First photos of Irish Railway Models' ballast wagon (pre-production)

[Mike 84C]

Superb,top job!

[Garfield]

As you may know, Irish Railway Models had hoped to have the production version of the ballast wagons ready for delivery in time for the MRSI's October Bank Holiday Show. Unfortunately, this will not now be the case.

 

When we received the first pre-production sample of the wagon we identified a number of minor issues which needed to be rectified. This required alterations to the CAD design and subsequently the tooling for the moulds also has to be altered. This process can take weeks to complete as the factory's engineering team has to find a new slot in their production schedule, during which they can fill in the faults in the moulds and apply the changes by conducting further spark erosion.

 

At the same time, the paint samples we sent to the factory for colour-matching purposes took an inexplicable detour en route and only recently reached their intended destination.

 

To further compound the situation, production levels at factories right across China is minimal right now as workers are entitled to time off during the week of the country's annual National Day celebrations.

 

As a result, it is only now that the revised pre-production sample is being readied and we have to receive and inspect this sample before we sign-off on the production run. This is a vital stage for us as we do not want to compromise on the fidelity of the model. We cannot provide an accurate timeframe for delivery until this sequence is completed; all we can say is that we are aiming for late 2016/early 2017.

 

While we understand that you are eager to receive your models and may be disappointed by this news, we hope you can appreciate why this delay has occurred and why we are not rushing the manufacturing process. We're confident that the end result will be a highly accurate, detailed scale model of a distinctive Irish wagon.

[Noel]

Hi Patrick

Thanks for update. I don't mind the delay. These things happen. Another few months isn’t the end of the world, and I'm sure they will be worth waiting for. It is better to get it right.

Best wishes to all.

Noel

[Railer]

Just gives more time to save up for the bubbles thankfully. The end of the month can't happen soon enough.

[JasonB]

I think everybody can be sure no matter how long it takes these wagons will be well worth the wait.This goes to show yet again the huge amount of effort and dedication that has gone into this project from the beginning to get it as close to perfect as possible before its released which all involved deserve nothing but credit for.

[DiveController]

I'd prefer the model to be correct of course, but that's disappointing. I guess I won't be picking mine up at the show after all

[Warbonnet]

Something arrived in the post this morning from our Chinese friends. Anyone want to guess what this is?

[iarnrod]

Pre prod sample by looks of it. Go on.......open the plastic wrapping.

[Broithe]

An Advent Calendar with only three days..?

[jhb171achill]

Brilliant detail on that sample.... I'd say these wagons will exceed expectations....

 

 

I've seen them in the flesh....they do!

[irishthump]

An Advent Calendar with only three days..?

 

Looks like about a kilo of heroin....

[Weshty]

I don't think Heroin is that dense though....

[jhb171achill]

Weshty and IrishThump, how do yiz KNOW? ;-)

[jhb171achill]

I'm uncontrollably drooling.

[minister_for_hardship]

I don't think Heroin is that dense though....

 

And still cheaper than building model railways...

[irishthump]

And still cheaper than building model railways...

 

And easier to ween yourself off of as well....

[Junctionmad]

Ah jaysus lads , open the wrapping

[Warbonnet]

Some nice pics should be going up later tonight folks...

[GSR 800]

Weshty and IrishThump, how do yiz KNOW? ;-)

 

Watching to much Nothing To Declare methinks...

[Warbonnet]

Some nice pics should be going up later tonight folks...

 

Make that tomorrow lads, real life sadly got in the way today

[WRENNEIRE]

I stayed up late Fran, Cocoa and all, little blanket over me lap so I could savour the pics

[irishthump]

Cocoa and all, little blanket over me lap so I could savour the pics

 

Let's face it, Dave. That's every night when you get to your age!

[WRENNEIRE]

Pick a window Thumper.......

[Noel]

Make that tomorrow lads, real life sadly got in the way today

 

As Fr Jack Hackett once said 'Foto, Foto . . . Foto'

[Warbonnet]

Sorry gents, 12 hour days and nursing someone recently out of hospital is keeping me busy. Here is a quick snap of the first factory painted sample of the ballast wagon which as you saw in the previous pic arrived with the inner packaging for assessment. Overall we're happy but needs tweaks to decoration, including the gold wheels which have to go!

 

Better snaps will go up tomorrow hopefully.

 

[Noel]

Looks terrific

[Weshty]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

 

And so to bed.

[jhb171achill]

Drooling has now reached tsunami levels.

 

Maybe the gold wheels have to go, but that wagon is PURE gold. A worthy addition.

[Sulzer201]

One good thing about being older is the memory the old lima and hornby stuff back in the day Masquerading as CIE rolling stock, one has some insight and perspective on how far Irish railway modelling has come in more recent times. The standard here is amazing and to think this level of detail is available in a model of an Irish freight wagon. Once again, a massive congratulations to all involved, it is a superb project.

[Railer]

Fantastic looking model. These are going to be great, having a rake a bubbles and taras to the same level of quality is going to be epic.

[Warbonnet]

Some more pics. Please remember they need a few tweaks!

 

Ballast Deco sample 1 by franburke, on Flickr

 

Ballast Deco sample 2 by franburke, on Flickr

 

Ballast Deco sample 3 by franburke, on Flickr

 

Ballast Deco sample 4 by franburke, on Flickr

 

Ballast Deco sample 7 by franburke, on Flickr

 

Ballast Deco sample 8 by franburke, on Flickr

Edited December 15, 2016 by Warbonnet

[iarnrod]

Looking excellent on the whole but still with a few issues.

 

1. We still have droopy buffer syndrome.

2. In the photo you posted last night the vacuum pipe is far from straight as it should be.

3. The add on plastic parts ( brake gear, buffers, bodyside frames) are a distinct difference in shade from the main body colour.

4. In the photo last night and also in today's photos, at least one of the bodyside frames at the ends is clearly sticking out from the body.

5. There's gold in them there wheels

6. The vacuum brake pipe that runs along the body seems to raise up at either end when compared to its position at the centre of the wagon.

 

The above points are constructive criticisms, and I hope are taken as such, as the model overall presents an excellent rendition of the real thing.

 

A big congratulations to the lads at IRM on reaching this milestone, and hopefully the points raised are already on their list to be tweaked before the production model hits the shelves, so to speak.

Edited December 15, 2016 by iarnrod

[richrua]

More detail that I would ever know was there !! Underframe is mighty. That'll do me. Tell the factory guys to go ahead with my ones. Lol.

[Glenderg]

Cheers Noel,

 

All of the above is noted, but this is purely a sample for decoration and paint tones. The detail parts are their injected plastic colour, the hopper and body have been painted, so it will be uniform on the finished article. I quite like the bling wheels, but they will be chemically blackened unfortunately.

 

Agreed on the assembly of the final thing, it has to be beyond perfect, and the manufacturers will have a list tomorrow of final tweaks to be made.

 

Richie.

[iarnrod]

Good to hear, Richie. I have every confidence in you guys to turn out something on a par, if not even better, than MM products, and so far, that's looking very achievable, and not an easy achievement by any means. Will be amazing to see the actual productions models arrive in the new year.