaking to Pete McParlin of Branchlines many years ago sales of his Irish OOn3 kits were disappointing and he shifted focus to more profitable OO9 kits mainly Welsh prototype. While Bachmann and Heljan have introduced high quality rtr 009 models No one appears to be prepared to 'test the market" with rtr IOMR 3' gauge locos and stock, let alone an Irish prototype While it is true that OOn3 never has achieved the same popularity as 009 it is not true that no one has introduced ready to run OOn3. Also while Branchlines has produced kits for OOn3 Pete McParlin was the proprietor of Backwoods Miniatures (Also made kits for OOn3 as well as 009 , On30, On3 and O-16.5) and yes he did cut down his OOn3 range to concentrate on the 009 and the On30 that were better sellers. RTR OOn3 (while not a large producer) has been made by Malcolm Mills ( Back in 1993 ) at that time he also made resin/nickel silver etch kits for TT and the IOM/MNR Beyer Peacocks and Dubs locos He now concentrates on kit building services in O and Gauge A RTR West Clare/CDR/IOM Walker Railcar could be obtained for the price of £74 (The IOM loco kits being priced at £24 The Walker Railcar was not available at that time as a kit and he never ran any more parts) I must admit that I did not purchase 1 ( Nor have ever seen 1 for that matter ) but a phone call conversation with Malcolm reveals he made about 2 dozen and they were slow to sell. I have now got 2 of the Small tank versions of the Peacock kits he made and a Dubs "Caledonia" Is there any chance of these being done again ? NO. All the 00n3 masters and moulds were unceremoniously thrown in a skip when he had a tidy up / clear out of his workshop. Edited August 3 by commerlad 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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