A 3D printed bodykit to build a model of Avonside B4 0-6-0ST ‘Portbury’ of Avonmouth Docks, Port of Bristol Authority, Inland Waterways & Docks and Bristol Harbour Railway.

This version features the distinctive 3 rear windows (2 oval and one round) as well as the bufferbeam extensions of the prototype. It also comes with an extra set of Peckett buffers as PBA tended to use these as replacements instead of Avonside ones (Portbury now has 3 Peckett and 1 Avonside buffer).

A portion of the profit from the sale of this kit goes towards maintaining the real ‘Portbury’ on the Bristol Harbour Railway.

Download the instructions here

The B4 was built by Avonside of Bristol from 1915 until 1934 when the company closed. Earlier versions had a rounded tank and later ones gained the more angular version. It was Avonside’s standard six wheeled industrial design and was used in ports, coal mines, ironstone quarries and more.

The Avonside Engine Company received an order on 21 December 1916 from the British government for a batch of nine B4-class engines; the specification is marked: ‘these locomotives are for the War Office and delivery is of the utmost importance’. She was to be used on the construction of a new shipyard intended for the building of cargo vessels to replace those being lost during the First World War. The locomotive was painted battleship grey with I. W. & D. 34 on the sides of her water tank.

I. W. & D. 34 was acquired by the Bristol Docks Committee in February 1919 and named Portbury. She worked at Avonmouth until 1964 when put aside for preservation, returning to steam on the Bristol Harbour Railway in 1988.

This kit was designed by Adam White to fit the Hornby Peckett B2 chassis and with a little modification can be altered to represent multiple members of the class. Portbury can be adapted to represent other Avonmouth Avonsides by cutting down the bufferbeams.

The B4 is supplied in 3 main separate components to make sanding, paint preparation and detailing as easy as possible. This is because the 3D printing process, while being able to capture excellent detail, inevitably will have tiny layers on the surface which need to be sanded smooth wherever possible. We have found it easiest to paint all components separately and then glue together during final assembly.

Main Components:

Boiler and Saddle Tank, Cab, Running plate and bufferbeams

Separately fitted 3D printed accessories included:

Chimney, Dome/Safety Valve, Tank Filler Lid, Sandboxes, Buffers, Handbrake Column, Reverser, Firebox Backhead, Regulator

Separately fitted accessories included:

Handrail knobs x 9, .45mm Handrail Wire, Brass Smokebox Door Dart, Whitemetal Dummy Coupling Hooks x 2

We’ve tried to keep as many scale dimensions as possible, the main difference between this and the real thing is that the Peckett chassis has an offset wheelbase and slightly larger wheels than the Avonside, we have made the running board thicker for strength but kept the overall height of the loco the same. Hopefully these compromises are acceptable and the loco can become an asset to any industrial or heritage fleet!

Free postage to the UK

Please note this kit will require a Hornby Peckett B2 chassis

3D Printing - please note that the raw 3D printed model will always have layers on the surface, there are some tips and tricks on smoothing them on the Railway Mania channel build videos. We do try very hard to get the highest print quality we can and check all models for defects before sale.