Hornby have announced today that they are produce a version of Merchant Navy 21c1 ‘Channel Packet’ in malachite green with DCC Sound and water vapour Steam generator fitted.
R30399SS SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 21C1 Channel Packet – Steam Generator represents her as per the original Hornby R3434 released which only represents her very early condition from when first introduced in February 1941 and May 1941.
She has the original front end design known as ‘Widows peak’ without smoke deflectors, the area around the chimney filled as first designed and the sliding chimney cover, that was supposedly to be used to cover the opening when not in steam.
The Smokebox door ‘Southern’ roundel is the inverted horseshoe (later changed to a full circle with addition of the engine build date due to complaints that such an inverted horseshoe was a sign of bad luck). She also is fitted with the cast gunmetal number and ‘Southern’ plates that she carried until renumbering to 35001 in September 1949 and has the front number plate position being on the sloping section. when not in steam. It should also be noted in this condition she had silver coloured cab window frames and only had front steps fixed to the front right buffer when looking at the front rather then both sides.
By May 1941 step cut outs were added to the sloping face and the lamp irons and electric lamps moved to just above the vertical face on the front hence also the relocation of the cast number plate to the vertical face.
Please note the images are not of the final model, these will follow later as Hornby get further in their development process. One key difference will be the loco to tender connector.
The RRP is £364.99 but can be pre-ordered, due Feb 2026, at a discounted (£328.49) from retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre.
Good that Hornby continue to produce Southern rolling stock. I have only the Royal Mail MN model, without sound. I am undecided about the Hornby sound chip, probably because I am use to Zimo and Loksound. I would be interested in views of others. Also the steam generator which I have avoided in earlier creations because I was unconvinced as to their realism.
There would seem to be an opening for some comparative testing in the model rail press.