Author: Mick Bayliss

LNER Gresley A1 class 4-6-2 no. 4472 Flying Scotsman

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
LNER Gresley A1 class 4-6-2 no. 4472 Flying Scotsman
LNER Gresley A1 class 4-6-2 no. 4472 Flying Scotsman. A Limited Edition factory built model by DJH, with its original box and certificate. Slaters wheels, a chain driven motor/gear unit and power collection by plunger pick-ups. Modelled as running for the LNER’s “The Flying Scotsman” non-stop train during the period between 1929, when the loco was paired with a corridor tender, and 1935, when the cut-outs on the cab sides were reduced in size. In my opinion, DJH used to produce models to a superb build quality, but the final finishing is sometimes slightly less so (eg vacuum hoses painted light grey and safety valves painted gold). Since buying this model I have made one or two tweeks to the paint to bring it up to my standard.

LMS Stanier Jubilee class 4-6-0 no. 5693 Agamemnon.

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
LMS Stanier Jubilee class 4-6-0 no. 5693 Agamemnon.
LMS Stanier Jubilee class 4-6-0 no. 5693 Agamemnon. A DJH factory built and painted model, complete with certificate and original box. In my opinion DJH produce models to a superb build quality, but the final finishing is sometimes less so. The colour of this model is very good (not always the case with DJH). Since buying this Jubilee I have made one or two tweeks and adjustments to bring it up to my standard.

LMS Fowler experimental high pressure 4-6-0 no. 6399 Fury.

Mick Bayliss My loco collection

LMS Fowler experimental high pressure 4-6-0 no. 6399 Fury. This superb model was built from scratch with working inside motion by Bill Davis using AGH (Alan Harris) cast wheels, turned by Steve Ross and powered by an ABC Maxon motor/3 stage gear unit. Power collection is via the American method. The boiler and firebox was commissioned and produced as a one piece resin casting by Richard de Camin. The stunning paintwork is by Ian Rathbone and the model is featured on his excellent website https://www.ianrathbonemodelpainting.co.uk/gallery-1—7mm-scale.php and in the Gauge O Guild Gazette of May 2017.

The loco was built by the North British Locomotive Company at their Hyde Park Works in Glasgow in 1929. Basically a Royal Scot class with extended frames, two outside low pressure cylinders and an inside high pressure cylinder, operating on the Compound Principle. The double pressure boiler, designed to operate at 900psi and 250psi was built by the Superheater Company Ltd. The experiment was not a success. In 1930 a representative of the Superheater Company died from his injuries after being scalded on the footplate at Carstairs, when a high pressure tube burst. After repair the loco was trialled in 1934 between Derby and Wellingborough, with very little success. It was eventually rebuilt in 1935 by Mr. Stanier to become the final member of the Royal Scot class no. 6170 British Legion.

LNWR Webb Waterloo or Whitworth class 2-4-0 no. 90 Luck of Edenhall

Mick Bayliss My loco collection
LNWR Webb Waterloo or Whitworth class 2-4-0 no. 90 Luck of Edenhall

LNWR Webb Waterloo or Whitworth class 2-4-0 no. 90 Luck of Edenhall. This class of loco were essentially renewals of the earlier Ramsbottom Samson class. The model has been superbly built, I believe using the Mercian kit as a basis, but with a wealth of additional detail, including fully working Joy valve gear and inside motion. Also the cab backhead detail is well worthy of note. Beautifully painted by Ian Rathbone it is featured on his superb website.https://www.ianrathbonemodelpainting.co.uk/gallery-1—7mm-scale.php

This must be the only railway locomotive named after an item of glassware? The enamelled glass beaker “Luck of Edenhall” was made in Syria or Egypt in the middle of the 14th century? It is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

BR (exLMS) Stanier Princess Coronation Pacific no. 46241 City of Edinburgh

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BR (exLMS) Stanier Princess Coronation Pacific no. 46241 City of Edinburgh.Well built and painted by persons unknown, from the very good value David Andrews kit. With the correct Stanier style wheels by Slaters, an ABC motor and gear unit with power collection by plunger pickups, she performs very smoothly and powerfully. The leading axle is cranked to drive the working motion for the inside cylinders. This is a true “Semi”, more accurately a de-streamliner, with a sloping top to the smokebox and the tender rear correctly has the side extensions, twin tank fillers and a coal pusher. The attractive livery is the experimental “British Railways” blue with LNWR style red, cream and grey lining. Totally authentic for the period circa 1948-1951.

GWR Gooch broad gauge “Rover” class 4-2-2 tender loco “Emperor”.

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GWR Gooch “Rover” class 4-2-2 tender loco “Emperor” A truly magnificent model, built by the late Raymond Walley from the superb Finney7 kit, with fully working inside motion, Slaters wheels and powered by an ABC motor and gear unit. Current collection is via plunger pickups. Raymond’s nameplate is affixed to the underside of the ashpan and tender as provenance. The bogie wheel axles are compensated with each other. The driving and trailing wheel axles are free to move vertically unsprung in their hornguides. All in all the design and build quality of this model is second to none. Warren Haywood is the genius responsible for the astonishing quality of the paintwork and lining, much of it by bow-pen. Name, tender and builders plates are by Severnmill. The phrases and words used here describing the quality of this model are not over-stated, believe me.
The completed, but un-painted model was purchased from a table selling many of Raymond’s items at the Gauge O Guild show at Guildford on the 2nd December 2023. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

GWR Dean 517 class 0-4-2T no. 524

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
GWR Dean 517 class 0-4-2T no. 524

GWR Dean 517 class 0-4-2T no. 524.This lovely little model has been very well built by a Mr.Slater, from the superb Malcolm Mitchell kit with Slaters wheels, a Portescap RG7 motor and gear unit and a representation of inside valve gear and slidebars. Power collection is by wiper pick-ups to all wheels and she runs very smoothly indeed. When bought, the model carried damage to the bunker. So since purchase, I have stripped the original paint, which was by non-other than Alan Brackenborough (what a shame to have to strip off his wonderful work), removed the damaged bunker and replaced with new. The loco chassis wasn’t damaged so still carries the Brackenborough paint. Warren Haywood produced the new paintwork, matching superbly the new with the existing. Now this little loco again has the quality of paintwork that befits it’s quality of build and parts.

GWR Bulldog class 4-4-0 no. 3352 Pendragon

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold

GWR Bulldog class 4-4-0 no. 3352 Pendragon. This lovely model was built from the excellent Martin Finney kit by Norman Vickers of Geneva. The paintwork, notice the red inside frames, is by Norman also. Fully working inside motion, Alan Harris (AGH) wheels and an RG7 Portescap motor and gear unit compliment the superb specification. Fire irons, crew by Border Miniatures (painted by Mrs Vickers), even a superb rolled up storm sheet, add to the details. Four further photos of this model as it was built are also featured on the Gauge O Guild website, members gallery.

On the above image the model does show some flux splatter below the whistles, from where I had to solder back in place one of the whistles. This splatter has now been rinsed away, leaving no trace.

North British Railway class H Atlantic no. 881 Borderer

Mick Bayliss Locos now sold
North British Railway class H Atlantic no. 881 Borderer

North British Railway class H Atlantic no. 881 Borderer. Built from the Ace Model Products kit by Mike Williams and this is what he has to say about the build and the kit on his website……..“North British Railway Atlantic by ACE Products.  I was asked to build 2 of these locos, one as North British circa 1918 and the other as LNER circa 1932.  I elected to build them together.  The tenders were built first, using split axles, uninsulated wheels and a perspex block isolating the frames.  There was no information on the tender parts regarding tool boxes, water gauge, hand brake, etc.  this had to be sourced from elsewhere.The loco frames were made up and the driving wheels added to check for square, so far so good!  I then added the trailing wheels.  Even with the elongated slot the wheels were 5 mm above the rail head.  was this deliberate?  A cunning NBR plan to transfer weight to the coupled wheels?  No – just another problem to sort out.  That is how the build went on, problem after problem.  Some easy to solve, others more difficult.  The instructions are poor, with wrong information and page 3 doesn’t even apply to the NBR Atlantic!  I had to replace some of the etches, firebox and smoke box.  On the tender axle box castings the spring wasn’t in line with the box and had to be cut apart and fitted separately.  Parts of the build – the distinctive lubricator and the trailing axle brake gear are not even mentioned in the paperwork.  These had to be scratch built.This kit is very difficult to build, particularly in respect of the amount that has to be scratch built.  It is not a good advert for the ACE brand”.

What I can add is that even though the kit and the build has caused Mike massive problems, he has made a superb job. He has fitted an ABC motor and gear unit, which allows the model to run very freely and smoothly. Expertly painted by Paul Moore. See more photos of this model and more of Paul’s work on the 62C Models website, or on Paul’s flicker page.

Highland Railway David Jones Strath class 4-4-0 no. 91 Strathspey

Mick Bayliss My loco collection

Highland Railway David Jones Strath class 4-4-0 no. 91 Strathspey in Drummond’s 1st livery. Superbly built and painted by David Thompson from the Lochgorm etchings and Laurie Griffin castings, powered by an ABC motor/gear unit and wiper pick-ups on the loco driving wheels and on the tender wheels. A lovely model, found on Ebay, would you believe, just requiring a small and easy soldered repair to the tender coal rails.