Commission: Palmerston in 009…

Palmerston, but not in glorious Victorian-esque lining and glossy paint as of recent years, no, Palmerston pre-preservation, the remains of some ‘pink’ primer and rust coming through all over, my latest Ffestiniog 009 commission…

This all started with a photo in the Michael Whitehouse ‘Narrow Gauge in Colour 1965-1985’ album. The sight of Palmerston without tender, whilst early photos of Linda show her paired with an England tender aligned and Ben, my customer and I, hatched a plan that would allow both models to be realised!

Yes, under this rusty decrepit finish is Princess, her tender now running behind my own Linda. The model has been stripped of motor and drive and is towable by its front coupling for posing and shunting around a future layout (currently also on the build bench!). The process meant I really got to appreciate the beauty of the Kato design, this thing just clips together and is so clever. I filled the original nameplate ‘slot’ and made a new one in styrene before also working over the body, adding, well removing detail! The Smokebox door opening was enlarged, the chimney base removed and hole enlarged, the dome cover removed and enlarged and a faux steam dome added on the casting inside,

 

A coat of primer identified areas needing more filling and smoothing, before a coat of light grey all over the body parts and black on the underframe and chassis. This was all weathered before re-assembly, based upon the prototype photos using various enamels.

The result is an incredibly distinctive and unique model and one that I am really pleased to have been asked to recreate, not only because it enabled Linda, but because it’s the sort of modified ready to run that many of us of a certain age grew up undertaking. Not afraid of taking a knife and paints to a relatively expensive model to recreate something specific, unique and of our own hand. If you’d like to work with me to create your own dream model, a process that puts you in the centre and the result feeling as much your own work as mine, get in touch for a personal proposal. Until next time more soon…

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