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Oooh Beattie, You're a Right Beauty!


Chris Nevard

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111112_beattieWT_IMG_1897_WEB.jpg

 

 

Earlier today a much awaited Beattie Well Tank commissioned by Kernow Model Rail from Dapol was handed to me by the postman. This is the main reason for my current 'micro' taking the name of Polbrock, it being built to justify this delightful purchase which rarely ventured outside Cornwall.

 

This isn't a review, that's been well and truly covered in the popular press and on various railway forums, so this more of a punter's appraisal, and the first thing to make an impression was just how great the packaging is, a proper foam inlaid box complete with a ribbon inside! I normally chuck the packaging, but won't be doing so in this case. The little loco is tiny indeed, after seeing close-up photographs in the various reviews for some reason I thought it a little bigger, but of course the real thing was only pint sized, it spending most of its life on the lightly laid Wadebridge to Wenford Bridge line pottering about mostly with mixed goods and china clay wagons.

 

Looking at the photo above which I've lit to highlight the fine detail, shows that this is really no toy with a plethora of separate mouldings all factory applied, leaving just some vacuum pipes and route disks for the owner to place should he or she so desire. In my case I'll add these along with some working screw couplings topped off with a little weathering and probably some replacement real coal.

 

This loco as already mentioned is a special commission by Kernow Model Rail, and from what I can gather as with Model Rail's recent Sentinel also commissioned from Dapol selling really well. I do hope though that the majority of purchasers are modellers who intend to run these locos and not funny collectors who will simply keep them in boxes under their beds away from Mother who will almost certainly disapprove of their flamboyant purchase.

  • If you'd like to see a few more snaps of 30587 like the shot above, follow this link HERE.

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  • RMweb Gold

I would add a etched smokebox numberplate and shedcode as well. As I've added the etched smokebox numberplate to my 30585 and it brings the little engine alive. :)

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I got the 'square Beattie' as a surprise birthday present from the in-laws, and it really is delightful. My shunting layout will be getting run in steam guise at some point soon I think!

 

My only gripe are the vac pipes which are both modelled as 'hanging' from the upright, but they don't look totally natural, and I don't want to bend them too much for fear of breaking them!

 

Now, where did I leave my clay hoods?!

 

J

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I guess the vacuum pipes could be replaced with something better. Bad news (or good if you don't have any), clays hoods didn't come in until well after steam.

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Thinking about it, if you (before fixing to the loco) warm up the pipes under some piping hot water and you should be able to coax them into a more natural pose. I won't take the blame if they break though!

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  • RMweb Gold

Who does those then?

 

 

Fox Transfers do the smokebox numberplates for both 30585 and 30387

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  • RMweb Premium

and so do 247 Developments, along with the smokebox shed plates. Parkside do the ex GW diag 013 clay wagon, the precursor for the BR diag 1/051 (Ratio), which was later converted into the clayhood. Cambridge Custom Transfers do a sheet for the 1/051s.

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Oh dear, I'm worried that adorable diminutive tank engines might be the thing which tip me over the edge into UK steam modelling. A deep rabbit hole which I've resisted for so very long.

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