A few months ago I bought a Hornby Railroad 'Flying Scotsman' on Ebay. I already have a 'Flying Scotsman' and as it was my first engine (at the grand old age of 4!) and bought by my grandparents, I have something of a sentimental attachment to it.

But I don't really want a pair of Flying Scotsman's, and of course the Hornby offering shows an A1 in about 1934/35 condition.

The answer came when I found a photograph of #2555 'Centenary' in as-built condition in 1926.

The first step was to look around for an appropriate tender. I found a Hornby GNR-pattern tender top on Ebay for the princely sum of £2.99, the only drawback being that it was moulded in a dark navy blue colour.

I then used T-cut to remove the name and number from the loco, and replaced the former with etched 'plates from Modelmaster. I then used HMRS transfers to replicate the lining on the cabsides.

I removed the tender body and test-fitted the GNR example. It fits pretty well but I think will need gluing into final position. I've begun to paint it, using Humbrol apple green acrylic. I've got the shades to more-or-less match but it still needs a couple of coats to get a decent finish so it may well lighten or darken before it is finished....