Do come and visut us at the Bristol 0 Gauge Group show on Sunday 26 January.

As well as an extensive display of current Masterpiece Models we hope to bring two interesting dioramas to display the locomotives and demonstrate them working.

The venue is the University of the West of England, Filton Road, Bristol BS34 8QZ, and the show is open 10.00am to 4.00pm. Free parking is available and it is planned to run a half-hourly bus service to the show from Bristol Parkway station.

You will find our stand in the 'Scale7 Village' area of the show (We still very much cater for finescale 0 Gauge as well as Scale 7!)

One of the most exciting projects we have tackled to date at Masterpiece Models is the forthcoming Class 52 ‘Western’ diesel-hydraulic. Without doubt this model will be a technical tour de force, featuring a huge Swiss motor driving all six axles through enclosed gearboxes, working lights for the marker lamps, head code panels, cab and engine room, working fan groups and stereo sound (allowing one engine to be ‘shut down’ for light engine movements etc).

The most challenging aspect, however, has been our determination to capture the complex and elusive body shapes used by designer Misha Black to make these locomotives probably the most distinctive diesels in Britain – if not the world. We were able to perfect the main body shape and louvre detail quite rapidly so the builder has been busy producing the bodies and other components. But, when it came to the cab ends we knew we had more work to do before authorising production.

So much of the character of the ‘Westerns’ comes from the dynamic cab design, which is notoriously difficult to capture in model form. In fact, one of our motivations in producing this model is that we didn’t feel any previous attempt had got it completely right – some were very close, but not quite there. When our builder produced the first pre-production model for assessment we could see immediately that the cab wasn’t quite right; the front windows were too ‘arched’ and the famous ‘widow’s peak’ was not quite right. That wasn’t surprising really as our Korean builder had no experience of the real locomotives and had been working from plans and photographs.

One thing we can say for sure is that no truly accurate drawings of the ‘Western’ cab ends are available. Even comparing photographs of many class members minuscule differences became apparent, suggesting that the originals were fabricated individually by hand, so we went back to the builder with two things: a 3D laser scan of D1015 and full-size tracings we took from D1010 last August. With this information, together with careful measurement of angles across the whole cab, he was able to revise the designs. The poor man was almost tearing his hair out by this stage, but we believe he has cracked the problem now…

Take a look at these photos. This model is our ‘mule’, used solely for perfecting the cab shape, so you can ignore most of the details which are rough and unfinished, but just look at the cab. We think it’s spot-on and as a result we have now authorised production of the cab ends. The long saga of producing this 7mm scale ‘Western’ is finally nearing completion and the finished models will be delivered this year. Thank you to all our patient customers for enduring the wait!

We are considering taking over the production of a series of GNR/LNER and LBSCR/SR ‘Atlantic’ 4-4-2s. These popular and charismatic locomotives are the subject of a build originally commissioned by Kemilway, which is in danger of stalling due to a number of unforeseen factors. We think it would be a great pity if these models were not completed as we believe there are many North Eastern and Southern modellers who would like to have one.

Our final decision on whether to take this forward will rest on a number of factors. First we need to gauge the likely uptake and we need to know which variant(s) of the model and which liveries our customers would prefer, so to read more about the options CLICK HERE. You will then be invited to complete an online form to register your interest, with absolutely no obligation at this stage.

We also need to make a detailed assessment of the changes and technical refinements needed to bring the locomotives up to true Masterpiece Models standards. Many fine details will be added and our latest hornblocks and split-axle pickups will be used.

Finally, we need to make a deeper survey of the progress so far on the project so that we can timetable realistic completion of the build which will be carried out by one of our expert builders in South Korea. We anticipate that the models will be finished in three batches, the first batch being delivered in late summer 2020.

If you are one of the customers who previously ordered an 'Atlantic' from Peter Dawson at Kemilway – and perhaps made a payment – we would be grateful if you could contact us as soon as possible by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I write this note to you just having returned from an extended visit to the builders in South Korea. The weather was very kind to me there and we had dry days except at the end, with moderate temperatures from +5 to +12 degrees C. The flight back took more than 13 hours, of which the last half an hour was spent trying to find a parking stand at Heathrow Airport. The aircraft – a Boeing 787 – was superb, but the ground operations on arrival rather spoilt the experience. Having worked for many years professionally in the airline industry it is incredibly frustrating to find that the airport/airline management at Heathrow are still unable to find a single parking space at Terminal 5 for such a long period. So upset passengers wait on the ground with aircraft engines running unnecessarily polluting our atmosphere because of complete disorganisation. This is not a good advertisement for civil aviation at a time of great concern for our environment.

Western Diesel
The builders have finished the chassis and central underframes and these have been sent to the painters. They have made an exquisite job of all the underside detail with fuel tanks, valves and pipework under the central section. This is shown in the picture below that compares the original brass chassis section with the new black painted section.

The underside of the Class 52 'Western' diesel is now fully detailed with tanks and pipes (left)

The bodies are largely assembled and the cab ends are now being finalised. The bodies will go to the paintshop in January and final assembly will start in February.

57XX LT Version - Additional Models

Such was the interest in the London Transport variants of our 57XX pannier tanks that all of the initial batch have now been sold or reserved. We have subsequently been asked for LT panniers by a number of customers, so rather than leave them disappointed we decided to make a further small batch of 11 new LT 57XX panniers, finished in the distinctive maroon livery with all the LT fittings (modified cabs and rainstrips, trip cocks, reporting number frames, LT lamp brackets etc.). They are all in O gauge and no more Scale 7 engines are available. If you would like a model please contact us as soon as possible as these are the last models we will make of this version and when they are gone they are gone. Due to the short run we had to pay a significant premium to the builder, the bulk of which we will absorb with only a portion passed on to buyers.

57XX/8750 Panniers
We still have some GWR and BR Black models left, mainly engines with back-feed, not top-feed. Please contact us if you want a particular model as stocks of some types are now very low. We have received a number of orders requiring extra finishing, change of numbers etc, and these are now being processed by Colin and I. One customer requested a 67XX dock shunter that is now being specially made in Korea.

28XX and 38XX

All the Churchward 3,500 gallon tenders have been built, both bodies and chassis. They will be sent to the painters next week. The basic locomotive bodies are built, but most of the detailing parts still have to be added. The chassis cylinder blocks are built and chassis main frame assembly has started. The detailing on the engines is impressive with castings made to an exceptional standard. We have limited the run to 62 engines, most of which are now booked. If you want a particular locomotive and have not ordered one please let us know as soon as possible as we are going to fix the numbers and changes cannot be accommodated, especially on GWR engines with buffer beam numbers.

Collett Halls 49XX, 59XX and 69XX

This build is proceeding at the same time as the 28XX/38XX and the progress is at a similar stage. All the small tenders (Churchward and Collett 3,500 gallon) tenders are complete and ready for painting. The build of the larger Collett 4,000 gallon tenders is virtually complete and they are now finishing off the Hawksworth 4,000 gallon tenders bodies. All the tender chassis are finished ready for painting. The locomotive bodies are assembled and now need detailing while the chassis are being assembled. We are making two models of 4948 Northwick Hall with the shutters in the cab roof. One is sold but the second is available in BR form to any lucky would-be customer.

Hawksworth Modified Halls
We are now making 24 Modified Halls – 12 with cab sight glass lubricators and 12 with mechanical lubricators. The work is at the same stage of progress as the Collett Halls and the 28XX/38XX. The models we saw in the factory were exquisite. In the past the Modified Hall to me always played second fiddle to the Collet Halls. Having worked on the design and details and now seeing the execution of the work, I have to say the models will be absolutely superb and are now clearly in first fiddle position! The Modified Halls will be completed at the same time as the Collett Halls.

The Modified Hall bogie is a work of art with both vertical and lateral springing

47XX 2-8-0s and 68XX Granges
The 47XX and 68XX Granges were rapturously reviewed in the December edition of MODEL RAIL 268. If you would like a model of either of these types please do let us know as we are running out of some variants, so future choice may be limited.

70XX Castles
We still have a few Castles left, all 70XX models except one 50XX – Tresco Abbey fitted with a double chimney in late BR configuration. Thanks to our chief engineer Bob Meanley and the builders, especially Mr Kwon, we think they really capture the look of the real engine. In an independent review the July edition of MODEL RAIL (No. 262) there is a detailed review of O gauge and S7 ‘superwheel’ Castles by Richard Foster and Dave Lowery. This covers not just the appearance of the model but also its running performance. I quote: “You buy a model like this because you want the very best.”

Winter Festive season
I would like to thank everyone for their patience in accepting the delays in delivery of many locomotives and especially all of you who have been waiting so long for the Halls, Modified Halls and 28XX/38XX engines. It just takes a long time to get these models made, especially as we have raised the standard of detailing and mechanical and electrical development. The wait will be worth it.

In the new Year we will endeavour to deliver all models that have been ordered as quickly as possible.

As I write this message on Christmas Eve looking forward to hearing the Christmas Carols from Kings College Cambridge this afternoon, I would like to wish you all, wherever you are, a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year in 2020.

John Borkowski
24 December 2019