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James May: The Christmas Reassembler

James May reassembles his favourite childhood Christmas present - the Hornby Flying Scotsman with realistic chuffing sounds, which he received on Christmas Day 1972.

Much like Santa Claus, James May has spent the year in his workshop getting ready for Christmas, in a festive special in which he reassembles his favourite childhood Christmas present.

But this isn't just any Christmas present, this is the one that changed his life and sent him on to a path of mechanical intrigue and reassembly. This is the Hornby Flying Scotsman with realistic chuffing sounds which James ripped open on Christmas Day 1972.

Laid out in all its 138 tiny component parts, James lovingly reassembles the train as well as his memories of Christmases and toys past. From the exhilarating remagnetising of the motor's magnets to some thrilling wheel-quartering amidst a backdrop of James's continued bafflement of electricity, we watch as James rebuilds the entire train set and hopes at the end his Christmas wish will come true and the train will start up and realistically chuff into the night.

30 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2020 01:55

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter James May
Writer James May
Executive Producer Will Daws
Executive Producer Stuart Cabb
Series Producer Dan Lewis
Director Dan Lewis
Production Company Plum Pictures Ltd

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