GWR Collett King class 4-6-0 no. 6026 King John. I visited Richard at Footplate in Nantwich yesterday to collect a model of a Hall class, but came away with a King. I’m hoping that Rich doesn’t mind me using a couple of his images to create this posting. It will only be on a temporary basis until the weather improves and I can get some decent images myself to do justice to this stunning model. Undoubtedly built from scratch by Peter Roles in January 2007. The model collects current on the American principle. This is achieved by using insulated driving wheels on one side of the loco and insulated wheels on the opposite side of the tender. The locomotive and tender are coupled together by an insulated draw-bar. A fly-lead connected to the motor, plugs into a socket in the tender chassis. Plated on the underside “Built by R.J.Merry (Birmingham)” and also “Built by Peter Roles”. Cast iron provenance and two magical names of superb quality model makers. I am not sure why this model had to be finished by Peter Roles, but, far from it, the quality has not diminished. As always superbly painted by Alan Brackenborough in the unpopular, (why? It is part of the history of the GWR) shirtbutton livery. Top quality Alan Harris wheels, top quality ABC gear and motor unit, top quality plates by Severn Mill. One of many models of this quality that are being sold by Footplate, from the collection of John Glaze.
