My latest build of a good looking and unusual prototype, after a wash and brush-up it will be ready for painting. Built on a commission basis from the very comprehensive DJH kit. As can be seen from the photo, many parts of this model are cast in white metal, the smokebox/boiler/firebox has been usual for DJH kits for as long as I have been building, but this kit has the cab floor cast a drop in from below casting, to which the backhead can be screwed, making a well detailed unit. The cab roof and splasher box castings are well detailed and everything fits together well. Each of the bogies are also one piece castings, the leading one has a very clever wiper power pickup idea, designed and incorporated into the kit. All in all making a quick to build model and recommended for the more inexperienced model builder.
BR(ER) A4 class Pacific no. 60003 Andrew K. McCosh
BR (ex LSWR) IOW O2 class no. W22 Brading

Models of these delightful little Isle of Wight locos rarely appear and even more rarely come up for sale. I was fortunate to be taken to the Isle of Wight on holiday when in my early teens and I still have a photo of Brading, taken on the small turntable at the end of the line at Ventnor. Thus the motivation for me to buy and build this kit. Check out Jim McGowan’s Connoiseur website http://www.jimmcgeown.com/Photo%20Gallery%20Customers%20Models/Southern%20Class%2002%20Photo%20Gallery.html for more photos of models of these locos. (All in green livery? None in black, I wonder why??)
I bought this kit in completely untouched condition from a good friend who has decided to sell his collection because of health problems. He had bought it probably 30 years previously and it had lain in the bottom of his wardrobe ever since. That was 3 months ago and now here it is built, painted and running like a dream and none the worse for spending 30 years in the dark.
Southern Railway King Arthur class 4-6-0 no. E785 Sir Mador de la Porte

Great Northern Railway Stirling single wheeler no. 1

LNER Gresley A1 class Pacific no. 1470N Great Northern

SL&NCR Beyer Peacock 0-6-4T “Lissadell”


Thanks to the Railway Modellers Ireland Facebook group and Jonathan Beaumont in particular I have received the following information:
LNER Gresley A1 class Pacific no. 4479 Robert the Devil

RSH 0-6-0ST Aberconway

BR(SR) N15 class 4-6-0 no. 30788 Sir Urre of the Mount

Built from the Gladiator kit, which was originally designed by Adrian Rowland under the North Star Design label. I started building this model on the 11th November 2019 and finished it on April 30th, taking 131 hours. It has been built with sprung hornblocks on the first and second axles, otherwise straight from the box, with Slaters wheels and an ABC motor/gears unit. The superb painting and lining is by Warren Hayward.
During the final stages of the build I got myself into a spot of bother with the left side motion. Throughout each stage of the build I had kept ensuring that there were no tight spots, with the coupling rods, then with the slide bars and crossheads, as any experienced builder does. Then when it came to the Walchearts valve gear. I built up each set exactly the same, (other than opposite hand of course) and fitted the right side first with no problems or tight spots. But when it came to the left side, something was wrong, too tight when the crosshead was at it’s end of the stroke on the slidebars. It took me some time to find the problem. As the right side had gone together so well, it couldn’t be a fault with the etches and I checked each side was built exactly the same. I can only put the cause down to tolerances (there is always a plus or minus tolerance on the location of everything) stacking-up all one way, needing the crosshead link to be extended by 1.5mm. All’s well now and he runs very smoothly.
When this kit was originally released, I was in the market to buy a King Arthur to build for myself and had a choice between the Modern Outline Kit and the North Star Design. I chose the MOK and enjoyed building it and have never regretted it. So when asked to build this on commission I looked forward to making the comparison. I can now advise that the MOK is a superior product, but is a good deal more expensive to buy. Sir Urre of the Mount here has built into a very nice model and I would say is good value for money. You pays yer money and makes yer choice.