Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
A class of eleven locomotives, designed by G J Churchward and based on experiences gained with a larger prototype 2-6-2T, appeared in the mid 1900s. They were among the last locos to be built at the Great Western Railway's Wolverhampton works, and spent almost their entire lives in the deepest West Country.
Although supplanted fairly quickly with locos of the same size but slightly larger driving wheels, these little locos followed their later brethren with the programme of upgrades and improvements, and renumbering, that would see them last well into the mid-20th century.
For the full, warts and all, build thread, clickety linky thingy.
When I first accepted this commission, it seemed straightforward enough: build a small prairie from the Malcolm Mitchell kit to S7 standards. However, it soon became apparent that the original kit, while it provided parts to build the earliest versions of the class, wouldn't actually let me build it straight from the box. This is no reflection on Mr Mitchell. I believe his intention was to provide a kit that most builders would use to create the second generation small prairies, with all the modifications made to the class over the years.
In the end, after agreeing with the client that there would be some inevitable compromises, work entailed creating a new smokebox and boiler front ring, removing a ton of etched detail from the front decks, a new cab roof, adjustments to the brake rigging and some, I have to admit, downright bodgery to get the pony trucks anywhere near right.
I have to say, though, with the freely given help of Graham B (@Dog Star) and Les Golledge (@Les Golledge), I believe I have ended up with something that looks like an early small-wheeled Small Prairie, and it pleases me to see it.
Credits go to Laurie Griffin Miniatures, Slater's, Warren Shepherd, PR Components, CPL, Narrow Planet, and sundry others, for various upgrade and detail parts, and to Warren Haywood for the paintwork.
Although supplanted fairly quickly with locos of the same size but slightly larger driving wheels, these little locos followed their later brethren with the programme of upgrades and improvements, and renumbering, that would see them last well into the mid-20th century.
For the full, warts and all, build thread, clickety linky thingy.
When I first accepted this commission, it seemed straightforward enough: build a small prairie from the Malcolm Mitchell kit to S7 standards. However, it soon became apparent that the original kit, while it provided parts to build the earliest versions of the class, wouldn't actually let me build it straight from the box. This is no reflection on Mr Mitchell. I believe his intention was to provide a kit that most builders would use to create the second generation small prairies, with all the modifications made to the class over the years.
In the end, after agreeing with the client that there would be some inevitable compromises, work entailed creating a new smokebox and boiler front ring, removing a ton of etched detail from the front decks, a new cab roof, adjustments to the brake rigging and some, I have to admit, downright bodgery to get the pony trucks anywhere near right.
I have to say, though, with the freely given help of Graham B (@Dog Star) and Les Golledge (@Les Golledge), I believe I have ended up with something that looks like an early small-wheeled Small Prairie, and it pleases me to see it.
Credits go to Laurie Griffin Miniatures, Slater's, Warren Shepherd, PR Components, CPL, Narrow Planet, and sundry others, for various upgrade and detail parts, and to Warren Haywood for the paintwork.
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