Irish Padre

That’s just wonderful. I really really like this.

That’s looking really good.

No probs. @Castlefinn will have insights and opinion here which will be worth listening to.

3 ran on the Donegal in powered condition until 1944. Engine removed for last decade and a half of life. Apart from Forbes regauging it to 3’ that’s the only big change to it.

A simple canopy over a cut out doorway will give the impression - possibly using nice etched gates or just simply plain doors partly ajar. I tried this on an N gauge layout built about 10 years ago - look to left of loco. In retrospect, I would not have that gap in the canopy - would look better with a single length stretching from wall along platform.

Or an elegant lift with lattice doors ?

What a great project. One after my own heart. Very well executed

What a brilliant concept! Shaping up well.

That’s looking fabulous. They are not especially easy engines to model but this is coming on very well

Know what you mean Arun. And I love that description of the family tree of a kit!

Very interesting Keith. We move around with my work so are never anywhere for very long. Mindheim’s summary is fabulous and diagnoses the root of many failed projects. Recently I have decided to curb my ambitions and focus on one 4 x 1 board which I know I can store, know I can build, and know I will have time to lift down and operate. My own niche is 5’3” Irish modelling which means basically building everything myself from track to stock. I really enjoy this though - more than operating. I used to find running trains really boring - perhaps because I had no concept of using a timetable or having a purpose for each movement. We have such a wonderful hobby with so many areas to develop - and we all like different areas. It’s a bit like how CS Lewis described Christianity - a big central corridor with lots of rooms off it! Forums like this are great for showing us that there is lots of scope for anyone to do modelling - it’s a case of finding your place within the discipline.

SLNC one was a little different. It was ex WLWR https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/2708-sligo-horsebox/

Just staggered by your speed of construction! Amazing work. Takes me weeks of agonising just to lift the soldering iron …

Beet campaign must be on so! Nice scene.

Very nice - classic UTA scenes there

I have one to build on the long finger - will be following this with interest!!

Great stuff. Those SLNC boilers are long! Can already glimpse that distinctive smokebox curve.

Thank you! Unfortunately the original client is unable to take delivery. So it’s for sale. £350 inc 2 wagons. Nice way to start an Irish O gauge layout. PM if interested……

Latest loco. Built to 32mm as a test of some new drawings - this is effectively a mock up. Using plastic not metal. That said, it’s fully operational. Useful exercise before I build the metal one. GNRI A class.

Thanks Marc. I had wondered if the Slaters 7mm MW F (pictures below) could be made into this - an Irish Hunslet of that era which had 3’2 drivers and a 5’8 wheelbase

Thanks Nick - that’s great David

Hello - I’d be most grateful for wheelbase and driving wheel dimensions as above please ? Thank you David

Manulla Jct in western Ireland is a classic of the ‘only rail access’ genre. pic from WikiP

Not sure re S 7 - I’ve done it to 36.75 Finescale with three Alphagraphix kits. As long as you do it from the get/go it’s fine; you just have to carefully check the clearances as you go along. The Alphagraphix GNRI JT should be fine for you. There is a BCDR 2-4-0 in the range too. As I say, happy to chat if that helps!! David

Aha ! How wonderful. I took this step about 4 years ago. Best step is an Alphagraphix kit. The MGWR J26 perhaps ? Happy to chat if that helps - give me a PM. David