Now the dust has settled on the announcement of the Hornby 2020 range, we can take a look at one of the ‘New Van’ items announced last January as part of the 2019 range, the LSWR/SR/BR(s) Warner 20 ton goods brake van. 75 of this type of van were built between 1915 and 1921. They were known to staff as ‘New Vans’ a name which they kept well into the 1950’s! They were up-rated to 24T by the Southern Railway and became SR Diagram 1543.
Before we get in to further detail, the elephant in the room is the body colour of the LSWR and SR versions. They have arrived in an incorrect light or milk chocolate brown (almost but not quite in my eyes but still wrong bauxite) when it should for both periods be dark wagon brown (dark chocolate so to speak). I feel this error is a great shame as the rest of the model is an excellent rendition of the prototype. I would add that the BR unfitted grey livery versions look just fine.
The highly detailed tooling allows for detail variations including buffer shanks, different lamp bracket positions (and actual side lamps on the LSWR version) document holders, welded and riveted guards duckets as well spoked and disc wheels.
Those that have arrived just before Christmas with most most retailers from the 2019 range are as follows:
R6911 – LSWR 20 Ton Warner ‘New Van’ goods brake van, No. 9646, in LSWR goods brown livery
R6911A – LSWR 20 Ton Warner ‘New Van’ goods brake van, No. 5359, in LSWR goods brown livery
R6913 – SR Diagram 1543, 24 Ton Brake Van, No. 55062, in SR Pre 1936 goods brown livery
R6913A – SR Diagram 1543, 24 Ton Brake Van, No. 55009, in SR Pre 1936 goods brown livery
R6915 – BR Diagram 1543, 24 Ton Brake Van, No. S55040, in BR unfitted grey livery
R6915 – BR Diagram 1543, 24 Ton Brake Van, No. S55032, in BR unfitted grey livery
A further three versions have been announced as part of the 2020 range (and yes I have spoken to Hornby about the colour!)
R6911B LSWR 20t ‘New Van’ Goods Brake Van No.10124 in LSWR livery – available Aug
R6938 SR Diagram 1543 24t Goods Brake Van No. 55052 in post 1936 (small lettering) SR livery – available Aug
R6915B BR Diagram 1543 24t Goods Brake Van No. S55063 in BR grey livery – available Aug
As already stated above the detail of these models is excellent with separately applied hand rails and lamp irons, the LSWR version has the side lamps fitted between the verandas and side windows, whilst the later versions has these positions blanked off and lamps irons applied to the end uprights.
Sandboxes are included on the inside of each end, along with corresponding sandpipes and although pretty much impossible to see from the outside the inside of the van is detailed with its planked floor, stove and its stack along with the hand brake wheel and sanding operating lever. If you want to see the internal detail remove the four cross head screws on the underside then prise the floor unit our of the body using a blade (it is not glued in place) this also gives access to the body inside which will hopefully allow me to remove the glazing at some stage to effect a repaint.
So in summary an excellent model with a good range of detail variations let down on this initial batch for the LSWR and SR livery by the wrong brown colour, ironic as they used the correct SR wagon dark brown on the previously released Diagram 1529 and 1530 cattle trucks. The BR(s) unfitted grey version is I state again totally correct.
Announced in January this year as part of their 2019 range the first of the range of Bulleid 59ft ‘Shortie’ coaches have started to arrive. A little annoying they have arrived so far as the two Southern livery composites and BR(S) liveried Brake 3rds at the time of writing preventing full correct sets in the same livery be formed, until further versions arrived. Those remaining examples are promised between the end of this month and September. However Hornby should be congratulated in that they are arriving in the same year as being announced as part of their range for 2019!
R4882A 59ft Biulleid Composite in SR livery
The prototype of these coaches were part of 18 three coach sets, formed Diagram 2121 BTK – Diagram 2316 CK – Diagram 2121 BTK, with set numbers 963 to 980. They were ordered in 1944 utilising Maunsell 59ft underframes that were originally constructed in 1940, then stored, when further construction was suspended by the war. Whilst similar in layout to previous Maunsell coaches, with doors for each compartment on the non corridor side (known as Multi-door) , externally they featured the new Bulleid bodyside profile. Bulleid new profile had already been introduced on the 4 Sub EMU set 4101 in 1941 with the body having a continuous curve from floor to cantrail and the characteristic lozenge shaped toplights over the droplight windows.
The non corridor side of R4882A
Hornby are releasing versions to correctly form Sets 965 and 973 in SR ‘Malachite’ green and Sets 968 and 972 in BR(s) green. The BR(s) versions include revised tooling to include: recessed / flush door toplights, later guards door handrail styles, rainstrips, end steps and the reinforcing beading added along the sides at waist the line.
This years full range as announced is as follows:
End view showing the characteristic Bulleid bodyside profile
R4882 – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2316 corridor composite No. 5711 from Set 965 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery [Arrived]
R4882A – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2316 corridor composite No. 5719 from Set 973 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery [Arrived]
R4884 – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. 2845 from Set 965 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery
R4884A – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. 2846 from Set 965 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery
R4884B – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. 2861 from Set 973 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery
R4884C – SR Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. 2862 from Set 973 in SR ‘Malachite’ green livery
R4886 – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2316 corridor composite No. S5714S from Set 968 in BR(s) green livery
End close up and non corridor side
R4886A – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2316 corridor composite No. S5718S from Set 972 in BR(s) green livery
R4888 – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. S2851S from Set 968 in BR(s) green livery [Arrived]
R4888A – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. S2852S from Set 968 in BR(s) green livery [Arrived]
R4888B – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. S2859S from Set 972 in BR(s) green livery [Arrived]
R4888C – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd No. S2859S from Set 972 in BR(s) green livery [Arrived]
Set 965 (Malachite) to Crimson Lake and Cream (CLC) March 1956 then to BR(S) Green June 1958
Set 968 (Malachite) to CLC December 1953 then to BR(S) Green July 1957
Set 972 BR(S) Green from CLC February 1958
Set 973 BR(s) Green from CLC November 1957
As can be the seen from the accompanying pictures of the SR livery composite (the only ones I have in my possession at the moment (see opening paragraph) they are fine looking models that follow on from the standard set by their Maunsell stock range. This is hardly surprising as one of the reasons for suggesting these versions to Hornby in the first place was that they shared, with a few minor amendments the same 59ft chassis. The models come fitted with the standard close coupling mechanism with tension lock couplings fitted into the NEM Pockets. Also ‘Roco’ style couplings supplied loose to enable closer coupling, for those using Kadee style couplings (as I will be between the coaches in the sets as the prototypes were fitted with buckeyes) their Number 18 Medium length NEM style also couplings work well.
The packaging is of the now standard style, but the description on the box ends for some reason calls them ‘Suburban’ coaches, when they were of course introduced for the use in the West of England express services.
Close up of the sides, glazing and window signs
Hornby have captured the characteristic Bulleid curved bodyside profile nicely, but although the large corridor side glazing inserts are also slightly curved, at close viewing depending on angle and light the prismatic effect at the edges is noticeable and perhaps the windows, excluding the opening door droplights, are not flush or as curved profile as they could be. Hornby did manage better flush glazing in the past on their Maunsell 1935 type Brake Composite. The corridor side handrail that is printed on the back of the glazing has a more golden (possible wooden) colour than polished chrome finish of the prototype. Grab handles, waterpipes / handrails and lamp irons are separately applied items and buffers are sprung. Although not pictured here, as I dont have any of the Brake 3rds yet, I am aware that Hornby have made an excellent representation of the Guards periscope on the roof.
Livery application and printing is as the high standard that we expect from Hornby .(although I am still not personally convinced by their rendition of SR Malachite) even down to the tiny and readable seat number information just below the cantrail. On the SR versions the correct for the period rectangular white on blue ‘First’ and triangular red on white ‘Non Smoking’ window signs are well represented.
The ‘V’ hanger positioned incorrectly outside of the Truss Rod can be seen in this view.
On the underframe the subtle differences between the Maunsell underframes and those for these Bullied versions such as battery box, dynamo and brake cylinder positions are correct, however the V hanger at the left hand end has been positioned outside of the truss rods (as per the Maunsell style) rather than immediately inboard. This slight error has I believe arisen due to the error also being included on at least one published drawing, whereas reference to prototype images shows that the location was also changed to be inboard.
It is also noted that on the BR versions so far released the tooling takes into account the later revised hand rail arrangement on the brake compartment doors and also the reinforcement beading (covering up the panel butt-joints that suffered from corrosion) added to the coach sides at waist level. This additional tooling allows for a range of livery and tooling detail permutations in the future.
Overall once again excellent coaches from Hornby, who have certainly set the standard for R-T_R coaches over the last few years, and I look forward to the remaining versions arriving and further livery permutations in future years.
Merry Christmas to you all, fill up your life with love, compassion, tolerance, peace, happiness and perhaps hopefully some time for modelling.
OK so it’s Photoshop trickery…my Milholme model of 21C14 is in slightly unfamiliar surroundings, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
As the festive season and New Year break is upon us, I just wanted to say many thanks to all of you whom have taken the time to read my ramblings over the past 12 months. I hope you have found such ramblings interesting and informative. I have also enjoyed corresponding with many of you that have made contact me either directly at shows, email or via the comments field on my various posts. I look forward to corresponding with you again in the New Year. My outings with either Canute Road Quay or Fisherton Sarum planned for 2019 and beyond can be found on my Exhibition Diary page here. I thanks those friends and family whom have assisted me exhibiting / playing with my train sets during 2018.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the various manufacturers, publications and retailers whom have allowed me privileged access to some of their plans and developments and often taken on board feedback, suggestions and advice, with the sole aim of promoting and furthering modelling of the Southern Railway / Southern Region.
Hornby and Bachmann will both be making their new range announcements for 2019 and beyond in early January so watch this space on 7th and 14th January respectively…
Seasons greetings, whatever your faith or beliefs, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
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The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
