This superb prize winning model, pictured at the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition in 2011, is a 5-inch gauge British Railways rebuilt West Country class locomotive, 34008, Padstow. It is based on a set of around 20 works drawings obtained in 1976. First task was to set about produced drawings to 1 1/16in. to the foot on A0 sized drawing film using a discarded drawing board from work. Most of the chassis was designed that way and chassis details occupied 10 sheets. In more recent times AutoCad LT has been used for the remaining design work, the chassis drawings have also been transferred.

To supplement the works drawings, in the early days several visits were made to Woodham’s scrap yard in Barry, South Wales when it  still contained many locomotives including a crop of Bullied Pacifics. Latterly preserved engines were studied.

An early lesson was that the Merchant Navy and West Country classes were quite different. It is easy to assume that many components are common to both. They are not.

As the design progressed, more works drawings were needed to fill gaps from the first set. Fortunately most are still in existence on microfilm at the York Railway Museum.

Work on the frames started in 1978.

Bernard’s workshop is in a heated integral garage, and comprises a Myford Super 7 lathe, Dore Westbury milling machine, and Burgess BK1 bandsaw, plus the usual tooling.