Well, the Hornby Railroad D49 model I had ordered arrived, but the first of January was the first day I had to get a look at it. The model was taken out of its box, and promptly taken apart for the first stage of its transformation into a Thompson D Class 4-4-0, The Morpeth.

The driving wheels were removed by carefully taking off the chassis plate, and uncoupling the tender from the chassis by removing a screw. The front driving wheels had their crank pins removed in favour of a different set, allowing an inside cylindered 4-4-0 as opposed an outside cylindered one. The driving wheels were then replaced, and the keeper plate screwed back on.

The result: as below, a working inside cylindered 4-4-0 chassis!

I had already started modifying a spare D49 bodyshell before getting the Railroad model, hence the black bodyshell.

I had thought it would be a simple enough switch between the two, however the one and only modification you need to make to the original style bodyshell is to widen the cab in the boiler to match the Railroad one above (although mine has not actually been filed out to the full depth, instead a bit of trial and error has allowed comfortable placement on the chassis).

The cab glazing, safety valves, whistle, dome and smokebox door have all been removed from the Railroad D49 to donate to the D Class bodyshell I had been working on. I hope you'll agree, the model is looking much closer to being a Thompson D Class now!

The only thing I wasn't initially happy with were the traction tyres, but they are surprisingly discreet and haven't shown the problems with traction my 4VEP had shown previously.

So, moving on, earlier today I began adding details to the Thompson D Class, as well as preparing the tender for repainting, and modifying the smokebox door so it is ready for some plasticard bashing into its required form later in the week. Handrail knobs on the cab, piping, steps, lamp iron brackets, and several other details were added to both sides.

The chassis was due to go into the paintshop today but I ran out of time. C'est la vie!

Until next time.