BR Class 08

Dan Jeavons' Steam and Diesel Castings business was set up to supply modellers in 1/12 and 1/8 scale with a supply of electrically operated models, something that was new to the market at the time. Up until then, most modellers had naturally found the steam engine to be the main focus of their attention but a new generation of model makers wanted to produce replicas from the early era of British railways diesel traction. One of his most popular designs was the ubiquitous Class 08 shunter, notable for its GRP body shell and additional detailed castings such as handrails, footsteps, sandboxes and headlamps. We understand this is the original model Dan Jeavons built, and have recently converted the control system to operate with Radio Control, meaning this model can be used to shunt the yards just like its full size brethren. Originally based on the prototype LMS Diesel shunters developed under H G Ivatt at Derby works, the Class 08 can still be found in infrequent use on the mainline to this day. Not bad for a fundamentally 1940s design.