STEP BY STEP

1 To remove the body, push a flat-headed screwdriver onto the retaining clip between the end of the chassis and the body and ease the chassis away.

2 The face looked as though it was glued in place but there was no way I could lever it off. In the end, I carefully removed it with a razor saw.

3 Use files to make the front of the smoke box square and flat. Remove any burring around the edge so it’s nice and clean.

4 Use a few drops of carefully applied cyanoacrylate to fix the door to the smokebox. Do a dry run first and remove any plastic that prevents a smooth fit.

5 Now it’s time to break the body into its three component parts. Luckily, and unlike the face, everything just unclips – phew!

6 There is a rough moulding line on top of the smokebox. Use files and sanding sticks to remove it and touch it up with some black paint.

7 Continue with the black paint and apply it to the tank tops, top of the footplate and splashers, bunker coal rails and roof.

8 Use a buff colour for the inside of the cab roof and paint it down to about waist level. Then paint the rest black, including the backplate and fittings.

9 Now is a good time to fit a crew. This is Hornby’s driver and fireman, suitably painted, but you could go for a more detailed set of figures if your budget allows.

10 I decided to paint the coupling rods. The first coat was a red oxide, followed by a brighter shade of red.

11 Spray the underside of the body black. When dry, you can weather the lower parts of the body. I applied a light coat of Railmatch Track Dirt.

12 I used Dark Falcon grey for the roof and top of the body. Then, using a paintbrush, I applied silver to the steps and handrails, and white to the inside of the chimney top and under the smokebox door to represent cinders.