HORNBY 'BLACK FIVE'

 End-of-steam flavour for latest loco project.

This August marks the 50th anniversary of the end of steam on British Railways and, to commemorate this event, Model Rail magazine will be running a Masterclass feature on the iconic LMS 'Black Five' 4-6-0 - a pre-war design that lasted right until the final day of mainline steam.

It's been a while since I last tackled a heavy detailing project on a steam locomotive - in fact I can't remember off the top of my head what/when the last one was... a War Department 8F?? It's even longer since I last worked on a Hornby 'Black 5'. Ten years, in fact, since reproducing 45110 for the 40th anniversary of steam's demise!

Anyway, with another Hornby model in hand, I decided on a slightly different approach to my last foray into LMS Class 5s. Back in 2008 I employed the excellent Brassmasters detailing kit, designed especially for the Hornby model. However, to avoid going over the same ground again, I've been employing a number of Comet Models bits and pieces, plus a good dose of old-fashioned scratch-building, just to make it a bit more fun.

Detailing parts from Comet, new bogie wheels from Alan Gibson and transfers from Fox have been stockpiled for this project.