No.51 Christmas presents past – a bit of history.

I thought this a suitable occasion to reminisce.  What railway models did I treat myself to in the past?




46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ – Mainline Pallitoy model on Bachmann chassis



One of my all time favourites was ‘Scots Guardsman’.  This was purchased new from Kings Cross Models at the end of November 1983 for the princely sum of £27.64.  The scanned image below shows the model shortly after purchase with black painted wheels.



46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ – Mainline Pallitoy model on early Mainline Royal Scot chassis (937 088)



Pallitoy’s Scots Guardsman was one of the first Mainline models to be fitted with the new slimmer profile wheels.  I seem to recall that I had serious issues with the quartering of these wheels and that Scots Guardsman was soon given a replacement chassis from an original Royal Scot model with a damaged body that I came across in Trent’s Toy shop in Swindon.  I had a similar issue with Jubilee Class ‘Mars’ which was solved by purchasing a very cheap model of ‘Orion’ that ‘The Engine Shed’ in Bognor were giving away for £12.95 in October 1984.  ‘Scots Guardsman’ lives on.  The picture at the top shows it currently running and fitted with a later Bachmann chassis.  ‘Mars’ too lives on with another Bachmann replacement chassis.



Mainline Pallitoy ex LMS 50ft Parcels Van (937-307)



Another favourite Mainline purchase which has stood the test of time was an ex LMS 50ft Parcels Van.  This was purchased in December 1983 from ‘Rolling Stock’ in North Shields for £6.00.  Over the years I have acquired a number of variants of these vans all of which have been refitted with Bachmann metal wheels.  I have thought about swapping the rather chunky Mainline couplings for Bachmann short mini couplings but have deliberately retained the old Mainline couplings because the thicker plastic hooks and bars actually bring the coaches closer together.




Bachmann / Mainline ex LMS parcels van disassembled



I am aware that the glazing on some the Bachmann models has a tendency to become unglued.  I have come across two examples off eBay.  One was bought very cheaply knowing the problem.  The other was sold as mint / unused, the seller claiming that it must have come apart in the post - although he sharp gave a refund.  The picture above shows the positions of the six lugs that clip the underframe to the bodyshell.  With a bit of time and patience the body can be prised off.  When I loaded this picture in 2008 I commented that warming the plastic in warm water helped.  That might work for later Bachmann models but my recent experiences with some earlier Mainline models indicates that you might just wash off some of the transfers – so be careful.




Jouef D210 ‘Empress of Britain’ Jouef model no. 893-52



1982 and I must have been in Doncaster in late November because I treated myself to ‘Empress of Britain’ from TAG.  My records show that the model cost me £12.50.  In my opinion an excellent layout engine that would pull anything or everything.  The picture shows the model with grey painted roof prior to selling on eBay in 2007.



Lima Golden Series with D1016 ‘Western Gladiator’



1981 must have been a vintage year because in December I treated myself to two Lima Golden Series train sets from Boydell’s in Newcastle upon Tyne.  My records show that I bought both the Western Set and the Talisman set new for £16.15 each.  The Talisman contained an ‘under scale’ Deltic ‘Meld’ which was part exchanged to the Cheltenham Model Centre in 1984.  The Western set lasted until it was sold on eBay in 2007.



Lima Golden Series Western Set



By this time the coaches has received white metal buffers.



Lima D1016 Western Gladiator



And the engine had been part detailed with handrails and etched plates.



Lima Restaurant Car with added detail



Mention should also be made of ‘improvements’ to the Restaurant Car.  In addition to new buffers, on e of the original battery boxes was repositioned and some extra white metal castings added to the underframe.  On the roof some of the torpedo ventilators were repositioned and the tops off brass split paper fasteners were used as ventilators.



Lima Western Pioneer (right) compared to Heljan Western Empress (left)



In due course, Christmas 2009 in fact, the Lima Westerns were eventually replaced by Heljan models.
Location: Dumfries and Galloway, UK

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