There is little doubt that the Hornby Dublo model of Bristol Castle, of 1957, did much to popularise the subject amongst modellers. It is surprising, therefore, that it took until 1979 before a plastic bodied, 2-rail model was produced. This was the Airfix model which soon after passed to Palitoy (Mainline Railways) and thence to Dapol. It was Dapol who developed the Hawksworth tender and produced the 'County' variation of the model. In 1996 the 'Castle/County' tooling passed to Hornby and the first Hornby models arrived the following year.

For its time, the Airfix model was acceptable, but with the rise in the quality of retooled Hornby models from 2000 onwards, the 'Castle' began to attract requests for retooling. In 2009, Hornby were able to squeeze into their programme a retooled 'Castle' Class locomotive and the resulting models are excellent.

The Swindon museum, 'Steam', received a limited edition model carrying the name Swindon (I believe the last of the class) and Hornby named one Great Western R2958 as part of its contribution to 'GWR 175' This is a limited edition of 1,000 models and represents the loco Ogmore Castle which was renamed Great Western in January 1948 in memory of the passing of the GWR on nationalisation of the railways.