Way back a few years ago when I first tentatively began dipping my toe into the joys of hackbashing, kitbuilding and scratchbuilding, my first project was an attempt at the 1888 Flying Scotsman, as recreated by the LNER in 1938 with Stirling Single #1 and a rake of 6-wheeled carriages.

I began with a Bachmann 'Emily' model and had to compromise right at the start by modelling one of the later Singles with plated-in splashers over the 8' drivers. I bought a few Ratio GWR carriages and attempted to convert them to 6-wheeled vehicles, a miserable failure if I'm entirely honest.

Clearing out one of my bookcases earlier I came across the loco and tender. The finish is rough as heck but I think I've got something I could work with. A new paint finish, some re-working with plastic sheet and filler and applying some new decals and lining and I reckon I'd have a decent representation of the class, inaccuracies with the basic model notwithstanding.

So what about the carriages? A quick Ebay search brought up a set of 5 Hornby 4-wheelers in LNER 'teak' for a decent price, and was promptly bought. I could either keep them as-they-are, or do some measure of rebuilding upon them; replacement bodies with 4 or 5 compartments and a lengthened chassis would be one option, to convert one to a full brake would be another. In fact, didn't the GNR run expresses from Retford connecting with the MSLR route to Manchester? And I believe I read that the MSLR favoured 4-wheel vehicles for the service. The same book might even have line drawings of the carriages built for the Manchester- Kings Cross workings! I think I'm forming a plan here....

So let's add this project to the list. When I finally complete all of my rolling stock builds planned for this year and next I see I'll have....

-4 car express formed of GC 1911 stock

-5 carriage GC suburban rake (low roof stock)

-7 GC suburban carriages (clerestory stock)

-Metropolitan 'T' stock

-Metropolitan Ashbury stock

-5 car 1888 express

-2 'proper' LNER teaks (possibly to be built up to a 4 car rake).

Also of course

-3 car Pullman express

-3 car LNER overnight sleeper

-6 LNER 'teaks' (either to run as a pair of 3-car sets or a 4-car set and 'strengtheners' for other rakes)

This could prove a very interesting project, if I can keep the impetus up to finish it this time around.