While a 28xx is probably a bit big for a china clay shunting layout - a viewpoint I struggle with - the Hornby model of the straight framed version looked lovely so I had to have one.

The Hornby model is of 2812 in 1930s condition so not only will it need to be converted to EM gauge, but also back dated to 1912-ish. The early locos were builtg with short coned boilers, not the top feed fitted long cone of the Hornby model. However, the early locos started to receive D4 long cone boilers from about 1910, but top feed remainded a later addition. There also will need to be the small but distinctive Churchward ventilation 'port holes' added to the top of the spectacle plate above the firebox as well as sundry other details which can be seen (hopefully) in the picture of 2811 below.

The observant will notice that 2811 has a different tender to the Hornby model - a Dean 3000 gallon tender (I think) rather than the Churchward version. This is going to be probably the hardest part of the conversion, as although Dean 3000 gallon tenders are available (Mainline Dean Goods, W & T Models etc), they are not that type of 3000 gallon tender as they have a scallop taken out of the leading edge of the fender lip around the tender top. I have considered using a Dapol City of Truro tender kit, but the amount of effort needed to turn that into a decent model means that scratch building a new tender body may be the easiest (!) way forward. Any bright ideas always welcome though...

So to start.

After a long time summoning up courage I attack the boiler. It was very carefully removed from the footplate and all the screws, boiler supports, handrails etc put safely to one side (I lost one handrail knob in the process though). The safety valve & top feed cover pulls off quite easily and then the top feed piping was filled back.

I'm mulling over whether to source a replacement safety valve cover or cut away the top feed cover and reuse the Hornby one....

Anyway the next job will be reinstating the boiler band.