Graham Farish Rebuilt Royal Scot 372-575

Not included in the 2008 catalogue and thought to be planned for 2009, we were taken by surprise by the release by Bachmann of their Graham Farish model of a rebuilt 'Royal Scot' before Christmas. The sample received for review is 46159 The Royal Air Force in late BR Brunswick green - with no warning flashes and both lions facing left.

The model is well detailed for N gauge, with wire handrails along the boiler, on the smoke box door and on the tender. There are separately attached piping, reversing rod, window glazing, front and rear coupling hooks, smoke deflectors, whistle and nameplates (with etched metal nameplates supplied as an alternative to the excellently printed ones. The cab interior revolution has not yet reached N gauge.

The model has tender drive with traction tyres on four of the tender wheels. There are pickups on all the driving wheels. Supplied in the box with the model is a replacement front bogie which has scale wheels, those on the bogie as fitted are underscale. There is also a replacement wheel set, with cog, for the tender. To ensure smooth movement of the 'motion' the body of the locomotive is filled by a heavy weight. Also, for fitting by the purchaser, there is a bag containing many small mouldings including front guard irons, imitation couplings, drain cocks, vacuum pipes, etc.