Commission: Irish Peat Barclay in 009...

It's always nice to work on my own kits as commission projects, though this time it's a little different...

I have modified the generic Narrow Planet 'Barclayfication' kit to represent an Irish 3ft example by designing a wider cab, and combining this with the standard parts plus some scratch built items to create a much beefier example. The wider cab uses the standard cab foot steps and etched window frames, but a 20thou styrene roof and 40 thou rear buffer beam. The clack valves are from the kit, but the routing is altered as per the prototype, in 0.7mm brass wire to below the cab. The cab has triangular strengthening parts fabricated in 40 thou styrene. The boiler handrails are removed, as are the lubricators (to reveal some nice spring mouldings) and an actuator added to the steam feed valve on the front of the dome. The lamp is modified by cutting the top off, and a new frame extension created in 40 thou styrene. Couplings are from the kit.

It's a well proportioned model, somehow more purposeful than the standard offering (see below) but perhaps too wide for many model. The next stage is to add a few more details, repair the broken steam feed pipe and then paint in a lined green livery.

I'm always happy to undertake these sorts of commissions so please get in touch if you'd like me to assemble your Narrow Planet kit, or if you'd like me to put together something different, I'm happy to give you a fully custom model. Drop me a line through Facebook, the forums or the contact form on the blog. More soon...