RTR Irish carriages

[Fiacra]

Hi folks,

For people like myself who are getting back into railway modelling after a prolonged absence, it's amazing to see the range and quality of diesel locos that are available on the market or soon to be released. I have my orders in for the 001, 121, and I've managed to pick up a couple of 071's and 141's. Unfortunately, for my planned mid-90's layout, there's a dearth of RTR Irish carriages on the market. The MM supertrain liveried Mk2D's look great, but are the wrong era for me. The photos I've seen of previously released MM Mk2D's in IR and IE liveries also look fantastic, but seem very hard to come by these days. So, I'm wondering if MM might have any plans to do another run of Mk2D's in IR or IE livery, or if perhaps IRM have plans to release Irish Mk2's or Mk3's? I know that repainting BR carriages in my preferred Irish livery is an option, but to be honest, I don't think I would be able to do the job to the necessary standard that would be required for them to sit alongside the MM and IRM locos. Judging by the rate at which the supertrain Mk2's seem to have sold, I'm guessing there's still a decent demand out there for passenger rolling stock?

[BosKonay]

Welcome Fiacra!

IRM have a number of announcements and new releases coming between now and year end that should help

[Fiacra]

2 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

Welcome Fiacra!

IRM have a number of announcements and new releases coming between now and year end that should help

That's wonderful news!

[Blaine]

Still plenty of MM Cravens available, essential for a mid 90s IR layout 

[WRENNEIRE]

And there were some Mk2'a for sale in Bray last Sunday  

[Fiacra]

34 minutes ago, Blaine said:

Still plenty of MM Cravens available, essential for a mid 90s IR layout 

Indeed, I should have mentioned that I've picked up a rake of Craven's. It's the intercity stock that I'm on the lookout for now.

[WRENNEIRE]

You dont see much of the Mk2D Intercity stock around Fiacra, great seller when it first came out between 2011 - 2012
The few that have turned up on the likes of eBay etc have made serious money
Be prepared to break open the Piggy Bank.

[murphaph]

Are rakes of Cravens really that easy to pick up? 

Edited July 20, 2020 by murphaph

[Wexford70]

16 hours ago, murphaph said:

Are rakes of Cravens really that easy to pick up? 

Not any more.

Some are available though such as from: http://models11.com/Murphy Models

 

[murphaph]

Yeah I hadn't noticed much availability of them lately myself.

[Ironroad]

18 hours ago, murphaph said:

Are rakes of Cravens really that easy to pick up? 

I don't think so but this may help; http://www.chrisdyerfairs.co.uk/news

 

[mphoey]

On 7/15/2020 at 11:54 AM, BosKonay said:

Welcome Fiacra!

IRM have a number of announcements and new releases coming between now and year end that should help

did you just hint a carraige?

[Wexford70]

On 7/15/2020 at 11:54 AM, BosKonay said:

Welcome Fiacra!

IRM have a number of announcements and new releases coming between now and year end that should help

Laminates????

[DiveController]

that would be great, Project 61.5 and fill a big void behind the most liveries of the A class not to mention the 121.

However there are other other that might be considered more popular 'household names' if coaches are finally on the way.

The other stumbling block is the issue outlined by IRM themselves that they may not be able to consider doing niche products which may not sell out before delivery or shortly afterwards "brake vans do not run in rakes" etc. Neither do EGVs, brake coaches, etc. Laminates do but it was the variety of laminate body shells that added interest to that period.

We'll wait and see, fingers crossed, tees crossed and eyes crossed 

[murphaph]

Hopefully IRM can push the Irish models more alongside the Accurascale line in GB. There is definitely more opportunity there. There is a huge untapped market in the EU also.

I'm a member of a small German forum for modellers of British & Irish outline. The view of the average German modeller is simply dated. They remember vaguely the relatively poor UK models of yesteryear, when they already had finescale stuff as standard. They remember the awful tension lock couplers being "toy like" but that's all history. Nowadays the RTR models of UK and Irish outline can be on a par with typical offerings here and NEM pockets mean you can ditch the tension lock couplers for something more realistic with ease.

Maybe it's time for a renewed marketing effort here in Germany by UK and Irish outline manufacturers and the wider EU. As someone on my German forum posted "I got sick and tired of all my locos being black with red wheels". There is certainly potential in that market, after all plenty of UK and Irish modellers buy German models. Why not the other way around.

One can dream anyway!

[DiveController]

The availability of good models alone will create a market, marketing in some form to bring it to the knowledge/interest of that potential larger market is what will really sell the product. Let's face it, you can't buy something that's not available and very few will look for kit etc just to 'get into' the Irish outline. Parents or grandparents not going to go around scratchbuilding for months before one's birthday.

After all, many of us as children bought British outline because that was what was available for you or you parents to buy as gifts etc. Those childhood experiences combined with the greater variety/different rolling stock available to the maturing young modeller in British outline is probably what prompts that interest in some of the modelers on here including some of the IRM themselves.

I have no real interest in British outline (anymore) but it doesn't mean I don't have the occasion APT or Canadian loco hanging about among my Baby GMs. I'm sure a few on here have an ICE or some Marklin/Roco stuff.

I think you make a good point about the expectation from a European market when coaches with lighting, opening doors and real biscuits for the passengers is maybe not the standard but certainly available (maybe not the biscuits). You'd have to say that the IRM products are certainly good enough to compete, so who knows.

Edited July 23, 2020 by DiveController

[mphoey]

11 minutes ago, DiveController said:

The availability of good models alone will create a market, marketing in some form to bring it to the knowledge/interest of that potential larger market is what will really sell the product. Let's face it, you can't buy something that's not available and very few will look for kit etc just to 'get into' the Irish outline. Parents or grandparents not going to go around scratchbuilding for months before one's birthday.

After all, many of us as children bought British outline because that was what was available for you or you parents to buy as gifts etc. Those childhood experiences combined with the greater variety/different rolling stock available to the maturing young modeller in British outline is probably what prompts that interest in some of the modelers on here including some of the IRM themselves.

I have no real interest in British outline (anymore) but it doesn't mean I don't have the occasion APT or Canadian loco hanging about among my Baby GMs. I'm sure a few on here have an ICE or some Marklin/Roco stuff.

I think you make a good point about the expectation from a European market when coaches with lighting, opening door and real biscuits for the passengers is maybe not the standard but certainly available (maybe not the biscuits). You'd have to say that the IRM products are certainly good enough to compete, so who knows.

ah why cant we have the biscuits go nicely with the tea in the diner

[Old Blarney]

I couldn't give a Fig Roll as long as it's - Nice,  Rich Tea and Chocolate Fingers served in my Murphy Models MKIID Dining Car.

[Galteemore]

Shouldn’t it really only be Kimberley, Mikado and Coconut Creams available ? 

[Old Blarney]

28 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Shouldn’t it really only be Kimberley, Mikado and Coconut Creams available ? 

First Class - Cakes by Gateaux - This is becoming Cream Crackers! Ah, the memories of my youth in Dublin and eating all those aforementioned biscuits from my Grannies' Biscuit Tin. l retain the habit of raiding the Biscuit Tin but living in Scotland its Tunnocks Tea Cakes and Caramel Wafers. Are any of the brands of my youth available in 2020? 

[Galteemore]

As an Irishman also exiled on the big Island, I can assure you that many of the classics are still available - even in Saxon supermarkets. I even picked up some Chef sauce for nostalgia’s sake. Sadly Oatfield sweets are no more.

Edited July 22, 2020 by Galteemore

[DiveController]

 

On 7/21/2020 at 8:44 AM, Wexford70 said:

Not any more.

Some are available though such as from: http://models11.com/Murphy Models

 

Again, not any more it seems ....

On 7/21/2020 at 4:47 PM, Wexford70 said:

Laminates????

Well there are some that could be measured up, I think but think that hint might be for a more modern era

[Rob]

On 7/15/2020 at 11:54 AM, BosKonay said:

IRM have a number of announcements and new releases coming between now and year end that should help

I can only hope this is somehow Mark III related...

[DiveController]

I think you're likely to be closer to the Mark there tbh

.... but we need more laminates 

 

Edited July 24, 2020 by DiveController

[Wexford70]

 

Or even a few Park Royals to go with the Cravens?

[DART8118]

Now you're suckin' diesel

8118

 

[flange lubricator]

Park Royals would be a good option , as there were plenty  of liveries , sliver , green, black and tan and dual white stripe and a number of variants mainline , suburban , with guards van , snack car and ambulance coach .

[murphaph]

I'm guessing the lads already know what it's going to be. I like a bit of suspense though. Keeps things interesting! 

I'd be delighted with the chance to buy any coaching stock that ran in the mid 90s.

[DiveController]

I'm sure this has long been CADed and possibly even tooled.

Surprised how rapidly the spoil wagons 'hit the shelves' but I guess the bodies are pretty straightforward in many respects versus say the fertilizers wagons & loads.

Park Royals would be my second option since at least they go back to 1955 or so just after the CIE built stock (needs to be careful about loosely using the catch-all term 'laminates'). They were, of course, used as intermediates for the AEC railcars if they should ever materialize and lasted well into the '80s.

 The PRs were around until the 90s so would also suit a lot of modelers too. Anyway, I suspect whatever release may be more modern stock as alluded to above. 

Edited July 24, 2020 by DiveController

[DiveController]

Wishful thinking here but just look at this timeless scene from the late 60s in Cork

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by DiveController

[hexagon789]

3 minutes ago, DiveController said:

Wishful thinking here but just look at this timeless scene for the late 60s in Cork

 

Not my era, but what a crisp shot that is. Really shows how good B&T can look when you see photos like that.

[Ironroad]

Seems to me not everyone is going to be happy but for what it's worth I would like to see  Park Royals, AECs or Laminates. 

[Wexford70]

51 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Seems to me not everyone is going to be happy but for what it's worth I would like to see  Park Royals, AECs or Laminates. 

I would happily start saving now if they were being planned.

[hexagon789]

1 hour ago, Ironroad said:

Seems to me not everyone is going to be happy but for what it's worth I would like to see  Park Royals, AECs or Laminates. 

Wouldn't mind some PRs or Laminates, would suit my approx era but oh if they modelled the Mk3s in Supertrain with proper doors, what a beautiful thing that would be:

I can't look at that photo without hoping one day someone in the modelling world does it justice.

[DiveController]

@hexagon789 Nice Avatar change!

I have to say that I do love the Mk3s and that is a great photo and has been posted on the site several times for various discussions. I would love to MkIII in that Supertrain livery!

Edited July 25, 2020 by DiveController