RichardLong

I ordered Calbourne and Ventnor about four years ago and this evening the shop phoned me (I hadn't been chasing them) at about 7.45 in the evening to get my up-to-date card number. I'd say that was pretty impressive customer service in the circumstances! They said both locos would be despatched to me in the next couple of days - feeling pretty excited now

If it's any consolation, I'm in the same situation as you. Ordered Calbourne four years ago, not heard anything yet and my order is still showing as 'pending'. Guess we just need to be patient and trust that it'll turn up eventually. I've waited this long, I really don't mind if it takes another couple of weeks

I don't know about the mainland examples but the IOW O2s apparently had cab doors fitted in the early 30s, around the same time that the bunkers were extended.

As well as Upstairs Downstairs it's also worth keeping an eye on http://www.wessexwagons.co.uk for RTR Isle of Wight liveried wagons. They usually do one or two IOW vehicles every year although they've only ever done one in a BR-era livery as far as I know (so mostly not appropriate for running with Kernow's IOW O2s). Like the Upstairs Downstairs wagons they're just regular Dapol vehicles in special edition liveries so probably not right for rivet counters, but I like them

Just found that one myself - completely disapproves my theory that they didn't appear till the 1960s Other early sighting is a photo in Bradley's 'Locomotive History of Railways on the Isle of Wight'. It shows W36 at Eastleigh works in 1949, immediately prior to shipping to the Isle of Wight. Enlarged bunker has already been fitted and Island number applied, livery is lined black with crest and nameplate yet to be applied - and the steel plate is clearly visible on the tank side. Which if nothing else shows that it wasn't just Ryde Works that was fitting the plates.

Looking again at the photos I've been leant, I can tell you that on 29 August 1963 Calbourne was running with the steel plate clearly visible on the left-hand tank but, apparently, no plate visible on the right-hand tank. Whereas by August 1965 (by which time she's in unlined black livery) she has visible steel plates on both tanks. Several other 02s were also running with plates on at least one side by August 1963. This is pure guesswork but maybe the steel plates only started appearing in the 60s - in which case the forthcoming model (with the early BR crest) possibly *only* depicts Calbourne as she is today. (Not that that's necessarily a bad thing).

Just looked at some photos I've been loaned. It certainly looks like at least W14, 30 & 31 had all acquired steel plates on the tanks by the end.

As I try and restrict myself to only ever buying models with an Isle of Wight connection this used to be quite a cheap hobby for me. Not so these days! Firstly there's all the goodies I've got on pre-order with Kernow and now it looks like I won't be able to resist adding 'Royal Engineer' to my collection... Out of curiosity, does anyone know when the army re-numbered Royal Engineer? The model is (quite correctly, I'm sure) numbered 98 but I think she's been 198 ever since she arrived at Havenstreet.