Great Central Railway Robinson 8K class 2-8-0 no. 102

Great Central Railway Robinson 8K class 2-8-0 no. 102. Built using the Gladiator kit as a basis, by Colin Garton of Lincoln, a model engineer of the highest calibre. This model features additional chassis improvements of a heavy machined brass frame spacer above the trailing drivers, and tender wheel wiper current collection to supplement the usual plunger pickups on the loco driving wheels, all added by Colin. painted by Conrad Cooper and signed on the underside “painting by C.L.Cooper” as provenance.

LNER Gresley V2 class 2-6-2 no. 4791

LNER Gresley V2 class 2-6-2 no. 4791
LNER Gresley V2 class 2-6-2 no. 4791. A DJH factory built and painted ready to run model in mint “plus” condition. This superb example features additional chassis details, eg a heavy machined brass frame spacer above the leading drivers, another machined brass spacer above the pony truck and tender wheel wiper current collection to supplement the usual plunger pickups on the loco driving wheels, all added by model engineer Colin Garton. The top quality motor and gear unit assembly is by Ron Chaplin.

LNER (ex GNR) Gresley J6 class 0-6-0 no. 3592

LNER (ex GNR) Gresley J6 class 0-6-0 no. 3592
LNER (ex GNR) Gresley J6 class 0-6-0 no. 3592. An elderly, superbly built from scratch model, with an excellent rendition of static inside motion, which in my opinion, models with a high boiler really need to fill the void below the boiler and between the frames. A Portescap RG7 motor and gear unit and wiper current collection on all driving wheels, she runs very smoothly and powerfully. The original fine lined black paintwork was starting to be a little care-worn. Too good to strip, so I have carefully masked off the good lining and spray re-painted. I’ll say it myself, I am very satisfied with the finish. Nice and weighty, not only does she look good, but if you hold her in your hands she feels like a scratchbuilt model.

BR (ex GER) Holden class F5 2-4-2T no. 67216

BR (ex GER) Holden class F5 2-4-2T no. 67216
BR (ex GER) Holden class F5 2-4-2T no. 67216. Well built from one of my old friend Jim McGeown’s very good Connoisseur Models kits, this tank engine was built, but poorly finish painted by a person, now deceased. It was offered to me when I visited Shirebrook a year ago to collect a B12 (an Ebay purchase). I didn’t really want it, but under pressure, decided to take it with the intention to strip it and have it repainted into GER fully lined livery. Before I got around to doing that, the (scratchbuilt by Wally Mayhew) GER M15 class no. 650 came along, https://www.7mmloco.co.uk/?s=650&submit=Searchwhich deemed my intentions unnecessary. Now the once poorly painted model has been repainted by myself in the loco’s final livery. It runs very well with single stage gears and a Mashima motor as Jim recommends, with wiper pickups. Interesting in that no. 650 (of 1884) was the first built M15, and no. 67216 (of 1908) was the penultimate of 150 locomotives in the F4 (M15)/F5 (M15 rebuilt) class. Check out the accuracy of my model against the photo of 67216 on page 101 of Yeadons Register volume 39.

BR(ER) Gresley B17/4 class 4-6-0 no. 61647 Helmingham Hall

BR(ER) Gresley B17/4 class 4-6-0 no. 61647 Helmingham Hall. A recent acquisition from Ebay (risky I know) and I have to admit that this is one of the best kit built models that these pages have seen. That is some admission as I have built many of them myself. Built to professional standards from the DMR kit and painted by Conrad Cooper, his name signed on the underside of the running plate as provenance. Other than light lubrication I have had to do nothing to this model to get it to my exacting standards. A risk that has paid off. Slaters wheels and an ABC motor and gear unit with current collection by plunger pickups. I ran this model a week ago at the Poachers test track in Lincoln, and with six blood and custard coaches in tow it performed faultlessly. Most of the B17/4 class were footballers, 61647 being I believe the only member of the sub-class that was named after an East Anglian country home.

BR (exLSWR) Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30127

BR (exLSWR) Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30127
BR (exLSWR) Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30127. A recent purchase from Ebay in unfinished and unpainted condition. This model has been well built to a professional standard from the DJB kit by M. Jupp in 2007, with Slaters wheels and an ABC motor and gear unit. Power collection is by wiper pickups on the four driving wheels. Now completed by myself and beautifully painted by Warren Haywood, she runs as good as she looks.

GWR Dukedog class 4-4-0 no. 3201

GWR Dukedog class 4-4-0 no. 3201
GWR Dukedog class 4-4-0 no. 3201. A recent buy from an auction. This attractive and well built model has needed little work, other than cleaning and blackening the wheel tyres, lubrication, and the addition of the numbers on the front buffer beam and the power classification and route availability on the cab sides. Built from the well established DJB kit with Slaters wheels and a Portescap RG7 motor and gears unit. Power collection is by good quality plunger pickups. DJB kits were the top of the range kits of the time before the likes of Martin Finney, Malcolm Mitchell and MOK came onto the scene. With a little effort and skill they build into superb models that carry the looks of the prototype well. I bought this model with the intention to strip the paint and have it professionally repainted, but the original paint is just so good repainting is not necessary.