I bought a very interesting book about the railways in and around Avonmouth and also succumbed to a Dapol, late crest, green 08 - at £150, it was too good an offer to resist.
It is a bit of minefield when it comes to choosing a Prototype for the Class 08 as there are so many variations. I compiled the following list which may help you identify a suitable Prototype for your Dapol 08. Over the years various modifications were made to the Class 08 so it's always worth checking a photograph of your chosen Locomotive but the list should give you an idea of what numbers would be suitable for your Dapol 08.
Class 08 Shunter variations.
Bonnet Access Doors
Long Hinges were fitted up to 08266 (D3336) & 08369 (D3454) to 08387 (D3472).
Short Vertical Handles were fitted from 08177 (D3245) onwards.
Cab Doors
Wooden Cab Doors were fitted up to 08704 (D3871). Steel Cab Doors were fitted from 08705 (D3872) onwards.
08 858 was involved in an accident during 1978 and received the cab from 08 090 with Wooden Doors but retaining Steel Droplights.
08 887 was involved in an accident during 1986 and received the cab from 08 159 with Wooden Doors but retaining Steel Droplights.
Cab Droplights
Wooden Droplights were fitted up to
08101 (D3136) & 08149 (D3217) to 08156 (D3224)
Steel Droplights were fitted to: -
08102 (D3137) to 08148 (D3216) & 08157 (D3225) to 08958 (D4192)
Cabinets
All Locomotives were built with a Vacuum Exhauster Cabinet on LHS.
The following Locomotives also had an identical Cabinet on RHS: -
08001 (D3004) to 08176 (D3244)
08545 (D3709) to 08560 (D3727)
08571 (D3738) to 08595 (D3762)
08606 (D3773) to 08639 (D3806)
08656 (D3823) to 08958 (D4192)
The following Locomotives were built without the RHS Cabinet although some may have had them fitted when later Dual / Air Braked: -
08177 (D3245) to 08544 (D3708)
08561 (D3728) to 08570 (D3737)
08596 (D3763) to 08605 (D3772)
08640 (D3807) to 08655 (D3822) 08641,08649 & 08651 confirmed with RHS Cabinet
Air / Dual Braking
Locomotives retrofitted with Dual Brakes (Vac/Air) had an additional Cabinet for an Air Compressor fitted between the Fuel Tank and
the Battery Box on the LHS only.
Running Plate
Up to 08698 (D3865) the running plate had a lip at the top and a fillet that projects downwards at the rear end of the running plate to the buffer beam, 08699 (D3866) onwards did not have either feature, the running plates were plain and had no fillet to the rear buffer beam.