Background

7250 started off as a Great Western liveried example from the last batch of Hornby 72xx (after they changed the chassis design to use brass bearings & added a separate smokebox door dart.) The printed Great Western logos were carefully removed using the Microsol method, although they did put up something of a fight.  New replacement transfers were added from HMRS along with a set of Narrow Planet etched cabside plates.   The Brassmasters bunker fender etch was added to the rear (painted green).  While the black areas were all painted with a grey-black mix of Vallejo paints, before spraying the loco with Dullcote in order to do something about the tepid Hornby green.  With that complete the body was given a light weathering with Tamiya powders to finish off.  Once dry the bunker was loaded with real coal, having previously cut down the Hornby coal load so that it would fit at about half height.

The chassis had a further going over with Brassmasters detailing kit, gaining new sandbox mounting plates, frame extensions, lower reverser leaver and more accurate brake linkages.  I have not fitted the rear bufferbeam mounting bracket because it would obstruct the rear pony truck and is almost totally obscured by the rear step. 

This loco is connected to a Lenz 1025 decoder via the 8pin plug, which just fitted into the boiler.  

Outstanding Work

Still a little more final finishing is required, as the model is in need of front steps, Dingham couplings, lamps and a crew.  Unlike 4292 7250 is a lot more difficult to remove the cab roof in order to access the interior.

Planed Usage

The loco has two planned uses on the layout, there have been many mentions that Newton had an allocation of two 72xx during the period to use as assistance engines on the Devon banks.  So one use is to have the engine either running light on the down line into the station before returning to Totness on the up line.  They were clearly also used on some freight services, as there is a 1947 photo of 7250 on the Colour Rail website showing it on the front of a Plymouth bound freight.