Although most of my recent heavy duty modelling has been directed at building my S&D layout, I've still got far too many other projects on the boil, much of which revolve around my long-term interest in the GWR/WR. Here's the latest thing off the workbench, which (like my 9F) appeared on the old forum in an unfinished state. Just in time to be made completely redundant by the new Hornby model, here's a detailed and re-powered old-style Castle, numbered for 7011 Banbury Castle. It has a Comet chassis with DJH gearbox. I modified the inside piston casing to represent the correct style for 7011, reworked the cab roof profile, and added/replaced a few bits and bobs. The Dapol style Hawksworth tender has an incorrect wheel spacing but I can live with it. While it runs very well, I probably should have picked a speedier motor/gearbox combo for an express passenger engine, as even flat out it's not doing anything like a scale ton. Hence, I've allocated it to parcels/fish traffic rather than express passenger workings. You live and learn...

The lining on the Hornby model is neat but heavy, but rather than repaint it I opted to tone it down with some weathering.