At last! Someone who puts soot on the top of a boiler - just where the cleaners didn't go

Well done looking good. One observation if you don't mind, with the dirt on the tender frame sides, I think there would be more above the springs (just where the airbrush doesn't get to!)

Well done!

Cheers Tony

Thanks Tony! Yes, it's a pet hate of mine too with lack of soot up top. Plenty of photos to help though! I'll revisit the tender frames now I've found a reasonable colour shot of the same ones at last.

Beautiful work Tim.

Thanks Jamie. There's something I can't put my finger on when it comes to Stanier's finest locomotive design....... Thinking about it, I wonder what a Brit or DoG would look like if painted like this?

*stands back with can opener*

GREAT SCOTT, I've finally achieved time travel!!

I'm all for a bit of boiler soot, too… makes a massive difference, Tim. I've never really been a big fan of these locos, I don't really know why as this looks fabulous! I'll be adding one to my wants list.

Hi Tim,

Looks fabulous - well done and thanks for sharing the pictures!

I've built one using the Comet conversion myself, and I was very impressed with how it went together. I had a few bits of adjustment to do on the trailing truck and clearance of the frame extensions, but otherwise it was good. I added one or two other things as well - scratchbuilt the reverser which, oddly, wasn't included; used a Comet front bogie and Gibson wheels; built the whole Comet tender (as I had no confidence that I would not butcher the Hornby frames in trying to use them!), added some more pipework as per the prototype. Did you use the Comet deflectors?

However, I WISH I'd seen yours before I painted mine. I read about the problems matching BR Loco red colours, and asked a few more experienced modellers. I was advised to use Railmatch LMS Crimson Lake. It's nothing like as good as yours, too dark and purple to be honest, and I feel the need to build another one now! I also used the Fox cabside numbers which seem a bit too small with insufficient spacing. I echo your comments about the lining!

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Iain

Hello Iain,

Thanks for your kind comments. I did the same as you did with the reverser, though I've still got a lot of pipework under the running plate to finish off on the driver's side, which is why the side shown above was done first for the shoot (deadlines maketh the man). I've got a Comet bogie to finish for this one as I'm borrowing a bogie from another Duchess. When I *eventually* regauge this one to EM, it'll gain a host of Gibson wheels. Strange how there isn't a 3'8" 12 spoke bevel rim wheel in the range though . I've kept the original deflectors for the time being, though I would like to mount them at the correct distance from the smokebox. They're a bit on the close side when viewed head-on.

Paint-wise, it was a bit of luck that I happened on the "right" shade. I've long regarded the Railmatch shade as being far too dark for the purpose it was meant for, so I thought "I wonder if it'll do BR loco red....". In bright sunlight, it is indeed VERY red, not least under halogen light. Perhaps we're all too used to seeing it darker when in fact it is like this? The correct shade (or so I'm told) is something bordering on Cherry Red, which seems about right. It gets dulled down anyway when cleaned with oily rags, which is probably where that urban myth comes from..... Best book I can recommend for how bright the colour can be is Stanier Pacifics by Derek Huntriss. The view of 46238 on Camden turntable is a good example.

Cheers!

Tim

Can't believe I haven't commented already. What a top class job that gets better the more I look at it. Wasn't sure at first, but I'm pretty convinced about the red now!