Today, via their Engine Shed blog, Hornby have announced that they are to produce the ex SECR / SR Wainwright H class 0-4-4 tank as part of their 2017 range. The blog post also includes images of the first 3D Stereolithography printed samples showing the excellent progress that they have made so far. Ever since they posted a teaser picture some time ago on their Engine Shed blog and social media, taken on the roof whilst photographing and measuring the only surviving member of the class, number 1263, on the Bluebell Railway the rumours have been circulating; although I have been fortunate to know it was being worked on for some time now.
My model of H class number 1522 buit from a South Eastern Finecast white metal kit
The first 64 of the eventual 66 members of the class were first introduced by Wainwright of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway between November 1904 and 1909. The final two members of the class were eventually built under the auspices of Maunsell in 1915! They first appeared in Wainwright’s fully lined dark green livery followed by by Maunsell’s plain dark green livery, then the wartime dull grey livery up until 1923. In Southern Railway days they were in lined olive green which gave way to Bulleid black under wartime conditions and eventually British Railways lined black.
Although in a spurious malachite green livery, this is my very early attempt at producing an H Class tank using an much cut about Wrenn R1 0-6-0T as the starting point, but is one of the 15 with the flat sided bunker
All but two members of the class (numbers 1264 & 1312 due to cracked frames) entered British Railways service with withdrawals taking place initially between 1951 and 1953 as a result of the spread of electrification and the remainder between 1959 and 1964. A large number of the class were fitted with standard SR air control Pull Push gear from 1949 onwards to replace some of the aging D3, R & R1 0-4-4 tanks. There were a number of slight differences within the class such as steam and Westinghouse braked versions, slight variations in coal and water capacities, while fifteen of the class had straight sided rather than flare topped coal bunkers.
Hornby have announced their intention to initially in 2017 to produce three versions: SECR full lined green, Southern olive green (subject to confirmation) and early emblem BR liveries; along with a fourth BR late crest variant in a train pack with two Maunsell 6xx series Pull Push coaches.
Final details and actual locomotive numbers etc will be further revealed in due course, and posted on this blog when available, however the Hornby design team have advised me that they are tooling to accommodate steam and Westinghouse braked versions, flat and flared bunker sides along with those fitted with air control pull push gear.
This will no doubt be a popular release and very useful for modellers of the Eastern and Central sections of the Southern Railway rather then the Western Section which has already recently been well catered for by Hornby with their M7, N15, S15, T9 and 700 class releases.
The Dapol Schools class V 30926 ‘Repton’ in 2mm scale
The Dapol Schools Class V 4-4-0 was first announced back in 2012 and since then I have been assisting their development team, via Richard Webster, with some of the finer details and variations of this locomotive class. The first versions have recently arrived with the retailers.
Dapol have included within the tooling options for the correct cab variations (as 900 to 909 had lower cab side lookouts) and also those fitted with the Lemaitre multiple jet blastpipes and larger diameter chimneys by Bulleid. When looking at the picture left of 30926 ‘Repton’ remember that it is in fact an N Gauge model!
Graham Farish also announced in 2012 their intention to produce newly tooled Bulleid coaches in N Gauge the individual coaches arrived towards the end of 2013, They have modelled the later versions of the Bulleid coaches built post nationalisation and therefore have the deeper 15″ window vents.
Graham Farish 3 coach Bulleid set 830
Earlier this year a three coach pack, comprising of two semi open brake thirds and a seven compartment composite, hit the retailers in the shape of Graham Farish reference 374-911. They are correctly numbered (s3971s / s5848s / s3972s ) for Set 830 and also have the set numbers on the ends of both the Semi Open Brake Thirds. Set 830 was the part of a batch 830 to 837 introduced in reverse numerical order between March and July 1950 for use on the South Western Section.
Although technically not latest news as I have not featured them on this blog before and now have received one these packs I thought I would give them a mention.
Some say that Southern modellers have never had it so good. Over the last couple of months a number of SR / BR(s) related products have arrived in 4mm scale (a future post will catch with recent 2mm releases). These have included: from Hornby the Class 71, ex LSWR 0415 Adams radial tanks, ex LSWR Maunsell rebuilt 58′ non corridor stock and Dapol SR style signals. I am also pleased to start with be able to provide an update on the next Class 24 release from the Sutton’s Locomotive Works.
Sutton’s locomotive Works Class 24
In my post about the launch of the Sutton Locomotive Works (SLW) Class 24 here I highlighted not only that the BR Derby built, Type 2 diesels, Class 24s played an early role in the initial modernisation plans for the Southern Region, but also that their were some details variations among the initial members of the class.
Class 24 as D5016 with ‘Athermos’ axle boxes n the condition that it worked on the Southern Region.
The main differences were that ten of the initial batch of 20 locomotives D5010 to D5019 and therefore nine of those that worked on the Southern Region, were fitted with the distinctive larger but experimental ‘Athermos’ axle boxes, rather than the SKF roller type that became the standard.
Philip Sutton the man behind SLW advised me at the time of writing that tooling had been produced to this variation in the future.
A view of the SLW D5016 on non ETH fitted Bulleid stock one of the reasons why they were needed on the BR(s)
Philip paid a visit to me on Fisherton Sarum at the Barnstaple show at the end of last month with a ‘hot of the production line’ SLW catalogue number 2403 as D5016, with the ‘Athermos’ axle boxes along with extra bodyside air intake grilles, original exhaust and front end doors in all over green livery.
It goes without saying that I took the opportunity to take a quick snap of the D5016 on the main running line of Fisherton Sarum. I can also confirm that the running quality demonstrated was as good as all the plaudits elsewhere have stated. I must congratulate Philip Sutton on his attention to detail and model design with these models.
Hornby
Hornby’s output of new models over the last few months has continued at pace and for Southern modellers we now seen recently the arrival of the Class 71 Bo-Bo electric, the Class 0415 Adams 4-4-2T Radial and within the last couple of weeks the ex LSWR 58ft Maunsell rebuilt non corridor coaching stock.
Set 45 comprising of a Dia 418 Brake Composite and a Dia 99 Brake Third
The latter coaches have been developed with the assistance of friend and Southern rolling stock guru Mike King and splendidly and exquisitely (insert any other positive adjective here) represent the 58tft stock converted in 1934/5 from ex LSWR 48ft stock to Diagram 99 and Diagram 418 Brake Third and Brake Composites respectively that made up 2 coach lav Sets 42 to 46 and also the diagram 31 all third and diagram 98 brake third that were mainly used as ‘loose’ coaches. They capture the prototypes very well including the characteristic timber weatherboard that ran the full length of each coach at floor level owing to the new standard SR underframes being slightly wider than the ex LSWR bodies.
These coaches were seen on the Lyme Regis branch, so are therefore a perfect companion for the ex LSWR 0415 Adams Radial 4-4-2 tanks, but also these coaches were seen on both branch and local services on across the South Western section of the SR / BR(s).
These continue the standard set by Hornby with their recent coach releases such as the Maunsell stock. Fine details include separately applied hand rails and grab handles, a representation of the grills behind the luggage compartment doors, very well detailed bogies, fine livery application including window smoking signs.
A close up of the end of the Dia 418 Brake Composite showing the exquisite detail
These coaches did gain SR malachite livery followed by BR style lettering on malachite (heavily varnished so slightly darker in appearance) in addition to the unlined Olive and BR crimson so far released so Hornby have a few more livery options up their sleeve. The 2 lav sets did not make it into post BR(s) Green although it is understood that a small number of the Diagram 31 and Diagram 98 coaches did.
For those wishing to fit Kadee buckeye style couplings, I can confirm that the Kadee number 18 medium length fit nicely between the coaches, bringing the sprung buffers together and should also enable the coaches to be able to be propelled OK on 2nd radius and above trackwork.
Going head to head: both the Class 71 and the class 0415 Adams radials are going head to head with other manufacturers with the former up against the DJModels class 71 that is yet arrive and the latter with the earlier released Adams radial from Oxford Rail.
The Hornby 0415 class Adams Radial as No 30582
I do not currently have a Hornby Class 71 as I have preferred to wait for the DJM version which I feel is likely to be the slightly more higher specification and detailed version, however having been able to get a close look at the Hornby pre-production samples of the Adams radial last year I decided to wait for the slightly more expensive but overall in my view more accurate (taking all the slight detail variations between the locomotives at different times in their lives), and finer Hornby version, pictured left. Mine will soon be backdated to 1946 guise as 3520 in Bulleid post war black ‘Sunshine lettering ‘ livery.
Dapol
Dapol SR Rail Post signals
The Dapol working upper quadrant Southern Signals available as Rail Post (for some reason named by Dapol as ‘Ladder post’) in both Home and Distant styles and a short lattice post platform Starter (some might say dinky) have now hit the retailers.
I have had previously heard mixed reports about the reliability of the previously issued Dapol signal due to their mechanism, along with the rather odd control single pulse to change control method (which does not make it easy to know which position the signal is in from the switch). It does seem anecdotally that those signals that have been controlled by a DCC accessory decoder appear to fair better than directly via push to make switch.
It is my understanding that these release utilise the same mechanism as the previous releases.
Hot of the press from my friends at the Irwell Press are four new excellent paperback books all about the Southern Big Tanks. The four books cover the London Southern Western Railway Urie G16 class 4-8-0Ts and H16 4-6-2Ts Z class and the later Maunsell Z class 0-8-0Ts and W class 2-6-4Ts. These follow in the style of their more usual hardback “The Book of Series” with historical background information about each class , their design, liveries and spheres of operation, photographs along, with particular details and photographs of each individual locomotive taken from their works records. the books are of the usual high standard of detail, information and photograph reproduction that we have come to expect from the Irwell Press at a reasonable price of £13.95 each. As they say available from all good bookstores, and probably some not so good ones too!
Southern Big Tanks:1 G16 class
Southern Big Tanks:2 H16 class
Southern Big Tanks:3 Z class
Southern Big Tanks:4 W class
Further information about my models of members of the four class shown above can be read on my Talking Stock posts as follows:
A post about my W class model will follow soon. In the meantime I can recommend these book to any Southern Railway historian or modeller alike.
PS have you entered my little competition yet to win a brand new Hornby R2620 Urie N15 King Arthur Class number 746 ‘ Pendragon’ in Bulleid post war malachite green livery? The closing date is this coming Thursday 28th July, full details can be found here.
At long last, assisted by a few days off work over the recent Easter weekend, I have finally completed a few outstanding items on the workbench. This has mainly been around renumbering, naming and weathering a few items of rolling stock so I thought I would share with you some of the locomotives that I have now finished.
Battle of Britain Class 21C149 ‘Anti Aircraft Command’ with her distinctive orange background to the emblem
First up, is a Bullied Battle Britain Class 21c149 ‘Anti Aircraft Command’ for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob on RMweb) for use on his excellent, albeit GWR, layout ‘Brent’ based on South Brent in Devon to represent one the regular SR crew route familiarisation turns, via Dawlish to Plymouth that also took WR engines over the ex LSWR north Dartmoor route.
The other side of 21C149 the addition of the RT Models front steps and Cylinder Drain pipes certainly complete the look.
21C149 was in this period a Salisbury engine, so again like the N Class I have done for Rob before, again a nice link to Fisherton Sarum, but Exmouth Junction must have hijacked her for a while…
She started as a Hornby 21C159 split from one their train packs as this was in the correct condition with the original forward position of the safety valves, She gained the wedge shaped cab modification in March 1948, was named in April that year and not fully renumbered to 34049 until April 1949. In addition to the renumbering and naming using HMRS Pressfix decals and Fox Transfers etched nameplates, I also fitted front steps and cylinder drain pipes from the excellent RT Models range, Springside Models front lamps and real coal in the tender.
S15 number 829 with Urie flared topped tender
Secondly are two Hornby S15s, one as number 829 from the first batch of the Maunsell S15s built in July 1927 paired with a Urie style tender and one as number 845 from the third batch of Maunsell S15s built in October 1936 paired with a Maunsell flat sided bogie tender.
S15 number 845 with Maunsell flat sided tender
Number 829 was a Salisbury allocated engine during my 1946 to 1949 modelling period, whilst 845 was initially allocated to Feltham but in 1947 was moved to Exmouth Junction and therefore would also have regularly been seen at Salisbury.
Schools Class V number 929 ‘Malvern’
Finally for now, is Hornby Schools Class V number 929 ‘Malvern’ whose repainting and numbering was the topic of my Workbench Wittering #2 post way back in June last year! Now finally her weathering is complete. As I mentioned in that post Schools class number 929 “Malvern” was one of only seven members of the class not to regain malachite green livery after the war, but stayed in SR black until January 1949. The Schools Class V were not often seen at Salisbury in SR days but as she was a Brighton allocated engine from 1947 my excuse is that she has arrived on one of the Brighton to Plymouth services that changed locomotives at Salisbury.
That’s all for now, I will post some details of some of the other items of rolling stock that I recently completed in due course.
I have posted before about the S15 class firstly in my Talking Stock #16, blog post titled, The S15 Goods Arthurs and covered the announcement made by Hornby in December last year that they were to produce the S15 in ready to run form during 2015. The first of the variants being produced have now arrived in the shops in the shape of R3328. For this post I have taken a look at this version of the model before I backdate her to suit my own 1946-49 modelling period.
R3328 S15 No. 30843 in BR early emblem livery. Note I have not fitted any of the accessory details pack yet as I will do this once I have backdated the model
R3328 has been released in BR early emblem livery as 30843 paired with a Maunsell flat sided bogie tender. 30843 was one of the third batch of Maunsell S15s built in September 1936. 30384 ran in this livery as an Exmouth Junction allocated locomotive, with a 72A shedplate, between December 1954 and July 1959 when she gained the late crest (She ran with no emblem on the tender at all between a repaint in August 1949 and November 1954). She has blanking plates on the smokebox where the snifting valves were removed from the S15s during 1947 and 1948.
A right hand rear 3/4 view of 30843
Hornby’s model is being produced from completely new tooling for all components, including the Urie style tender rather than introduce any manufacturing logistical complexities by trying to share any of the tender tooling from the previously released N15 class.
The all important ‘front face’ captures the look of the S15
The model has a wealth of separately applied details such as handrails, pipework (the pipework running down either side of the firebox has multiple fixing brackets which whilst correct for 30843, I am not sure why they have been picked out in copper paint, these brackets appear to vary from locomotive to locomotive, depending on time frame), injectors, reversing rod, lamp irons, vacuum pipes, sprung buffers on both locomotive and tender and whistle and safety valves. The smoke deflectors are of course separate items and correctly affixed at the top to the boiler handrails. The chassis block also has representation of the detail and riveting around the firebox etc.
An accessory bag is included that include the front foot steps, cylinder drain pipes, dummy screw link couplings, steam heating pipes, loco and tender brake rigging for the owner to fit, and supplied with the late crest version is an AWS protector plate to mount under the front buffer beam. Also included is a front tension lock coupling to be fitted if required (although mine arrived missing the rear tender tension lock coupling).
A front right 3/4 view. The blanking plate on the smokebox where the snifting valve was removed can be seen
The overall paint finish in a pleasant semi satin black and the number and emblem decal application is up to the usual high standard we would expect for Hornby, although personally I would like the smokebox to be more of a matt black. For some reason the the water pipework to the boiler clack valves have not been picked out in copper but the same brass colour as the boiler fittings. Being an open cab the detail included and painted is impressive and crying out for crew to be added. Although once again the copper pipework has, albeit neatly, been picked out in a brass rather than copper paint.
A left hand rear 3/4 view space is included within the tender for speaker and an 8 pin DCC decoder
The S15 is powered by a large 5 pole motor with twin brass flywheels driving the rear axle through a tower worm gearbox and runs very quietly and smoothly through the speed range. I have not yet managed to exceed the haulage capacity which I now is excess of 25 to 30 wagons and at least 7 – 8 coaches. The correct pattern wheels and balance wights, motion and its bracketing is also very nicely modelled.
A view from the rear also showing the fine cab detail
Electrical pick up is via all driving wheels and those on the tender. The loco is permanently coupled and wired to the tender with a bar that allows for a closer coupled position for those modellers with more generous curves, she will happily pass through medium radius points in the closer coupled position (but will not locate back in the the packaging). The fall plate between locomotive and tender is also hinged (I think a first for Hornby) rather than being in one fixed position. The tender coal load is removable, although the fire iron stands are part of this moulding, to reveal a fully detailed coal load space underneath, ideal for those that want to add their own real coal loads.
Although I am not in the DCC camp there is space in the tender for both an 8 pin decoder and and also a cut out in the weight ready for a 28mm round sound speaker located over cut outs in the chassis for the sound to escape. It is however a bit of a shame that design is such that to access the two screws holding the tender body to the chassis require the bogies to be removed first (although these are not totally removable as the wired pickup connections are soldered).
The other two releases on the way this year are as follows:
R3327 in SR Maunsell lined olive green as number 824 paired with a Urie Bogie tender and smoke deflectors representing the condition she was in from September 1932 when renumbered without the ‘E’ prefix. Number 824 was one of the first batch of the Maunsell S15s built in March 1927 and an Exmouth Junction allocated locomotive during all her Southern Railway days. 824 remained in this livery until April 1940 when under wartime conditions she was repainted in unlined olive green with Bullied style lettering. She also has the additonal detail of the crosshead driven vacuum pump fitted correctly on the left hand side only and snifting valves on the smokebox.
R3329 in BR late emblem livery as 30830, with AWS fitted, paired to a Urie Bogie tender c/w auxiliary vacuum reservoirs. 30830 was a from the second batch of Maunsell S15s built in August 1927. 30830 ran in this livery, with a 72B Salisbury shed plate between May 1960, when AWS equipment was fitted, and December 1963 when she was transferred to Feltham.
It is good to see that Hornby have very much returned to form over the last 12 to 18 months or so with releases such as the Drummond 700 class and meeting the intended delivery schedule for the S15 as being a 2015 release. Long may it continue, mine will now go in the queue for backdating and renumbering, (thankfully the smokebox door is quite easily removed to assist with the removal of the BR number plate) and suitable weathering, so keep an eye on my Workbench Witterings pages for further details.
There are many reasons why I choose to take Fisherton Sarum on the road a few times a year this include: the enjoyment of exhibiting something I have built, having fun operating the layout with my family and friends and to meet a wide range of fellow modellers; many of whom have a common interest in all things Southern, and it is great that they take the time to show an interest in what I have done.
There are of course downsides, some of which include: having to load and unload the layout / vehicle twice for each show (although even at a total of 20′ long Fisherton Sarum was designed specifically to fit into the back of Ford Mondeo estate car!), the loss of a few days of vacation, the travelling (often hitting the Friday rush hour) and the inevitable damage that can occur both to the layout and rolling stock.
A few Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacifics have been cleaned and detailed A Light Pacific 34011 also sneaks in the shotIn addition to a few changes and repairs to the layout itself I have been taking the time to check every item of rolling and carry out some routine maintenance, running repairs and getting round to adding a few extra bits of detail here and there. Yes, although I only usually take part of my overall fleet to a show it still amounts to nearly 80 locomotives, 20 or so coaches and 50 plus wagons!
Some 4-6-0s mainly N15s have received some maintenanceThe maintenance and running repairs I have been carrying out includes, where applicable: wheel cleaning, light oiling, pick up adjustments, touching up paint work and repairs to any structural damage
I have also taken the opportunity to complete a few detailing jobs either for the first time or sometimes re-affixing some of the small detail items that have got knocked off either during transportation or handling at previous shows, including: fitting cylinder drain pipes, front steps, brake rodding and headsignal discs or lamps.
My Bullied Light Pacific fleet have also received attention.Having the layout set up and operational, something I can not do at home, makes these tasks easier and enables each locomotive to be run to ensure all is well, and being at the High Wycombe and District MRS, for which I am most grateful, also means I have access to their workshop and test track if prolonged running is required which makes this workbench work quicker and easier. So far about 50 of the fleet have been checked over so just a few more to go over the next couple of weeks!
If you are able to attend either of the two exhibitions come up that Fisherton Sarum is attending, please make sure you say hello, as I said earlier meeting fellow modellers and or other Southern Railway fans is very much a part of the reason behind exhibiting that I enjoy.
The ex London and Southern Western (LSWR) Urie H16 class of 4-6-2 tanks were introduced in 1921, and if you have read my Talking Stock #26 post, you will know already that this was the same year as their slightly smaller sisters the G16 4-8-0T class. The two classes sharing many common parts such as motion, bogies, boilers and fireboxes.
Urie H16 4-6-2T number 519 built from a Jedenco etched brass kit.
Both classes were built in association with the new hump marshalling yard at Feltham. Rather than the four G16s which were designed for working in the confines of Feltham yard the five H16s were intended for cross regional goods traffic between Feltham and the North London yards of Brent (Midland) and Willesden (London North Western). For this duty they had 5’7″ driving wheels, larger than the G16s, larger water capacity and the extra large bunker was carried by a radial truck. As they were also used occasionally on empty carriage stock working between Waterloo and Clapham Junction and on special passenger trains, such as during Ascot Race Week, the H16s were initially given the standard Southern passenger livery of lined olive green unlike the black livery of the G16s, giving rise to their nickname amongst operating staff as ‘Green Tanks’. This changed to a plain black livery, in common with all Southern locomotives from 1940 due to watime constraints, and was retained during BR days until their withdrawal in 1962.
H16 number 519 viewed from the other side and shows off the powerfull looking nature of these tanks that appeals so much.
My model was built, with much effort, from a Jidenco etched brass kit; that owing to the quality of the kit design, thin etches and limited instructions, took a number of years of starting, doing a bit, getting frustrated and putting down again before finally getting round to finishing. Certainly not a kit for the feint hearted. She is powered using a Portescap coreless motor along with quite a bit of lead weight added to provide adequate traction due to the lightweight thin etched brass construction of the kit with only the small dome, safety valves and chimney being white metal castings.
My usual excuse for an occasional appearance on Fisherton Sarum of an H16, as they were only allocated to Feltham, is on a running in turn from Eastleigh although that does not really explain her weathered condition, so perhaps she was borrowed for a freight trip down the West of England line?
Fresh off the workbench today is a Hornby Schools Class R2844 number 30934 “St Lawrence” in early BR lined black but in my time honoured fashion, as per my post here, has been repainted and renumbered to appear as Number 929 “Malvern” in Southern post war black livery. Again this is one of those projects I started a while ago but felt was about time I progressed nearer to completion.
Hornby Schools Class now repainted into SR post war black, numbered and named as 929 ‘Malvern’. Now just awaits weathering.
Following repainting and HMRS decals being applied, her “Malvern” nameplates, from Fox Transfers were fixed and the separately fitted details such as pipework, windows and safety valves refitted. Real coal has also been added to the tender. She now awaits weathering as per my usual methods, I tend to wait until I have a number of items ready for weather to get the most from setting up the airbrush and spray booth etc.
Schools class number 929 “Malvern” was one of only seven members of the class not to regain malachite green livery after the war, but stayed in SR black until January 1949 when she was renumbered to 30929 and outshopped in British Railways lined black.
She was allocated to Bournemouth shed in 1946 before moving to Brighton in 1947> The Schools class were not often seen at Salisbury, but from the perspective of Fisherton Sarum, she might have arrived on one of the Brighton to Plymouth services that changed locomotives at Salisbury, that’s my excuse anyway…
This is just a quick update post to advise of a number of BR(s) model items in at the retailers this week.
Firstly, from Hornby, after what seems like an age waiting, not one Pull Push set but two..both the A and B versions of the R4534 ex Maunsell Pull-Push coach pack are now in stockists. As I have previously advised the A version is numbered as set 616 whilst the B version appears as Set 603.
Hornby are charging more for the B version than the A version and many reputable retailers, such as my friends at the Kernow Model Centre, have kept the A price as originally offered and not sneaked it up to match the B version price. I am advised that the A version has already sold out at Hornby although a quick look at some retailers websites show a reasonable level of stock for both versions. My review of the first batch of Pull Push sets can be read here.
Also recently arrived is the R4536B Hornby Bogie Passenger Brake B Coach [sic] number S217S in BR (SR) Green livery. The correct Southern term for this item of rolling stock is Bogie Van B. My review of the first batch of Bogie Van B’s can be read here, and I am pleased to advise the slightly oversize ‘Guard’ lettering noted has now been corrected.
Both these items are excellent models and show what Hornby can achieve when at its best.
The other item of BR(s) interest to arrive, which like the above Pull Push Units are actually out of my own modelling timeframe, hence no pictures or a full review is the updated Class 33/0 from Heljan. When first released the original Heljan Class 33/0 was let down by a number of things including: an incorrect roof profile, poorly moulded roof grill, later style roof panel fixings and the bogie springs not being set in enough. This new version was only announced at Warley last year, following a fall out with Rail Exclusive Models whom had commissioned a new version. BR(S) green versions and more modern ‘Dutch’ engineers livery versions have now been released. The roof profile is indeed much improved as is the roof fan grill with a visible fan below and the bogie springs. The body side grill has changed from being moulded detail to a a possibly too coarse etching and on Dutch livery version some of the previous raised detail has been replaced with printed only and the loco numbers appear to be in the wrong font, so all in all some good points and some bad.
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The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
