Jerry Rugby

The livery and condition is correct for the first year. Blue Peter was outshopped in apple green numbered 60532. The GBL model is also correct with the paired number on the front buffer beam. 60532 was painted BR green in Sept 1949 when it was fitted with a double chimney and multiple valve regulator. Interesting that GBL have picked this livery and it is historically correct when there were so many options to get this wrong! I don' t know if Bachmann produced a version on 60532 in this livery and with a single chimney. I like the idea of using the boiler to build an A2/2 perhaps using a V2 cab.

Interestingly I think this is the first time in the series that the model is not as shown on the cover. The A2 copy to me seems to be a good one with the rivet detail well reproduced. The Bachmann model is much better than the Trix version. Stricktly speaking it is incorrect for Blue Peter as the model is a single chimney version whereas 60532 was built with a double chimney. Must get another couple of these for conversions.

I agree. Unfortunately GBL have chosen to copy the earliest of Triang (Hornby) Britannia models. This was a loco drive model. The model was a poor representation with a wrongly shaped cab and an unconvincing boiler and front. It dates from the 1950s. They seem to have copied the early valve gear which lacked the piston links and the early chassis and tender. The 2nd Hornby model was better and was tender drive and the 3rd (current) version is very good. A pity that GBL have chosen this base model. I don't think there is much that can be done with it. Probably offer for swaps or sale.

It is copied from the Mainlne / Bachmann version. The Airfix model did have the long front number moulding but the body was quite different with larger (too large) splashes and a better represenetation of the buffer beam. The copy is not bad but the original Mainline model had a number of inaccuracies. The long front number was there to represent "the Royal Scot" plate carried only the unrebuilt 6100 when touring the USA. It was not in fact carried by the rebuilt 46100. On the mainline model copied by GBL, the cab is too high above the firebox which makes the overall profile look a bit wrong. On the GBL model it seems to me the smokebox door is again a bit too thick the lining on the cab is set too far in from the edge and the numbers are too small. Cab window glass is also missing. To me the shade of green is also too light. Overall this is not a bad copy given the source and the faults on the GBL version are mostly minor. Bachmann split chassis for this model are often available and were the same for the Jubilee and Rebuilt Patriot although wheels were different. A pity they did not copy the current Hornby Version as this is much more accurate but still for 8.99 it give a cheap and reasonable Scot which could be upgraded and improved. Having got a Hornby Scot and and Airfix one upgraded on a modified chassis I'm not sure I need another but it could be a static stored loco in the shed.

Great Eastern 0-6-0 chassis seemed to have a different chassis and wheel spacing which was not followed by most other railways so finding a chassis for a GE loco would be difficult. The old Triangle B12, still produced and will be copied by GBL dates from 1959. Good in it's day but rather inaccurate. The body is too short, the boiler too small and the chimney is too tall. However the model is quite attractive and I am think whether it would be quite simple to convert to a B12 /1 or B12/2 or even a GER 1500. Need to make a decorative slasher and a belpair firebox but could be a possibility. The old Triangle/Hornby GE tender was quite good.

It is the old Mainline model later produced by Bachmann for a time. You can tell by the shallow front buffer beam, height of the cab, shape of the dome and the front steps. The old Airfix model was better than the mainline in some respects especially the buffer beam but the slashers were too large on the Airfix model. The best Scot is clearly the modern Hornby version but that was a bit too much to expect. The mainline one is not a bad substitute and it will be interesting to get a closer look when it comes out. From the low resolution picture it looks as if the running plate sandbox is missing and the cab numbers are too small. However it is a god basis and old Bachmann split chassis can still be obtained through eBay on occasions. The chassis used was the same for the Jubilee and Rebuilt Patriot but with different wheels. JerryRugby

No sign yet on the GBL website of what is to follow the Standard Class 4 . The next model is usually posted on the website on the Friday of the week in which a magazine is in the shops. Are we reaching the end, is it time to get concerned? Still a few listed models not yet issued such as J39, N, Royal Scot and Britannia. Hope they are just bit slow but we shall see.

It is good to see the GBL series continuing. Announcements seem to be getting ahead of the releases! For future releases my personal preferences would be for an unstea lined Duchess and a Stanier 8F. These could be reasonably simple for GBL as they could use the chassis from the streamlined Coronation with modified cylinders and the class 5 tender for an 8 F. They could even use a princess tender for a Duchess although this would not be strictly accurate. I realise the market is not for modellers but they are useful for projects. I don't suppose there is much chance of my wish list being matched but we can but hope - once they get past the models already announced.

Thanks, I'll have to go back and measure against the original Hornby model and the GBL. And also against drawings. The rivets should be at the edge of the S/B as they are there to attach the end ring. It may be that some types of class 5 boilers were longer than others, there were certainly differences in firebox lengths. I think the only way to really overcome this is to file down the outer edge of the smoke box ring so it fits inside the smokebox, however this might be difficult to do neatly as it is a circle. Possible need careful use of filler. Anyone tried anything other than filing the back thinner?

On both the GBL LMS class 5 and the princess and possibly the standard 4 mt tank, the smoke box door ring is stuck on the end of the boiler and sticks out more than on the original model. I know this was mentioned in earlier threads about the class 5. In fact the smoke box front needs to fit inside the boiler rather than in front. Has anyone yet solved this problem and found a way of making a correct fit for the boiler front? The outer ring could be filed down but this might be difficult to do easily and neatly. Any advice would be helpful. Jerry

The chassis is GBL's version of the current Hornby Priness. You can tell by the motion bracket and cylinders. The streamlined Duchess GBL chassis has a different trailing axle and frames and the wheel spacing is different. The model is copied from the current Hornby model and looks from the low res. picture to be a reasonable copy. I don't think there is anything wrong with the chassis other than it looks to sit too high which is probably easy to correct. Duchess and Princess chassis were very different particularly the frames at the rear.

This looks to be a reasonable copy of the current Hornby version. You can tell be the cab roof, trailing frames and valve gear. The second Hornby model (the tender drive version) had a domeless boiler and a less accurate body. The picture is low resolution but it suggests 46203 in maroon as preserved (it was only ever green in BR days). The Hornby model version copied is reasonably accurate but was the first of the detailed china models so is a bit dated for today. It is let down but the split rear frames which were necessary for tight curves. I have modfied a number of mine by altering and adding full frames and altering the pony truck . This makes a big difference to the appearance. The GBL model seems to follow the Hornby Model but seem to set a bit high on the frames and the driving wheels don't seem to line up with the slashers. The cab roof should be in line with the tender coping top. Probably easily rectified. The bottom of the cab would then be in line with the tender. Could be useful for static models especially if modelling 1961/2 when a number of the class were stored at various sheds for a time. A pity they have chosen maroon as only 4 Priness Royals were red, nos 46200/04/07/08. The rest were green. Should be welcome for conversions and looks a reasonable copy. Pity the T9 has not appeared yet but the GBL models are well out of order. Seems to disprove the suggestion that only old out of production models would be copied in future. it will be interesting to see what comes next. A reasonably accurate cheap model suitable as a base for altering and conversion. Not bad for £8.99 - can't go far wrong. A couple more static but enhanced Princess Royals will join my stable.