As part of their announcement for planned new releases in 2013 Hornby have included a number of items of interest to SR / BR(s) modellers. The headline brand new model of interest is the 2Bil EMU
Eventually totalling 152 units the 2 Bil (bi-lavatory) first appeared in 1935 as a batch of ten units with 9ft wide bodyshells, intended for semi fast main line use on the Eastbourne line. Each unit consisted of a motor brake third and a driving trailer composite. A further batch of 2Bils was introduced in 1936 for use on the Waterloo to Portsmouth (slow) and Waterloo to Alton services. The final batch in 1938 was built for use on the Waterloo to Reading line. These post 1936 batches had detail differences and a slightly different layout to the motor car with larger luggage area and different compartment arrangement including a four seat coupe. The original batch also had a different control gear.
These units were long lived with some surviving until 1971, gaining the corporate blue livery and being allocated the TOPS Class 401.
Hornby are releasing sets 2114 and 2134 in train packs representing those from the post 1936 batches with R3161 as set 2114 in Maunsell lined olive green livery as when first introduced and R3162 as set 2134 in early British Railways mulitiple unit green with all over green ends.
Also being released is a National Railway Museum special edition R3177 representing set 2090 as preserved at the NRM. All of these units are in production now to be available for release in quarter 1 in 2013!
Keeping with EMUs the popular 5Bel “Brighton Bell” set will be available 2nd Quarter in the 1960’s version of umber and cream as train pack R3184 and coach pack R4582
Locomotives
R3160XS Rebuilt West Country Class No.34046 “Braunton” DCC Sound fitted in BR Brunswick Late Crest livery (Qtr1) Edit: 21/12/12 as 34046 would have been paired to a rebodied 5250 gallon tender not currently tooled by Hornby this release will now appear as 34108 Wincanton
R3010 King Arthur N15 Class No.771 “Sir Sagramore” in SR Pre 1931 Maunsell livery (Qtr1)
R3107 T9 Class No. 30313 in BR lined black with late crest livery paired to 6 wheel tender (Qtr2)
R3194 Schools V class No.30937 “Epsom” in BR lined black early crest livery with Lemaitre chimney (Qtr2)
R3208 Schools V class No.30915 “Brighton” in Br lined black early crest livery and white cab roof for royal train duty with Lemaitre chimney (Qtr3) (Concessions exclusive)
R3203 Rebuilt West Country Class No.34013 “Oakhampton” in BR Brunswick Late Crest livery (Qtr3)
R3159 M7 class no.30055 in BR lined black late crest livery, long framed Pull Push fitted. (Qtr3)
R3204 M7 class no.245 Special NRM Edition in LSWR livery, short framed. (Qtr3)
Somewhat more modern but running on previous SR territory the Eurostar and Javlin models are also to be released with the latest liveries (Qtr2).
Rolling stock
Although no new livery versions of the Maunsell coaches have been announced a further version of the Pull Push coach pack R4534B is added to the range (although the set number of this pack is yet to be confirmed) this is in addition to R5434A as Set 616 already announced with both to arrive Quarter 2.
Also relevant for BR(s) modellers is that the MK1 coach is being completely retooled and is included in the Railroad range aimed to compete on price with the Bachmann versions. (Qtr3)
The SR/BR(s) Van B will also be produced in BR Crimson R4586, BR Green R4536B and a version listed as BR Blue Scotland R4585. (Qtr2)
Of the new Private Owner wagon liveries announced R6590 is a 7 plank wagon in A & H Betts, Stewarts Lane Se&CR livery. (Qtr1)
Scaledale
The popular and convenient Scaledale range of resin buildings and accessories, that have been affectionately coined as ‘Ready-To-Plonk’ includes a couple of Southern inspired items, firstly: R9729 an Art Deco style signal box based on the SR box at Deal (Qtr2) and also R9727 trackside steps / rasised walkway for carriage cleaning etc based on those that were at London Victoria (Qtr2). Scaledale items tend to be limited to single production runs so purchase them while you can!
Summary
It is fair to say that Hornby have been suffering from supply issues in the last couple of years and this along with an aim to reduce rising costs has resulted in them making changes to their design philosophy. They have coined this as ‘Designed Clever’ and aims to simplify production, whilst maintaining quality and the detail levels whilst keeping products costs reasonable to the market place. The Pull Push sets were one of the first to be produced this way and their quality bodes well for this process.
Although the 2Bill is the only complete new tooling from a Southern / BR(s) perspective Hornby’s range to continue to increase as they have also announced totally new tooling for a GWR Star and a Hall along with an LNER P2, BR Standard 8 “Duke of Gloucester” and a Sentenal 0-4-0 industrial diesel.
These locos will be available with a lower detail / finishing (limited lining etc.) and therefore lower price version in the Railroad range too.
Three new wagons from new tooling have also been announced in the shape of a GWR shunters truck, a LMS / BR Parcels van CCT and BR 12T fish van (blue spot).
It is interesting to note that some of the incorrectly rumoured items have not appeared such as the Original Merchant Navy, S15 or 700 classes but hey at least my kit built examples will retain an air of originality on Fisherton Sarum!
The full range can be found on Hornby’s website here or also on the Model Railways Live website here.
Deeply disappointing from the South Western perspective, what more can I say.
Thanks for the summary Graham. A good overall range announcement from Hornby – which is what they do best. I do think though that they are retreating from the finer scale offering and targeting the middle ground and ‘toy’ sector more with locos. But that is good for those more expert modellers who want to modify and make improvements.
[tongue in cheek] you could always swap to N gauge, we have a T9, 700 and M7 RTR and a few kits. A Schools and Maunsell coaches announced. [/tongue in cheek]
Currently on my bench, etched kits for LSWR 30′ 6 wheel full brakes, 48′ bogie fruit/brake and 20′ ;horse box. Kit and hacked line up includes H15, N15 and S15 in Urie and Maunsell versions,, B4s. Nelsons K10 and A12 Jubilee, plus a D15 and Adams X6 awaiting bench space.
Are we allowed to express opinions herein Graham, or does this fall under the RMweb rules?
No issue with expressing opinion on here just as long as its not inflammatory!
I fear that we Southern Steam modellers must have failed to satisfy Hornby with the numbers of their exquisite Southern models that we have bought. There’s been nothing ‘new’ for the Southern, locomotive-wise, since the ‘Schools’ a good few years ago and, rolling-stock wise, the Pull-Push set and the Bogie B van last year, both of which have received a rapturous reception. At least I could afford the latter, just.
However, looking on the bright side, we haven’t had to sneak new stock past the domestic authorities recently, or explain odd payments on the bank statements!
Compare us to the poor old LNER modellers, who have been bled dry by the enormous numbers of new locomotives and stock, and are now faced with having to buy no less than six A4s at more than £1,000 in total just to get a free display cabinet! And then they have only just started . . .
Thank you Hornby, for giving me another year to recover my finances.
Graham,
Excellent summary of the 2013 Hornby Southern releases. Thank you.
So! Hornby finally produced the 2-Bil I wondered how long before this would materialise? Ever since 2-Bil 2090 was renovated at the NRM in 2004 and before being moved up to Shildon. I was given to understand Hornby engineers were taking photographs and measurements.
I am still puzzled to exactly what the R3177 NRM set will be finished in. From what I have seen the livery for this unit is BR green with lion . Hopefully we may still yet see a Southern Malachite circa 1940s.
I do wish some manufacturers and suppliers would be more explicit in identifying the correct Southern green in their descriptions of locomotives and rolling stock. Be it Maunsell green, Malachite or Southern BR green. Not just Southern Green.
NLA
On a rather more serious note, I see from the picture of the forthcoming third release of the Bogie B van that they have the word ‘Guard’ much smaller than on the first two. I hope this makes it through to production like that as I wrecked my model by trying to remove the oversize wording, which took off some of the underlying paintwork, leaving a nasty mess.
Glad it was not just me that expected a S15!
Totally agree with the comments by Jeremy English. LNER modellers became very vocal about wanting models and it seems to have paid off. Recent polls have shown S15 and Black Motor to be “Most wanted”, perhaps with the delay in transforming wishes to reality these are in the pipeline or about to be sanctioned. The lack of Southern steam from Hornby over recent years is beyond a joke. Perhaps Bachmann will announce the Black motor?
PS Have you got any further with the exact shade of Malachite Green?
The reference to Malachite green was not intended to promote discussion on the various shades of Malachite green.
In Southern circles, it is generally well known, differences in perception of colour exist from all modelling sources. The major model manufacturers have not agreed upon it for years!
One must agree differences will occur due to changes in pigment, varnish application and discolouration due to weathering.
In the book HMRS LIVERY REGISTRY no. 3, LSWR and SOUTHERN
Malachite green and the variations on colour are described in part:
“This name refers to a pigment, which is derived from coal tar, as well as a mineral of that name. It is listed as colour no.CC94 of the British Colour Council and has an approximate Munsell reference of 10 GY 4/5.” etc.
Also some good information on the standard size of lettering.
Hi Norman
The issue of Malachite green and which is best applied to models is something that is still ongoing. I use Precision Paints P78 across most of my fleet, whilst the current Hornby version is much darker and pretty much the same as the BR(s) green and there are a number of people in either camp.
Finally managed to look at the full range without the website crashing. I’m normally a positive person so I’m happy to say that the Blinkbonny house and fishermans cottage look like they would fit into a SW scene. However the Maunsell SO coach has disappeared from the listing, I’m hoping this new Southern item has not been dropped……
Bob
The Maunsell SO being an originally planned 2012 release is not listed as being a new 2013 but as per my post here http://grahammuz.com/2012/11/22/hornby-update-on-revised-delivery-dates/ is in the programme now for a June delivery!
I do not think Hornby will be making the Mk1 coaches in BR SR green. I have also noticed that the Bachmann green Mk1s are not selling well and are being heavily discounted. It is probably because BR SR modellers have already bought all the green Mk1s they want.
Hornby have let me down with the Maunsell Pull-Push set. I still have not got one and now I have got to wait until at least the middle of next year.
Hi Robin
I am sure that eventually the Hornby Mk1s will appear in BR(S) Green. The new tooling is required to replace their existing aging tooling for the MK1s which are still a mainstay coach for a lot of their market and of course within train sets. One of the reasons for the Backmann latest Green MK1s not being so popular is the fact that Bachmann have changed the green yet again (the third time for the Bulleid coaches) and is now a far too dark green and even allowing for the coaches in reality not being all the same shade it is in many eyes too much of a colour shift.
With the change in manufacturing facilities for the new tooled product deliveries of the such should improve and will overtake some of the previous announced that still remains in the queue at the old manufacturers. The 2Bils for example are pretty much already manufactured and ready for shipping.
Hornby, Tri-ang and Tri-ang Hornby have always been very good at getting the right shade of green for their BR(S) coaches.
I agree shame they have not been good at Malachite!
My Maunsell Malachite green coaches do not match my Hornby locomotives or the earlier representations of Maunsell coaches. Hornby could get the correct colour from HMRS Livery Register no.3 LSWR and Southern. There is a colour chart in appendix 4, I am not sure whether Humbrol Malachite Green Railway Enamel was the right shade.
Well I like the shade Hornby use on their original light pacifics but bare in mind that the Southern varnished their coaches that meant although technically the same colour the varnish had the effect of darkening the appearance so just copying the livery Register would not in reality be a true representation.
The Humbrol acrylic malachite green is supposed to be a match for the green used on their locos but I have never managed to get it to properly match.
I remember seeing somewhere that Simon Kohler said their researchers had decided the Maunsell coach Malachite shade was correct. I wonder whether this actually may be near the truth in this particular case as initially WW2 may have encouraged revarnishing rather than repainting followed by repainters putting off the evil day of moving from Malachite green to crimson and cream as long as possible by again revarnishing as stated above. If this was repeatedly done the shade may have been quite dark.
I certainly thought the earliest version of the Bachmann BR1 green was too Malachite and inappropriate.
Again I also read somewhere that the crimson shade used by BR (SR) was brighter than that used by other regions. It is worth remembering a lot of mixing of paints to recipes went on and the colour fastness was not as good as todays.
As a train spotting kid in the mid to late 1940s mostly around Poole, I can recall that most of the stock that ran between Bournemouth and Weymouth was either wartime black or Maunsell livery, not a lot of Malachite. Many of the Arthurs and Nelsons we saw were still in Olive which tended to age towards a bluish tinge.
In my opinion Malachite was not as common as we are led to beleive.
The Southern Region did varnish malachite green coaches after nationalisation. For instance some of the earlier pull-push sets used on the Swanage Railway were painted red but one was left green as a heritage set. I cannot remember whether these were LSWR or ironclad pull-pushes. Th Mk1 coaches were built after nationalisation and would have been painted crimson and cream and then BR coach green, which was darker than malachite green. I think Bachmann painted their earlier MK1s as if they were varnished malachite green coaches.
Much the same as yourself, I suppose I can view no MN and S15 to mean my kit built versions will not need repplacing for a while. This will save a lot of money as I’ve MNs in SR Malachite, BR Blue and BR Green liveries.
I am pleased to see that Hornby is doing another run of the B vans as I missed out on these last year. The Swanage Railway has got two at Corfe Castle. One is a cinema coach in Southern malachite green, the other is in BR blue. The blue one was restored by some youngsters who chose this livery as they had seen trains in this livery on the main line. I look forward to buying R4585 BR blue B van as I am modelling Corfe Castle Station.