Masterpiece Models Class 52 ‘Western’
◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Masterpiece Models Class 52 ‘Western’ ◆ PRICE £3,360.00 ◆ AVAILABILITY Masterpiece Models Web www.masterpiecemodels.co.uk
When Michael Brooks established Masterpiece Models in 2007, the company’s purpose was to produce ready-to-run 7mm scale models of the highest possible standard. The first offering was a GWR ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 and, such was the positive response from modellers, that other premier steam classes followed, including GWR ‘Kings’, LMS ‘Coronations’ and ‘Duchesses’, plus Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ and the BR ‘Britannia’ class.
Following Michael Brooks’ retirement in 2015, the business was taken over by Scale-seven group chairman John Borkowski, but the company’s aim has remained consistent, which has been borne out by the latest project – the BR Class 52 ‘Western’.
Marking Masterpiece Models’ first foray into diesel outline traction, great efforts have been made to ensure that these models reflect the distinct character of the prototype. Indeed, the ‘Westerns’ have long been ranked as one of the most cherished of British diesel locomotive designs, while also providing a stern challenge for a number of manufacturers in the past.
With the National Railway Museum’s General Arrangement Works Drawings unavailable, the team from Masterpiece Models arranged to have the preserved D1015 Western Courier laser scanned, with assistance from the Diesel Traction Group at Kidderminster. However, with the cab front and roof a notoriously difficult element to reproduce, the results of the 3D scan alone were not enough.
With the help of Bob Tiller (whose layout featured in MR291), access was granted to D1010 Western Campaigner at Williton on the West Somerset Railway. Bob kindly provided scaffolding around the outside of the cab and the exact dimensions and shape of the windscreens, surrounds and roof overhang were traced onto large sheets of paper. Armed with this priceless extra information, the project could progress with a greater degree of
Livery options cover the whole gamut of colours carried by the prototypes
accuracy. While they had access, the team also recorded the minutiae of the fuel tank pipework, valves and myriad other components, many of which are hidden from view in most instances but are present on the model regardless.
Before we go any further, I should point out that this is not a review in our usual sense, as this is not exactly a mass-market offering. Instead, we offer the following content by way of a showcase for these exquisite, hand-built models that are an investment purchase for the most discerning of enthusiasts. At over £3,000 each, they need to be built to an incredibly high standard of quality and fidelity, as anything less would not be acceptable to the market – high stakes indeed!
ARTISAN WORKMANSHIP
Rendered largely in brass, these models have been hand-assembled by a leading modelmaker in South Korea that boasts extensive experience in miniature re-creations of diesel traction. Models have been created covering the entire class of 74 ‘Westerns’, incorporating the key modifications carried out on individual locomotives over their careers.
Livery options cover the whole gamut of colours carried by the prototypes, from desert sand to BR Rail blue, with maroon, green and golden ochre in between. At the time of writing, all the desert sand and golden ochre versions had already been reserved.
Etched name and numberplates are from the renowned Severn Mill Nameplates range and the illuminated headcodes feature appropriate alpha-numerical codes, or ‘dominos’, to suit each prototype. Headboard brackets have also been installed
wherever appropriate. The paintwork is top notch, with a deep lustre and razor-sharp colour separation, and the glazing is absolutely flawless.
INSIDE STORY
Powered by a single, aerospace quality, coreless motor, the drive is transferred to all six axles via precision gears. With DCC sound pre-installed, each model is fine-tuned before delivery to the customer (there’s also the option of Dc-optimised performance) and the power package has been designed to offer optimum smoothness and impressive haulage capacity.
Separate motors power the two roof-mounted cooling fans, which can be controlled independently via DCC – so you can mimic running the locomotive with one of its Maybach engines shut down! Although the majority of models are being built to ‘O’ gauge specification, a small number are also being offered to Scale Seven standards.
The disc wheels, whose faces are exposed owing to the unusual design of the ‘Western’s’ bogie frames, have been specially machined to replicate the correct profile and, when the model is upturned, the base of the fuel tanks, battery boxes and all the associated plumbing, is represented in full.
Visible through the engine room windows and beautifully rendered louvres is a convincing representation of the twin diesel engines, cooling system, steam heat boiler and access walkways. The cab interiors feature the distinctive, textured sound-proof coating to the bulkhead and the commodious control desks feature a wealth of controls and gauges, complete with dials.
Incredibly, the cab side and engine room windows slide open and switchable interior lighting and opening cab doors allow all of this detail to be appreciated. At one end of each locomotive sits a driver and secondman figure, from the Modelu range, pre-painted and looking quite at home.
Those of us on the Model Rail team lucky enough to see these models in the flesh have certainly been wowed by them. There’s no doubt that Masterpiece Models has achieved its aim of producing as close a replica of the Class 52 as possible and, if you have the resources to invest in one of these beauties, we’re sure that you’ll be very happy with it!