A4 Golden Plover

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Try modelling the Bullied Pacifics. Different shaped cabs, different front ends, different tenders and a constant variation of most of them over the lives.

A4s? Piece of cake!

[Saint Johnstoun]

Getting back to the topic! I spent this afternoon going though all the books I have on Gresley and other LNER Pacifics etc. and there are very few shots of A4s on the QOS. Pre-war "Enterprise" was one of the dedicated locos to operate as far as Leeds and post-war the train could find anything on it south of Leeds and one of Haymarket's A3s or A1s from Edinburgh. A4s were rarely used, and more often in winter time when they were not tied to the Non-Stop. As for the Glasgow portion then anything could appear on it, even a J39 on one rare occasion!

The consist post 1928 is fairly easy to model and I await from others the names of the actual cars used, but with eight being the normal loading pre-war, and post war the loading was thus:-

Ex Kings Cross - Nine cars.

Second and First Kitchen off at Leeds.

To Glasgow.

Queen of Scots Pullmans.doc

(72 KiB) Downloaded 69 times

Second Brake, Second with Kitchen, first, two firsts with kitchen, second and second brake - a nice 7 coach rake within the limits of most model railways. Post-war Copley Hill A1s predominated between Kings + and Leeds, and anything from Haymarket north from that - A1, A3, Occasionally an A4 and very occasionally a V2!

[Saint Johnstoun]

The question I now ask is that are any of the current Pullman offerings from Hornby actually suitable for the Queen of Scots? I wait for the arrival of a set of the Pullman Profile books but in the meantime over to you?

The original consist was of 1928 all steel cars built by Metropolitan Cammell.

[2512silverfox]

I think if you want to be 100% accurate for the 1928 build, you have to use the old style Hornby Pullmans plus a set of Comet sides and MJT Pullman bogies. I produced a set thus in the early 90s and Mike Trice kindly produced the Pullman bogie side masters for the MJT range at the time.

[Saint Johnstoun]

That's what I thought, as none of the current Hornby offerings seemed to fit the bill. I may opt for the later consist as I run 1950s and 1960s period and use Mk1 Pullmans plus the two earlier brake ends.

[silverlink]

I think if you want to be 100% accurate for the 1928 build, you have to use the old style Hornby Pullmans plus a set of Comet sides and MJT Pullman bogies. I produced a set thus in the early 90s and Mike Trice kindly produced the Pullman bogie side masters for the MJT range at the time.

If you are interested I have I think seven or eight of said Hornby/Comet coaches which I am willing to sell. They consist of possibly four that have the Comet sides fixed with the other bodies ready for the sides to be fixed on which are with them (still in Comet packaging) All are complete with Hornby chassis's. Private message me if you are interested.
Cheers
Ian

[Graeme Leary]

Hello Ian,
Many thanks to you too for your suggestions re the correct coaches for the QOS era but I have now decided to scrub using the Golden Plover I have and actually repaint it in Wartime Black (letters N E on the tender) and put the QOS coaches aside until I get another loco model more likely to have hauled this express in the pre-war years. Reliably informed by many that this is probably should be an A1, A3, Atlantic or even a V2 so will keep an eye out here in NZ for a 2nd hand along these lines.
A long shot at this time but possible/probable coming to the UK again about this time next year and I might just have this sorted out by then and could well do with another 2 or 3 coaches that may match the existing Hornby ones I have - as long as my present 3 are correct!
If you're aware of the coaches in this Hornby QOS set (with the BR Green - not LNER Apple Green - livery Golden Plover numbered 60031) you might be able to confirm if acceptable behind another loco (A1, A3 etc etc) and also if these would work in with 2 or 3 of yours.
In anticipation I'll file this in my 'Next UK Trip' file (we normally go over every year) and see what may happen.
Regards
Graeme Leary

[60800]

using the Golden Plover I have and actually repaint it in Wartime Black (letters N E on the tender)

You'll need to remove the BR number plate bracket and source a single chimney then. If you can't find a single chimney then contact TMC, they'll have some in stock.... for a price.

[Graeme Leary]

Many thanks for that re the single chimney. Is that the only feature on the Hornby A4 model I have that's not correct? Will have a look at TMC's website but would prefer to actually revisit them (as I did twice last year) in that lovely part of the UK.

[60800]

Would it be possible for you to post two photos of your model (front 3/4 and rear 3/4)?

It would be nice to give it a little once over to check

[Graeme Leary]

For J.J Dowse - many thanks for your kind offer but we're not that terchnically proficient to send photos via the forum. As I'm away for 6 or 7 days it won't happen immediately but if you can advise your direct email address this particular operation is within our capabilities and I'll get them to you on my return.
Many thanks again,
Graeme Leary

[60800]

I've sent you a pm with my email address