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COLLETT’S ‘CASTLE’ 4-6-0 has been a popular subject for modellers. George Dent takes a look at what’s available in ready-to-run form.
‘OO’ – HORNBY
Despite the importance of the GWR ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 as a prototype – and its enduring popularity with enthusiasts – it’s only recently that a top-notch ‘OO’ gauge rendition has been available. Hornby’s introduction of an all-new model in 2010 was certainly a welcome move, eclipsing the Margate company’s previous effort, which had its origins in an Airfix product from the early 1980s.
It has to be said that Airfix’s tooling certainly gained a decent amount of mileage, subsequently passing into the Mainline and Dapol ranges before being acquired by Hornby in the late 1990s. Hornby made a number of improvements, most notably to the mechanism, but it still didn’t quite capture the character of Collett’s design.
The post-2010 Hornby model, in contrast, is a real beauty and recreates the prototype with a high level of fidelity. There are numerous detail differences catered for within the tooling suite, including outside steam pipes and a choice of tenders, while the five-pole motor mounted within the boiler/firebox produces smooth and reliable performance. Factor in Hornby’s ability to reproduce steam-era liveries to a very high standard and you have a very desirable package.
‘N’ – GRAHAM FARISH
For ‘N’ gauge modellers, an excellent, 21st century-specification model was released by Graham Farish in 2017, improving previous models by the same brand. Indeed, a ‘Castle’ has been offered by Farish since the early 1980s. Equipped with a much higher level of detail and electrical and mechanical performance, this latest 2mm scale re-creation captures the essence of the real thing effectively.
‘O’ – MASTERPIECE MODELS
If 7mm scale is your thing, there’s unfortunately a lack of mass market options in terms of ready-to-run models, although kit-building is a potential route to owning a ‘Castle’, with the famous Malcolm Mitchell kit still being available (www.mm1models.co.uk). Alternatively, if you have a few thousand pounds spare, one of Masterpiece Models’ boutiquequality ‘Castles’ would make a handsome addition to anyone’s collection.