Model Railway Forum

I am just in the process of fitting my Hornby Merchant Navy Class "United States Lines" with new etched brass nameplates. This is not a "name change", just an upgrade to the original nameplate - it will also get real coal.
The nameplate kit came from Modelmaster Jackson-Evans and included two different insignia's to go in the centre of the nameplate. A quick bit of research (I have a fairly comprehensive library on Merchant Navy Class loco's) showed that this loco had the insignia changed in 1951 from a flag to a ships wheel with the company logo within the wheel - so that on the Hornby loco is wrong. Another bit of useless information is that the "flags" are "handed" and are supposed to be fitted to show the flag streaming behind the flagpole when the loco is moving forwards - this is correct on the Hornby loco - just the wrong insignia.
IMG_0976 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

Etched plates make all the difference.

I didn’t know about the emblem changing.

bulleidboy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:58 am I am just in the process of fitting my Hornby Merchant Navy Class "United States Lines" with new etched brass nameplates. This is not a "name change", just an upgrade to the original nameplate - it will also get real coal.
The nameplate kit came from Modelmaster Jackson-Evans and included two different insignia's to go in the centre of the nameplate. A quick bit of research (I have a fairly comprehensive library on Merchant Navy Class loco's) showed that this loco had the insignia changed in 1951 from a flag to a ships wheel with the company logo within the wheel - so that on the Hornby loco is wrong. Another bit of useless information is that the "flags" are "handed" and are supposed to be fitted to show the flag streaming behind the flagpole when the loco is moving forwards - this is correct on the Hornby loco - just the wrong insignia.

Interesting information, BB.

As Steve says, 'etched plates make a (big) difference.

Glencairn

It was always on the top of my list to add etched number/name plates.

Of interest to myself and possibly others too, what glue are you using to fixing them to the loco?

Not sure about Barry but I have found varnish or a tiny drop of paint the same colour as the loco does good job. Double sided sticky tape is also very good.

I use Glue n Glaze - same people that make Roket card Glue, Track magic etc.

I used PVA this time - applied carefully with a cocktail stick. I also made sure the nameplate was "flat" before I attached it - they do sometimes have gentle bow which makes the ends difficult to stick down. The dust is not to scale

IMG_0977 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

On my Britannias I have used Pritt with great success. The beauty of it, is that any excess can be removed with a damp cotton bud. 20 sets so far with no problems.