Some of you may know that the GWR 78xx Manor Class is one of my favourite engine designs.

 

Perhaps this comes from the Mainline model of the 1980's and seeing 7808 Cookham Manor at Didcot as a teenager.

 

Believe it or not I never owned a Mainline version. Just the reblown Bachmann version with updated chassis. 

 

I remember trying to detail and renumber these as well as putting a correct profile chimney on them. Infact gwrrob of this parish and ANTB fame may have my version of 7807 Compton Manor on shed still.

 

Over the past few years Dapol announced their new version of the Manor and I was ready to pre-order one when Accurascale announced their version. I went with the new boys and ordered one of their's which promises to be something really special.

 

However, the recent release of the Dapol version got me interested again. A lot of comnents were made about inaccuracies in the firebox shape. It began to feel as if Dapol had misfired and Accurascale are waiting in the wings to clean up.

 

Being one for supporting the underdog I thought I would bite the bullet and see what the Dapol model was really like. I duly ordered 7827 Lydham Manor from Kernow Model Railway Centre and it arrived safely. Excellent service as ever from the Cambourne team.

 

 

The packaging and presentation of the model is excellently done. On examining the model you can see Dapol have made an excellent job of portraying the prototype.

 

To me there is a familiarity about the Manor design perhaps from detailing Bachmann models and having a fair few books with pictures of the Class as reference.

 

The list of things that stood out for me as needing attention were identified as the following:

 

1. The 'blingtastic' safety valve cover.

2. The under nourished smokebox numberplate.

3. The green paintwork looked a bit flat in my eyes.

4. Those tyre rims on the wheels.

5. Black plastic crosshead.

 

Within minutes of opened the box I was armed with a black Sharpie permanent marker and inked in the wheels. The valve gear including crosshead was treated to a coating of silver from the same stable.

 

This was the end of play on the first day.

 

 

So essentially some attention with a couple of Sharpie pens addresses some of the issues.

 

On my next decent modelling session I blackened the buffers with Birchwood Casey Gun Blue have burnished them first with fine wet and dry.

 

 

The paintwork was nicely lifted with two coats of Johnson's Kleer floor polish. 

 

 

The 'blingtastic' safety valve cover was toned down with brush applied Valejo mat varnish. Two coats in this instance. Then using Valejo Old Wood beige coloured paint 2 coats once more gave a base layer. After this I made a blend of Games Workshop metallic colours (Names to be added as away and pots not to hand). 

 

 

The copper cap capped chimney and smokebox were masked off with Tamiya tape as was the cab roof. Using Tamiya Flat Black I sprayed these in along with the running plate and black areas of the tender.

 

 

Although the Dapol model comes with separate cabside numberplates to fit over the printed versions I fancied trying the 3D printed ones produced by Railtec. Steve supplied some excellent 3D printed numberplates, shed code plate and smoke box numberplate.

 

 

Wonderful service and a brilliant product. Easily fixed into position with a dab of Kleer. Well recommended.

 

In my eyes they also address in my eyes the issue of the under nourished smokebox numberplate. It also adds a bit more interest to the front in my eyes.

 

 

The nameplate is the factory fitted Dapol version by the way. 

 

With regards to the tender I filed down the distal side of the coal load insert. This was to help with adding a real coal load. Glued in I then coated the insert with PVA and added real crushed coal and allowed to dry. 

 

 

A spare set of Bachmann fire irons finish the tender detailing.

 

 

I should have mentioned the detail in the cab. Its exquisite only lacking the fold down seats. I like the ATC bell housing.

 

 

 

Essentially in my eyes the remedial work has been completed and addresses the issues I highlighted earlier. As it stands it would be for many a good point to leave the project and have an excellent model of a Manor. 

 

 

What I do plan to do to finish things off is fit a Modelu crew and their GWR/BR (WR) lamps. Finally it will receive a light in service weathering then 7827 is ready for service. 

 

I am quiet tempted to give the model the Royal Train embellishments of white paint as well it received in the early 1960's along with other members of the class.

 

I'll let you make your own mind up on the Dapol Manor but overall I am very impressed all round with it. Final thoughts on the next instalment.

 

 

7827 Lydham Manor running light at Talledega in 1963. Captured by Jonty Jarvis 

 

More soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark 😉

 

Apologies for typos and poor grammar...To be corrected...