I thought in light of this thread you may care to see these. 7mm in crimson and cream, which I think may well make these some of the rarer Exleys around.
I acquired them from now sadly departed good friend as a rake of 4, it included an LMS liveried restaurant car which I didn't really want to keep so I exchanged it with a local O gauge group for the Wayoh bogies and fine scale wheels. They originally had some pretty grim cast bogies, possibly original, possibly Leeds, and coarse scale wheels.
As models they are obviously generic LMS, and of them the middle one, a TK numbered M2321 is actually pretty good. The real thing being built at Derby in 46-47. The top one is obviously the exact same model with the addition of first class designation on the doors and a number M3377, which is really two fudges too many. The pre war FKs' were 5 full and one coupe compartment, the post war 6 compartment with added doors on the corridor side which makes the model completely wrong. Nor can I find any evidence that the LMS ever had a coach, of any description, numbered 3377.
The BTK whilst lacking the guards lookouts is a reasonable interpretation of a dia 1968 vehicle, built primarily at Derby with one lot at Wolverton between 1937 and 1946. I feel however that the guards door should be nearer the end. The LMS built over 500 of these so they would have been common. The number is a complete fiction, it having been carried by a 60' BCK of period 2 design. The first lot of 1968 vehicles were numbered 5957 - 6020, the remainder 26100 - 26545, with the the very odd quirk that 26190 wasn't used.
Dimensionally they are accurate and the finish is typical Exley high quality. One has to acknowledge their shortcomings but also recognise that even today achieving a similar quality is not for the faint hearted, or me. It's likely more than 50 years ago I first saw Exley coaches and of course wanted some, way beyond my fathers disposable model railway budget, and these three are probably the only ones I will own but a boyhood dream has been fulfilled and they serve as a timely reminder of a very good friend. Can't ask for more really. I hope my Sunday afternoon ramblings may be of some interest.
Regards
Martin