I went down to Weston...

I didn't really. But I did, however, purchase a model of a locomotive that regularly went there...

No. 4 in the Glenauchter fiddle yard during her first run.

That's right - another sodding Terrier! But this one is rather special. It's a limited edition model of Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway No. 4 commissioned by Antics.

If you haven't been able to tell already, I'm rather fond of this engine and the railway it belonged to. One of my first OO models after getting back into railway modelling in 2014 was No.4 in GWR condition. Intrigued by the odd matching of loco and livery, I looked into No. 4's history and began an epic quest to destroy the one ring to rule them all (or something). 

Long since cannibalised for parts, GWR No. 6 stands by a signal box at some point in 2014.

This sparked my interest in the light railways run by the eccentric Colonel Stephens and his successor W. H. Austen. It's hardly surprising that I chose the Dapol model of LB&SCR 643 'Gipsyhill' (later WC&PR No. 2 'Portishead') as my first O gauge model. 

'Gipsyhill' during her first public day on the Glenauchter layout. She is currently in the process of being turned into K&ESR No. 3 'Bodiam'.

Anyway, back to the new shiny thing. I knew before purchasing that I'd have to fiddle about with the model to make it more like the real No. 4, though this didn't really bother me. I was pleasantly surprised upon opening the box to see that Antics had kindly supplied condensing gear and extra brake pipes for the model. Also enclosed (as well as the usual set of Dapol instructions) was a lovely postcard, some vouchers and an additional sheet which provided excellent pictures and information on the modifications that needed to be made and how to go about making them. I can't really fault this purchase as the extra bits provided proved most useful in altering the model. As well as weathering the loco and adding the condensing gear and vacuum brakes (though not the ones provided) I decided to tackle the plethora of pipes that No. 4 had under her bufferbeam.

No.4 at Broadstone halt - now with an unholy mess of pipes.

Have I done a perfect job? Lord no! But I'm definitely satisfied with the finished result. I thoroughly recommend this model, it is certainly worth the price.

This picture of No. 4 at Walton Park station shows the rather naff bottle jack made from an old super glue nozzle!