Gaugemaster GM970 On The Footplate Figure Set A - OO Gauge

Three exclusive, pre-painted OO gauge figures covering some of the most iconic steam-era railway roles — Driver, Fireman, and the often-overlooked Wheel Tapper. Each one is crafted with genuine attention to pose and period detail, making them ready to drop straight onto your layout without picking up a brush. At roughly £2 a figure, it's a cost-effective way to bring a quiet depot scene properly to life.

On the Footplate — Bringing Steam-Era Character to Your Layout

If your locomotives are running but nobody's driving them, something's always going to feel slightly off. It's one of those things you might not consciously notice at first — but the moment you add a figure in the cab or a maintenance worker on the platform edge, the whole scene clicks into place. That's exactly what the Gaugemaster GM970 On the Footplate (3) Figure Set A is designed to do.

This is part of Gaugemaster's first dedicated figure range, and it shows — these aren't rebranded figures you've seen a dozen times before. They're exclusive designs, developed specifically for the Gaugemaster catalogue, with the kind of care that goes into getting the poses and period detail right rather than just filling a box.

Who's in the Box?

Set A gives you three figures, each representing a distinct steam-era role:

• Driver — posed on duty, exactly as you'd expect to find him preparing for or coming off a run
• Fireman — the unsung half of any steam locomotive crew, captured mid-duty in a natural working stance
• Wheel Tapper — and this is the one that catches people's attention. Wheel tappers are a wonderful bit of railway history, and you rarely find them in standard figure sets. A nice touch of realism for any depot or platform scene

All three arrive pre-painted in historically inspired uniforms — the paintwork is careful and characterful, with enough texture and variation to look convincing at arm's length on a finished layout. No brushwork required on your part unless you want to add your own weathering on top, which they'd certainly take well.

Where They Work Best

The obvious home for the Driver and Fireman is an open locomotive cab — a Jinty, a Black Five, anything with a footplate worth staffing. The Wheel Tapper is particularly well suited to platform edges, carriage sidings, or any depot scene where maintenance activity would be taking place. All three will work equally well in scenic dioramas if you're building a static steam-era display rather than a running layout.

Worth noting: these are 1:76 scale, so they're spot-on for OO gauge. They'll technically sit on an HO layout too, but they'll read as slightly tall — something to bear in mind.

Part of a Wider Set

If three figures isn't quite enough to staff a busy depot scene, GM971 Set B adds three more in different poses, and the GM950 six-figure set brings both sets together in one purchase. Good to know if you're planning ahead.

At around £2 per figure, the value here is genuinely solid for pre-painted scenic detail of this quality. Give them a go — and if the Wheel Tapper earns a few comments at your next club night, don't say we didn't warn you.

Product Details:

• Product Code: GM970
• Scale: 1:76 (OO Gauge)
• Number of Figures: 3
• Figures Included: Wheel Tapper, Driver, Fireman
• Pre-Painted: Yes
• Era: Steam Era
• Material: Plastic / Resin
• HO Gauge Compatible: Yes (figures will appear slightly oversized)
• Brand: Gaugemaster
• Related Products: GM971 (Set B), GM950 (6-Figure Set)