10000

Working through the late John Webb's modelling stuff, we've managed to whittle it down to his greatest models. The ones that took gold medals at the Model Engineering Exhibitions. The ones we were all nervous about handling on his layout, Ambergate, for fear of damaging something.

Among the collection are, what I assume, some much earlier Web models. These are just as interesting, at least as far as I am concerned.

For a start, how about this model of ex-LMS 10000.

Made mostly from wood and card, it's scratchbuilt and I suspect, contemporary with the prototype. The curved windscreens are acetate with thin card frames.

Unpowered, the wheels appear to be Airfix. Sadly, only the outer axles are fitted and one of those has broken. That wouldn't be a problem except that the frames are 3mm thick hardwood, so don't flex to allow replacements to be fitted.

Young modellers will be horrified by this sort of modelling but for many, it's how they cut their teeth. There wasn't much in the way of RTR or even kits, especially for those new-fangled diesels, so you got your limited tools out and made everything yourself.

I think the model has real charm and certainly looks like the real thing, even if it would give forum-ites a dose of the vapours!