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3449 Nightingale - GWR Green

The Fatadder

Entry posted by The Fatadder in Mixed Traffic

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Background

Bulldogs & Birds were a common sight in South Devon in the 1940s up until the Manors were allocated to the Devon sheds in the early 50s.  This model came as a total basket case via Facebook for a bargain price last year, it was lacking in detail and crudely painted in pseudo 1900s livery with red frames (but post war G W R on the tender.)  My initial logic was that it was a K's kit and its boiler could be used on my Dukedog to backdate to a Bulldog.   But upon stripping off the thick paint I found a very well made brass body, which appears from the construction to have been scratch built.  Cue a complete change of plan, adding lots of new detail castings (and lots of Archers rivet transfers) to try and bring the high quality underpinnings up to modern standards.  The one area that was a complete lost cause was the bogie, however I have a Bachmann City of Turo in the display cabinet which came with a spare bogie.  This was stripped down and repainted black, with modifications to enable it to be bolted to the Bird's chassis. The respray wasnt my finest work with a couple of areas still requiring a touch up.  It is fitted with etched name / number plates of unknown origin, and naturally has real coal in the tender.

 

Remaining Work

Other than the lack of a motor, it still needs a crew, couplings (Dingham rear & screw front) along with some repairs to damaged paint.  In the process of taking the photo this evening I managed to drop the tender while moving the photo plank into better light.  Net result a step needs reattaching, and another needs straightening.  Finally it will need some weathering 

 

Usage

Given that the loco is unpowered it actually makes things a little easier for its primary purpose on the layout as an assistance engine on the down expresses.  Eventually the chassis could be rebuilt to take a modern motor / gearbox combination, which would enable it to power a local goods service or a local passenger as Laira / Newton Bulldog's were often found.   Of course Nightingale was not a local engine (although I believe it had spent a spell in the south west earlier in its life).  The loco came with the plates and I dont fancy replacing them.

 

 

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Edited by The Fatadder

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Devo63

Very nice model. I've got a bit of a soft spot for the small wheeled, outside framed 4-4-0's and have a collection of 5 Bulldogs (one curved frame), 2 Dukes amd 1 Earl either currently running, under repair or still to be built. 

One of my Bulldogs (3345 Smeaton) is of a similar construction to your model. It is made from brass and nickel silver and came with a non working 7 pole motor (Romford Terrier?) which I am replacing with a modern Japanese version. When I bought it a few years ago I also thought I was getting a Keyser model but found that when I opened the box it was quite different. The outside frames are totally devoid of any rivet detail and the boiler bands are a bit heavy. The tender is similar to your model with a smooth sided finish but does appear to be slightly too wide. All the loco and tender frames were painted red but had the Garter type Great Western branding on the side.

 

Dave R.      

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