NoelG

B233 almost finished. Bogie side frames replaced, need weathering. A bit of work left on battery boxes, buffer beam and then she's done.

Hi Kieran. The same thing happened to me just last weekend when PhotoBucket, who without warning disabled image linking on their free hosting platform. Luckily I had a copy of all my PhotoBucket images on my laptop, so I've just bulk loaded them to my own private web host, and edited all the image URLs that I posted here to post to one of my own domain names. Lucky escape. All the best Noel

+1 That coach looks like she'll be a beaut when finished.

B121 on cine film duty. Shapeways body on Athearn chassis

Glad you liked it. It was a bit of fun. I've done a slight re-edit below to try and make it look like older cine film with bleached colours and some relaxing piano music.

Looking superb. Great progress and great atmosphere.

Hi Kieran. Superb as always and very entertaining. 081 ran over a bush at 02:40:00 Love watching stock operating on this fab layout. Noel

Yes but those old busses were 4x4 all terrain vehicles.

Hi Jeremy No its an RTR item from Irish Freight Models. http://www.irishfreightmodels.com/index.php/shop.html#!/Rolling-Stock/c/6789991/offset=0&sort=normal Noel

Hi JM, perhaps posting query in 'Skills & Knowledge centre' forum may give you more answers Not sure about a suitable 'girl' to help with the conversion but for a grill I understand some have used the edge and sides of plastic DVD/CD cases. DVD/CD case edges may work: http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/6326-looking-for-a-suitable-girl-for-the-MK1-BSGV-conversion?p=101487&viewfull=1#post101487 Noel

After lightly weathering B181 it was the turn of B141 for a light dusting B141 light dusted on the test track

Some pics of IRM's stunning Ballast Wagons These wagon are simply exquisite with even more detailing becoming apparent as you study them close up. Recently weathered B141 up front Not sure yet about attempting to weather these beauties. The ballast load looks like it could possibly be dulled down, but it is actually the correct bright colour for freshly crush hard core stone straight out of the quarry. I may risk a very light dusting of frame dirt sprayed on the wagons, especially the lower half and axle boxes.

B121 update. The SW1500 bogie sides have been replaced with 3D printed GM 121 class sides. SW1500 fuel tank also replaced. All thats left is glazing and hand/grab rails.

ESU LokSound's DRIVELOCK (i.e. 'Full Throttle' version feature) is an innovation, but personally I prefer Zimo's 'ReadDrive' approach which is quite different, but definitely more prototypical to drive and serious fun to drive. The quality of sound is down to the recordings not the chip used. What is missing from LokSound is proper coasting (i.e. power off, loco coasting but very slowly decelerating all the time), and proper braking when coasting. This allows one to stop a model train exactly the same way as prototype (i.e. toggling brakes without throttle use). This replicates how in the real world one has to judge distance, speed, train weight and inertia to guide a train to a stop at a station, often commencing the coasting/braking operation over 1/2 to 1 mile away from a station depending on train type/speed, etc. I have LokSounds V4.0 with and without 'DriveLock', and Zimo 645's, all great to be honest, but I just get a real buzz out of driving the Zimo despite the better recordings on many of my ESU chips.

New bogies sides fitted to B233 and B121. The Bachmann (Murphy Model) 141 chassis fits the Silverfox C class kit like a glove, and runs as one would expect from any centre drive chassis - perfect super smooth runner. Planning two more of these using 141 donor chassis, one in 'Green' and one in 'all black' livery with the yellow flash. The Athearn SW1500 chassis less obvious now inside the 121 body shell with GM bogies and change of fuel tank A little fettling was needed on B121 body mounts to ensure bogie sides did not foul the steps. The surfaces of 3D bogie sides for 121 were very smooth, and a different material to that used on the body shell (i.e. no evidence of 3D, more like IMP). Question please, what do folks use to prime thin wire before painting? (i.e. for hand rails and grab rails).

Changed the bogies sides also on B121 B121 with 3D printed GM bogie sides fitted - filed the SW1500 bogie sides flat and then glued GM 121 sides on top. Next job is changing the fuel tank and adding all the grab rails.

Nice Kieran. Respect! I have huge admiration for folk who have the perseverance and skill to take on brass. Noel

This is the only drawing I've seen. I am planning to do a green 'flying snail' era livery one next now that I have sourced a perfect drop it fit centre drive chassis.

Decided to change the bogie sides on B233 B233 C Class - Removed GM bogie sides from the Bachmann/MM 141 chassis and replaced with Silverfox resin sides (Metrovic Irish C class). The Bachmann/MM bogie frames snap fit onto the bogie truck, act as a seal on the gear box, and host the NEM pocket. GM top LHS removed, and on top bogie MV bottom LHS being added, and on lower bogie

Finally bit the bullet and very lightly weathered one of my Black and Tan liveried Murphy Model 141 class. Just enough to get the shine off it as a first step with minimal risks. Boy I was worried I was might ruin a lovely model. Used a bit of Railmatch sleeper grime, frame dirt and roof dirt. Very light dusting to dull the loco down and get the shine off it. More to do in due course with exhaust and fuel tank. Comparison side by side: Left very lightly dusted B181, Right pristine B165 Side by side: B181 + B121 look more compatible now that both have a light dusting This time I experimented by leaving the walkway rails on, and just roughly masked the windows. If I matt varnish her to seal the weathering I will have to properly mask the windows to stop them going opaque (i.e. tape or maskol might be easier). Next time on B141 I am going to try a wash using a lightish colour on the black body to accentuate panel lines.

Video of IRM Ballast Wagons being transferred to Kingsbridge. Minister of Transport sanctions capital budget for purchase of IRM Ballast Wagons. Loading gauge trials successfully completed after transfer today. These Wagons are supremely produced. Well done team IRM. French farm unions question Kingsbridge management for reasons to circumvent EU tendering process. Kingsbridge management replied "They are simply the best, we wanted the best, so we got the best." Newly built B121 consisted with B181 to transfer new rake of IRM Ballast wagons [video=youtube;l-eToGhfLMU]

Short video clip of B233 undergoing chassis trials which is really a Murphy Model (Bachmann) 141 chassis with a SilverFox 'C' class body kit on it. The 141 chassis is a near perfect fit with minimal cutting needed at cab ends to get a snug fit. It is actually less expensive to sacrifice an MM141 as a donor chassis than buy a pair of 27:1 ratio gear box black beetle power bogies, or commission a Hollywood Iron foundry centre drive chassis. (Btw the sound is not the C class, its a 141 station pilot in the background. Spud drives with 15:1 ratio gear boxes would not have suited because they are too fast for low speed shunting and prototypical smooth start/stop speeds. This particular Bachmann centre drive AWD/AWP chassis is one of the smoothest. New arrivals B233 'C' class and B121 GM switcher In paint shop awaiting coat of matt varnish after decals applied 141 chassis with 4mm of front cut off each cab end Carborundum mini cutting disc used to shorten each end of the chassis

Looks super George.

CIE 121 class. Time to start adding some detail bits'n'pieces. Pic shows how well the Athearn SW1500 chassis fits with only the metal lugs at each ends of the chassis needing to be cut away with a mini drill rotary saw and internal mounts added. Plenty of spaces for speakers inside. Plan to replace the bogie sides and fuel tank this week. Won't add any hand rails until everything is finished for fear of bending them while handling. Will have to glaze before doing inside of cab