Mol_PMB Posted January 9 Posted January 9 At the start of a new year it's always nice to look forward to what treats might be in store for us. So Mystic Mol has been gazing at his crystal ball (OK, to be honest it's a flat-screen monitor) to read our fortunes how our fortunes might be spent on IRM products in 2025... Mentioned officially but not yet formally announced: CIE Park Royal coaches: main-line, ambulance and brake versions NIR Mk2b coaches: blue/maroon livery No-brainer based on existing tooling: CIE Unfitted H van Surprise bonus ball re-run: Cement bubbles Informally mentioned as inevitable, but no date suggested, perhaps to be announced in 2026 after the Hunslets have been delivered: CIE C / B201; NIR MV class locos Informally recognised as needed to complement existing models, perhaps following the Park Royals and H vans: CIE goods brake van: perhaps 30t? CIE Steam heat vans: Mk1 / Dutch / Tin? Here's hoping at least some of these get announced in the coming year, and perhaps some more surprises. But in the meantime I'm eagerly awaiting the fitted H vans and the first lot of Park Royals. Mol 10 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted January 9 Posted January 9 44 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: At the start of a new year it's always nice to look forward to what treats might be in store for us. So Mystic Mol has been gazing at his crystal ball (OK, to be honest it's a flat-screen monitor) to read our fortunes how our fortunes might be spent on IRM products in 2025... Mentioned officially but not yet formally announced: CIE Park Royal coaches: main-line, ambulance and brake versions NIR Mk2b coaches: blue/maroon livery No-brainer based on existing tooling: CIE Unfitted H van Surprise bonus ball re-run: Cement bubbles Informally mentioned as inevitable, but no date suggested, perhaps to be announced in 2026 after the Hunslets have been delivered: CIE C / B201; NIR MV class locos Informally recognised as needed to complement existing models, perhaps following the Park Royals and H vans: CIE goods brake van: perhaps 30t? CIE Steam heat vans: Mk1 / Dutch / Tin? Here's hoping at least some of these get announced in the coming year, and perhaps some more surprises. But in the meantime I'm eagerly awaiting the fitted H vans and the first lot of Park Royals. Mol You forgot the most important ones! O Gauge Ruston - Irish variant. O Gauge A Class - four liveries, un-numbered and without logos, decals provided in the box. O Gauge Project Bulleid. O Gauge Project 42. O Gauge IRM / Dapol containers. O Gauge IRM / Heljan fuel oil tanks. OO Gauge Project 47. OO Gauge Project 22. OO Gauge 2600 Arrow / Sparrow. OO Gauge 800 Class with steam generator. Thank you, Santa, Jesús and Superman. 1 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 9 Author Posted January 9 6 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said: OO Gauge Project 22. I'd be very keen on this! Good for containers, kegs, and logs amongst other things. There is also the group of 20' wagons that have not been tackled yet: 25436 flat, 27101 flat, pallet cement, double beet, barytes, zinc ore and various more oil tanks. 2 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted January 11 Posted January 11 Has the crystal ball rolled to a halt already??? Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 11 Author Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said: Has the crystal ball rolled to a halt already??? Let me consult Mystic Mol... It's been a nice clear day today so visibility in the ball has been good, though more distant predictions are always less reliable. Possibly for 2026/2y, I'm trying not to make this a wishlist but what would make sense and be popular: The triangulated carriage underframe and Irish commonwealth bogies have more gifts to give. Laminate carriages, Travelling post office, even some NIR PW bogie flats(!). I have a feeling that there's someone with a soft spot for the E class at IRM Towers. Most worked in the Dublin area but they were also resident in Limerick and Cork for many years, and ventured elsewhere on occasion. At present there's not even a kit available for E class. AEC Railcars would suit a lot of layout themes over the years. A whole host of liveries both north and south. Unpowered push-pull conversions too. Re-run of the 42' flats but with Ride Control bogies, and/or stretch them to 47' - possibly only one new moulding needed for either? 1 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted January 11 Posted January 11 13 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: Let me consult Mystic Mol... It's been a nice clear day today so visibility in the ball has been good, though more distant predictions are always less reliable. Possibly for 2026/2y, I'm trying not to make this a wishlist but what would make sense and be popular: The triangulated carriage underframe and Irish commonwealth bogies have more gifts to give. Laminate carriages, Travelling post office, even some NIR PW bogie flats(!). I have a feeling that there's someone with a soft spot for the E class at IRM Towers. Most worked in the Dublin area but they were also resident in Limerick and Cork for many years, and ventured elsewhere on occasion. At present there's not even a kit available for E class. AEC Railcars would suit a lot of layout themes over the years. A whole host of liveries both north and south. Unpowered push-pull conversions too. Re-run of the 42' flats but with Ride Control bogies, and/or stretch them to 47' - possibly only one new moulding needed for either? Where's that @Patrick Davey fellow? He's mad for the speculation! Maybe change the thread title to match last year's "Speculation" thread and it'll dredge up the battle-weary... 2 Quote
Galteemore Posted January 11 Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said: Where's that @Patrick Davey fellow? He's mad for the speculation! Maybe change the thread title to match last year's "Speculation" thread and it'll dredge up the battle-weary... Don’t know what you mean - always found @Patrick Davey very composed….. 2 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted January 11 Posted January 11 3 minutes ago, Galteemore said: Don’t know what you mean - always found @Patrick Davey very composed….. Very punny, I mean funny... 2 Quote
Patrick Davey Posted January 11 Posted January 11 (edited) Still holding out for RPSI steam! AEC railcar would be nice too. Edited January 11 by Patrick Davey 3 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted January 11 Posted January 11 10 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said: Still holding out for RPSI steam! It's gotta be strong and it's gotta be fast and it's gotta be fresh from the fight? 1 Quote
Horsetan Posted January 11 Posted January 11 13 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said: It's gotta be strong and it's gotta be fast and it's gotta be fresh from the fight? It will be zero! I'm holding out for a zero 'til the end of the night. 1 2 Quote
Galteemore Posted January 11 Posted January 11 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Horsetan said: It will be zero! I'm holding out for a zero 'til the end of the night. Here’s one fresh from the fight…. Edited January 11 by Galteemore 3 Quote
Robert Shrives Posted January 11 Posted January 11 Looking to the north the 80 and 450 class units float a boat here. The 80 having some "cross over" with Mk2 stock . As we know Mol it is easy to spend somebody else`s dosh. Robert 2 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 11 Author Posted January 11 I agree, an 80 would be very nice. One (atypical) set had both trailers from former loco-hauled coaches that would be easy to do from existing IRM mouldings. The 450s weren't popular in reality, which may influence their popularity as models. But if Accurascale's secret new GB multiple unit turns out to be based on the Mk3 bodyshell, then maybe... My gut feel is that the ICR experience may have discouraged future Irish multiple-unit development, but I hope that doesn't stop it entirely. I reckon in 5-10 years time those ICR's will be rare as rocking horse poo and selling secondhand for much more than their RRP. 3 Quote
jhb171achill Posted January 11 Posted January 11 5 hours ago, Mol_PMB said: AEC Railcars would suit a lot of layout themes over the years. A whole host of liveries both north and south. Unpowered push-pull conversions too By an extremely long way, these and tin vans are by far the biggest gaps. Imagine trying to model anywhere west of the Shannon - or several other places too - without an ICR. Not possible. Many today simply don’t realise how the AEC cars absolutely monopolised many main line services for some fifteen years or more - and not just on main lines. Cork-Bantry, latterly, had a virtually 100% diet of such things, as had Tramore, of all places, and even Belfast - Clones. As for tin vans, equally essential and over an even longer period. 1 1 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 12 Author Posted January 12 (edited) 12 hours ago, jhb171achill said: By an extremely long way, these and tin vans are by far the biggest gaps. Imagine trying to model anywhere west of the Shannon - or several other places too - without an ICR. Not possible. Many today simply don’t realise how the AEC cars absolutely monopolised many main line services for some fifteen years or more - and not just on main lines. Cork-Bantry, latterly, had a virtually 100% diet of such things, as had Tramore, of all places, and even Belfast - Clones. As for tin vans, equally essential and over an even longer period. Of course, another advantage for the CIE AEC railcars is that the Park Royal coaches were often used as intermediates, as seen here in one of Ernie's photos: As far as I am aware, the CIE cars were virtually identical to the GNR ones. In both fleets, even-numbered cars had a steam heating boiler in the guard's compartment so there were detail differences in that area between even and odd numbered cars, but I think this mainly affected the roof. So potentially IRM would only need to tool one vehicle, with some optional fittings at one end of the roof and perhaps some optional skirt panels, to cover both fleets over most of their lifetime. The basic liveries were GNR dark blue/cream, CIE mid green, CIE black/tan, UTA dark green, UTA light blue/cream, NIR maroon/grey. But there were a whole host of variations in colour shades, wasp stripes etc. Edited January 12 by Mol_PMB grammar 6 Quote
Robert Shrives Posted January 12 Posted January 12 23 hours ago, Mol_PMB said: I agree, an 80 would be very nice. One (atypical) set had both trailers from former loco-hauled coaches that would be easy to do from existing IRM mouldings. The 450s weren't popular in reality, which may influence their popularity as models. But if Accurascale's secret new GB multiple unit turns out to be based on the Mk3 bodyshell, then maybe... My gut feel is that the ICR experience may have discouraged future Irish multiple-unit development, but I hope that doesn't stop it entirely. I reckon in 5-10 years time those ICR's will be rare as rocking horse poo and selling secondhand for much more than their RRP. Indeed the sets had quite a good reform game with power cars moving round - I guess exams/ faults along with a desire to run trains saw lots of fun! Trailers were augmented with loco stock - a one way conversion and of course repairs were necessary due to damage. Several vehicles went to Glasgow works and some power cars went back to Derby. IIRC loco coach driving brake 812 became a DMU vehicle and ended up having brake end removed and standard seating accommodation - done in Glasgow using part of sides from withdrawn Mk2. So a basic 80 class project is quite tool/ slide hungry which is cost rich.... Re 450 you never know. Robert 1 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 Part of me is hoping that once IRM have got through the busy period of deliveries this month, they might tempt us by announcing something new... I'm also hoping that there will be some dregs from the deliveries of bulk grain vans that I can get my hands on, having missed out on the pre-orders for those. Believe it or not a single pack of the Bulleid flats turned up on the website this week, which is now hopefully winging its way to me. Quote
Horsetan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 8 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: Part of me is hoping that once IRM have got through the busy period of deliveries this month, they might tempt us by announcing something new... I'll be happy if they just stick to what's already in the works. I'm waiting like everyone else for a Park Royal (a preserved one) maybe this year, and a Hunslet (another preserved one) in early 2027. That said, I'd be impressed if IRM were to dare to have a go at the ex-DSER K2 no.461. I'd likely buy one in the hope of converting it to 21mm. 2 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 3 minutes ago, Horsetan said: I'll be happy if they just stick to what's already in the works. I'm waiting like everyone else for a Park Royal (a preserved one) maybe this year, and a Hunslet (another preserved one) in early 2027. That said, I'd be impressed if IRM were to dare to have a go at the ex-DSER K2 no.461. I'd likely buy one in the hope of converting it to 21mm. I do think the preserved kettles have a better chance than others, purely because they can appeal to people modelling the diesel era as well as the historic periods. 186, 4, and 171 are probably the front runners on that score, but who could resist a model of 'Uranus'? 461 would be a bold move, being a very small class with geographically limited operation, but it's a good-looking loco! Quote
Horsetan Posted January 13 Posted January 13 21 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: .... who could resist a model of 'Uranus'?... I wonder if IRM would be floating around Uranus and having a sniff. 1 Quote
jhb171achill Posted January 13 Posted January 13 28 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: I do think the preserved kettles have a better chance than others, purely because they can appeal to people modelling the diesel era as well as the historic periods. 186, 4, and 171 are probably the front runners on that score, but who could resist a model of 'Uranus'? 461 would be a bold move, being a very small class with geographically limited operation, but it's a good-looking loco! I'd say No. 4 probably the best of those. To some, not as photogenic as some blue things, but in company use up to 1970 - and Leslie still has spoil wagons.....! 1 1 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 18 minutes ago, Horsetan said: I wonder if IRM would be floating around Uranus and having a sniff. More likely giving it a good kicking for nit-picking the details on their models! Which are still streets ahead of what was available before, and are responsible for getting me back into the Irish modelling hobby. I am gradually demonstrating how to address them; I've just ordered a batch of replacement bogies... 1 Quote
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