SAR Class 25NC No. 3405
Large South African steam on Cape gauge.
Bring the engine
to life.
Start with the suggested palette or choose your own colours. Build gentle layers around the engine's distinctive shapes.
Suggested pencil shades and approximate screen swatches. These are not historical paint specifications.
Start lightly and build the darker surfaces gradually. Preserve the printed details.
Leave fine white highlights to separate the moving parts.
Keep the surroundings quieter than the locomotive. Retain light sky areas.
Look a little closer.
No. 3405 on static display with dark bodywork, pale wheel rims and a red front buffer beam. Read each caption before using it as a colour or configuration reference.
No. 3405 on static display with dark bodywork, pale wheel rims and a red front buffer beam. Photograph of the named locomotive. Preserved appearance may differ from its original working condition.
Clive Warneford · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source photograph. Resized and converted to WebP.
A later preserved view of No. 3405 with weathered dark paint and exposed pale and rusty areas on the front casing. Photograph of the named locomotive. Preserved appearance may differ from its original working condition.
Gareth James · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source photograph. Resized and converted to WebP.
Rear three-quarter view of No. 3405 and its long tender in weathered dark paint, with red buffer details. Photograph of the named locomotive. Preserved appearance may differ from its original working condition.
nick macneill · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source photograph. Resized and converted to WebP.
Close view of the red-and-cream 3405 number plate and brass-coloured North British builder’s plate against dark painted metal. Photograph of the named locomotive. Preserved appearance may differ from its original working condition.
Oxyman · CC BY 2.5 · Source photograph. Resized and converted to WebP.
Preserved No. 3405 with pale blue side panels, black boiler surfaces, white wheel rims and a red buffer beam. This is its displayed finish in this photograph, not a claim about original service paint. Photograph of the named locomotive. Preserved appearance may differ from its original working condition.
Oxyman · CC BY 2.5 · Source photograph. Resized and converted to WebP.
Know the version.
The source below supports the locomotive identity and history. The photographs record the finish visible when each image was taken. A preserved or replica finish does not establish the original paint specification. Exact original paint shades and all period marking details have not been established for this guide.
The pencil example uses charcoal and dusty grey. Its palette is interpretive. The gallery records the particular appearances described in its captions; preserved engines, replicas and monochrome photographs cannot establish every original shade or marking.
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre: Class 25NC No. 3405 stockbookDid you know?
No. 3405 was built in Glasgow for South Africa and later returned to Britain for preservation, completing an unusual international round trip.
Make the details count.
Use a little warm dust below the running board.
Keep the large smoke deflectors distinct from the dark front.