A rat of my very OO-wn…

The humble work-a-day type 2. The go anywhere do anything locomotive. Trip freight to holiday excursion, secondary passenger to engineers working and from Penzance to Thurso - ‘they got everywhere’ earned them the nickname - rats…

I have had Class 25 models before - one in N lasted a good few months before a re-appraisal and streamlining of the collection (that is now bigger than ever). A month ago I owned a Heljan OO one for a day… but now, this Bachmann example is part of my collection. The excuse? If I needed one I’d say it was to ‘pose on customer layout builds’ or ‘for research purposes’ or even ‘to continue practicing my weathering’. Really though, it was part retail therapy and part whimsy.

I had in mind an Irish layout inspired by the branch to Valencia. The resulting micro reminded me of Neil Rushby’s Shell Island - thoughts returned to that blue 24 I had acquired last year… as the idea matured into a single track, single turnout ‘end if the line’ the setting was definitely location agnostic. Perhaps the Irish and British OO could find it home? The next thing I know a 25 and 16t arrived followed shortly by a Rapido gunpowder van and a BR brake van… will this layout be built? The usual ‘lack of space’ is the only real hurdle as I have the track, some suitable plywood and all the scenic materials here in stock… but we’re not here to talk about that - this is about the Rat.

To the model itself… this Bachmann model was picked up via the Class 37 Loco Group’s eBay store. She is a great looking model, heavy and buttery smooth running. Slower perhaps, certainly more controllable at slow speeds than my 24 from the same stable. The etched roof grills are well executed, indeed, all the detail is lovely and the flush glazing passes muster for me - the window seals also well rendered through the yellow paint on the cab fronts.

I don’t need to say much about the finishing. It’s clean enough but shows he signs of use - with corrosion in the usual places too… washes of Humbrol 98/33 and a touch of 133 in places - airbrushed with 133/245/27004 and drybrushed with 53.

I didn’t see these first hand in service, not at least that I remember. My memories are of preserved examples from childhood even through to a few years ago when we had Pete Waterman’s one here in Llangollen. These venerable machines continue to serve us well. To the modeller they are full of character and compact. If you’re sitting on the fence, or waiting for a SLW one, or have one already… all of these situations could warrant purchasing one of these lovely Bachmann examples. 

So where will this one end up? Permanent collection of moving on? Time will tell but for now I am enjoying sharing my workshop with it. If you’d like me to breathe life and character in to your ready to run model I offer a complete one stop shop so be it simple weathering, or more (renaming/numbering, crew, DCC fitting) you can send your pride and joy to me and I’ll take care of everything else. I love these model trains as much as you do, and with that, until next time, more soon…

Support my work

I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee.