I recently scored a Hornby DCC sound class 08 off eBay, from a reputable dealer acmodels2 in Eastleigh, for £75 including postage to Australia. This was described as running well with working sound but in poor condition with "lots of detail missing" and unboxed. This was still a bargain as the sound decoder alone was worth in the region of £100.

When the model arrived, it was missing all of the footsteps, one handrail for the footsteps with the others being loose, and the cab roof ventilator hatch. The condition was actually much better than I had anticipated, notwithstanding the accurate and detailed photos posted on the listing and, after straightening the coupling rods slightly, a quick test run on the rolling road showed that it behaved impeccably well for both running standards and the not very good Hornby sounds (easy to get reblown!). All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase.

I have ordered some PHD Designs 08/09 footsteps, although I could have tried to knock some up from plasticard. The roof vent has already been covered with a piece of 20 thou plasticard cut to match my Hornby D3963 (which was reblown a while back with legomanbiffo's sound project), and the missing handrail will be replaced with a piece of wire and fine handrail knob in due course.

I have ordered a Zimo sound decoder (21 pin) with Paul Chetter's sounds on for the 08 as I have rather fancied his version of the 08 sounds with the lovely exhaust rasp. I also want a BR blue 08/09 but all of mine are so far have been either green or in post-privatisation liveries, so here was an excuse to do a repaint as well. The yellow wasp stripe ends were already applied and this one had yellow buffer beams so I don't have to do anything to the ends of the loco at all.

The ESU sound decoder from the 08 will be reblown and fitted into something else - I have a few suitable candidates.

Here are a couple of pics of the 08 after a first coat of BR blue. It requires a second coat before numbering in pre-TOPS style, followed by a good dose of weathering. I will, of course, repaint the handrails after the next coat of blue. I have yet to decide which number this locomotive is to become.