I’ve got a Leader on order, and I’m really looking forward to it arriving

Bulleid didn't give up after the Leader. He went on to work as CME for Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) Irish Railways where he designed a similar locomotive which burnt peat (turf) rather than coal. Unfortunately it was as great of a flop as the Leader.

Thanks for the usual insightful and comprehensive review. Can't wait to get my hands on both of them 😊. I must say KR Models overall certainly have carved out a niche by providing the more unusual items that some of us despaired at ever owning (have some wagons and the GT3 in prototype livery and all are Downright Gorgeous). In the years to come, their news announcements will Always be of Great Interest !

Wasn’t too interested in the leader until I watched this video and I have to say it’s growing on me

Great review and very curious models! Leader was definitely an oddball locomotive. It seems to represent a last hurrah from the steam men who were attempting to make a loco look modern but failed on functionality. I wonder if it would have performed any better if the project had been allowed to go further.

Great review. The Leader looks very impressive in this video - I had no idea it was so huge.

DHP1 doesn't look too bad for an early sample. I'm hoping to buy one in the prototypical livery once she's released, and I just find it so odd that any company is making a model of such an obscure locomotive (another example of an unlucky prototype, as it were, is D0260 'Lion' and the model that Heljan made).

DHP1 - I'm not sure what the noise before the guard's whistle was meant to be, but it could be identified as "grafitti artist shaking a rattle-can"!

I love br blue livery, it is unmistakable.

I might be wrong but I believe that the Leader wheels were just Q1 wheels in size.

The leader does have a hatch above the Fireman compartment, but to make it able to slide open there would have to be some detail inside. I have never heard of these locos, but I do like the idea of bringing these locos out in a RTR OO scale. Well done KR Models. Martin. (Thailand)

AGHHH I don’t know if I should preorder big Bertha or the leader!!!

there are very good books on the Leader, bulleid went to Ireland and fixed of lot of the issues with the turf burner

Brilliant locomotive

Hi Jenny, nice preview of two interesting locomotives. I own a second run GT-3 gas turbine in brown, with sound. It is a wonderful model, and so I pre ordered two other KR Models locomotives, the HO scale Shay locomotive, and the Leader class locomotive.

I have no problem with "what if" liveries. They liven up the operation of your railroad, and the increased types help amortize the production costs of otherwise rare examples that wouldn't be possible without the diversity. Very interesting examples and I can't wait to see the "what if" liveries on the silver loco.

Pleased to see the Leader in the flesh at last. Shame about the rivets. Agree with others that the coal load looks wrong. In most photos of the Leader prototype in action the sliding doors appear to be open, presumably to improve ventilation and driver visibility. There should be provision for firebox glow. Again I would like to see couplings moulded in clear plastic so less visually obtrusive. Not sure about the BR blue what-if livery but if it sells then fair enough - seeing it in Southern livery would be good possibly pulling Bulleid double deck coaches.

Mmm I know they are pre production but it worries me.. I would have expected to see things right and more complete by this stage. They run well but it would of been better on straight DC to check the basics are right. The Dph1 Clayton, plenty of achieve photos if one knows where to look or if they were open to it... oddly the roof has changed colour when it was more correct before although no entirely.. so it's gone backwards. Looks like the front may have had some changes as well... The Leader I have a vested interest in... The bogies have been changed a bit with.the vaccum cylinders 2 on each.. it doesn't represent the various changes it had in its life.. very short life... body shell sitting too high.. however that's due to PCB and clips... I did send a list of 20 odd errors on the original... there were rivers on some photos you can see them down the side they are slightly more pronounced... especially the front. Water space isn't correct missing some details in there.There's some good photos in a book I have... disappointing to see moulded pipe work, also needs to be black and hasn't been painted yet... coal load looks a bit odd lumps are too large. Driver and fireman also had vents in the roof these are moulded on this model.. also the only way to access the coal/water space... accounting to an extract in the book it wasn't that bad in the cab.. depending how you read it and who he was saying that for. I'm not sure the lights are correct in terms of running... but I know someone who does... There's still errors on the body, handrail placement on the cab doors, shouldn't be coming out of the side should be the inside door pillar. Roof shape mmm not sure but details and refinement are needed. 2021 was the only time we had a pre production of Leader. I have designed some additional parts and printed for the sleeve valve gear... to depict it in the early days... and a cover which it ran with. Even designed a body shell just incase things werent resolved. It's interesting Riddles supported it's development and wanted it to carry on.

great new item for any diesel or industrial use maybe in yellow with black stripes for bsc. See you at mk and warley.

Interesting, how's about a pair of rail blue Claytons numbered in the 18 0xx series post TOPS or even maybe railfreight red stripe in the 18 3xx..... As for the Leader, BR Black early emblem for me. . Thanks for the 'heads-up' video in these Jenny. and for all of those who's comments are saying " this is ( wrong / not right colour / doesn't match photos ), please remember they are both PRE=PRODUCTION, HAND FINISHED MODELS.... as Jenny herself points out on numerous occasions.

BEAutiful !

Coal load on the Leader looks to be well out-of-gauge (too tall)

Leader looks great but the more i wait around this impulse buy seems less and less needed by me.

Thank you Jenny Love the Leader class can't wait to order and get one Now if you can use your influence can you suggest to a builder to produce a Z class 0-8-0 T locomotive from Southern Region thank you 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

That coal load needs revising! It looks very out of gauge and the lumps of coal look like they are small boulders. Also what's up with the very flat leaf springs, are they covers? and unpainted bogie side frames?

Sad to see manufacturers perpetuating directional lighting. That's not how real loco lights work, it was a good solution in the 1980s but DCC gives us better solutions. Mark in Melbourne

KR models - lovely models of awful prototypes!