Argos

Just realised you question had already been answered on the next page! Sorry for the repeats!

Hi Justin. One of the advantages of DCC is you can set and adjust the inputs to the motor at any speed step. A fast spinning motor can thus be tamed. That said I try and start from the slowest spinning motor I can find, with the (probably mistaken) belief this would provide more torque at any specific speed.

Hi Airnimal, You are surpassing yourself with this build, it is simply exquisite! I think you should tell the boss that serious art is being disrupted, did Michelangelo have to put down his brushes whilst painting the Sistine Chapel to emulsion the walls? You have my full support in this whilst I hide behind the sofa............

Thanks both, I have a suspicion that these etches are than 10 thou, the tender chassis was very flexible when made. To be honest I've not had much joy with getting a reliable working 2mm loco chassis so I'm hoping the heavy duty approach bears fruit. But then I am always a bit ham fisted with things. I nicked the idea of 30thou PB frames off Tim Watson, if it works for him...... The HSS drills worked fine, I just didn't have a 0.3mm shanked HSS drill, and my straight shanked 0.3mm drill was too small for the collets on my mill. I do have a small pillar drill with a fine chuck for just such a purpose, but do you think I could find the chuck key...............

A productive day drilling, cutting and filing has resulted in a presentable set of frames. I managed to snap a carbide drill whilst drilling the holes to mount the brakes so had to revert to an HSS drill and drill slight under hence one of the holes is out of line. It will be hidden by the brakes so no great drama. The springs in the photo are waiting to be soldered onto the tender.

I decided I couldn't live with the buffers and have removed them until a replacement set arrives from Shop 3. Apart from the lamp irons on only other soldering job on the body is the handrails which I'd not been looking forward to, I always manage to reduce these to a blob of wire and solder just as I add the last piece. Careful clamping and the use of aluminium hair grips as a heat sink ensured success this time with the assembly including the handbrake being assembled from 0.3mm brass wire. I don't want to add the remaining details, which are plastic, until I've soldered the buffers in, so a start has been made on the loco chassis. The etch is too thin to use the chassis as is, so I'm going to use the etch as a guide to cut out the frames from phosphor bronze sheet. Two strips of phosphor bronze and the etched frame were clamped together and soldered with a blow torch. The coupling rod etch was then added to act as a guide for drilling the axles.

Hi David, I am quite fortunate in the fact that some kind soul has sent me the wobbly footplate pre-assembled . It is a bit of a cheat, but it will save me some time and I want to get a couple of locos and other stock complete for the DJLC next year. Thanks, I did buy a copy prior to starting the build, detail photos of the standard GSWR A type tender are a bit thin on the ground though. Lots of 3/4 loco shots mind. I'm currently using the Association's 18" LMS buffers as these seemed to best match the drawings, I'm going to replace them with the 16" versions, I'm hoping these will be in better proportion, if not I'll have to turn up my own (my reluctance to doing this is I'm not convinced I could get four identical buffers made). I think a coat of paint will also help. Note this tender has extended raised section to increase coal capacity to the version I'm modelling.

A bit more progress detailing the tender to report. I've almost completed the soldering on the body, only the lamp irons, handrails and brake standard to add. I can then add some of the plastic details. I'm not convinced by those buffers though, I think I need something smaller!

A grotty day gave me the excuse to do a bit more on the tender and get the basic body complete. A bit of cleaning up is needed and I can start on the detailing. I've also received the etches for the 52 class and the G2 (MGWR K class) mentioned above. The G2 is a particular favourite so I've already got the wheels and motor ready for a start, I will finish the J15 first though, despite the temptation!

Hi Bomag, I seem to recall that the LNER cars in the post above were still in use in 1958 with the Devon Belle cars appearing later. Wikipedia suggest 1961 was the change over date over date. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Belle

Hi Design8027, I've been researching the C&O line at various stages in history for a while, with a couple of layouts at differing stages of build. LNER Thompson non-corridor designs operated the Ballachulish and Killin branches from around 1962 . There are plenty of photos around of these. The Thompson coaches may have run with LMS designs on the Ballachulish line. Maybe just such a mix here? A ex NBR carriage was parked down at Loch Tay on the Killin branch for a while, I think it was used as a mess hut. The Scottish Region TV train also operated on the route which was made up predominantly LNER design coaches with a couple of BR coaches (MK1s?). Some information here: In the late 50s an ex LNER beaver tailed observation car was used on the line for a few years before being replaced by one of the refurbished Devon Belle cars Finally, the C&O had a notoriously variable loading depending on the time of year and holiday calendar with standard rakes of four coaches expanded to ten or more. You get the impression that at times any coaching stock available was pressed into use. Whilst in the main LMS designs were used, the odd LNER design did pop up. From my limited knowledge of LNER coaches these seem to be Gresley corridor thirds, but happy to be corrected. example here Hope that helps!

The book is a history of the line, not much changed through the life of the line up until closure of the Eastern section so most of the photos will be relevant, it depends what you are looking for? Beware though there are numerous inaccuracies in the captions in the book.

Many happy returns Mike, hope you have great day tomorrow!

On the off chance that there is someone else out there tempted by 2mmfs 10.5mm gauge, I've approached JM Designs with a view to getting their GSWR 52 (D17) Class 4-4-0 and MGWR K class (G2) 2-4-0 etches shrunk to 2mm. https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/10040-2mm-scale-gswr-52-class-4-4-0-and-mgwr-ksgsr650-class-2-4-0/?tab=comments#comment-156454 GSWR 52 class: MGWR K Class (G3) Go on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you know you want to!

Presumably Nigel, you need to be ably helped by an assistant called Igor? Is that essential or merely advisable?

Well after a year's lay off I've picked up Dromahair, who knows it might even be ready for the June 2022 event! I've even had a loco running, a C class diesel 3d print on a Tomix chassis with the wheels pressed out to near gauge. Still work to do on that! The diesel 3d print was a gift from a fellow 2mm modeller along with a shot down etch of a 101 class 0-6-0 (GSR J15). Work has commenced on this starting with the tender chassis. The loco will eventually become no 106, with a 4'4" boiler it owned until 1937 complete with the GS&WR standard double smokebox doors. The etch is quite complex but I've got a copy of the instructions for the 4mm kit and there are details of builds in 4mm and 7mm over on the Irish Railway Modeller website. Once I get this built this etch will have been built in 2mm, 4mm, S and 7mm scale. I would be interested if anyone knows the whereabouts of any more of these etches, I'd quite like to build one in final condition with a Z type superheated boiler wheezing around in CIE days prior to withdrawal in the early 60s. Finally I've almost finished the horsebox and meat van, I just need some number decals to finish before sealing and weathering.

Thanks Don, I do find it slightly strange that such a little layout is providing so much interest. Still it's all the more encouragement to crack on! Angus

I've not done much modelling of late but have decided I need to finish some of the models I have hanging around and cluttering the workbench. To that end the primer was broken out The eclectic mix probably explains why my modelling sometimes lacks focus and gets derailed! From left to right, a Midland Railway van, a BR plywood vent van, two LMS vans, a LNER fish van, a MGWR horsebox (Irish, photo'd in a relatively recent 2mm scale association magazine}, a MGWR fish van, a LMS open wagon, a Caledonian Railway open wagon and finally a CB&SCR open wagon (Irish, a kind gift from a fellow 2mm modeller).

funnily enough I have a scale drawing from a 1976 Model Railways magazine open on my workbench at the moment so 6'3" + 7'0"

Thanks Northroader, Dromahair does have its own topic over here on RMweb I try to avoid duplicate posting with the topic on Irish RM web as I am aware many people read both. I try to focus on the 2mm modelling element here and Irish Railway modelling element on Irish RM web.

Wow! I wasn't expecting to be mentioned in such illustrious company! Dromahair was being built for the 2mm scale Association diamond Jubilee competition at the annual exhibition in June 2020, which was postponed to 2021 and guess what happened? the event is now July 2022 so I have a new deadline. I've decided to move back the date setting of the layout as I can't resist the lure of the Irish pre-grouping colour schemes. I'm hoping the motivation will land soon to start up again. I'll post some updates here and on Irish RM web when it does.

I'm rather taken with Crook Street, it's a layout right up my street. I did/do have plans for something similar albeit a bit simpler in plan, the videos plus Airnimal's excellent NSR break van build are causing the 7mm scale itch at the moment, which is awkward given the number of 2mm scale half finished builds I've got laying idle. In addition to the Crook Street video above there are a few more on the associated channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJWSLUe5cbFHE9g4qTon-Cg There is also a slightly older channel with another half hour's worth of viewing on it. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLg0sRF_HtOCdy1GwWz5I7w

I have a couple of the rue-d-etropal carriages via shapeways and can vouch for the fact that the finish is quite rough. They do get a bit of a panning on various forums but can made to look decent with a bit of work. The finish on the print you have there looks excellent.

some superb models there Mike, I've had the pleasure of seeing some of them in the flesh when you've been on the demo stand at shows (I vaguely remember them.... shows that is, not the models!). They look even better then, the quality of your work and attention to detail shine through. You provide some of us with a standard to aim for.

Also looking forward to this one Mike, the Knotty break vans were full of character.