IRM Latest! Double Bubble - The Iconic CIE Cement Bubbles Are Back In Two Liveries!

[Bob229]

Great service, Bubbles my favourite IRM wagon

[ttc0169]

Just ordered a CIE three pack…

Edited Saturday at 13:04 by ttc0169

[Horsetan]

On 17/10/2025 at 12:15 PM, Warbonnet said:

Hi folks,

Indeed, the cement bubbles arrived yesterday and we hope to start shipping the first orders today, for delivery next week!

Just seen the update after getting back from an alcoholiday....

[ttc0169]

On 18/10/2025 at 2:04 PM, ttc0169 said:

Just ordered a CIE three pack…

En route……

[Horsetan]

10 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

En route……

Same here.

[Anders112]

Joys of having a half day Wednesday… getting home before herself to pick up these beauties

lovely new bigger boxes with the bubbles, lovey model,Well done Irm Great quality build and shipped so quick, have hand it to yous great customer service

now to decide to weather them or not

[Flying Snail]

Mine arrived this morning too ... they are lovely models indeed.

Our postie came along just as Mrs. Snail was heading out to work, so she was kind enough to bring them in .. and kind enough to remind me that I have quite a few green boxes now 

Edited 17 hours ago by Flying Snail

[Horsetan]

23 minutes ago, Flying Snail said:

Mine arrived this morning too ... they are lovely models indeed.

I went for the ivory ones - just need to renumber one to the last survivor 25199 and convert all to 21mm....

[Mol_PMB]

2 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I went for the ivory ones - just need to renumber one to the last survivor 25199 and convert all to 21mm....

Yes, I have quite a few awaiting that task. Not as straightforward as the more recent wagon types. What’s your preferred method? 

[Horsetan]

3 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Yes, I have quite a few awaiting that task. Not as straightforward as the more recent wagon types. What’s your preferred method? 

I've not tackled a cement bubble before (I didn't buy a set from the previous run(s) as I didn't know if any were preserved), so once I get one in front of me I'll be able to see what kind of a re-gauge bodge is possible.

If it's just pinpoint axles, I can obtain plenty from the Scalefour Society stores.

If the IRM original axles are already the standard 28mm length, then it might be possible to do as I did with the "A" class, i.e. remove the IRM wheels and wang on the P4-profile ones then reassemble.

[DJ Dangerous]

5 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I've not tackled a cement bubble before (I didn't buy a set from the previous run(s) as I didn't know if any were preserved), so once I get one in front of me I'll be able to see what kind of a re-gauge bodge is possible.

If it's just pinpoint axles, I can obtain plenty from the Scalefour Society stores.

If the IRM original axles are already the standard 28mm length, then it might be possible to do as I did with the "A" class, i.e. remove the IRM wheels and wang on the P4-profile ones then reassemble.

I saw a video a couple of years ago - can’t find it now of course - where I think it was @Warbonnet and @Garfield were being interviewed, possibly by the late Andy York.

They said something to the effect of the chassis for the Bubbles requiring a little filing of the insides of the axleboxes to allow 21mm running.

Thought I had bookmarked the video but nope!

[Mol_PMB]

The bubbles have 26mm axles, and insufficient clearance for broad gauge wheels, so a fair bit of surgery is required. 

I started on one but it got put to one side waiting parts. I now have the parts but haven’t yet tried to finish it. 
 

[Brendan8056]

Hello,

           Hopefully this set of posts from 2018 will answer questions about 21 mm wheels in bubbles etc. IRM took all comments on board and now do some amazing easy to convert wagons, but sadly the bubbles are not in that category. I only tried one bubble conversion, the one pictured and it never ran smoothly.

 

Edited 15 hours ago by Brendan8056
forgot a bit.

[Horsetan]

46 minutes ago, Brendan8056 said:

Hello,

           Hopefully this set of posts from 2018 will answer questions about 21 mm wheels in bubbles etc. IRM took all comments on board and now do some amazing easy to convert wagons, but sadly the bubbles are not in that category. I only tried one bubble conversion, the one pictured and it never ran smoothly.

 

Going to need the big bastard file and new 28mm axles, so.

[Mol_PMB]

I also decided to drill through the axleboxes from the outside and insert brass pinpoint bearings (without flanges) from the outside. 
Trying to significantly deepen the pinpoint bearing holes from the inside (whilst keeping it all square) defeated me.

[raymurph]

Mine arrived today as well, a lovely quirky little wagon, great detailing. Couldn't wait to get them on the layout, smooth runners as well. Thanks IRM for doing another run of these. I'd buy more container flats and ballast and gypsum ore wagons as well

[Patrick Davey]

52 minutes ago, raymurph said:

Mine arrived today as well, a lovely quirky little wagon, great detailing. Couldn't wait to get them on the layout, smooth runners as well. Thanks IRM for doing another run of these. I'd buy more container flats and ballast and gypsum ore wagons as well

What a layout!!!