Month: November 2018

BR Standard class 4 4-6-0 no. 75068

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
75068
75068
BR Standard class 4 4-6-0 no. 75068. Very well built by a person unknown from the very good but challenging DJB kit. This loco was originally expertly painted by Conrad Cooper as 75069 in fully lined BR green livery as the loco had ran on the Severn Valley Railway in preservation. Bought on-line from an Eldreds of Plymouth auction via the-saleroom.com. Normally I prefer to handle and be able to closely inspect models before purchase at auction. But this day I must have been up for taking chances, buying Ingleborough, The Great Marquess and 75069 on the same day. The K4 and Peak have both proved to be excellent buys and well worth the risk. 75069 had however been well worked by its previous owner. It was what could be termed play worn, with lamp irons and handrails missing and steps lost. However the paintwork was still stable with few chips and the mechanics are good. I bought this model with the intention of having it repainted as an example of the class that is not preserved and that is exactly what I have done with the expert help of John Cockcroft, who has repainted her as shown above. In my opinion she now looks absolutely fabulous.

 

BR (ex LMS) Rebuilt Jubilee Class no. 45735 Comet

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
45735 Comet
45735 Comet
BR (ex LMS) Rebuilt Jubilee Class no. 45735 Comet. I bought the kit that this fine model was built, from David Andrews, donkeys years ago. The intention was to construct it for myself, as I clearly remember seeing 45735 (unnamed by then and in a poor state) many times whilst it was allocated to Annesley in the mid-sixties. As now, my own work takes the back burner to other peoples work and the box remained unopened for years. Then on a return from a Poachers running session one Sunday, my old mate George Dawson (Majestic George as many people remember him) commented that he fancied adding a rebuilt Jubilee to his collection and he bought the kit from me. He had another old mate of mine, Derek Pike build it for him, but poor Derek passed away before it could be painted. It then remained unpainted for years more until George passed away. George’s daughter Gaynor then sold it back to me. I made some improvements, such as fitting side springs to the bogie, before asking John Cockcroft to give it a well deserved coat of paint. It now runs superbly, even on my own restricted curves test track in my loft.