Manning Wardle in 006.5: Prototype complete...

I showed the prototype Manning Wardle, the 7th locomotive in the 6point5 range, over the holidays and am excited to share a few photos of the finished model...

It's been finished in a home mixed green, a mix of Humbrol gloss green with a touch of yellow, which gives a 'greener' finish and more closely matches the 'mid-bronze green' of the prototypes. When I built the 'ready to run' batch of Taffson Evans and Jenkins locos I had a few spare sets of the lining transfers lined over, and found these to be the perfect finishing touch.

Nameplates are in brass, and although fictional, give the model a location. There are a few alterations required in the print (to add a slot for the lower slide bar in the cylinders) and the etch (lower the height of the vertical on the slide bars and square off the crosshead) but it's pretty much ready so I will press on with sourcing parts later in the month for an Easter (ish) release.

Next in the range should be some more rolling stock - I've got Alan Keef coaches for a modern 'minimum gauge' line planned, along with some Theakston stone hoppers and possibly a Muir Hill. More soon...