merlinxlili

Don't forget to model the litter! Over on the IRM site, Irishswissernie's Glengariff, not to forget his previous GNR photographs, are inspiration for a realistic yard. Good luck and don't give up!

Yes, but away from the coalfields real coal is becoming remarkably scarce! I remember walking home from school through the smell of coal smoke. All gone now. The brake gear is fine little etch was bought from Studio Scale Models I think, several years ago. Very useful for tarting up some of the proprietary wagons. Ask Des Sullivan at http://www.studio-scale-models.com/ . This little Dapol one is not bad - you can seen that the iron beading on the top edge of the wagon sides is moulded on!

Here is some interesting stuff I found as a good representation of coal in 4mm scale. I picked this up on an artificial grass playing field when watching my boys playing footie. It consists of small bits of rubber filler, used between the plastic grass leaves to provide a substitute for earth I believe, providing drainage and a better base for the players. It tends to migrate off the edges of the pitch over time so one can collect the odd handful. The you need to weed out all the stones, threads, dead insects and bits of small footballers. The net result is very good – discrete bits of a good size, irregular and in fact very coal-shaped, the right colour and variation with a bit of glint. All in all it is the best model coal I have seen. The small load in the picture weighs only 9g. Go and ask you local school or sports club if you can gather a small bag full.

I am toying with idea of trying to start by making some small model railway scenes (I loathe the word “diorama”) in order to try out techniques, especially making simple scenery and painting. I am very short of space so this might be as far as I go, but at least it is a start. Everyone needs inspiration, so I began looking through my pile of Irish railway books for suitable subjects. On scanning the books it became clear the vast majority of photographs are of the “3/4 view of a nice train approaching” sort, sometimes with beautiful Irish countryside, etc, but very little which could become the subject for a small model scene. One of the first suitable photographs I found is in “The Ulster Transport Authority in Colour” p67, which shows a string of WTs in the cramped remains of the engine shed sidings, with stream, rain, dumped ash and sooty brick all around. The inspector is standing atop a tank, back to the camera, looking on. You could cut through the atmosphere. Other books which I can highly recommend for anyone looking for gritty railway atmosphere rather than showcase stuff are in the “Irish Railway Photographers” series, also from Colourpoint; “Chasing the Flying Snail” for example has many good photographs of this ilk. Just a thought…..

Sorry, but isn't the point of the hobby to spend some time away from work, tv, cleaning or whatever in order to fiddle with something enjoyable? The fact that one might see red now and then when some of those tiny bits don't fit/ melt together/shoot off onto the floor is another matter.....

What about taking a line out through the new flap, along a shelf around the edge of your garden to a reversing loop? Then you have a good long run for your trains in the summer! That is a great advantage of building in a garden shed - maybe a mile of clear run.

Jeremy, Computer crash - everything went down the tubes. Working on the problem.

Great job John! Congratulations on the valve gear. The no-wheels option gives people their own choice and avoids a financial penalty for you in carrying this extra stock.

A really lovely piece of work Jeremy! Up to your usual standard.

Compound, Exactly! I have seen a few examples of ironwork on the inside of open wagons in photographs, but all the proprietary RTR models appear to be bare on the inside, It would be a nice touch of individuality to include at least a representation of these. Many thanks for your contribution.

Well done SirD! - I think that this is at least one feasible explanation, which I will use. I would also mention that I have seen on at least one (very poor) photograph iron strapping on the inside of some open wagons, in addition to that on the outside. Of course this is not visible on most photographs, so we remain blissfully ignorant.......

Thank you for your replies! The door planks on the Loughgelly wagon would have been nicely supported by the hinge straps. However the Lanemark and GS&W wagons illustrate my concerns well - the middle two horizontal door planks appear to be hanging in the air. As Sir Douglas writes, the GS&W wagon illustrates the sort of bolt heads I would expect if vertical iron straps were used internally to support the middle of the doors, and these are absent. Therefore I conclude that Johnsy's point about a second layer of vertical planking on the inside would be the most likely explanation. Most of the load would have been carried by the inside planks and so bolts would only be needed through the hinge straps, while the middle two outside planks could be supported by only screws. Maybe such wagons should be modelled with double thickness cupboard doors, compared with the rest of the wagon body?

Here is a little detailed question for the experts. The planks on wooden open goods wagons were supported by iron corner plates and strapping. But what about the archaic cupboard door which opened sideways? I am thinking here about County Down opens. The planks on these doors were horizontal and only the top and bottom and planks were supported by the horizontal strapping from the hinges. So what prevented the middle two planks from bursting outwards from a load of coal? The only possibilities I can think of are vertical iron straps on the inside of the door – but there is no sign of securing bolts on the outside of the doors, or iron strapping on the sides of the doors – but I believe it is not good practice to drive in screws parallel with the grain. This question is probably relevant as well to classic cattle wagons with a composite 3-door arrangement. Any good advice please?

With respect to the cab ride video. A great perspective of your railway! All the long trains standing around give it realism and a busy atmosphere. It is amazing how photography highlights things that the mind’s eye overlooks. Three things occurred to me right away. One is the amount of sideways hunting as the locomotive moves forward, something I would not have noticed from the outside. This is probably inherent in the geometry of the OO system, even with a high quality proprietary model such as the 141. Also, the corner curves look terrifying as the train approaches them at speed – much tighter than in the station. (The crew must be hiding under their seats here). Again, this is a near-universal and necessary compromise in model railways. Finally, the absence of signalling stands out from this viewpoint which is not as noticeable from the “sky”, but clearly the railway is not finished yet. None of this is intended as criticism of a very good model railway, but simply to point to the uses of photography as an ongoing check on what we are doing.

Colm, Since Ken is using all his time to build his railway, I wonder would it be possible for your to “interview” him and write up some posts on how he does his magic in creating scenery. I do realise that this is an artistic talent rather that a set of rules, however it would be good to hear his opinion. Some initial pointers might include:- · Making a realistic mix and progression of grass to briers, to bushes then trees. · Blending this lot into the permanent way and other man-made constructions. · Perspective devices. · The application of colour. Maybe the idea that one scene is drawn from a palate of tones on one predominant colour. How to tone everything down. · The use of photographs (both of prototypes and the model) to help guide realism. Please? Can anyone suggest some good books on the subject?