April 2012
A bit of variety this update.
More 2ft narrow gauge: Glyn Valley Tramway 4-ton open wagon set for granite bulk load, also with GVT logos removed. An unusual vehicle for a narrow-gauge railway is the private-owner version of the 4-ton wagon: Ceiriog Granite Co. Ltd. Finally, an unlettered GVT covered van. Apart from being regauged to 2ft, unlike the prototype's 2ft 4in, I have put doors on both sides of the van, again unlike the original. You can change the bulk load and the produce loads either in their config or in Surveyor. They are on the freight page.
LZ127 Graf Zeppelin airship: made as a locomotive to run on invisible track set at least 60m above ground level. Set the track for the airship with very shallow and broad curves otherwise she will 'derail' i.e. crash! Give the airship plenty of room and a long route to chug round. She is on the buildings page (OK, I know she wasn't a building but she was also not a railway loco). Cardington mooring mast: this is a model of the special airship mooring mast at Britain's airship base at Cardington, Bedfordshire. Although the mast is long gone, one of the massive airship sheds is still standing and I intend to model it at a future date. The mooring mast is designated as buffers - you add it to the end of the invisible track which the airship runs on. The end spline point must be set to 61.5m above ground level to ensure that the full mast is shown, otherwise some of it will be buried in the ground. The mast is on the railway buildings page. I have put a demonstration video here. I've modelled the original version of the Graf Zeppelin without its subsequent markings and connotations and is ideal for any layout set during the late 1920s to early 1930s and, of course, she travelled the world.
Trainz04 and Trainz Classics 3: These models have been tested in TC3 so should also be fine in later versions. I will no longer be testing models in Trainz04. I will gradually change existing models over to TC3+ versions and remove anything which is only suitable for Trainz04. All models using kuid 254127 will be withdrawn and I will be using kuid 169585 only. I am aiming to revamp this website sometime over the next few months, time permitting.
Next update will be sometime in May.
Steve
Download problem: An odd glitch has developed on downloading cdps from one of the three servers hosting this site. All the space and bandwidth I use has been kindly donated by generous Trainzers. If you left-click on some links and get a browser page full of mixed up code then use the back button to return you to the page listing the models then right-click on the link and choose 'save link as', then click on save in the little pop-up as usual. This seems to be especially the case for Firefox users, of which I am one. If you know of a solution to this problem please let me know. I have already tried changing the action for cdp files in the Options/Applications window, and for some reason I cannot fathom I cannot log on to the Firefox forum despite repeated password resets etc. I still support open source though!
My current project: The first of the GWR diesel railcars, the 'flying bananas'. Quite a testing model to make as there are lots of curves and awkward shapes to reproduce. In parts it is more like an aeroplane than a railway vehicle, especially the cab windows. I have had quite a few false starts with this one but I hope I am now beginning to crack it. I've no idea when it will be done but it is at least in the pipeline. As I have Colin Judge's excellent book on the GWR railcars with plenty of plans and photos I intend to model the whole range. There are about 7 different types in two broad categories, plus a never-built matching trailer which I shall also model.
Ireland's Narrow Gauge Railways
A Reference Handbook
Joe Begley and Steve Flanders
Oakwood Press, £12.95
A5 softback, 160 pages, 58 images
Comprising brief histories of all 18 passenger-carrying Irish narrow-gauge railways and tables with tons of technical information about each route, locomotives, railcars, carriages and freight vehicles; plus extensive bibliographies and additional material now drawn together in one volume for the first time.
Details from: www.oakwoodpress.co.uk
This site is dedicated to the memory of
Ricky
Sykes
1942 - 2008
A great modeller, railway enthusiast, blues singer and composer, and friend.
Here is the YouTube link for one of them.
Belfast Model Railway Day, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down. 13th November, 2010. You can see a brief YouTube video of the carriage and display here and two longer videos of the Barnesmore route here and here.
If you have any queries or comments, please email me. Get notification whenever new models are released. Just send an email to have your address added to my list. Do you have a special request, a prototype that you'd like to see modelled? I'm happy to add it to the wish list. However, just suggesting a loco, carrriage or some other prototype doesn't get things very far - I would need scale drawings plus photos. I can't guarantee if/when it will be modelled but at least it will be 'on the list'! Just send an email. All of these models are released as freeware for everyone to enjoy. They remain the property of their creators. The Gmax files are not available and ING4Trainz does not permit reskinning of models. For further details see the policy page.
If you enjoy these models and wish to make a donation please send it to:
County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd
The Old Station House, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, IrelandThe home of Drumboe, coach 28, trailer 5, railcar 14 etc., etc.
