AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, my modelling tastes are varied with interests covering classic BR Southern and Scottish Region traction, plus modern-era diesels and electrics. Amongst my favourites are the Southern Region’s Class 33 Bo-Bo diesels and Class 73 Bo-Bo electro-diesels (‘EDs’). So much so, have 40 or more ‘OO’ gauge Heljan and Dapol examples in my collection, many of which remain in ‘off-the-shelf’ condition.
A recent audit also highlighted a stockpile of certain colour schemes, so a change of identity would be necessary for some – perhaps a new number and name. Perfect winter evening projects.
I’ve been slowly renumbering the fleet over the past couple of years, but it has been a slow process so far. At the very least, running numbers are replaced on duplicate models by using a cocktail stick to gently rub away the printed elements. This invariably leaves shiny patches on the body shell, but weathering or varnish will mask this later. There are other methods, but it works for me, certainly on recently completed Bachmann, Dapol and Hornby examples.
The latest addition to the fleet is BR Class 73 73131 County of Surrey in BR departmental grey and yellow ‘Dutch’ …
