Irish Padre

Now I’m truly amazed. I thought this was 7mm....beautiful work by Mike and Ian.

Bit more scenics done

Thanks Kirley - most kind. It’s a bit rough around the edges in places but has taught me a great deal, such as sorting the curved cab and footplate. I had to walk away from it in October as I seemed to be making constant mistakes. So glad it’s actually done and running!!

F6 essentially done....

Scratchbuilt H van on Alphagraphix chassis ....

I thought this was a picture of the real thing till I saw the track pin!

Absolutely Alan. I used PlasticWeld for the main structure. The Limonene is used for gnats-whisker size bits. Applied with a tiny wargamer’s brush, there’s just enough capillary action to gently adhere the detail without dissolving it. You can just see the first bolt heads going on (red microstrip) at left of pic...

Indeed I have Wayne. Using to apply details on this work in progress. So far I like what I see.

Lovely . Straight out of the Quiet Man.

Not my era, Kieran but a lovely model! I agree about the details. I’m also noticing that I’m much more aware of how the real thing worked and what all those bits and pieces are for! I’m even working out the difference between bolts and rivets, and the fact that some handrails taper...spent more time than is healthy this week focusing on a water tank filler ....

It is a bit easier in truth. David Jenkinson’s book on carriage building is rather a useful resource too in terms of how to scratch build in plastic...

Nice work. I use these kits a fair bit, although generally as coloured drawings, doing the actual build with plasticard. What I have found is that frequent changes of knife blade is key to keep the cutting sharp. It’s unbelievable how quickly card blunts a Swann Morton blade! My first effort at an Irish wagon was built straight from card....

Indeed Adrian. Fred was one of my childhood heroes and a friend of Drew’s - although the two of them could not have been more different! Fred sold his models c1995. My father bought an SLNC Lough Class, an old U and an S class, plus a QL. The latter he since gave away, but the first three are on loan to Headhunters in Enniskillen. Drew’s collection is under glass - a friend took these pics just before the museums all locked down...

Nice idea but implausible for one reason. If Henry really was an Irish engine there’s no way he’d be afraid of rain!

It’s a fascinating colour. Important to recall what a huge symbol of Irish prestige these must have been, emerging just after the Anglo-Irish Trade War. Hence the elaborate nameplates and perhaps that elusive colour. Blue rather than green after all is the heraldic colour of Ireland.....