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.

Highland Railway Jones Loch class 4-4-0 no. 132 Loch Naver

Highland Railway Jones Loch class 4-4-0 no. 132 Loch Naver
Highland Railway Jones Loch class 4-4-0 no. 132 Loch Naver. A very unusual class of model loco to be offered for sale. This lovely model has been built and painted to top quality (provenance of the builder unknown at present) using a kit (probably Lochgorm) as a basis of construction. Slaters wheels and an ABC motor and gear unit, using current collection by the American (my preference) method, which uses the tender wheels to collect from one rail and the loco wheels to collect from the other. The gear unit is positioned on the fixed rear driving axle. The front driving axle has hornblocks and guides and is compensated with the trailing axle of the bogie. Very clever and works well. The kit is not designed like that, so a fair amount of scratch building has gone into this model by the very competent builder. The leading and centre axles of the tender are also compensated together. The trailing axle is fixed. The inside cab detail of the backhead is of a quality that most modellers (including me) can only dream of. I have models in my collection that have been built by names like Geoff Holt and Laurie Griffin. The quality of this model is up there with those names.

LMS Stanier Princess Coronation class Pacific no. 6231 Duchess of Atholl

LMS Stanier Princess Coronation class Pacific no. 6231 Duchess of Atholl. This model is by Masterpiece Models and was constructed and painted in South Korea with DCC control and sound. The paint finish is second to none, as with all Masterpiece Models. Bought second hand, with a known and obvious chuff fault to the sound. Other faults found after collection were a missing cinder guard and a damaged speedo drive with the drive arm missing completely. The model has since visited my good friend Richard Pogson to fit a new “Zimo MS 950” decoder and loudspeaker. At the same time he has made a superb repair to the speedo drive, along with the correction of various other faults and maintenance issues. This model, after some rough treatment from some of her previous owners, now performs and sounds as good as she looks. Even better sound and maintenance wise than she was when she was new. In my experience, Mr. Pogson is a very good chap to have on your side and I would recommend his work explicitly. 

Caledonian Railway McIntosh class 55 4-6-0 no. 55

Caledonian Railway McIntosh class 55 4-6-0 no. 55. A top rate scratch build, in nickel silver, by George Mckinnon-Ure. George is, together with Geoff Holt, part of the “elite of engineering artists” according to no other than Mr. Pete Waterman. He built for Pete some of his GWR gauge 1 models that were auctioned at Dreweatts in London in 2015. One of which sold for £25k. I feel very privileged to now own one of this great man’s lovely models. A very old model, built around a big old and ancient motor and gear assembly, which moves the model at a reasonably quiet and smooth, but sedate pace. The number plates are the original ones that have been on the model since building, no doubt the work of Mr. Beeson. Bought at an auction in Bourne recently (it’s wooden box adds to the provenance), together with the 782 class elsewhere on this website. The original paintwork had been damaged on both sides of the cab. Now stripped by myself, she has had a repaint by Mr. Warren Haywood. Thank you Warren for yet another job that I am very proud of.

The five original 55 class were mixed traffic locomotives, built at St.Rollox in 1902 and were intended for use on the Callender and Oban line and, along with some other classes were knicknamed “Oban Bogies”.

Southern Railway (Isle of Wight section) ex LSWR Adams O2 class 0-4-4T no. W21 Sandown

Southern Railway (Isle of Wight section) ex LSWR Adams O2 class 0-4-4T no. W21 Sandown

Southern Railway (Isle of Wight section) ex LSWR Adams O2 class 0-4-4T no. W21. Very well built from the Connoisseur Models kit, with Slaters wheels and a Portescap RG7 motor and gear unit with current collection by plunger pick-ups. Recently modified for 2 rail operation with new insulated wheels. The original paint was stripped and the model has now been beautifully repainted by Warren Haywood. This model was originally built as finescale 3 rail skate pick-up operation.

LMS Stanier 5XP Jubilee class 4-6-0 no. 5604 Ceylon

When I found this model, I was fairly sure in my mind that it had been factory built and painted by DJH from one of their superb kits. Now, since getting it home and being able to examine it closely, it could be that this is a DJH No. 1 Shop build, which might explain the unusual features that a standard DJH build would not have. But no provenance is available to support that. It has been built from a DJH kit and superbly painted in the post war LMS crimson lake livery. Notice that the number on the cab side is in the higher position than other red Jubilees that are on this website, and that the shading to the lettering and numbers is yellow rather than gold. All pointers to it being in a post war livery and unusual. The wheels are the usual Slaters (nothing wrong with Slaters wheels, where would this hobby be without Slaters wheels being available to us for the last 40/50 years). The motor and gears are a top quality ABC unit, unusual for DJH. The current collection is from the tender by a spring on the drawbar. Works well and again unusual for the DJH factory, who usually use a chain driven gear unit and plunger pick-ups.  Either way, this is a fabulous model. Top marks to whoever built it.

LSWR Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 125.

LSWR Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 125.

LSWR Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 125. A top quality model, recently bought from an on-line auction. Professionally built from a DJB kit, with a Portescap RG7 motor and gears unit and Slaters wheels. 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. The lovely pre-grouping Drummond livery, by Brian Badger (his name is neatly painted under the chassis) is equal to the quality of the build. Although with no provenance as to the builder, this is an auction buy, bought from an image only, that has paid off for me.

Midland Railway Johnson 1327 class 4-4-0 no. 1344

Midland Railway Johnson 1327 class 4-4-0 no. 1344

Midland Railway Johnson 1327 class 4-4-0 no. 1344. This model has been beautifully built and painted to a professional standard from the Janick kit, with fully working inside motion. The original loco was built for the Midland Railway by Dubs & Co. of Glasgow in 1877.

Bought from auction recently, the model was not in working order and had only been used for display. The wiper pickups, collecting current from the driving wheels were creating serious shorts on the splashers. Those pickups have now been discarded and replaced with wipers on the tops of the tender wheels. The model now performs superbly and on test at the Poachers track in Lincoln, she was able to haul six bogie coaches with ease. Good going for a 4-4-0.