A side view of the Dapol ‘N’ gauge model of Black Prince (Photograph courtesy TMC)  


Front-end detail of the model – bear in mind the model is little more than 2cm high! (Photograph courtesy TMC)  


How the model is presented – in a box signed by David Shepherd. It’s available in the Toddington station shop (Photograph courtesy TMC)  

To commemorate the 50th birthday of British Railways of 9F Class locomotive 92203, which emerged from Swindon works in 1959 (the engine was later named Black Prince by its owner, the artist David Shepherd), TMC (The Model Centre) commissioned Dapol to produce a limited run of 150 models of their N gauge 9F. This outstanding model comes with fitted etched brass Black Prince nameplates and with two headboards. These are for "Pines Express" and "The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation". David Shepherd has signed each box sleeve. A donation from each model sold will go to the Foundation.

Although TMC have the option to produce 504 models, only 150 models have been produced in this first edition and the remainder may never be made. Even the box end label has been designed to be attractive to collectors.

The price is £109.95 plus £4 post and packing and the models will be sent by Royal Mail first class recorded post. TMC tell us that already half the models have sold. Further information may be obtained from TMC-Direct at http://www.themodelcentre.com/ where you will find a page devoted to the model: http://www.traffordmodelcentre.co.uk/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?page=92203_Black_Prince.htm&cart_id=1249193433.571

To commemorate the Anniversary, the model will be launched at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway by David Shepherd on August 20th.

During the morning, the model will be demonstrated running along the running plate of Black Prince on a specially constructed track. At approximately 12pm, there will be a flypast by the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A special birthday cake will also be cut to celebrate the occasion!

Models are now on sale at the GWR shop at Toddington.