This weekend 4th/5th December sees the fourth World of Railways Virtual Exhibition, and a weekend filled with entertainment for all ages, model railways of all shapes, sizes and scales, plus informative model ‘how-to’ advice, and interviews with the brands who bring us the models we enjoy, including a in a couple of different interviews yours truly…
The virtual show organisers, Warners/BRM, have introduced a range of new features, including: guest modelling panels answering your questions, and a Christmas shopping segment you’ll not want to miss. Fan favourites remain, including the hugely popular Kids Zone, competitions, puzzles, exclusive interviews and more.
Also included are a behind-the-scenes look at the 121 Collection, a trip to the Severn Valley Railway, and a visit to the Crewe Heritage Centre, to name a few.
A #BigWORshow wouldn’t be complete without its competitions! There’s something for all the family across the weekend, from ‘spot the difference’, puzzle games and colouring for younger viewers, with a fabulous selection of prizes to win for adults, from a Hornby Queen Elizabeth and limited edition Merchant Navy, to an Oxford Rail modern air-braked Warwell and Bachmann BR Mk. 1 coaches.
21c3 Royal Mail in May 1947 condition with freshly fitted standard smoke deflectors21c3 in bits following an attack of a razor saw21c3 Royal Mail21c3 and 21c7 together what I call the posh chocolate shot
Like the latest Hornby model of 21c7 the previously released model R3435 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ model has been produced in her early condition, with the ‘widows peak’ and without smoke deflectors. 21c3 was introduced in September 1941 in malachite green livery but repainted in plain black as a wartime measure in May 1943. Changes to the smoke deflection stated in September 1944 when she was fitted with the top cowl and short flared deflectors. 21c3 was repainted malachite green in November 1945 and was subsequently fitted with standard length and style of smoke detectors in May 1947. She stayed in this condition until June 1948 when she was renumbered 35003 and British Railways in SR style sunshine lettering.
I have therefore took the razor to hand and modelled 21c3 in her May 1947 condition just after she received freshly painted new standard deflectors, complete with the baton along the top for mounting the Devon Belle wing plates as a per a photograph of her that I have in my collection.
Like my 21c7 conversion I have used etched smoke deflectors, electric lamps and a replacement smoke box dart from the excellent Albert Goodall range supplied by my friends at RT Models. The replacement lamp irons are simply staples cut to length and I have replaced the flat printed nameplates and smokebox door roundel with etched versions from Fox Transfers.
I have followed the same steps as per my Workbench Witterings #10 post here so will not repeat the stage by stage details. Who knows when we might see this version from Hornby, as I said in the #10 post once you get over the brave step of putting a razor saw to a brand new model the modification is reasonably quick and easy to complete.
It was back in February 2015 when Hornby announced that they were to produce an original air smoothed Bulleid Merchant Pacific as part of their 2016 range, however they were then moved into the 2017 range. These first three R3434 21c1 ‘Channel Packet’, R3435 21c3 ‘Royal Mail’ and R3436 35028 ‘Clan line’ arrived in March 2017, see my review of 21c1 here.
Since then the high seas between China and the UK have been devoid of Hornby ‘Merchant Navys’ despite further versions being announced in the following years.
Hornby advised in January 2020 that the delay was due to one of factories that they use being unexpectedly at very short notice closed, due to a compulsory purchase of the land by the Chinese government! This impacted the production of the new Merchant Navy pacifics, versions of the Peckett industrial tanks, the Class 800 Azuma units and the GWR 61xx large Prairie tanks locomotives. Work to move the tooling to another factory appeared to take longer than had been hoped, however the backlog is slowly being cleared and 35024 should hopefully now be the first of the overdue excellent Merchant Navys to arrive.
Rear RH 3/4 view, the lamp lens are yet to be toned down at the rear
35024 ‘East Asiatic Company’ was the first Merchant Navy to appear in the Express Passenger Engine Blue for the newly formed British Railways. Whilst in Eastleigh works in March 1949 for Minor ‘D’ examination she was first painted in a dark blue (note: not recorded as being the experimental purple seen on some other non SR loco classes, including the wheels with three horizontal crimson bands and a hand painted early emblem on the tender. She however re-entered service in what was to become standard express passenger blue with two horizontal black bands with white lining, following inspection of the livery by members of the Railway Executive at Brighton Works.
The blue paint of the time wasn’t very practical in practice, due to the elements and the heat from the engine causing the paint to discolour and fade quite quickly hence the change to BR Green for all Passenger Locos only a couple years later.
Hornby have released 35025 in the condition in which she first ran for a while in this livery from Exmouth Junction, as she does not carry the later BR shedplate (72A) it would have been fitted sometime before May 1949 when she was also fitted with the battens on the smoke deflectors to carry the ‘Devon Belle’ wing plates.
The left hand side view, although I’ve painted out the silver lamp lenses I might make the lens itself gloss.
I wont repeat my full review of 21c1, as that can be read here, and all the positives are also on this model such as: the powerful 5 pole motor with large flywheel, all wheel pick up, the excellent coupling rods, the loco and tender brake rodding being factory fitted. Included with the loco is an accessory pack that contains a pair of front steps for the loco buffers (which might like the wheel tyres benefit from being toned down from the bright steel) and rear steps for the bufferbeam on the tender, cylinder drain cocks and also steam and vacuum pipes.
As with previous Hornby Bulleid pacifics the front steps in particular require glue to affix and is a little tricky.
The fixed rear pony truck has flangeless wheels as is Hornby’s current way for pacific wheel arrangements allowing for a better representation of the ashpan etc. It may be possible if your curves allow to fit a flanged wheelset if you wish.
Rear LH 3/4 view
The paint finish, whilst a slightly different hue to the printed box not that it maters, I think captures the drabness of the BR Passenger Blue well.
If the carpet crawler YouTube reviewer is to be believed this should along with the flat casing top be a stain finish just because another manufacturer has done so on a totally unrelated model, he also claims the nameplates are etched but printed, and that the brass cab side window frames are wood (to be fair they are wooden on the Light Pacifics). For the record whilst the blue could perhaps be only slightly more satin for an ex works condition, the casing tops should be matt black.
The excellently detailed cab interior, even down the the gauge dials, has been supplemented by some crew by Masterpiece Figures.
I only have two niggles are firstly the nameplates, whilst separately applied plastic parts are printed with none of the casting relief and I have already replaced these with etched plates from Fox Transfers.
Secondly the characteristic electric lamps that in reality are hung from the underside of the swan neck style lamp iron and also had electric conduit attached. However, on the model the lamp is attached via a perpendicular lug on their back into holes on the sloping front casing them to point upwards slightly and the very fragile plastic lamp irons to lean backwards.
I have replaced these three lamp irons with etched brass versions so they are stronger and correctly face forwards, this in itself helps trick the eye away from the lamp angle. The lamps are correctly black (the lamp casing were black painted brass on the front and body livery colour painted steal casings on the tender). Each lamp has a silver blob to represent the lens, however in reality these lens appear black unless the lamp is actually lit. I have touched away the sliver and again it helps disguise the incorrect angle of the lamps.
Little niggles aside, I stand by my earlier review these models have raised the bar, capturing splendidly the front face and overall look and details that Bulleid intended. Along with the excellent smooth running powerful drive system and chassis we can look forward happily to adding other versions to the fleet when then arrive, with hopefully more versions from the tooling suit that Hornby have produced to cover most of the potential variations.
Delivered via its current day namesake, my Hornby 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ arrived this week. It is gratifying to see a project that I have in a small part been involved with for nearly two years come to fruition. I have already posted on this blog a few times about the Merchant Navy classes, in connection with the prototype, my kit built examples, progress of the Hornby versions since their announcement in 2015 and also the variations possible from the first releases. Click here to see a list of such posts.
Hornby 21C3 with the detailing items added and the nameplates replaced with Fox Transfers etched versions
So far the first two have arrived in the guise of R3434 21C1 ‘Channel Packet’ and R3435 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ with the other two BR liveried versions of the first releases due in the next couple of months. This post is not a full review as such but aims to discuss some of the features of the model, although I hope the pictures (and thanks to Andy York and BRM magazine for some of the images on this post) speak more than my words. Ultimately tooling will be such that the majority of the number of the variations / modifications of the Merchant Navy class in their original form can be produced, but of course it will be a number of years before all will be seen.
An X-ray style view showing inside the body (picture courtesy and copyright A York /BRM)
Starting with the chassis and drive, a large 5 pole motor and brass flywheel drives the rear axle via a gear tower and provided very smooth and powerful running and impressive haulage as I have witnessed on the High Wycombe and District MRS layout Hinton Parva. Electrical pick up is via the driving wheels on the loco and those on the tender, the drawbar between the loco and is of the latest permanently fixed style, with two positions via a screw on the loco, to allow close coupling should your layout curves allow.
The wiring between the loco and tender terminates in the usual Hornby plug and socket, but as the they are permanently coupled there should be no need to repeatedly remove the plug from the socket.
A close up of the chassis, coupling rods, and factory fitted brake rodding on 21C3
The coupling rods are some of the best I have seen on a ready-to-run locomotive, even down the to representation of the lubricating oil filler corks. The Bulleid-Fuirth-Brown wheels are well represented although the metal tyres might look better slightly toned down a little.
A close up of the cab and ashpan of 21C3
The fixed rear pony truck has flangeless wheels as is Hornby’s current way for pacific wheel arrangements allowing for a better representation of the ashpan etc. It may be possible if your curves allow to fit a flanged wheelset if you wish. The pony truck is also a separate component, held on with a single screw which should allow for Hornby to change between the cast and fabricated versions of the different prototypes in the future.
Thankfully Hornby have decided to factory fit the characteristic brake rodding on both the loco and tender (although some owners have reported that they have had to re glue the rodding at some of the mounting points), the former, was on their past Bulleid models difficult to glue in place due to the small contact area and type of plastic they use.
For those wanting to get under the body it is easily removed by first removing the front bogie, held in place with one screw, and then the two chassis to body screws. The DCC socket and space for a speaker is within the tender, the body of which is simply held on with two screws.
The front end view of 21C3, the larger size of the ‘C’ compared to the numerals is correct to the prototype, noting the Fox Transfers etched roundel I have fitted
The body captures the shape and curves of the original well, being as in her very early condition with ‘widows peak’ cowl above the smokebox there are no smoke deflectors and if being a little critical the front edge of the body side, due to the limitations of the tooling for a mass production model ,are perhaps slightly too thick and I may well look to bevel these from the inside edge slightly to deceive the eye in the area (although part of me is still deciding whether to forward date this model by cutting back the front sides, fitting smoke deflectors and the later top cowl). The front electric lamps and lamp irons above the buffer beam have a slight backward lean to them, but can be tweaked very carefully upright. Looking down the chimney you even see a representation of the locomotives blast pipe, (21C1 also has its unique chimney cover plate modelled in the open position).
The impressive cab detailing and printing (picture courtesy and copyright A York /BRM)
The cab is very well represented, complete with nice representations of the two part cab doors, with great attention detail internally with exceptional printing of the various pipework, handles, gauges and dials. The cab roof, complete with lifting eyes etc., has a separately applied ventilator that can be opened or closed. The side windows are neatly glazed and modelled in the open position (rear pane slide behind the front pane and are complete with the windshield.
The cab roof including the sliding shutter (picture courtesy and copyright A York /BRM)
The nameplates and smokebox door roundel on 21C3 and also the number and tender ‘Southern’ plates on 21c1 (with the roundel correctly being the initial style inverted horseshoe) are separate parts but flat printed rather than having any cast relief such as you would get with etched versions. I have therefore already replaced those on my 21C3 with etched plates from Fox Transfers. For those also wanting etched number plates and Southern plates for 21C1 these are also available from Fox Transfers. The nameplates are simply held in place by three spigots one in the middle and one at each end of the ‘Merchant Navy Class’ cross bar lettering and they came away from the model easily using the tip of a modelling scalpel enabling the etched plates to be glued in place directly to the body side. The overall painting, lining, printing of the numbers and ‘Sunshine’ Southern lettering, correctly slightly different between the numbers and the Southern lettering, and the larger ‘C’ as part of the 21C3 number is of Hornby’s usual high standard.
A view of the other side of 21C3
Included with the loco is an accessory pack that contains a pair of front steps for the loco buffers (which might like the wheel tyres benefit from being toned down from the bright steel) and rear steps for the bufferbeam on the tender, cylinder drain cocks and also steam and vacuum pipes. As with previous Hornby Bulleid pacifics the front steps in particular require glue to affix and is a little tricky, I may well end up replacing these with more robust lost wax castings from RT models, the other items all have positive location holes for fitting. A front tension lock coupling is also included.
Just like when the rebuilt Merchant Navy model was first introduced in 2000 it raised the bar as far as models from Hornby was concerned, I feel that once again the Merchant Navy has been the cause of the bar being set even higher and I am pretty certain that it is no coincidence that it coincides with Paul Isle, whom it has been a pleasure to assist, coming on board at Hornby as head researcher. I look forward to the release of more members of the class and variations in due course, as they are sure to be popular.
Hinton Parva keeps the crowds at the Doncaster Show entertained
Hinton Parva represents a very busy junction station on a Joint Midland/Eastern north-south line. The “Branch” purports to be a cross-country line bringing Southern and Western trains from the south-west. As well as the usual “mainline” movements, there is a goods yard constantly shuffling wagons for the pick up goods trains, and a motive Power Depot which has to receive, service, prepare and dispatch locos for the stopping branch express trains, all of which require a loco change. We operate a varied, late 1950s, steam/early diesel schedule with a wide range of stock from modern detailed RTR and a large sprinkling of quality kit and scratch built locos and coaches.
A view from the other end of the 32′ long Hinton Parva, different day different crowd
Not many layouts feature two Garratts (one an LMS and the other the sole LNER machine) hauling 60 wagon trains or an ex LNER W1 or 10001,10201,10800 and prototype diesels / gas turbines. The loco roster for an exhibition is nearly 50 locos, and they all make a running appearance.
Another unusual feature is the working semaphore signals, 37 working arms at the last count. Apart from the aesthetic value of the signals, they also provide drivers with their only means of indications of what they are supposed to do, truly prototypical.
The layout is large at 32ft x 12ft, and maximum use is made of this size to provide a running spectacle for the viewers. The complete sequence takes some 50 to 60 minutes and involves about 90 mainline movements, trains in, trains running through, trains starting.
21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ making an appearance on Hinton Parva and easily handled an 8 car Pullman rake
Hornby, have increased the number of shows they are having a presence at this year and I took the opportunity to run and photograph on Hinton Parva, courtesy of Hornby, one of the first of the product batch their new original style Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacifics 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’. This is an advance version with the main production batch due to arrive at retailers during March.
21C3 rests on shed on Hinton Parva
These locomotives have a 5 pole motor with flywheel and plenty of adhesion weight and hauled an 8 coach rake of Hornby, Pullman cars with plenty of power in reserve. It should be noted that in the pictures to the left she has been taken straight out of the box and the detailing pack containing front steps and cylinder drain cocks etc have not been fitted. I am also pleased to confirm that the lettering shading has been corrected from the livery sample to be black as it should be.
Another view of 21C3 on Hinton Parva
As I advised in my Talking Stock #35 post back in December about the imminent Hornby Merchant Navy releases R3435 No. 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ is in the condition between when introduced in September 1941; with the ‘widows peak’ style front end without smoke deflectors but with the opening around the chimney and the slot in the front face above the smokebox; and when she was painted in wartime black livery in May 1943.
R3422 Adams radial number 3125 in SR wartime black livery
The next batch of ex London & South Western 0415 class Adams radial tanks have now arrived with the retailers including R3422 number 3125 in SR wartime black with ‘Sunshine’ lettering. this means that for once to suit my modelling period I do not have to repaint and/or renumber an RTR Southern release (although I do have an R3334 ex 30582 with Drummond boiler ready to become 3520 also on SR black with Sunshine lettering as she ran between March 1945 and March 1948).
Another view of R3422 number 3125
Number 3125 is in the condition she ran between October 1944 when she regained an Adams boiler and March 1949 when she was repainted in British Railways lined black livery. The other recent Hornby, Adams radial release is R3423 as number 30583 also with a an Adams boiler in British Railways lined black with late crest that she gained in early 1959.
H Class smokebox door number plates from 247 Developments
A cruel enlargement of the H class smokebox door number plate
Recently under the new ownership of Brian Mosby, an excellent modeller himself whom I have known for some time, 247 Developments has produced the full range of H Class numbers (except 31264 and 31312 which never gained the BR number!) The etching is of a high standard and will be welcome addition to the 247 Developments range for any Southern Region modeller.
[Updated 13/01/17] R3566 – BR 4-6-2 ‘British India Line’ Rebuild Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific number ‘35018’ has been changed to be 35014 ‘Nederland Line’ due to the unique detail differences of 35018 as the pioneer rebuilt of the class.
[Updated 16/01/17] Confirmation that R3568 – BR Class 71 ‘E5018’ will be in BR Green Livery with plain green ends.
R3515 – SR 4-6-2 ‘Kenley’ ’21c168′ Bulleid Battle of Britain Light Pacific – 4500 gallon tender – SR Malachite Green. Part of Hornby’s ‘The Final Day Collection’ Marking the 70th Anniversary of the end of the ‘Big Four’. Represents the condition she ran in between introduction in October 1947 and September 1948. The Final Day Collection range also includes a GWR King Class, LMS Royal Scot Class and LNER A3 Class. [Q3]
R3521 – BR 0-4-4T Drummond ex LSWR M7 Class number ‘30129’ long frame, pull push fitted in BR Lined black with late emblem, as she ran between April 1960 and November 1963. [Q2]
R3524 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Trevone’ Rebuilt Bulleid West Country Light Pacific number 34096 in BR Brunswick Green with late emblem representing her condition between April 1961 and September 1964. [Q3]
R3525 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Sir Archibold Sinclair’ Bulleid Battle of Britain Light Pacific number ‘s21c159’- 4500 gallon tender – Malachite Green with s prefix to number and Sunshine ‘British Railways’ on tender. Representing her condition between Feb 1948 and March 1949. [Q2]
R3527 – SR 4-6-0 ‘Camelot’ Urie N15 Class number 742, Urie style tender – Post war Bulleid black with ‘Sunshine’ lettering representing her condition between June 1942 and August 1946. [Q2]
R3528 – ex LBSC A1X ‘Terrier’ Class – Number 4 in Weston, Clevedon and Portishead green livery.[Q3]
R3538 – [New Tooling for 2017] ex SECR 0-4-4T H Class number 308 in full SECR lined green. No.308 was built at Ashford Works in June 1906, entering traffic at Slades Green and was repainted to Maunsell Dark Green in 1925. [Q4]
R3539 – [New Tooling for 2017] ex SECR 0-4-4T H Class number 31518 BR late crest (with Overhead Electric warning flashes) lined black and pull push fitted. As she ran between post 1956 to January 1964. [Q4]
R3549 – [New Tooling for 2017] ex SECR 0-4-4T H Class number 1324 SR post 1931 Maunsell Olive Green. 1324 I believe also made it through the war still in olive green! [Q4]
R3559 – SR 0-6-0 Bulleid Q1 class number C24 – Post war Bulleid black livery. [Q4]
R3559 – BR 0-6-0 Bulleid Q1 class number 33032 – BR Unlined black livery late emblem. [Q4]
R3566 – [Updated 13/01/17] BR 4-6-2 ‘Nederland Line Rebuild Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific number ‘35014’ in BR Brunswick Green with early crest and black backed nameplate representing her condition between May 1956 and December 1960 (when a speedometer was fitted. [Note: This replaces the originally announced 35018 due to the unique detail differences of 35018 as the pioneer rebuild of the class]. [Q4]
R3568 – BR Class 71 ‘E5018’ [Updated 16/01/17 to reflect confirmation of the livery as being with plain green ends] – BR Green, with Plain green ends. [Q2]
R3569 – BR Class 71 ‘E5005’ BR Blue. [Q4]
R3577 – Not Southern related, but included on this post just because…, Sentinel 0-4-0 diesel shunter Oxfordshire Ironstone Co, red livery with connecting rods named ‘Graham’. [Q3]
[*] R3412 – BR 4-6-0 ‘30842’ Maunsell S15 Class, flat sided tender – BR Black early crest. [Q1]
[*] R3422- SR 4-4-2T ‘3125’ Adams Radial 0415 Class – Bullied post war black and Sunshine lettering. [Q1]
[*] R3423 – BR 4-4-2T ‘30583’ Adams Radial 0415 Class – BR lined black late emblem. [Q1]
[*] R3434 – SR 4-6-2 ‘Channel Packet’ ’21C1′ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) represents her very early condition from when first introduced in February 1941 and May 1941. [Q1]
[*] R3435 – SR 4-6-2 ‘Royal Mail’ ’21C3′ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) is as introduced in September 1941 condition again and when she was painted in wartime black livery in May 1943. [Q4]
[*] R3436 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Clan Line’ ‘35028’ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) – BR Brunswick Green. early crest. Modelled without the fairings between the front of the cylinders and the buffer beam and with safety vales in the forward position representing the condition she ran in between June 1953 and December 1954. [Q3]
[*] R3445 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Camelford’ ‘34032’ West Country Class – BR Early – Air Smoothed representing the condition she ran in between January 1951 and October 1954 when safety vales were resited. [Q2]
[*] R3457 – SR 4-4-0 ‘116’ Class T9 – Post 1931 lined Maunsell olive green [Q1]
[*]R3458 – SR 4-4-0 ‘Shrewsbury’ Schools Class number ‘921’ – SR Black with Sunshine lettering, Lemaitre large diameter blast pipe and chimney as her condition between April 1944 and January 1948. [Q1]
[*] R3468 – BR 4-6-2 ‘603 Squadron’ ‘34077’ Battle of Britain Class – Rebuilt – BR Lined Brunswick Green with late emblem as her conditon between July 1960 and August 1967. [Q2]
My version of how R3525 s21c159 will look (but not weathered).Although not 742 ‘Camelot’ as per R3527, this is my weathered version of her sister 744 ‘Maid of Astolat’
[*] R3382TTS – BR 4-6-2 ‘Holland-Afrika Line’ ‘35023’ Merchant Navy (Original Air Smoothed) – BR Brunswick Green, early crest with TTS Sound representing the condition she ran in between gaining Brunswick green in March 1952 and the fairings being removed in May 1953. [Q2]
R3507TTS – BR 4-6-0 ‘30832’ Maunsell S15 Class, Urie style tender – BR Black early crest representing the condition she ran in between March 1951 and June 1957. [Q3]
Train and Coach packs
R3512 – H Class Pull / Push Train Pack – Limited Edition, comprising of Wainright ex SECR 0-4-4T H Class tank number 31551 in BR Lined Black with late emblem livery and BR ex Maunsell Pull Push set number 602 – coaches S1318S (SO) and S6681S (BCK) in BR(s) Green. Set 602 was unusual in that the outer end of the SO also had the set number applied, which will be correctly recreated by Hornby. [Q4]
R4534E BR ex Maunsell Pull Push Coach pack set number 601 – coaches S1315S (SO) and S6687S (BCK) in BR(s) Green. [Q2]
[*] R3398 – Lyme Regis Branch Line Train Pack – Limited Edition, Comprising of Adams 0415 radial tank number 30583 in BR lined black with early crest and two coach set No. 42 made up from Brake Third No. S2636S and Brake Composite No. S6401S in BR Crimson [Q1]
Coaches
R4792 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Eight Compartment Brake Third Class Non-Corridor, SR Green, Diagram 99 No. 2638 that formed set 44 with R4794. [Q3]
R4793 – S R 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Brake Third Coach, SR Green diagram 98 No. 2628 used as ‘loose’ stock. [Q3]
R4794 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Brake Composite Coach, SR Green, Diagram 418 No. 6403 that formed set 44 with R4792. [Q3]
R4795 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Nine Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, SR Green, Diagram 31 No. 320 used as ‘loose’ stock. [Q3]
R4746A – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Eight Compartment Brake Third Class Non-Corridor, BR Crimson, Diagram 99 No. S2646S that formed set 46 with R4748A. [Q3]
R4747A – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Brake Third Coach, BR Crimson, diagram 98 No. S2627S used as ‘loose’ stock. [Q3]
R4748A – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Brake Composite Coach, BR Crimson, diagram 418 N0, S6405S that formed set 46 with R4746A. [Q3]
R4749A – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Nine Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, BR Crimson, diagram 31 No. S280S used as ‘loose’ stock. [Q3]
R4768 – SR Maunsell 6 Compartment Third Class Brake Coach – SR Olive Green – High window style to diagram 2110, Number 3778, branded set 243. [Q2]
R4768A – SR Maunsell 6 Compartment Third Class Brake Coach – SR Olive Green – High window style to diagram 2110, Number 3779, branded set 243. [Q2]
R4769 – SR Maunsell Corridor 8 Compartment Third Class Coach – SR Olive Green – High window style to diagram 2001, Number 1224, part of 4 coach set 243. [Q2]
R4770 – SR Maunsell Corridor 7 compartment First Class Coach – SR Olive Green – High window style to diagram 2501, Number 7412, part of 4 coach set 243. [Q2]
R4796 – SR Maunsell 6 Compartment Third Class Brake Coach – BR Crimson and Cream – High window style to diagram 2110, Number 3777, branded set 247. [Q2]
R4796A – SR Maunsell 6 Compartment Third Class Brake Coach – BR Crimson and Cream – High window style to diagram 2110, Number 3794, branded set 247. [Q2]
R4797 – SR Maunsell Corridor 7 compartment First Class Coach – BR Crimson and Cream – High window style to diagram 2501, Number 7212, part of 4 coach set 247. [Q2]
R4798 – SR Maunsell Corridor 8 Compartment Third Class Coach – BR Crimson and Cream – High window style to diagram 2001, Number 1187, part of 4 coach set 247. [Q2]
It is good to see that Hornby, with a little advice, understand and acted upon the need to produce SR / BR(s) coaching stock to make up suitable set formations. The sets chosen by Hornby for the Maunsell high window style being 243 and 247 in SR and BR liveries respectively were two of the seven four coach sets 241 to 247 formed between March 1932 and April 1933 for use on the South Western section. A further release of the high window version of the Maunsells has been very often requested and these are the most logical sets to choose of that type of restriction 4 coach (as opposed to the narrower Hastings line stock of the same period) as other sets of that type comprised of a greater number of coaches so this creates correct and easily achievable sets.
As is expected the Hornby range always includes a number of Pullman coaches, due Q1 2017 in 1950’s style livery, they are as follows:
R4738 – First Class Parlour Car ‘Minerva’
R4739 – Second Class Parloour Car ‘Car No.34’
R4740 – First Class Kitchen Car ‘Argus’
R4741 – Second Class Kitchen Car ‘ Car No. 58’
R4742 – Second Class Brake Car ‘Car No. 162’
Wagons
R6827 – SR Cattle truck in Pre 1936 large SR lettered livery, number 553767 – Maunsell diagram 1529. [Q4]
R6827A – SR Cattle truck in Pre 1936 large SR lettered livery, number 3768 – Maunsell diagram 1529. [Q4]
R6826 – BR ex SR Cattle truck – Bauxite livery, number B891313 – Bulleid diagram 1530. [Q4]
R6826A – BR ex SR Cattle truck – Bauxite livery, number B891214 – Bulleid diagram 1530 (Note: this appears to be an incorrect running number as listed by Hornby and is possibly a typo that should perhaps be B891314, I am checking this with Hornby). [Q4] Note: the 2017 Hornby Catalogue has incorrectly transposed the diagram numbers in its headings for these cattle trucks but the illustrations are correct.
R6802 – SR ex LBSC Brake Van in post 1936 Small lettered SR livery. [Q2]
R6775 – SR Vent Van in in Pre 1936 large SR lettered livery. [Q2]
Hornby’s new wagon tooling for 2017 comprises of a GWR 20 ton Diagram AA15 ‘Toad’ brake van.
Railroad range
The Hornby Railroad range contains models from older tooling to suit a lower costs market segment and includes the following SR related items:
R3586 – BR 4-4-0 Schools Class V number 30935 ‘Sevenoaks’ in BR Brunswick Green early crest livery
R3591 – BR Class 73 number E6002 in early BR Green livery
R4743 and R4744 – SR ‘generic’ Composite and Brake Third respectively in SR malachite green livery
The full Hornby 2017 range can be found on the Hornby website here. The issues affecting Hornby over the last few years has been well publicised and discussed elsewhere but this range, including items carried over from 2016 and the slightly fewer new tooled models for this year shows the practical and conservative approach being taken by the new management team. I hope that this and their apparent positive re-engagement with the retailers will hopefully lead to a prosperous 2017 for all.
As promised in my recent Warley 2016 update post this post is about the first four original Air Smoothed Bulleid Merchant Navy pacifics being released by Hornby due in the first quarter 2017. The main purpose of this post is to advise the exact condition and dates applicable to all these four versions which I hope will assist those wishing to purchase the correct version for their time period or those potentially wanting to renumber to other members of the class. General details of the 3 distinct Series of Merchant Navy pacifics can be found on my talking Stock #1 post here along with some additional information on the initial liveries and tenders for the some of the Series Three Merchant Navy pacifics on my Talking Stock # 24 post here.
Hornby livery samples of 21C1 and 21C3 together
So far as you can see below Hornby are releasing two Series One versions in early 1941 and 1941 to 1943 condition respectfully and two Series Three versions in early 1950’s condition. It is assumed that other style Series One, Three and hopefully Series Two versions and liveries will follow in subsequent years.
The details of the initial four releases of these models due are as follows:
21C1 ‘Channel Packet’ as modelled by Hornby in very early condition. Note this does not have the supplied detail pack added yet, such as cylinder drain pipes and steps etc.
R3434 21C1 ‘Channel Packet’ 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. The Smokebox door ‘Southerm’ 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.
It should be noted that whilst number 21C2 also carried the gunmetal style number and ‘Southern’ plates until renumbering in January 1950, she did not have the same chimney and cover arrangement as 21C1, as a greater opening was present around the chimney.
Hornby 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ in 1941 condition. Note this also does not have the supplied detail pack added yet.
R3435 No. 21C3 ‘Royal Mail’ is as introduced in September 1941 condition again with the ‘widows peak’ style front end without smoke deflectors but with the opening around the chimney and the slot in the front face above the smokebox. She was painted in wartime black livery in May 1943 and gained the front end modification in September 1944. Numbers 21C3 to 10 of the first series of 10 differed from the rest as the side casing was made from Limpet board material to reduce wight and are identifiable by the overlapping seam running horizontally along the side, the position of middle yellow line when in malachite green livery was adjusted to run along the top of this seam.
Of the remaining 7 series one versions they received wartime black livery followed by the front end modifications as follows:
21C4 ‘Cunard White Star’ – to black July 1943, front end modification January 1944.
21C5 ‘Canadian Pacific’ – to black March 1942, front end modification March 1944.
21C6 ‘Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co’ – to black May 1942, front end modification April 1944.
21C7 ‘Aberdeen Commonwealth’ – introduced in black June 1942, front end modification August 1944.
21C8 ‘Orient Line’ – introduced in black June 1942, front end modification June 1943.
21C9 ‘Shaw Savill’ – introduced in black June 1942, front end modification June 1943.
21C10 ‘Blue Star’ – introduced in black July 1942, front end modification April 1943.
This gives some options for renaming 21C3 into other members of the class and simply repainting into unlined wartime black if you model prior to August 1944.
A computer rendered image of R3436 35028 ‘Clan Line’
R3436 No. 35028 ‘Clan Line from the Third series of number 35021 to 35030 (being introduced post 1948 they never carried the Southern 21Cx numbers), is being released in BR Brunswick Green with early crest. She will be modelled without the fairings between the front of the cylinders and the buffer beam and with safety valves in the forward position representing the condition she ran in between June 1953 and December 1954 when the safety vales were resited to just in front of the fire box.
A computer rendered image of R3382TTS 35023 ‘Holland Afrika Line’ spot the differences between this and 35028
R3382TTS No. 35023 Holland-Afrika Line’ is also being released in BR Brunswick Green, early crest and will come fitted with Hornby’s DCC TTS Sound. She will have the fairings between the front of the cylinders and the buffer beam and with safety valves in the forward position representing the condition she ran in between gaining Brunswick green in March 1952 and the fairings being removed in May 1953.
Details of all ten series three versions, to assist with any potential renumbering without repainting are as follows:
35021 ‘New Zealand Line’ – to Brunswick Green, from blue in February 1952, lost fairings in August 1953 and safety vales resited in October 1954.
35022 ‘Holland America Line’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in February 1952, lost fairings in May 1953 and safety vales resited in June 1956.
35023 ‘Holland-Afrika Line’ – to Brunswick Green from malachite green in March 1952, lost fairings in May 1953 and safety vales resited in October 1954.
35024 ‘East Asiatic Company’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in June 1951, lost fairings in May 1954 and safety vales resited in November 1952.
35025 ‘Brocklebank Line’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in July 1952, lost fairings in February 1955 and safety vales were not resited until rebuilding in December 1956
35026 ‘Lamport & Holt Line’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in June 1952, lost fairings in January 1954 and safety vales resited in January 1955.
35027 ‘Port Line’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in November 1953, lost fairings in November 1953 and safety vales resited in November 1954.
35028 ‘Clan Line’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in June 1953, lost fairings in June 1953 and safety vales resited in December 1954.
35029 ‘Ellerman Lines’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in July 1952, lost fairings in July 1952 and safety vales resited in December 1954.
35030 ‘Elder-Dempster Lines’ – to Brunswick Green from blue in May 1953, lost fairings in May 1953 and safety vales resited in October 1954.
As stated above I hope that this information is of use for any readers wanting to either understand the relevant time period for the condition of each of the four Hornby releases and or assists with choosing possible candidates for renumbering and naming, so get pre-ordering now, you will not be disappointed by the model, not long to wait for them to arrive now!
Further to my post last week advising that a number of the Hornby 2016 range items had been withdrawn from the range, Hornby have also confirmed that a number of the 2016 range items have now been moved into the 2017 range, including a number of the SR / BR(s) items such as the Original Merchant Navy pacifics and the two further Adams 0415 radial tanks.
Hornby have today made a surprise announcement, bringing forward one that was due for December this year that as part of the 2016 range, that they are to produce an Original air smoothed Bullied Merchant Navy Pacific.
A Model of 21c1 in her original condition built by Stan Chandler from a Millholme kit that can regularly been seen on Fisherton Sarum
, with some assistance already from myself, to be part of their 2016 range. The initial releases, although full details are yet to be revealed, will be based on the first series of 10 locomotives built between February 1941 and June 1942. They will include 21c1 “Channel Packet” in her original condition as introduced without smoke deflectors and widow’s peak style front end. The Hornby announcement also includes some early development images, some of which they have been hinting about and sharing via social media earlier this week. My very first Talking Stock #1 post details the differences within the three series of three class.
This early announcement by Hornby may be seen as a pre-emptive move as Bachmann are due to make their 2015 announcement of their plans for the next 18 months on Monday, at a media event I am attending. I will of course bring the news on any such Southern Railway related releases on here hot the press on Monday. Although this might possibly result in some duplication of a class, and at this time of writing there is of course no such duplication, other than perhaps an educated guess made by some due the N gauge version of Series 3 Merchant Navy locomotives already being produced by Graham Farish, the class has enough variations to perhaps keep a number of manufacturers busy, let’s wait and see.
The third and final series of Bulleid’s Merchant Navy Pacifics were not introduced until after the formation of British Railways in the Autumn of 1948. As a result they were numbered immediately into the new BR numbering series 35021 to 35030 but still initially appeared in malachite green whilst British Railways developed their own new livery schemes.
35021 once paired to her 6000 gallon tender in lined malachite green with lettering in British Railways Gills Sans.
The locomotives were built at Eastleigh and five of the first seven were finished before the completion at Brighton of their 6000 gallon tenders and were introduced into service paired with Bullied Light Pacfiic tenders, either 5500 gallon (35021/22/24) or 4500 gallon (35026/27) versions for a few months.
35022 looks a little strange in unlined malachite green, paired to a 5500 Gallon Light Pacific tender with names plates covered. Note also the mismatch of letting styles between loco and tender.
During this period of time they were finished in unlined malachite and had there nameplates fitted but covered up with wooden protective boards. Once coupled to their proper tenders they there finished in fully lined malachite although the lettering style varied between BR Gills Sans or ex Southern Sunshine style depending on when the 6000 gallon tenders were available.
35023 entered service from new with its correct 6000 gallon tender and was lettered in Southern Sunshine style.
My models illustrated here have been built from Millholme models white metal kits although the tender paired to 35022 is a repainted Hornby 5500 gallon tender. Numbers 35021 and 35022 are nearing completion and left the workbench for the first time during the recent bank Holiday weekend and join the ever growing fleet some more of which can be found on my very first Talking Stock post here. 35023 completed a while ago (although still requires a couple more details added) is shown here also as a further livery variation example.
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The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
