70XX 'Castles'
We still have a good choice of BR engines especially single chimney versions and a few GWR locomotives. There are one or two double chimney engines also available mainly in O gauge finescale. We have some interesting names still available.

45XX/4575s
On the 45XX flat tank engines we have a few engines left as shown on the website. We are out of Type 2 locomotives and we have one Type 1 available in Scale 7. We have a good choice of Type 3 engines still available in GWR, but only one black BR version left. Our last 4507 in BR lined green has now been sold. On Type 4s we have one GWR and one BR green engine left. For Type 5s (sloping tank) most of the remaining engines are Scale 7. We have a LIMITED possibility of wheel swops O gauge for S7 and vice-versa, but this is not a simple task as it requires both Colin and I to carry out the changes.

Pannier 57XX and 8750
Colin and I continue to work on the Pannier programme preparing individual locomotives for customers. As Colin is Suffolk and has just moved house with lots of house jobs to do, it is taking a little longer than we expected to get all the engines ready. Also it is a long way from Reigate, so visit journeys need careful planning.

In terms of availability we are down to our last two LT panniers, but there is a good choice of GWR and BR 57XXs early cab engines still available. On 8750s (late cab engines) we are very short of BR top feed versions but still have plenty of GWR green and black engines available.

'Grange' and 47XX
We have sold out of lined black BR Granges but still have a few BR plain black engines. There is a good choice of BR Lined green and a few GWR plain green engines left.

On 47XX there are a number of GWR plain green and BR lined green engines with Collett 4000 gallon tenders still available. There are a few black engines also available for the BR period.

49XX and 6959 'Halls'
The build of these engines is well underway. There are a few engines both Collett and Hawksworth still available. If you want to choose your engine name number and livery (not shown on the website list) please contact us as soon as possible otherwise it will be too late. We will be requesting payments for these engines shortly.

28XX/38XX
This build is programmed for the same time as the 49XX/6969 programme and is well underway. Payments for these engines will also be requested shortly.

Class 52 'Western' Diesel Hydraulic
This model is now in full production with the final changes now being incorporated in the build.

Pre-owned
We have two 50XX Castles (one BR and one GWR) and two GWR Kings available all in O gauge. We also have a brand new unused Britannia 70006 Robert Burns available in O gauge. Please contact us if you are interested in any of these models.

Export orders
Due to concerns on the way couriers treat our parcels we have had to take special steps to prepare the packaging of our models for shipment abroad. This has required a lot of individual work by me. We are now underway with the preparation of the additional packaging so we hope to get the models sent off over the next few weeks.

Reading Show
We will be at the Reading Show on Saturday 11 May, so do come along to our stand to have a chat and look at our models. We will have the Standard Class 5 preproduction prototype on the stand for you to see. I look forward to seeing you all there.

John Borkowski/09 May 2019.

As of 29 March 2019, only six Masterpiece Models Halls and four Modified Halls remain available.

CLICK HERE to visit the dedicated Hall page and view the updated list of available engines.

Now that only a few Masterpiece Models 45XX/4575 Prairie tanks remain available, we have photographed the entire stock to make it easy to see what you can still buy. Click HERE to take a look.

68XX 'Grange' and 47XX 2-8-0 Tender Engine

We are delighted to report that the 'Granges' and 47XX models have arrived safely in the UK and are now being checked and prepared for delivery. They all look terrific, whether they are GWR plain green or BR lined green, plain or lined black. The shock to me in the inspection in Incheon in December was how good the black engines look. Up to now I have always preferred green engines, now I don’t know!

The 'Grange' is so dainty, especially with the Churchward 3,500 gallon tender and even better with the Collett 3,500 unit. There is an interesting choice of chimneys ('Hall' and ID tall, or 'Grange' shorter) and diverse shapes of oil pipe covers, an exercise that will extend to the 'Halls' and 'Modified Halls' that are now in production. The 47XX contrasts with the 68XX as it is a real brute of an engine – huge boiler and firebox, extended smokebox, plus the extra set of driving wheels. A sort of mixed traffic 'King', and to my view once seen is difficult to forget. To the best of my memory (unlike the 'Grange') I never saw a 47XX on the various steam train journeys I made as a small boy.

The plan is to distribute a number of the models at the Bristol Show in late January. If you intend to come to the Bristol Show and you want to collect your engine please contact us to let us know as transport space is limited.

Overseas customers will have their models despatched after the Bristol show.

Pannier
Colin and I are still working very hard to get the all the engines numbered and configured as the majority of the engines were not available with the requested number-plates at the time of production completion. We generously offered you all a late choice of numbers and also changing numbers, which was a popular option that many customers took up. So in these cases it has meant a huge amount of finishing work here the UK. GWR engines with numbers on the buffer beams are particularly time consuming to complete.

Despite the 100+ miles logistics we expect to get a large number of engines ready in time for Bristol Show. We are doing our best to complete this work and we are asking you to be patient. For those of you who are unable to go to the Bristol show, or where we still need more time to complete the work, we will organise drop-offs at regional points around the UK to get the models hand delivered. We will also try to combine these drop offs together with deliveries of 'Granges', 47XXs and other models so as to be as efficient as possible.

We hope to have on the stand a GWR Green 8750 in early BRITISH RAILWAYS configuration. This is a very attractive livery and is well worth considering if you would like something different.

For overseas customers we are planning to start deliveries after the Bristol Show in February.

Standard Class 5

The first brass prototype (Walshaert’s valve gear version of the BR5) minus some detail finishing around the cab has been reviewed by our technical team led by Bob Meanley. We feel the sample is reasonable first attempt which captures most of the important features of the locomotive. The sample will be on display at the Bristol Show which will allow you to take a first look and input any comments.

Class 52 Western Diesel Hydraulic
The painted sample was returned to the builders who need it for reference during the production phase so it will not be with us at the Bristol Show. The builders are still making the corrections to the front and roof ends and are busy making most of the component parts so that production of the finished models can commence as soon as all the modifications have been approved.

Thank you all for your support of Masterpiece Models and we wish you all a Prosperous New Year during 2019.

John Borkowski
17 January 2019