Adrian Knowles

Craig, thank you for your very nice review. A huge amount of work went into this book and it's great to know that people are enjoying it. 

Reviews should start to appear in most of the mainstream UK railway magazines from this month.

Best wishes to all,

Adrian Knowles

Stunning work Adrian.Can you tell us the models provenance please.

Rob,

1450 is a Masterpiece 'Lite' and the trailer is an Orion kit. The loco had to be BR lined green and the trailer maroon, which is the only form they were in when I remember them.

After some paint & dirtimage.jpg

image.jpg

That's a superb rendition of oily, coal-dusted sleepers - the best I've seen!

image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

A pair of locos and a puddle

Lovely BR named train headboards Steve - who makes those?

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

 

I'd forgotten about the 1907 naming! I think all of the early ones that were renumbered into the 2900 series (100, 98, 171-90) must have been finished in the red frame livery when built. Most, if not all, of the Saints would have had black frames, so maybe the ladies are open to question. Do you know of any clear evidence of their as-built condition? Most photos I've seen are after naming or after superheating. Holcroft was there at the time, but it's always possible that he made a mistake. As far as the county tanks are concerned, I think he was referring to the August 1906 builds as one photo of 2221 as built a year earlier does look as though it has red frames.

 

Nick

It would look good with the final version of the red frame livery… Perhaps that's one for an Atlantic in due course.

A quick conversion to B & W and now you really are there....

 

Sometimes when we see models in colour it doesn't compute in our brains as well as a B & W image because most of us have only seen such scenes as B & W photos. So even if the colours are spot on, it isn't what we are used to seeing.

 

Apologies for tinkering with your lovely photo Adrian!

Even nicer in black & white! Thanks for doing that, maybe I'll try it with a few of the others.

Beautiful model, but I'm suprised no one has pointed out that it can't be 1906, unless someone has borrowed those lamps from a railmotor. The GWR used black loco lamps on everything except railmotors until about 1915 when red was adopted for all.

 

If we're going to be really picky, the livery is also open to question. Holcroft says that the first black frames appeared on the county tanks in 1906. Whilst 2221 was built in September 1905, the next ones were built from August 1906 onwards. Lady Disdain was built in May 1906 so may well have had the final form of the red frame livery when first built.

 

Nick

Hi Nick, thanks for pointing that out. It actually can't be 1906 (my mistake) because 2907 wasn't named until 1907! I'm open to persuasion about the lamps, but of course they can be changed. Re the livery, I am told that the 'Lady' series were the first with the black frames, but apparently No. 98 did appear with red frames.

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

 

I was about to grumble that this blog is about models only until I slowly realized that it is one!!!  I'm still not absolutely sure.  Fantastic workmanship.  We definitely need an OMG button for this picture.

Many thanks for the comment - as the real 2907 was scrapped in 1933 this is definitely a model! Much of the effect is due to the superb backdrop of Swindon A shop which was built by John Dornom. The loco itself is one of the superb creations being produced by Masterpiece Models, so all I can really take credit for is the photography.

Adrian

Beautiful engine, shame about the colour (which means I don't 'like' it so I'll click on 'Craftsmanship' instead)

Thanks for your rating Mike, much appreciated. I know a lot of people are not keen on the early BR blue livery for Kings, but if you see the real thing at Didcot you might just change your mind!

As it happens I was looking at it only last Saturday Dave.  It is now located in the McAlpine Museum at Fawley near Henley-On-Thames but you do have to look for it as it's not in a very conspicuous position and you only get to see the exterior.

Hi there,

The model at Fawley is John Dornom's model of the exterior of Laira shed which Bill McAlpine has had for some time. The interior is an entirely separate model which has working steam and lighting effects. Perhaps we should see if we can persuade John to exhibit it again.

Adrian

Lovely to see some photos of The Roundhouse Adrian.  I was pretty gobsmacked when it appeared in MRJ several years ago, but I never got to see the real thing, and I've not heard of it since.  Is it still around?

All the best,

Dave.

Hi Dave,

Sorry with delay on reply - I've been out at Didcot helping to repaint 1466. Yes, as far as I know John Dornom still has the roundhouse, although I believe he was considering selling it about a year ago. His incredible output of stunning models like this means that he quickly runs short of space!

Adrian

the L&B is about the most uninteresting NG prototype there is...

I know everyone's idea of an attractive design is different. Sure, it's a personal thing, but those L&B low-slung Manning Wardle beauties are just gorgeous! I'll have them all!

Quite a well known period in Enterprise's life by now Adrian with several published photos including at least three in colour - not at all a mystery! Anyhoo... it was released from Swindon in maroon / small yellow panels with off white / grey window surrounds, black bufferbeam and it's origianl alloy crests on Thursday 8th October 1964 and carried this variant until called into Works again in the Spring of 1967. It emerged again on Friday 2nd June that year having been repainted into the 'standard' blue livery with full yellow ends, but without it's alloy crests

 

(Also - see the first part of the 'Western Liveries' thread in the link below  )

Many thanks Nidge - I had not been aware of this before as I thought Enterprise went into standard maroon.

I think it would make quite a nice model variant.

Dave - I think Dapol's versions of the alloy crests are the best I have seen. Would it be possible to supply spares in order to create this version of D1000?

Adrian

This very nice photo on Flickr suggests that D1000 was at some stage turned out in MSYP livery but still embellished with its cast alloy lions:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve75c/4229114351/

Does anyone know anything about this?

After all the issues that have been raised on this thread it's great to hear some positive comment in recent posts.

I collected my D1000 from Swindon today and I have to say it's absolutely AMAZING! I am just sitting here, looking at it, and smiling ear to ear. Exceeding every expectation I had, it also works perfectly (not that I have tried to take it apart yet).

So, Dave, a huge feather in your cap, and also a tremendous vote of thanks to everyone on rmweb who contributed to making this model what it is.

Adrian

Attached is a quick photo of 4mm. high (1ft) headcode characters applied to the outside of the headcode glazing of my D1000.

 

HEADCODE APPLIED.JPG

 

Bear in mind that these have NOT been properly settled down with decal softener until I'm fully convinced that they are the right size.

 

That said, they look pretty good to me.

 

What do others think?

 

Regards,

John Isherwood,

Cambridge Custom Transfers.

I think these look excellent. It's not too difficult to make DIY waterslide transfers (unless you see a potential market here John?!). Otherwise try Googling Crafty Computer Paper.

Morning everyone,

 

China have informed me that they can leave the black rubber seal painting off the headcode glazing, but cannot due to the fineness and difficulty paint the black around the aperture of the opening on future models.

 

whats do you all think? Should it be removed or not. Your choice.

cheers

Dave

I'd say leave it as it is and let the individual modeller decide how he wants to deal with it. Having no black line might look a bit odd for those who don't wish to meddle with the finish of their model.

OK, I don't have mine yet - collecting it from Swindon on Friday - but from the photos I think it looks absolutely incredible. Although the headcode panels are important to the appearance of the front of the loco it appears to be a relatively simple fix and one I certainly won't mind doing.

The good news is that when Dave eventually decides to produce the Western in 7mm   all these little tweaks can be taken care of.

Seriously though, thanks Dave and Dapol for a fantastic production. Looking forward to the D6XX!