Clearwater Models: BATTLE OF BRITAIN CLASS "BIGGIN HILL" STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (Airfix)

Wednesday 19 June 2019

BATTLE OF BRITAIN CLASS "BIGGIN HILL" STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (Airfix)

This is the old 1964 Airfix 1:87 (OO/HO) scale kit of the Battle of Britain class steam locomotive named "BIGGIN HILL" after an RAF airfield near London.

Engine #34057 was built in March 1947 for British Rail (Southern Region) as a main line engine for both passenger and freight service. It is a 2-3-1 axel arrangement. The engine was temporarily converted to oil burning in 1957, then converted back. It served until 31 May 2967, and was cut up later that year.

The model kit is very poorly engineered, lacking detail, and rough as a badger's bottom. The nine decals somehow survived the past 55 years and were perfect condition, if not a little thick.

The basic colour is malachite green, or British racing green (BRG), with a black top and bottom. I built the road bed from scratch from a bit of HO trackage, plastic sheet, small ballast, white glue, and toners and powders. There is no track in the kit as is common in newer locomotive kits.

OOB.

British Rail (SR) "Biggin Hill" steam locomotive

The real locomotive

British Rail (SR) "Biggin Hill" steam locomotive