Prototype
The Southern Region West Country and Battle of Britain classes with their 4-6-2 wheel arrangement were also known as ‘Light Pacifics’ or informally as ‘Spam Cans’ due to their unorthodox appearance.
The class was designed by Oliver Bulleid and developed to be cheaper and easier to build using much of the innovations developed during wartime. The Battle of Britain Class and its sister, the Merchant Navy Class were the first to use welded steel in the manufacture of many key components, which reduced weight and building time.
In all 110 were built between 1945 and 1950 and continued into service until the end of the steam era on the Southern Region in 1967. Due to some initial design limitations, fifty of the class were rebuilt during the late 1950s after which they resembled the rebuilt Merchant Navy Class. Twenty of the class survive into preservation.
Model
These models feature lots of external details and finely printed external logos and numbering.
Features
- Printed name plates
- Detailed body and fittings
- Stainless steel running gear
- Powerful New Locomotive mounted motor
- Die-cast chassis and locomotive body, injection moulded tender body
- Accessory bag with etched nameplates and detailed buffer beam fittings
- Electrical pick up from all locomotive driving wheels and tender wheels
- Partial chassis compensation for smooth running and to aid electrical pick up
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