0 scale irish deisel locos

[Darren.d]

Has anyone ever done an irish deisel in 7mm? Resin,brass or kit bashed . Or do the hornby hemek in super train and go up to 0 scale or a class 33 in the same colours like the murphy models one lima did. ?iv bought a big big hymek to repaint the same as the hornby r.768 just for a bit of Craic.

[Mol_PMB]

I once did a Big big Hymek and Mk2 coach in Irish livery as a spoof, like you suggest. I don't have them any more.

At one stage I tried modelling in 1:51 scale (about 6mm:ft) on 32mm gauge track, did a few wagons, a carriage and started a diesel. But it was a dead-end really, the non-standard scale was harder work than a non-standard gauge. Having said that, O scale does vary between countries (1:43.5, 1:45 and 1:48) and the 1:48 American scale wasn't far off what I was using.

There are some very nice examples of proper 7mm scale Irish models on the forum, mostly from the steam era but not all.

[DJ Dangerous]

This:

https://alphagraphixkits.co.uk/449045255

Plus this:

https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/efe-rail?filter.v.price.gte=0&filter.v.price.lte=296&filter.p.m.custom.class=Class+15&sort_by=best-selling

Equals this:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/147141-141-class/#findComment-5487185

[Darren.d]

Thanks for that.think ill try the cardboard kit of the 141.just looking for something diffrent to keep the body occupied.i know nothing of irish steam as no real interest in it.

Am going to replicate my childhood trainset in 0 scale.

Trains should be fun and sometimes whimsical. 

[Colonel]

Worsley Works do a set of etches for the G class, Deutz shunter, while there are rtr options of other small, industrial type shutters such as a Sentinel and Rustons in 0 gauge too.

 Am assuming a 121 might be available as the original 'road switcher' on which they were based, though would be 1:48, not 1:43.

[Darren.d]

Think ill just buy a heljan hymek and paint it orange and black like the hornby one i had.

Don't even think I could 3 d print a body its way too technical.

Cheers for the ideas.gives me something to think over. 

[Darren.d]

Might look into the g class shunter 

[BosKonay]

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

[Galteemore]

8 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

That’s an interesting one. UK 7mm loco production of late has majored on small locos, encouraging people to dip a toe into O gauge and build small layouts. That’s not necessarily congruent with an impressive shelf loco. A 121 might be suitable for both purposes, but if shelf appeal is the main market just imagine an O gauge S class fully lined out…..here’s a clockwork one for starters! 

[Mol_PMB]

11 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

That’s an interesting one. UK 7mm loco production of late has majored on small locos, encouraging people to dip a toe into O gauge and build small layouts. That’s not necessarily congruent with an impressive shelf loco. A 121 might be suitable for both purposes, but if shelf appeal is the main market just imagine an O gauge S class fully lined out…..here’s a clockwork one for starters! 

I agree about the impressive shelf loco not necessarily being the optimum for a small layout.

For myself, in O gauge I'd probably buy a smaller Irish loco if it was offered by IRM, and run it on my existing O gauge UK-outline layout. But I'd be looking for a shunter, C class or 141 - nothing bigger. I've already got an AS 88DS which would be the easy option for IRM. 

I probably wouldn't buy an express steam loco just to put on a shelf. However, I appreciate that sector of the market exists and may well have more purchasing power than I do.

[DJ Dangerous]

1 hour ago, BosKonay said:

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

It’s an interesting question.

Personally, a diesel like an A Class or an 071, and I’d buy two or three, mainly for display.

If it were a smaller, more operable loco like a G Class or a Ruston, I’d buy one, just because it’s Irish.

I probably wouldn’t buy another Irish steam loco, as they’re too far from my field of interest.

Edited March 15 by DJ Dangerous
Edit: Fat Fingers

[DJ Dangerous]

B1Lancer / Valve Design used to offer 1:48 GM bodies via Shapeways.

I’m sure he could have been convinced to scale them up to 1:43, or sell his files to another printer.

Neither of his two RMW profiles, here and here, have been active the past few years, so unless somebody like @Noel, who has bought from him before, has a means of contacting him, that may be a dead end.

[Darren.d]

Id buy anything irish diesel big or small in 7mm.

[Galteemore]

Thinking again, a G611 class might be the badger. Tiny so ideal for shunting. But can also be used to work  passenger trains à la Loughrea etc

[Mol_PMB]

6 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Thinking again, a G611 class might be the badger. Tiny so ideal for shunting. But can also be used to work  passenger trains à la Loughrea etc

Together with the existing 88DS and a Bulleid corrugated open, I can foresee a flush of O gauge beet factory layouts!

It would be nice to see an IRM G611 class in 4mm scale too.

[GSR 800]

Funny, I've been looking into getting an 0 gauge 800 done....

bit of size comparison..

Just personally I would (of course) take an 800 in 0, would probably sell too but for most people it'd be a display model.

More realistically I'd take something like a J26, J15 or a 141, something smallish but versatile to kick start a layout.

The thing about it is I'd be more likely to go with proper 5'3 if I go into 0 gauge since its a fresh slate compared to what I have at 00.

Edited March 15 by GSR 800

[Darren.d]

Looking at the worley works g class kits.if I bought one id need it built for me.iv tried working with brass and iv no aptitude for it at all.

I'm presuming built kits never come up for sale.

[Galteemore]

39 minutes ago, Darren.d said:

Looking at the worley works g class kits.if I bought one id need it built for me.iv tried working with brass and iv no aptitude for it at all.

I'm presuming built kits never come up for sale.

Brass often trips people up - myself included. But it soon comes with practice. Worsley are a bit tricky as a starter because they aren’t really kits. You could probably get a Dapol 08 which looks not unlike one of the early CIE shunters and start there https://stephenjohnsonrailways.co.uk/D301 Class.htm

Edited March 15 by Galteemore

[Darren.d]

I guess the 08 be a good start and it just needs paint n transfers .be more irish looking than a hymek thats for sure.

[Flying Snail]

8 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

Much as I'd love an 071 for the shelf, I'm think its probably too big to sell well. The 141/181 would be a better candidate I think. An A Class might work, but its still 51' - would that be too big?

 

[Darren.d]

Yes its a huge model but you would never see them ever made again.an appreciating model in years to come.anything irish in 7mm rtr would be on everyone's work bench 

Edited March 15 by Darren.d
Spelling mistake

[DJ Dangerous]

7 minutes ago, Flying Snail said:

Much as I'd love an 071 for the shelf, I'm think its probably too big to sell well. The 141/181 would be a better candidate I think. An A Class might work, but its still 51' - would that be too big?

 

071 is pretty small compared to some UK locos.

Comparison of scales, on a 76cm shelf:

 

 

[DJ Dangerous]

According to THIS sheet, an 071 is 57 feet over the buffers, or 17,4 metres in today’s money.

That’s just over 40cm in O Gauge, so definitely not too big. Quite a bit shorter than a Class 55, 50, 47, 37 etc.

To be honest, you’re almost down to Class 26 / 27 territory. Not quite, but only a few cm more.

Heljan Class 26 / 27 just about fits onto a 36cm shelf.

Edited March 15 by DJ Dangerous
Edit: added second url

[Galteemore]

I suspect the issue isn’t so much the size on a shelf as opposed to how much space an 071 would eat on a micro layout. This is  where a G would score nicely as it’s about the size of a 4 axle wagon ! 

[Mol_PMB]

4 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

I suspect the issue isn’t so much the size on a shelf as opposed to how much space an 071 would eat on a micro layout. This is  where a G would score nicely as it’s about the size of a 4 axle wagon ! 

Agreed. And the fact that an 071 isn't such a credible loco for a micro layout. By the time they were built, wagonload traffic and shunting was dying and certainly wasn't a task for the brand new express locos.

[DJ Dangerous]

2 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

I suspect the issue isn’t so much the size on a shelf as opposed to how much space an 071 would eat on a micro layout. This is  where a G would score nicely as it’s about the size of a 4 axle wagon ! 

For operability and micro-layouts, something tiny would be ideal, but @BosKonay seemed to be asking about the displayability as much as running:

 

9 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

And @Flying Snail was saying that an 071 may be too big for a shelf:

 

43 minutes ago, Flying Snail said:

Much as I'd love an 071 for the shelf, I'm think its probably too big to sell well. The 141/181 would be a better candidate I think. An A Class might work, but its still 51' - would that be too big?

 

Which it definitely wouldn’t.

I guess my main concern would be the minimum radius curves.

1028mm would be ideal, but would involve some intelligent engineering with the bogies and the buffers.

Maybe some kind of “steering” of the axles indide the bogie frames?

[Rob R]

C or G for me.

Both could be done in a variety of liveries for extra sellability (is that a real word?) and could easily find a home on any small/micro layout.

As long as it was designed to be  easily converted to scale gauge.

Right, where did I put that lottery ticket??

[Mol_PMB]

Probably 20 years ago, this was as far as I got with converting an Atlas O SW1200RS to a 141 class. I've just dug it out and placed the bits on my MSC O gauge layout:

The Flexicoil bogies on these SW1200RS models weren't exactly the same as the Irish baby GMs, but they were a lot closer than the other options.

 

Actually, for an Irish loco that would suit my MSC layout, I think the A class, C class and B101 class were all shipped from Manchester docks:

 

[DJ Dangerous]

4 hours ago, Rob R said:

As long as it was designed to be  easily converted to scale gauge.

32mm to 36,75mm, is it?

[lucas]

On 15/3/2026 at 9:12 AM, BosKonay said:

Would there be a market for a short run of irish 7mm? (like a 1000 unit limited run of something as much for the shelf as the layout?)

I would also put my vote for a G class.

I've always found it to be an attractive prototype, but it would easily get lost among larger locos in a OO layout.

It would be well suited to a larger scale shunting layout IMO, just like the Accurascale O gauge Ruston from a while ago.

 

Edited March 16 by lucas

[Colonel]

Either a C or a 121 would work for me, though it is important to remember what a rtr loco costs in 0 gauge. Mainline diesels from Heljan are all north of £500, though Dapol seem to do smaller types for around half that.

 With steam outline, the perennial problem of splashers and outside motion raises its head, especially if the correct gauge is to be accommodated. That said, 36.75mm is proportionally less obvious compared to 32mm that 21/16.5 in 00.

 Diesels therefore the obvious choice, where drop in replacement wheels ought to be simple enough, as in 00.

 However, anyone contemplating Irish 7mm scale needs to remember that there is precious little rolling stock (rtr or even kits), available. ALL my stuff is hand built and Galteemore will tell you the same and am sure folk in this parish need no reminding that a lot of work is needed to convert British outline models to Irish ones.

 So, caveat emptor, as the saying goes. There again, 7mm scale can be very enjoyable and indeed, very addictive - in many ways arguably easier to do Ireland than in 4mm scale. So, as before, I'd still say: come on in, the water is lovely!

[Northroader]

Maybe you could consider an Atlas Plymouth diesel, made in Austria for the American market. They're a good size for a microlayout, and if you did a repaint into an Irish scheme, they could look a bit like a G. I’ve found they’re very durable, good value, and have used the chassis for rebody jobs. They occasionally turn up for sale, here’s one on American eBay, problems with the postage, I’ve just used it to show what it looks like and the price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/354662684018

 

Edited March 16 by Northroader

[murrayec]

The best place to be for scratch building Irish Diesels is at the MRSI & Gauge O Guild open day next Saturday in the MRSI club on Dorset St, usually lots to see and chat with guys building 'O' stuff;-

Eoin.

[Darren.d]

Can anyone pop in?

 

[WRENNEIRE]

5 minutes ago, Darren.d said:

Can anyone pop in?

 

Yep, should be some of our lads displaying some O Gauge stuff and also some visitors from the various clubs around the country with an interest in O Gauge
There are some photos of our O gauge stock on the forum somewhere