Great Eastern

Yes thanks, I have examples of all the ones that Dublo released. The ones in the Deltic colours were released in July 62, the real ones entered service from Feb 61. GE

Hi Terry D1471, Thanks for the reply, yes you're quite right about the differential between King and Castle as well as the points about the inaccuracies of the Dublo chassis (I made it circa 29+29). Also the driving wheels aren't quite the right size either. Plans I've got of the King show 8ft + 8ft 3", however, it may be that these plans aren't quite right, but whatever, your comments and conclusions are still correct. I'm afraid I don't know the exact reason why Dublo did their Castle as they did, like you I'd noticed these things but put it down to costs and ease of production / the general accuracy of models of the times. GE

Hi CJI, Certainly some Dublo colours were good, however some were clearly incorrect, eg the Deltics had white around the windows not Dublo's light grey. Modern repaints of 20's in green (eg NRM) / quality colour pics from the time (eg Colour Rail) / modern RTR locos / my memory of the roof colour, don't have quite such a green tinge to the roof as the Dublo one. Is there a Railmatch / et al, colour that more accurately corresponds to the 20's roof colour that you could suggest please ? GE

Hi Wolseley, Yes you're right, I've noticed that greenish tinge, like you I thought it was probably age / paint variations, but also I suspect that an interaction with the metal may have some affect too. Also some Dublo colours were a bit inaccurate. Here's one of the tatty 20's I used above; the roof colour is much too green of course. Interesting to note the Tamiya colour, as you say pretty close. GE

Couple of pictures of one of my Dublo Class 20's I mentioned earlier. This was the first one I did (a few years ago now) with yellow panels and a full grey roof ; rather than with a green cab roof. The donor was a bit tatty with a few damaged bits. This was mainly done with Railmatch aerosols, but window frames were with a silver paintpen ; I think this must have been about the first time I'd used one on a loco and since then I've continued to use it on all my loco repaints. As long as they're an oil based paint they do seem pretty good, the acrylic paintpens don't seem to produce such a durable surface however (understandably), so I'm careful where I use them. GE EDIT Thanks for the likes guys, much appreciated. I won't bore you with too many variations, but here's another one I did with full yellow ends. Also I filled in the ghastly screw hole in the top and put a nut in there. The screw now goes in from up underneath; it should be noted however that this has to be shorter than the normal screw, otherwise it'll simply shove the filler out of the top of the roof. I found it easier to test the screw length after I'd stuck the nut in, but before I put the filler in. In retrospect I think that in future I might just cut a disc of plasticard, paint it grey and curve to fit the roof profile and attach it with a tiny bit of Blutac, it would be easier, plus it would use the standard screw. GE

Hi Wolseley, I know EXACTLY what you mean !!!!!!! I started by doing a Dublo Class 20 with a yellow panel, then before I knew it I'd done every permutation of green cab roof / grey cab roof / with and without yellow panels then full yellow ends.................. then there's the carriage roundel ones instead of BR red lion logo............. GE

Here's a couple of pics of the problem, showing my more recent Margate King body compared to a Dublo Bristol Castle, ie with 1/2 inch inline motor. The longer King wheelbase inevitably requires longer coupling rods, repositioning of the cylinders etc, as I mentioned earlier the easiest solution is to use Margate wheels / rods, but then it's not very Dublo. Also there is another issue, I can't fit the body onto the chassis straight away as the motor extends into the cab, so the backhead would have to be cut away (like the Dublo Castles). With a new chassis the motor could conceivably be moved forward to drive the front axle, but then would be more visisble under the boiler as the Dublo motor assembly is so long. Also the steps and various bits under the cab need to be cut away as the Dublo chassis already has steps (or vice versa). I've not tried a Lima body (simply as I don't happen to have one), but it's a good idea, it may be that the dimensions have been fudged a bit and it might be possible to do something a bit different. GE

Hi Wolseley, Excellent work sir ! Nice combination of parts in your streamliners, they work well together, especially interested to see that you've used Triang and modern Hornby bodies; equally effective with both. GE

Hi Il Grifone, Yes, I know what you mean about the Farish one, I looked at that myself, but it is a bit odd as you say. I've got a few bits together, Margate body and bogie, half inch Dublo motor and Dublo Castle tender. I was thinking maybe making up my own chassis. If I used Castle wheels and valve gear I wasn't sure which coupling rods to use, as of course the wheelbase of the King is longer. Alternatively I'd considered using a Margate wheelset and complete valvegear, but then of course it's getting further away from being Dublo. Hi SR71, Like your work, well done ! GE

Hi all, Has anybody had a go at doing a Dublo neverwazza King ?? I've seen one or two Castles with a King bogie, but I wondered if anyone has done one using a King body ? If so which chassis / wheels / motor etc ?? GE

Hi Simon, Extremely useful, especially the cab information, thanks again, very much appreciated. GE

Hi RedgateModels, Thanks for that, mine only came with the exploded view. Yes, odd about the blue, and red horns !!! GE

Does anyone know if Humbrol / Kitmaster / anybody recommended any particular paints for the roof or underframe greys or the lining cream ? I seem to remember the Humbrol Deltic blue wasn't available for that long. I notice RedgateModels yours have the camouflage tins !! Normally these were for Miltary sets. Was there a Deltic set ? GE

Hi slilley, Many thanks for the information, very good. As this is the colourscheme of preservation, I'm still not entirely sure how different the greys of roof and underframe were from each other nor between repaints ? The roof colour description is particularly interesting. Do you have any further information ? For example any specification numbers for the roof or underframe greys ? Thanks, GE

Hi Barclay, Great, many thanks, I'm not going mad then, it does exist !!! I've got the Brian Webb book, but although mine is a first edition, 1982, it's a second impression. Now that should mean it's the same edition, ie not any different, just a reprint. If anybody has got a first impression maybe they could check please. There is one problem with this book, the pic I saw was in an old book, ie old in the mid 80's, so I think it was probably a 60's book. I've seen his EE book and it's not in there. I shall keep looking !!!!!!!!! Thanks again, GE Hi All, On the subject of 'Brians' I'm trying to track down Brian Waite who built the 5 inch gauge DP1. Anyone know if he's on RMweb ???