BR(ex LNER) Gresley N2 class 0-6-2T no. 69567

BR(ex LNER) Gresley N2 class 0-6-2T no. 69567. Built from the Slaters Rising Star kit. Slaters wheels, MSC JH type motor and gear unit. Superb paintwork by Warren Haywood and just as superb weathering by Richard Pogson. A recent on-line auction buy from Pump House Auctions, and not one that I am proud of. First mistake, I set myself a maximum top bid and I exceeded it. The model, in fully lined out GNR green and brown livery, looked very good in the photo and with the BP and delivery charge it cost me over £900. Much too much for the risk involved. When it arrived, one of the condensate pipes was missing. Obviously carelessly handled during viewing, and without anyone at the auction taking care or noticing, it was lost. I will not be using that auction house again. However, now, after a paint strip, removal of the other condensate pipe, repair where necessary, a repaint and a light weathering, this model is a gem and runs as well as it looks.

BR (ex LB&SCR) Billinton E4 class 0-6-2T no. 32469

BR (ex LB&SCR) Billinton E4 class 0-6-2T no. 32469
BR (ex LB&SCR) Billinton E4 class 0-6-2T no. 32469. Built from the MSC models kit. I bought this model after the build had been very basically started by my good friend Mick Heather, after his untimely passing. For a reason we shall never know, no chassis was present. However a scratch built rigid (0-8-0) chassis was found amongst his bits and pieces, which did fit and did a job for me whilst I completed the upper body. However that chassis was never going to be able to be made to make do, so the model was put onto my “back burner” for a few years. Now fast forward to October 2024 and another E4 was found in an auction in Sheffield, I bought it in the hope of being able to use the chassis of that and this 32469 is the result of that very successful marriage. Slaters wheels, MSC JH type motor and gear unit. Superb paintwork by Warren Haywood and just as superb weathering by Richard Pogson, has made this jumble sale of a model very fine indeed.

BR(WR) Collett King class 4-6-0 no. 6025 King Henry III

BR(WR) Collett King class 4-6-0 no. 6025 King Henry III. BR(WR) Collett King class 4-6-0 no. 6025 King Henry III. This lovely model was built and painted by the late Graham Varley. Plated on the underside “TMS Models built & painted by G. Varley” as provenance. Superb build quality from the David Andrews kit, with an ABC motor and gears unit, Slaters wheels (the centre driving set is sprung), current collection by plunger pickups and the inside cylinder valve gear links are driven by working motion from the outside cylinders.

LNER (ex GNR) Ivatt D3 class 4-4-0 no. 4302

LNER (ex GNR) Ivatt D3 class 4-4-0 no. 4302. This model has been well built in nickel silver from scratch. I bought this some months ago, on line from Footplate trains in an unfinished and unpainted condition. Originally built with a noisy motor, I have now fitted an ABC motor and gears unit. Good cab detail from scratch, cast iron wheels and a very clever hand made wiper pick-up unit, she is a very smooth performer indeed. Painted by John Cockcroft with works and builders plates by Diane Carney, doesn’t she look good ? A rare prototype to see modelled as no quality kits are available of a loco of this type.

GWR Armstrong 517 class 0-4-2T no. 1436

GWR Armstrong 517 class 0-4-2T no. 1436. The build of this model is of professional quality, from the Malcolm Mitchell kit with superb cab detail, axle compensation, Slaters wheels, wiper current collection and powered by a fuse protected Portescap RG7 motor and gears unit. Well painted in the GWR 1920-30’s unlined green livery and lightly weathered. A very smooth performer indeed.

LNER Gresley K4 class 2-6-0 no. 3442 The Great Marquess

LNER Gresley K4 class 2-6-0 no. 3442 The Great Marquess. Superbly built from scratch by Peter Everton, plated on the underside “Peter Everton Wickersley Made in England” as provenance. Beautifully painted, undoubtedly by Alan Brackenborough. Built with cast iron wheels of superb quality, a Bonds type motor and gear unit which collects power by hand made plunger pickups. Further provenance, this model was auctioned by Christie’s of South Kensington on Monday, December 22, 1986, lot 161, auction estimate £900 to £1100.

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Hughes rebuilt 8 class (Dreadnought) 4-6-0 no. 1514

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Hughes rebuilt 8 class (Dreadnought) 4-6-0 no. 1514. When the Mark Hoofe collection of L&YR model locos came up for sale, I couldn’t resist buying this one. Even though it had been built un-powered and Mark had only used it for display purposes. Good models of this prototype are rare. Built by Peter Fitton, the model’s scratchbuilt tender carries his brass nameplate on the underside as provenance. The loco is probably scratchbuilt also, but doesn’t carry a nameplate. Certainly it is of Peter’s superb build quality, without doubt, but he might have used one of the kits available (Warren Shepherd or Lanky kits) as a basis for scratchbuilding. The loco also carries the signature of Conrad Cooper who has certainly made a lovely job of the fully lined L&YR livery. Since purchase, I have fitted an ABC motor and gear unit, that collects current via the cast metal (drivers of AGH quality) wheels. Loco wheels insulated on one side, tender wheels insulated on the other. The tender chassis is insulated from the tank, therefore the fallplate does not need to be insulated. All in all a very professionally built model of the highest quality, with very good provenance.