Making an ‘E’ – the Maybach Diesel Model Assembly thread

[jhb171achill]

6 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I've been gradually working on the weathering on E410. It's so easy to overdo it and I fear I have ended up with something a bit more grubby than I was aiming for. It's not as bad as some of the prototypes though!

It has moved on a bit since I took these photos, I have taken some of the weathering off and added more in different shades and places. I can't quite settle on the right look. A black one would have been much easier! The green on the transfers looks too bright in this lighting, that may tone down with some weathering, but it looks better in sunlight.

Tomorrow I hope to fit the cab window glazing, then reassemble. That's about as much as I can do before the loco's trip to Cork and Fenit at the weekend. I think it looks a bit better now than in the photos above. If the weather stays sunny tomorrow I'll take the photo plank outside for some pictures.

In due course I may revisit and refine the weathering. I haven't got a driver figure yet but I will need one. I also think there's some fine-tuning needed on the DCC motor control as the loco seems to almost come to a stop and then lurch forward a little. But it feels like I'm very nearly there.

 

The instructions are almost complete too. Once I've finished them off I'll add them to this thread and then you can see what you're letting yourself in for if anyone wants to build one for themselves.

 

I still plan to build a second loco in black livery, and I have the parts to do so. But I have an embarassingly large queue of other things to make...

That is an absolute masterpiece.

[MD220]

A masterpiece, indeed. Top job!

[Mol_PMB]

1 minute ago, jhb171achill said:

That is an absolute masterpiece.

Thanks I look forward to showing it to you in person on Saturday!

[ttc0169]

A miniature modelling masterpiece -well done. 

[David Holman]

Finely crafted, from start to finish. Fantastic modelling.

[Mol_PMB]

Glazing added. It looks better on the photo plank in the spring sunshine!

A few pics with a short train of equally grubby silver trucks.

[jhb171achill]

That is absolutely the best scratchbuild I haqve seen in a VERY long time. And, there's some competition out there! A credit to you, sir! 

Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. On Saturday I'll be getting on at Limerick Jct., going back to Caark.

The wagons are weathered very realistically too.

[raymurph]

An amazing model, beautiful work. Thanks so much for sharing the whole process, it has been an education from start to finish.

[jhb171achill]

I had the great pleasure of meeting MOL-pmb on the Cork to Galway railcar tour yesterday, and the masterpiece “E”!

The connection from Dublin was 220….

[Westcorkrailway]

Indeed. An absolulte wealth of knowledge I could only wish to obtain. It got the seal of approval by those who saw them in silver in the flesh!

[Mol_PMB]

Thanks - it was great to meet you all!

Today E410 has visited Fenit on a sunny but very windy day. Seen here on the causeway and in the station.

Now I am going to walk back to Tralee along the greenway.

[Mol_PMB]

Spa:

I’m nearly back in Tralee now, hopefully time for a beer before the train back to Cork. 

I can see why the GSRPS thought this would make a great tourist railway. As a Greenway it’s a lovely walk / cycle and there have been hundreds of people using it today. 

[popeye]

Looks great in the daylight and nice weathering. 

[Horsetan]

On 6/4/2025 at 3:43 PM, Mol_PMB said:

Spa:

...

That's some impressive corrosion!

[Mol_PMB]

7 hours ago, Horsetan said:

That's some impressive corrosion!

This was on the edge of the old loading bank - the rails were probably already worn out when they were put there! 
 

The only rails still in the ground are on the causeway and pier, and there are large sections missing there. 
 

At the Tralee end, the greenway route follows the North Kerry to about half a mile beyond the junction, then cuts across the fields to the Fenit line. Otherwise it follows the trackbed quite faithfully. 
 

I was surprised that it is very much a standalone route and there is no integration with other walking routes - indeed at many of the former level crossings there are signs forbidding you from leaving the greenway (for example to walk into a village to patronise the pub / restaurant).