The flashing will be a result of the tooling design so they're all likely to suffer from it to a degree. Totally agree it's not acceptable though at that price point.
Thank you, I am just doing this for fun and hopefully brightening someone's day. I love my hobby and love telling people about it and so many lovely people have contacted me and so much knowledge out there.
I'm lucky enough to have two original Hornby Dublo A4s that were given to me as a present (along with a box of track) by my grandad when I was young, over 40 years ago. Without looking (it's been a while since I've looked at them), one is a Sir Nigel Gresley, and I'm sure this is in blue and not green like the one here. I think the green one I have is the Mallard. Brings back a few memories. I don't think I'd ever sell them, but how much are they worth now?
Thank you for sharing, not sure on value, but from what you say the sentimental value is great, I still have some of my Grandads locos ( he got me into trains) and I would never let them go. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Good review. Completely agree about the tender. Mine also had a less than perfect finish. My quibble though is that Hornby had a chance to redesign the inside to accommodate their latest DCC offerings but you still have to cut out the plastic coal well to fit a decent speaker - in this respect I'm glad it's still plastic! I trust they got the The boiler has more join lines than the plastic version and it could have come with etched nameplates so overall is the premium worth paying for? Just the sound of tapping the metal boiler makes that a yes. I notice that Hattons have suddenly got 10+ in stock today.
Yes there is something about the metal feel and the weight. I don't run dcc so not considered the DDC issues but I will take a look. Thanks you for watching and taking the time to comment.
I have the Merchant Navy from this range and I completely agree about the tender quality. I would have bought more locos but decided they're not worth the money
A very good review, thank you. I would like to put my perspective on things. I am almost 80 and living in the south west, so back in my train spotting days circa 1958 l never had the privilege to see this class of loco. However, back then, when l was a train spotter, my family and l were returning from holidaying in East Yorkshire. We needed to change trains in Darlington. I would be around 12 years old, and our train duly pulled into the station. WOW, l was so impressed to be pulled by this class loc. Then l saw the locomotive, Sir Nigel Gresley. WOW again. Sixty five years later and it's still WOW, what a wonderful memory l still have. Do l want this model? Yes of course l do. Better still l have purchased it! Is it expensive? Yes. Do l care? , No!
Oh that's fantastic, And i hope the model loco brings a smile each time you look at it, ignore my moans, it is beautiful - enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing. Matt
Hello, Thanks for a detailed and informative review. I have a query as a friend had an early Sir Nigel Gresley 'set' as a young boy (1940's/50's) and I was always sure it was green but a mutual friend said recently that Sir Nigel was blue. As you mentioned both colours would you help out my confusion and explain further the colour/s of the actual locomotive and that/those of the models and why any change/difference? I don't have model trains but love them anyway and would be most grateful.
Hi, I am no expert, but many of the A4 have changed colour through their lives, typically when changing from LNER to BR and into preservation. The loco I reviewed was from and earlier period so in the green but currently in preservation its in blue, there are models in blue and green and I also have one in war time black. If someone who reads this can add so proper detail that would be good, there are many experts out there, anyway many thanks for watching.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Thank you so much for your explanation. It is really interedtingto learn about the colour changes and that there was black in the war years. I'll also pay more attention to which company is displayed in photographs.
Yes it’s expensive, I wouldn’t be able to justify the money anyway, however you have bought it and it does look fantastic. The plastic tender is an insult, however as a collectors piece I guess I would touch up those marks on the tender. Great review.
May I ask if it has the "arched back" which I always think of as a distinctive feature of the real A4s. I especially remember seeing it on 60024 Kingfisher in the Waverley Station, probably around 1963. She was standing not in the platform line but in the line next to it. A few minutes later a Deltic brought a down East Coast express from Kings Cross into platforms 10 and 11. Then I could see what Kingfisher was waiting for; she moved out to the East end of the station, and then came back onto the rear of the express. She was going to take the empty coaches down to Craigentinny carriage sidings, working tender first. This was more normally a job for a Standard 4 pug. Kingfisher was in a very sorry-looking state, she was absolutely caked in soot and grime. I couldn't resist a little chuckle when you complained about the state of the paintwork on the tender of your new model. I'm sure there was lined-out Brunswick Green paint somewhere underneath all the grime, but I certainly couldn't see it. One thing that was clean enough to be recognisable was the colourful little picture of a kingfisher (bird) half way along the boiler. On seeing this once prestigious locomotive reduced to such menial work, and as an extra indignity, doing it tender first too, my reaction as an 11-year old was "How are the mighty fallen!" Actually I believe Kingfisher soon afterwards joined a number of the other A4s (including Sir Nigel Gresley) in a brief but successful swansong working the 3-hour expresses between Glasgow Buchanan Street and Aberdeen. Anyway a couple of years later, soon after Meccano Ltd. had failed, and Hornby Dublo had ceased production, I succeeded in getting a (2 rail) Hornby Dublo A4 by a wanted advert in the Railway Modeller. It cost me £3! Of course it came as 60030 Golden Fleece, but I bought name and number plates and changed it to 60024 Kingfisher in honour of my local engine. Later it was joined by a Tri-ang Hornby A3 (which I changed from 60103 Flying Scotsman to 60100 Spearmint). I liked having engines that I knew, or at least Scottish based ones. On my model Kingfisher and Spearmint once again worked East Coast expresses to Kings Cross. (Actually they only worked to my fiddle yard where they were turned round by a reverse loop, but in my imagination they worked right through to the Cross!) My self I actually thought that the plastic tender on the A3 was a better model than the tinplate one on the A4. The A4 actually disappointed me a little, because it had straight line along the top of the boiler, and lacked that "arched back" which I found so distinctive. Actually I say that the Gresley pacifics had a sort of taper boiler. Of course they wouldn't call it a "taper boiler" because that was a Great Western / L.M.S. idea, but all the same, they did taper a bit. I sort of know the shape of the A3 boiler, because at one time in my teens, I was trying to scratch build one. But then Tri-ang Hornby brought out their A3 so there was no need for me to build one! When I look at the way the light catches the top of the boiler of your new A4, I think it does have the "arched back" but maybe you can confirm. I presume it is a completely new die-cast body,not just the old one from the 1950s(?) rehashed? But there's a big difference between £3 and £320! I think the old ones were under £6 even bought new. What's the idea of the flangeless wheels on the rear pony truck? All the pacifics I ever had, had rear pony trucks with flanged wheels and considerable sideplay. (In addition to the A3 and A4, I had a CKD kit-built Princess Elizabeth (46201) and my original train set in 1956 had the Tri-ang North American outline Transcontinental pacific. It carried the number 2335, which I believe was the telephone number of the Margate factory.
I am not sure about the arched back I will take a look. Thank you so much for you message I really enjoyed reading it, I am learning so much doing these videos with so much feedback and information. The pony trucks are fixed so the wheels have to be flangeless not sure why but I guess to improve running. Any thank you so much for watching and taking the time to share with me. Matt
Likewise, I bought this loco but I returned it the same day without running it. I ordered it originally 10 Jan 2022 as it was originally illustrated with an image of SNG with a double chimney and blurb stated Hornby Era 6 (late British Railways - despite showing an earlier BR emblem on tender). It arrived recently and had single-chimney and obviously was Era 5: not Era 6. I toyed with keeping it (fantastic loco quality) but it would have been absolutely criminal to have to modify such a fine and ludicrously expensive locomotive. I too was underwhelmed by Hornby supplying their standard A4 plastic tender with this premium metal product. Good fair review.
thank you, I was trying to be fair and because I had run the loco I feel obliged to keep, but I have contacted Hornby to see if any thing can be done about the blemishes. I hadn't picked up on the era 5/6 chimney, I will take a look at that. Thanks for watching and taking the time to message.
I got the A4 Gannet. The locomotive is absolutely superb. No blemishes, perfect paintwork. Runs like a dream, best I’ve seen honestly. BUT the tender has flashing around the edges as well. Not nearly as noticeable to the eye as yours, but you can definitely feel it. I had no idea the tender would be plastic, they said nothing of it of course. Hornby comes off a bit dishonest doing something this this, slightly disappointing. Still absolutely wonderful Engine though, pride of my collection.
Hello, Nice review.... I have lost touch with all new Hornby product; I remember these A 4s being tender driven in the late 70's early 80's. Is this tender driven by any chance? I do have the 50's original all metal "Golden Fleece" and although a little primitive compared to the tooling on this model, I do still love it and it runs very well.... also on the old H&M transformer. Such a pity about the tender, maybe contact the company and ask for a replacement, but then you run the risk of a difference in the colour of green, like the dye lot in certain products. Thanks very informative. Brian
No the new dublo's are loco driven. I will get in touch with Hornby about the tender, but I filmed a follow up and also found paint issues on the loco as well, so I will see what they suggest, and I will keep in mind the paint match as I hadn't thought of that. thanks for watching and taking the time to message.
I think it is a lovely model. I think you should take a photo of the Tender and send it to Simon at Hornby and ask for a new Tender top. Hornby wants us to buy their Expensive Models so they should be 100% correct. Martin. (Thailand)
Amused that you mentioned Hornby, a Model Worlds poor positioning of the tender, then in your next section, we have to see the 'Spencer' wagon up on two wheels at a 45 degree angle....deliberate ? or a new way of off-loading ?
Yeh, Id like to say deliberate, like the Victorian engineers always add an imperfection, but sadly didn't see that until I had all the footage, I must have knocked it. Thanks for call me out, made me smile, and glad your are paying attention!
That is a lot of money to pay for a non sound fitted model and get a plastic tender especially when it is not very well finished. Personally I would have sent it back, but that's just me refusing to have to fix something brand new regardless of the cost. I must admit that I am totally baffled why Hornby don't fit flanged wheels to the rear bogie as the non flanged wheels look terrible when they don't touch the rails. I have a Trix HO 4-8-8-4 big boy and the rear bogie has flanged wheels and it goes around radius 2 bends (slowly) if it has proper wheels what is stopping Hornby locos?
I totally agree with the tender issues, I'm not sure whether it is the lighting or filming but it also looks very slightly darker in shade. I would have certainly returned it for the mould marks (flashing).
Really cool video sir! I was looking at my friends super detailed a4, and it had the same chasis, motor and body as the railroad mallard. It is still £100 more than the railroad one. Is this one a completely modern tooling?
I am not sure about the chassis or tender if they have been used before I would think that given the flickering firebox it fairly new. I am sure someone will post an answer but the diecast body is defiantly new. Thanks for watching and your kind words.
A bit confusing as the original Hornby Dublo colour coded their boxes, Blue and white stripe for 3 rail and red and white for two rail. Later rolling stock was for both 2- and 3-rail and were in red and white boxes. I have only recently sold one of the last of my 3-rail locos, Bristol Castle, in its original packaging complete with warranty slips, the inspection tags, the little tube of oil and the card tubes that went over the buffers to protect the couplings. Bristol Castle also had a die-cast tender and the box had the original price label on it 84/- ( Eighty four shillings or Four pounds four shillings or 4 Guineas.) Quite expensive in its day but even then nothing like £300.
I don't think it would have been too challenging, looking at the vantage tender it was only the outer skin that was metal, but to be fair the new loco was only advertised with a diecast body. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Thanks for the review. I notice you didn't comment on the new tender to loco connection. Looks much simpler than the white plug of previous models, but I was wondering how robust it is? Personally I'm in two minds about the Dublo models. I bought the Coronation class City of Lichfield in BR blue and have compared it to my Duchess of Gloucester in the same livery. The big plus point is the diecast boiler which as well as adding weight and provides a better finish IMO. Having a diecast boiler probably means less chance of the running plate being warped too, which occasionally happens with Hornby's plastic models. On the minus side is the cost of the Dublos which including the 10% discount is £92 more than a latest tooling plastic A4. In the case of the Coronations I picked up my Duchess of Gloucester for £125 mint secondhand. Is City of Lichfield worth £163 more for a diecast bolier and slightly better box? No. Personally I think if you have the money they're very nice, but poor value if you want to run them on a layout as I do. If you're buying them as an investment then you can probably make a reasonable profit. After much thought I've decided to sell City of Lichfield and keep Duchess of Gloucester. The money I'll get for Lichfield will easily pay for two locos and a rake of coaches on the secondhand market instead.
Thanks for the comment, yes I agree with the running comment, once the value gets to a certain price point, running can become a liability. I have found myself investing more in older locos, much cheaper and I am less on edge using them. I am also finding is a strange way I am enjoying the nostalgia of the vintage models. Anyway, thank you or watching and taking the time to comment. Matt
Simon Kohler was talking about this. He said the original Dublo loco was issued with a plastic tender, and this model is meant to be a reproduction. I have got the Wrenn Nigel Gresley in Garter blue. A drawback with this old model is the motor is rather weak and it won't haul many coaches! The Wrenn Gresley also has a plastic tender, so you just have to accept that plastic tenders are thing! Thanks for uploading.
The original Dublo model had a tinplate dating back to prewar when it was first released, when Wrenn produced their version they obtained from Triang their plastic tender from the Flying Scotsman. So if Mr Kohler wants to make an authentic model it would be a Tinplate tender not plastic or diecast .
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, I have to concur with Steam69, my original 1948 Dublo Sir Nigel Gresley has a tin plate metal tender Maybe Simon Koler was referring to later models?. I am working on a video at the moment comparing the vintage with the new. Anyway thanks again Matt
@@dustyshelfcollectables Hornby's latest model is representative of the 2-rail variant. The pre-War item is 3-rail which is a different thing. I will be interested in your comparison review. The older model has a very outdated vertically mounted motor.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Interesting - if the information is available - to compare the price of the original and this new one. Taking inflation in to account.
Yes you are correct, I think I mentioned this in one of my other videos and put it down to looks as in the Blue looks more 'classy'. But I assume Hornby hoped no one would notice. Anyway thanks for watching.
I’ve been very close to purchasing one of these recently, but have been wrangling with myself with regard to the ridiculous prices being asked for it on a well known auction site Having seen your review, I’m glad I’ve not taken the plunge now. The paint defects in the tender would have been unacceptable to me. You are quite right. £300 odd, ( more like £400+ they are fetching now ) is a lot of money, and it should be perfect. In my opinion, you should have sent it back. £320 in itself is a mind blowing amount for one locomotive, but if it’s something you really want, then it has to be paid. After all, if you don’t buy it, someone else will, but once paid for, it should be absolutely mint, with no imperfections. Shame on Hornby. £320 takes some earning, and the very least they should provide is a perfectly finished model. And I haven’t even taken into account the plastic tender…… Not good Thank you for saving me an even more ridiculous amount I was contemplating paying a greedy E Bayer !!
I know its the way of the world, but I doo get distressed when there is a limited edition and before they have arrived (with those who ordered direct) they are on Ebay. its different if some one just needs to move it on, but more times than not the prices are ridiculously inflated. Anyway, please don't let my loco put you off, As I said may be I just has a Friday afternoon loco, just be sure to check in person, I know I will be more careful in the future. Thanks for watching and takin the time to message.
I ordered the 100th anniversary Flying Scotsman it had to come all the way to the US and I came broken not working did hear the motor it will be coming back soon hopefully.
Ohh, and the Scotsman is another price jump. I haven't gone for the Scotsman locos, I think if they brought out one centenary loco i would have but 5 or 6, no way could I afford the set. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Plastic tender was the normal with the original Hornby Dublo on most models , and later, Wrenn, although the Castles had the loco looks it seems all manufacturers these days have imperfections on top price models? From the video it also looks like the tender is Matt and the locomotives satin ? That would bug me too!
I am not sue about the matt and satin I will look, but on my latest vid, I look more at the loco and found some issues with the lining. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Dublo tenders from 1938 through to their demise in the 60s were always metal. In both the earlier 3 rail and the later two rail versions. It was only after Wrenn purchased the dublo tooling that they started to use plastic tenders from the Triang range.
I’ve purchased the Dublo BR Scotsman but yet to take it out the packaging, I’m hoping the tender is ok! I haven’t got an A4 and I’m stuck choosing between the 85th Mallard and a Dublo A4. Price isn’t too much of an issue but I do want the quality. On a separate note, which controller do you use? Im sticking with DC but need to upgrade. Excellent video 👏
Thank you, I would defiantly take a look in person at the A4 before purchase, as mine may have been a one off, just a bad day in production. I have an H&M controller, I have always found it very reliable although others commenting have suggest the modern controllers may be better. Any thanks for watching and taking the time to comment .
I had a Wrenn version and that had a plastic tender. I might be wrong but I thought the original tender was metal and had bogied wheels maybe it was a 3 rail version. Nice model.
So there has been a bit of debate in the comments, all I can say with certainty is all o my vintage Dublo A4 have a tin plate tender and bogied wheels. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I have both the Wrenn Sir Nigel Gresley and the Hornby Dublo Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece has a tin tender with separate bogies, and Sir Nigel Gresley has a plastic Triang-Hornby tender. The reason it has a Triang-Hornby tender is because, if I recall, Wrenn had problems sourcing tin, so they had Triang-Hornby supply the tenders for their A4's. Bear in mind that my Sir Nigel Gresley was made in the brief Triang-Wrenn period, so I'm not sure what Wrenn did later on in that regard.
Hi, great review of a nice loco, not very good QC at Hornby for such an expensive model, stay should have sound fitted for the price, I hope Accurascale produce an A4 in the future, At least you’d have the option of a non sound and sound fitted, I hope you issues get resolved, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the comments and watching, and I will contact Hornby. I was hoping to be positive. Interesting to see what other manufacturers will come up with
Interestingly the originals had tin plate, but Wrenn used plastic Triang tenders rather than the Dublo tin plate, but nice if they gone to die-cast tender.
I was surprised by the tender being plastic, but not overly concerned as you would not be able to tell by looking, but going diecast or tinplate would have really made this something special, it not even a complicated shape. Any way thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@dustyshelfcollectables I agree entirely, I think in this day and age tin plate is no longer good enough as injection moulding / die casting has moved the game on from how these were 60+ years ago, at this price point it should be diecast anyway. I also note that with sound they are at the same price point as Marklin / Trix new HO Flying Scotsman and they have engineered a working whilst still realistic looking rear truck unlike Hornby.
320 notes ouch, however nice looking loco .Ididnt see any blemishes on tender thought the shade was different though. Seeing all six together must have been special ,I saw Mallard in York about 40 years ago ,I didn't spot back to front tender on the show . All six would be awesome but the wallet says no 😭😭.
Yep can't spend that on a loco very often, there are white marks where the body meet the chassis, these are flash from a poor moulding process. I will get the limited footage o the great gathering up this week if I get a chance.
I'd return it. At that price you can't be umming and ahhing over keeping it and finding disappointments, you should be beyond delighted with it and be finding areas where they appear to have gone above and beyond.
Yes it should be surprise an delight, It is difficult as the engine is superb, its just the tender that lets it down. I will probably drop Hornby a line. Thanks for watching.
I guess 3 rail is a bit niche these days. On the Hornby centenary they did an O gauge reproduction and went electric instead of clockwork, so there is form.... I think the 'Retro' Dublo was intended to be the premium Hornby range.
Im afraid the quality overall is just not worth the price tag. I stopped buying Hornby several years ago for QC issues and this has just reinforced my decision. The tender is an absolute disgrace.
As I have said a couple of times in my replies to people, expectation and cost are related and while we all will have a different perspective of this relationship the higher the cost, the narrower the band of expectation gets. thanks or watching.
What truly shocks me is the valve gear on these gresley pacifics produced by Hornby. It dates back to the mid 1990s and is utterly atrocious to be quite frank. It's incredibly fine, sure... but the real life locos had super beefy, thick coupling and connecting rods. I think they attempted resolving some of the issues with the W1 hush-hush that came out a couple years ago but it's less than desirable for the price these things cost nowadays. I've actually replaced the valve gear on both my Hornby A4s with (shockingly) much more appropraitely tooled Bachmann A1 valve gear! The crosshead looks much better and so does the eccentric crank as well. It has far improved the look of my models!
I will be honest I hadn't realised, but now you mention it I can see it, thank you for pointing that out. I don't think ,my skill set will be up to changing mine. Thanks you for watching and taking the time to point that out.
The valve gear isn’t something that people typically think to be incorrect when it looks “right” from the side profile and most of it moves as it’s supposed to. The modification to the chassis blocks does require a good bit of filing and eyeballing to get the Bachmann substitute pieces to fit properly but I think it’s been well worth the effort on my models. Haven’t done anything to my Hornby A3 yet other than sound fitting but I do plan to do the same Bachmann A1 swap on that as well. Loving your channel and reviews so far!
I can see why you’d be disappointed with the tender, on a loco at £300+ it’s surprising. True the later Dublo Princess Coronations City of London and City of Liverpool had plastic bodied tenders, but the chassis were still die-cast. I think the A4’s always had the tinplate tender, though when they were marketed by Wrenn they used the plastic Triang Hornby version from 4472. I’ll certainly never be able to afford one of these, so I’ll just keep on the look out for original Hornby Dublo which still seems easy to find at far more reasonable prices! Looking forward to seeing your comparison video. Obviously the older ones don’t even get close detail wise, but if I compare my Dublo 4MT 2-6-4T with my Bachmann version, I know which one I prefer! It just has a presence no new version could ever match,
I am on the same page, the old locos have something nostalgic and tangible about them. I am very fortunate that I could get one of the new released locos and I so wished to do a very positive review, hopefully I got a good balance as the engine was rather good, if a little sole less, but I couldn't let the tender pass without comment. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
They should put this thing back into regular service. It would get a lot of the tourist market, and I for one would ride it all the way from Maidenhead to Oban if the route wee available, and I'd do it often. These locos are iconic, even in the United States, and I'm certain that it would attract rail enthusiasts from all up and down the entire world given a chance. Regarding the model, that's a lot of money. I'd be giving up eating to pay that off. I'm a bit surprised that anything about it would be shoddy at that price. I'd at the very least require that they replace the tender with one without blemishes for that price. It's a shame that they don't have more pride in their product than that. In other news, there seems to have been an accident. The Spencer is off the rails. I hope no one was hurt or killed, and that the damage to the building and rolling stock was minimal. I hope they'll have a team out to put things right soon, and that the yard will again be open for use.
Oh dear that wagon, so many comments, I am just appreciative everyone is paying attention. I assume the Gresley will be back on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at some point, but I do agree its a real crowd puller and yes holds its own in the USA which is amazing considering they have the big boy and challenger. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment,
I think as you’ve chosen to run the model you have chosen to keep it. Either return as soon as you found fault or keep. That’s my opinion. Also if you were unhappy with a plastic tender then return as soon as you found out, which again doesn’t involve running the model.
I totally agree with you if I was unhappy with the plastic tender, but as there is poor quality on the tender and now found on the loco, I think it is fair to ask these areas to be put right regardless of running, Thanks for watching
Tempted myself. I would expect nothing less than perfection at this price. Those marks are unacceptable. That porthole on the tender always bothers me. Still a stunning model though.
Beautiful loco, but the prices these are going for are quite frankly obscene, at least in my opinion. Yes, you get a die cast boiler and a nice looking box, but that is not worth the price jump in my opinion.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Luck of the draw who in the warehouse gets to pack your loco I think. Mine came with no outer bubble wrap this time, but I've had other boxes from Hornby swamped in the stuff.
The blemishes on the tender were not acceptable for that price. Also, should not be plastic for that price. But if you look closely at your video, you can see blemishes on the locomotive as well. Not as bad, but they are there.
Interesting how the pony truck floats in mid air quite often in both directions. Design flaw or a slight misalignment when coupling the tender? Have to say for the price I'd expect the finish on the tender to be better, you shouldn't be expected to have flashing and imperfections on the paintwork. I almost returned a TfW MK4 for some poorly printed lettering but decided not too, wish I had to be honest, nowhere near the price of the A4 but that's not the point.
If you are referring to the pony truck under the cab this is fixed and does not rotate, hence the wheels are not flanged and it floats (I was aware before I purchased) . The model comes with a set of flanged 'display' wheels or the ruck if its not being run. I really don't want to be to critical of Hornby as I enjoy hearing of their success, they are a mainstay of the hobby after all , but it is difficult when disappointment creeps in. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Why do Hornby use those unflanged pony trucks, my old Tri-ang Princess had a pivoting one with flanges albeit the centre driver was unflanged, radii I suppose.
To be fair they only said a diecast body, The train is beautiful, but just a couple of quality points. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great review !!! I've just recently gotten into British OO scale rolling stock in anticipation of the Marklin "Flying Scotsman" and bought a few Hornby "Flying Scotsman" train sets: - th-cam.com/video/Dld2P9QwXO8/w-d-xo.html - th-cam.com/video/R0Qx400JlYk/w-d-xo.html I kind of like them, but I'm still wondering where this manufacturer takes the audacity to charge this kind of money for a not-so-nicely detailed and executed model. Having gotten back into models trains just about 2 years ago, I'm doing a lot of catching up after a 45 year hiatus, and its amazing to see the highs and lows of this hobby...
Thanks for the reply I will take a look at the videos later. Yes a lot has changed in the last 45 years but the price has really accelerated since the pandemic. Id love the marklin loco, maybe..... Thanks for watching.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Thanks for your comments. Since I had a Marklin layout as a kid, that's what I started with. In my quest to find more "Orient Express" trains, I happened onto the Jouef trains, and bought quite a few over the past 2 years (and added a DC / DCC oval to my layout). Then I found the British "VSOE" and had to get this as well (and subsequently the "Belmond"). Now, the Marklin "Flying Scotsman" is probably going to be quite extraordinary (and expensive), and comes with digital decoder, factory sound & smoke, but it's HO scale (Trix will issue a DCC version). I did find some HO scale British passenger cars (older Fleischmann versions): th-cam.com/video/BwKlLlxYr-0/w-d-xo.html (I know the loco is not correct, but Marklin does not make any British locos).
@@tomsmaerklintrainlayout6742 I think this is the joy of the hobby, hunting out those locos of stock for your collection. I am very much Hornby, triang dublo etc with a few wrenn and Bachmann. I do have some French outline from Jouef, but love the detail and look of the Marklin, maybe a direction I should take next, although the Scotsman may be a bit far at the moment, anyway thanks again
@@dustyshelfcollectables I've been having a lot of fun with trains for the past 2 years as well, and think I'm in a pretty good place (met a lot of nice folks, learned a lot and overall enjoyed myself). One of the main things I learned is that if you want to deal with relatively trouble-free items, get the old Marklin / Trix / Fleischmann /Jouef / Triang stuff, they seem to be bullet proof. As with most everything else (like cars), adding electronics made everything so much more complex & prone to failure (never mind having it made in China)... If you want a feeling of success, get an old Marklin loco, put it on the tracks and see it run like new after having been in storage for 50 or 60 years...
I don't think you are being overly fussy about that for the price they charge there is no reason that tender should be plastic first off and if it is plastic you should do a hell of lot better job than that I mean have respect for your work respect for the history of the engine respect for the customer overall that's someone's hard earned money it's almost criminal to me Lionel here in the states ha gone down in quality also its sad
From all the reviews I have seen on there is always something which spoils the fun. Warped base plates, bogie wheels not touching the rails(hush hush) poor quatlity of running gear, hugely overprized for what is delivered, very poor post-and-packaging etc. I wouldn't buy anything anymore from this incompetend self indulged company. It is not strange that they still don't make any profit on their products. Watch Sam's trains by the way.
I wasn't trying to bash Hornby, just saying with an increased price there is always and increased expectation and the engine was really good, it was just the tender.
In a word, shoddy - product not video !!. The original version had all flanged wheels. I just cannot imagine a loco with non flanged wheels it looks awful in my eyes.
I do understand if it helps the running, but I filmed a follow up and had issues running on a smaller radius, I don't want to return it so I will contact Hornby. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I know, Thats why my expectation was so high, I am working on a video comparing this new one back to a 1948 version I have and I will highlight to cost. Thanks for watching Matt
To be fair, Simon Kohler more or less said that the Dublo offerings are intended to appeal to old farts' nostalgia and to collectors, more so than the average modeller. They're an appeal to retirees with disposable income, not the working stiff with a mortgage and 4 mouths to feed.
Still pricey though… my 5 year old granddaughter was round a couple of weeks ago, she saw my display models and said ‘ Grandad, why aren’t your trains going around’…… She’s inheriting all my models, railways and diecast
Nice review! I would contact Hornby and ask for a replacement tender. I'm sure they would rather that than have to refund that wad of money!
That's a good idea! I may do that, Thanks for watching. I will check out some of your videos as well.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Excellent thank you!
The flashing will be a result of the tooling design so they're all likely to suffer from it to a degree. Totally agree it's not acceptable though at that price point.
I do really love what you said at the end there- TH-cam should be all about your personal projects blossoming into a wonderful hobby!
Thank you, I am just doing this for fun and hopefully brightening someone's day. I love my hobby and love telling people about it and so many lovely people have contacted me and so much knowledge out there.
I'm lucky enough to have two original Hornby Dublo A4s that were given to me as a present (along with a box of track) by my grandad when I was young, over 40 years ago.
Without looking (it's been a while since I've looked at them), one is a Sir Nigel Gresley, and I'm sure this is in blue and not green like the one here. I think the green one I have is the Mallard.
Brings back a few memories. I don't think I'd ever sell them, but how much are they worth now?
Thank you for sharing, not sure on value, but from what you say the sentimental value is great, I still have some of my Grandads locos ( he got me into trains) and I would never let them go. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
You get a plastic tender for what price!? That is an insult.
I can understand the plastic tender, kind of, but not the faults. However the engine is superb. Thanks for watching.
Good review. Completely agree about the tender. Mine also had a less than perfect finish. My quibble though is that Hornby had a chance to redesign the inside to accommodate their latest DCC offerings but you still have to cut out the plastic coal well to fit a decent speaker - in this respect I'm glad it's still plastic! I trust they got the The boiler has more join lines than the plastic version and it could have come with etched nameplates so overall is the premium worth paying for? Just the sound of tapping the metal boiler makes that a yes. I notice that Hattons have suddenly got 10+ in stock today.
Yes there is something about the metal feel and the weight. I don't run dcc so not considered the DDC issues but I will take a look. Thanks you for watching and taking the time to comment.
I have the Merchant Navy from this range and I completely agree about the tender quality. I would have bought more locos but decided they're not worth the money
A very good review, thank you. I would like to put my perspective on things. I am almost 80 and living in the south west, so back in my train spotting days circa 1958 l never had the privilege to see this class of loco.
However, back then, when l was a train spotter, my family and l were returning from holidaying in East Yorkshire. We needed to change trains in Darlington. I would be around 12 years old, and our train duly pulled into the station. WOW, l was so impressed to be pulled by this class loc. Then l saw the locomotive, Sir Nigel Gresley. WOW again.
Sixty five years later and it's still WOW, what a wonderful memory l still have.
Do l want this model? Yes of course l do.
Better still l have purchased it!
Is it expensive? Yes.
Do l care? , No!
Oh that's fantastic, And i hope the model loco brings a smile each time you look at it, ignore my moans, it is beautiful - enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing. Matt
Hello, Thanks for a detailed and informative review. I have a query as a friend had an early Sir Nigel Gresley 'set' as a young boy (1940's/50's) and I was always sure it was green but a mutual friend said recently that Sir Nigel was blue. As you mentioned both colours would you help out my confusion and explain further the colour/s of the actual locomotive and that/those of the models and why any change/difference? I don't have model trains but love them anyway and would be most grateful.
Hi, I am no expert, but many of the A4 have changed colour through their lives, typically when changing from LNER to BR and into preservation. The loco I reviewed was from and earlier period so in the green but currently in preservation its in blue, there are models in blue and green and I also have one in war time black. If someone who reads this can add so proper detail that would be good, there are many experts out there, anyway many thanks for watching.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Thank you so much for your explanation. It is really interedtingto learn about the colour changes and that there was black in the war years. I'll also pay more attention to which company is displayed in photographs.
Lovely loco, thanks for showing! Joachim
thank you for watching.
Yes it’s expensive, I wouldn’t be able to justify the money anyway, however you have bought it and it does look fantastic. The plastic tender is an insult, however as a collectors piece I guess I would touch up those marks on the tender. Great review.
Totally agree! and thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
I wonder if the quality control and inspection is partly to blame for the oversights on the model before it is boxed. Where is it manufactured?
I believe this is manufactured in China and yes QC appears to be the overriding issue.
Does the Sir Nigel have firebox flicker?
yes it did, quite effective. but best seen with reduced light in the room.
May I ask if it has the "arched back" which I always think of as a distinctive feature of the real A4s. I especially remember seeing it on 60024 Kingfisher in the Waverley Station, probably around 1963. She was standing not in the platform line but in the line next to it. A few minutes later a Deltic brought a down East Coast express from Kings Cross into platforms 10 and 11. Then I could see what Kingfisher was waiting for; she moved out to the East end of the station, and then came back onto the rear of the express. She was going to take the empty coaches down to Craigentinny carriage sidings, working tender first. This was more normally a job for a Standard 4 pug. Kingfisher was in a very sorry-looking state, she was absolutely caked in soot and grime. I couldn't resist a little chuckle when you complained about the state of the paintwork on the tender of your new model. I'm sure there was lined-out Brunswick Green paint somewhere underneath all the grime, but I certainly couldn't see it. One thing that was clean enough to be recognisable was the colourful little picture of a kingfisher (bird) half way along the boiler. On seeing this once prestigious locomotive reduced to such menial work, and as an extra indignity, doing it tender first too, my reaction as an 11-year old was "How are the mighty fallen!" Actually I believe Kingfisher soon afterwards joined a number of the other A4s (including Sir Nigel Gresley) in a brief but successful swansong working the 3-hour expresses between Glasgow Buchanan Street and Aberdeen.
Anyway a couple of years later, soon after Meccano Ltd. had failed, and Hornby Dublo had ceased production, I succeeded in getting a (2 rail) Hornby Dublo A4 by a wanted advert in the Railway Modeller. It cost me £3! Of course it came as 60030 Golden Fleece, but I bought name and number plates and changed it to 60024 Kingfisher in honour of my local engine. Later it was joined by a Tri-ang Hornby A3 (which I changed from 60103 Flying Scotsman to 60100 Spearmint). I liked having engines that I knew, or at least Scottish based ones. On my model Kingfisher and Spearmint once again worked East Coast expresses to Kings Cross. (Actually they only worked to my fiddle yard where they were turned round by a reverse loop, but in my imagination they worked right through to the Cross!) My self I actually thought that the plastic tender on the A3 was a better model than the tinplate one on the A4. The A4 actually disappointed me a little, because it had straight line along the top of the boiler, and lacked that "arched back" which I found so distinctive. Actually I say that the Gresley pacifics had a sort of taper boiler. Of course they wouldn't call it a "taper boiler" because that was a Great Western / L.M.S. idea, but all the same, they did taper a bit. I sort of know the shape of the A3 boiler, because at one time in my teens, I was trying to scratch build one. But then Tri-ang Hornby brought out their A3 so there was no need for me to build one! When I look at the way the light catches the top of the boiler of your new A4, I think it does have the "arched back" but maybe you can confirm. I presume it is a completely new die-cast body,not just the old one from the 1950s(?) rehashed? But there's a big difference between £3 and £320! I think the old ones were under £6 even bought new.
What's the idea of the flangeless wheels on the rear pony truck? All the pacifics I ever had, had rear pony trucks with flanged wheels and considerable sideplay. (In addition to the A3 and A4, I had a CKD kit-built Princess Elizabeth (46201) and my original train set in 1956 had the Tri-ang North American outline Transcontinental pacific. It carried the number 2335, which I believe was the telephone number of the Margate factory.
I am not sure about the arched back I will take a look. Thank you so much for you message I really enjoyed reading it, I am learning so much doing these videos with so much feedback and information. The pony trucks are fixed so the wheels have to be flangeless not sure why but I guess to improve running. Any thank you so much for watching and taking the time to share with me. Matt
Likewise, I bought this loco but I returned it the same day without running it. I ordered it originally 10 Jan 2022 as it was originally illustrated with an image of SNG with a double chimney and blurb stated Hornby Era 6 (late British Railways - despite showing an earlier BR emblem on tender). It arrived recently and had single-chimney and obviously was Era 5: not Era 6. I toyed with keeping it (fantastic loco quality) but it would have been absolutely criminal to have to modify such a fine and ludicrously expensive locomotive. I too was underwhelmed by Hornby supplying their standard A4 plastic tender with this premium metal product. Good fair review.
thank you, I was trying to be fair and because I had run the loco I feel obliged to keep, but I have contacted Hornby to see if any thing can be done about the blemishes. I hadn't picked up on the era 5/6 chimney, I will take a look at that. Thanks for watching and taking the time to message.
I got the A4 Gannet. The locomotive is absolutely superb. No blemishes, perfect paintwork. Runs like a dream, best I’ve seen honestly. BUT the tender has flashing around the edges as well. Not nearly as noticeable to the eye as yours, but you can definitely feel it. I had no idea the tender would be plastic, they said nothing of it of course. Hornby comes off a bit dishonest doing something this this, slightly disappointing. Still absolutely wonderful Engine though, pride of my collection.
I am such a Hornby fan, I didn't want to come across as bashing the brand, but they do seam to have their moments. thanks for watching
Hello, Nice review.... I have lost touch with all new Hornby product; I remember these A 4s being tender driven in the late 70's early 80's. Is this tender driven by any chance?
I do have the 50's original all metal "Golden Fleece" and although a little primitive compared to the tooling on this model, I do still love it and it runs very well.... also on the old H&M transformer.
Such a pity about the tender, maybe contact the company and ask for a replacement, but then you run the risk of a difference in the colour of green, like the dye lot in certain products.
Thanks very informative.
Brian
No the new dublo's are loco driven. I will get in touch with Hornby about the tender, but I filmed a follow up and also found paint issues on the loco as well, so I will see what they suggest, and I will keep in mind the paint match as I hadn't thought of that. thanks for watching and taking the time to message.
I can remember receiving the 1947 ish model of this for an Xmas present from my uncle.
Ah wow, I have just posted A second video with footage of a 1948 loco. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I think it is a lovely model. I think you should take a photo of the Tender and send it to Simon at Hornby and ask for a new Tender top. Hornby wants us to buy their Expensive Models so they should be 100% correct. Martin. (Thailand)
I will contact them, thank you and I can not believe my videos are being watched around the world, thanks for taking the time to message.
Amused that you mentioned Hornby, a Model Worlds poor positioning of the tender, then in your next section, we have to see the 'Spencer' wagon up on two wheels at a 45 degree angle....deliberate ? or a new way of off-loading ?
Yeh, Id like to say deliberate, like the Victorian engineers always add an imperfection, but sadly didn't see that until I had all the footage, I must have knocked it. Thanks for call me out, made me smile, and glad your are paying attention!
That is a lot of money to pay for a non sound fitted model and get a plastic tender especially when it is not very well finished. Personally I would have sent it back, but that's just me refusing to have to fix something brand new regardless of the cost. I must admit that I am totally baffled why Hornby don't fit flanged wheels to the rear bogie as the non flanged wheels look terrible when they don't touch the rails. I have a Trix HO 4-8-8-4 big boy and the rear bogie has flanged wheels and it goes around radius 2 bends (slowly) if it has proper wheels what is stopping Hornby locos?
I totally agree with the tender issues, I'm not sure whether it is the lighting or filming but it also looks very slightly darker in shade. I would have certainly returned it for the mould marks (flashing).
A couple of people have said about the shade, I cant see it under my lights in person, anyway thanks for watching and commenting.
Really cool video sir! I was looking at my friends super detailed a4, and it had the same chasis, motor and body as the railroad mallard. It is still £100 more than the railroad one. Is this one a completely modern tooling?
I am not sure about the chassis or tender if they have been used before I would think that given the flickering firebox it fairly new. I am sure someone will post an answer but the diecast body is defiantly new. Thanks for watching and your kind words.
A bit confusing as the original Hornby Dublo colour coded their boxes, Blue and white stripe for 3 rail and red and white for two rail. Later rolling stock was for both 2- and 3-rail and were in red and white boxes. I have only recently sold one of the last of my 3-rail locos, Bristol Castle, in its original packaging complete with warranty slips, the inspection tags, the little tube of oil and the card tubes that went over the buffers to protect the couplings. Bristol Castle also had a die-cast tender and the box had the original price label on it 84/- ( Eighty four shillings or Four pounds four shillings or 4 Guineas.) Quite expensive in its day but even then nothing like £300.
Thank interesting, Thank you and thanks for watching and taking the time to write and share.
I hundred % agree the tender should at least be made of tin that at least would fit in the time period.
I don't think it would have been too challenging, looking at the vantage tender it was only the outer skin that was metal, but to be fair the new loco was only advertised with a diecast body. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Would you consider selling this model now you have a BR Blue one?
No for the moment as I do run the pair together occasionally , anyway thanks for watching
Thanks for the review. I notice you didn't comment on the new tender to loco connection. Looks much simpler than the white plug of previous models, but I was wondering how robust it is?
Personally I'm in two minds about the Dublo models. I bought the Coronation class City of Lichfield in BR blue and have compared it to my Duchess of Gloucester in the same livery. The big plus point is the diecast boiler which as well as adding weight and provides a better finish IMO. Having a diecast boiler probably means less chance of the running plate being warped too, which occasionally happens with Hornby's plastic models.
On the minus side is the cost of the Dublos which including the 10% discount is £92 more than a latest tooling plastic A4. In the case of the Coronations I picked up my Duchess of Gloucester for £125 mint secondhand. Is City of Lichfield worth £163 more for a diecast bolier and slightly better box? No.
Personally I think if you have the money they're very nice, but poor value if you want to run them on a layout as I do. If you're buying them as an investment then you can probably make a reasonable profit.
After much thought I've decided to sell City of Lichfield and keep Duchess of Gloucester. The money I'll get for Lichfield will easily pay for two locos and a rake of coaches on the secondhand market instead.
Thanks for the comment, yes I agree with the running comment, once the value gets to a certain price point, running can become a liability. I have found myself investing more in older locos, much cheaper and I am less on edge using them. I am also finding is a strange way I am enjoying the nostalgia of the vintage models. Anyway, thank you or watching and taking the time to comment. Matt
I don't understand why they made the box blue instead of red like the originals.
I covered it in my follow up video- I assume it was artistic licence.
I'll stick with my originals and Wrens ;) Plastic tender is a joke.
Lucky yours was well packaged. I got one of the 100th centenary Flying Scotsman and it came broken
oh dear, hopefully you were able to get a replacement. I was impressed with the packaging, but maybe not always that good?
@@dustyshelfcollectables Hopefully mine was just a one-off. I still haven’t heard from Hornby but hopefully it can be repaired or replaced
Simon Kohler was talking about this. He said the original Dublo loco was issued with a plastic tender, and this model is meant to be a reproduction. I have got the Wrenn Nigel Gresley in Garter blue. A drawback with this old model is the motor is rather weak and it won't haul many coaches! The Wrenn Gresley also has a plastic tender, so you just have to accept that plastic tenders are thing! Thanks for uploading.
They could have said they were improving on the originals by having a die cast tender.
The original Dublo model had a tinplate dating back to prewar when it was first released, when Wrenn produced their version they obtained from Triang their plastic tender from the Flying Scotsman. So if Mr Kohler wants to make an authentic model it would be a Tinplate tender not plastic or diecast .
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, I have to concur with Steam69, my original 1948 Dublo Sir Nigel Gresley has a tin plate metal tender Maybe Simon Koler was referring to later models?. I am working on a video at the moment comparing the vintage with the new. Anyway thanks again Matt
@@dustyshelfcollectables Hornby's latest model is representative of the 2-rail variant. The pre-War item is 3-rail which is a different thing. I will be interested in your comparison review. The older model has a very outdated vertically mounted motor.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Interesting - if the information is available - to compare the price of the original and this new one. Taking inflation in to account.
I thought Doblo 2 rail came in the red box and 3 rail in blue? Looks like they got this wrong.
Yes you are correct, I think I mentioned this in one of my other videos and put it down to looks as in the Blue looks more 'classy'. But I assume Hornby hoped no one would notice. Anyway thanks for watching.
I’ve been very close to purchasing one of these recently, but have been wrangling with myself with regard to the ridiculous prices being asked for it on a well known auction site
Having seen your review, I’m glad I’ve not taken the plunge now. The paint defects in the tender would have been unacceptable to me.
You are quite right. £300 odd, ( more like £400+ they are fetching now ) is a lot of money, and it should be perfect.
In my opinion, you should have sent it back. £320 in itself is a mind blowing amount for one locomotive, but if it’s something you really want, then it has to be paid. After all, if you don’t buy it, someone else will, but once paid for, it should be absolutely mint, with no imperfections.
Shame on Hornby. £320 takes some earning, and the very least they should provide is a perfectly finished model.
And I haven’t even taken into account the plastic tender…… Not good
Thank you for saving me an even more ridiculous amount I was contemplating paying a greedy E Bayer !!
I know its the way of the world, but I doo get distressed when there is a limited edition and before they have arrived (with those who ordered direct) they are on Ebay. its different if some one just needs to move it on, but more times than not the prices are ridiculously inflated. Anyway, please don't let my loco put you off, As I said may be I just has a Friday afternoon loco, just be sure to check in person, I know I will be more careful in the future.
Thanks for watching and takin the time to message.
my first train set was this loco in 1947 it was blue and numbered 7. long gone unfortunately
And a loco built to last! I am very fond of the early dublo locos, Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to message.
I ordered the 100th anniversary Flying Scotsman it had to come all the way to the US and I came broken not working did hear the motor it will be coming back soon hopefully.
oh dear and so far, I hope it gets fixed, thanks for watching and commenting
Great review, nicely done thanks
Thanks for watching!
Is "Dublo" a wordplay on "Double O"?
I guess so, it was the brand name for OO gauge before Hornby, I am sure someone who knows about these things will post. Anyway thanks for watching.
I wish these R/R sights would tell viewers right away what scale we are viewing. I was 8 minutes in before I knew.
Sorry, videos are just a hobby for me, I hope it didn't spoil your enjoyment too much, thanks for watching.
Despite the marks that’s a sweet looking loco I’d keep it and the marks wouldn’t worry me personally but we are all different.
I will speak to Hornby. but don't intend retuning it. Thanks for watching.
Great review!
Thank you for watching.
Dublo Locomotive with a Railway Tender, I found the same problem with the Limited Edition Dublo Flying Scotsman 😢
Ohh, and the Scotsman is another price jump. I haven't gone for the Scotsman locos, I think if they brought out one centenary loco i would have but 5 or 6, no way could I afford the set. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Plastic tender was the normal with the original Hornby Dublo on most models , and later, Wrenn, although the Castles had the loco looks it seems all manufacturers these days have imperfections on top price models?
From the video it also looks like the tender is Matt and the locomotives satin ? That would bug me too!
I am not sue about the matt and satin I will look, but on my latest vid, I look more at the loco and found some issues with the lining. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Dublo tenders from 1938 through to their demise in the 60s were always metal. In both the earlier 3 rail and the later two rail versions.
It was only after Wrenn purchased the dublo tooling that they started to use plastic tenders from the Triang range.
City of London in HD has a plastic tender for sure as does the west country Banstable!
I’ve purchased the Dublo BR Scotsman but yet to take it out the packaging, I’m hoping the tender is ok! I haven’t got an A4 and I’m stuck choosing between the 85th Mallard and a Dublo A4. Price isn’t too much of an issue but I do want the quality. On a separate note, which controller do you use? Im sticking with DC but need to upgrade. Excellent video 👏
Thank you, I would defiantly take a look in person at the A4 before purchase, as mine may have been a one off, just a bad day in production. I have an H&M controller, I have always found it very reliable although others commenting have suggest the modern controllers may be better. Any thanks for watching and taking the time to comment .
I had a Wrenn version and that had a plastic tender.
I might be wrong but I thought the original tender was metal and had bogied wheels maybe it was a 3 rail version.
Nice model.
So there has been a bit of debate in the comments, all I can say with certainty is all o my vintage Dublo A4 have a tin plate tender and bogied wheels. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I have both the Wrenn Sir Nigel Gresley and the Hornby Dublo Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece has a tin tender with separate bogies, and Sir Nigel Gresley has a plastic Triang-Hornby tender. The reason it has a Triang-Hornby tender is because, if I recall, Wrenn had problems sourcing tin, so they had Triang-Hornby supply the tenders for their A4's. Bear in mind that my Sir Nigel Gresley was made in the brief Triang-Wrenn period, so I'm not sure what Wrenn did later on in that regard.
Hi, great review of a nice loco, not very good QC at Hornby for such an expensive model, stay should have sound fitted for the price, I hope Accurascale produce an A4 in the future,
At least you’d have the option of a non sound and sound fitted, I hope you issues get resolved, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the comments and watching, and I will contact Hornby.
I was hoping to be positive. Interesting to see what other manufacturers will come up with
Interestingly the originals had tin plate, but Wrenn used plastic Triang tenders rather than the Dublo tin plate, but nice if they gone to die-cast tender.
I was surprised by the tender being plastic, but not overly concerned as you would not be able to tell by looking, but going diecast or tinplate would have really made this something special, it not even a complicated shape. Any way thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@dustyshelfcollectables I agree entirely, I think in this day and age tin plate is no longer good enough as injection moulding / die casting has moved the game on from how these were 60+ years ago, at this price point it should be diecast anyway. I also note that with sound they are at the same price point as Marklin / Trix new HO Flying Scotsman and they have engineered a working whilst still realistic looking rear truck unlike Hornby.
320 notes ouch, however nice looking loco .Ididnt see any blemishes on tender thought the shade was different though. Seeing all six together must have been special ,I saw Mallard in York about 40 years ago ,I didn't spot back to front tender on the show . All six would be awesome but the wallet says no 😭😭.
Yep can't spend that on a loco very often, there are white marks where the body meet the chassis, these are flash from a poor moulding process. I will get the limited footage o the great gathering up this week if I get a chance.
I'd return it.
At that price you can't be umming and ahhing over keeping it and finding disappointments, you should be beyond delighted with it and be finding areas where they appear to have gone above and beyond.
Yes it should be surprise an delight, It is difficult as the engine is superb, its just the tender that lets it down. I will probably drop Hornby a line. Thanks for watching.
I thought it would be 3 rail like Marklin and original Dublo
I guess 3 rail is a bit niche these days. On the Hornby centenary they did an O gauge reproduction and went electric instead of clockwork, so there is form.... I think the 'Retro' Dublo was intended to be the premium Hornby range.
Im afraid the quality overall is just not worth the price tag. I stopped buying Hornby several years ago for QC issues and this has just reinforced my decision. The tender is an absolute disgrace.
As I have said a couple of times in my replies to people, expectation and cost are related and while we all will have a different perspective of this relationship the higher the cost, the narrower the band of expectation gets. thanks or watching.
What truly shocks me is the valve gear on these gresley pacifics produced by Hornby. It dates back to the mid 1990s and is utterly atrocious to be quite frank. It's incredibly fine, sure... but the real life locos had super beefy, thick coupling and connecting rods. I think they attempted resolving some of the issues with the W1 hush-hush that came out a couple years ago but it's less than desirable for the price these things cost nowadays. I've actually replaced the valve gear on both my Hornby A4s with (shockingly) much more appropraitely tooled Bachmann A1 valve gear! The crosshead looks much better and so does the eccentric crank as well. It has far improved the look of my models!
I will be honest I hadn't realised, but now you mention it I can see it, thank you for pointing that out. I don't think ,my skill set will be up to changing mine. Thanks you for watching and taking the time to point that out.
The valve gear isn’t something that people typically think to be incorrect when it looks “right” from the side profile and most of it moves as it’s supposed to. The modification to the chassis blocks does require a good bit of filing and eyeballing to get the Bachmann substitute pieces to fit properly but I think it’s been well worth the effort on my models. Haven’t done anything to my Hornby A3 yet other than sound fitting but I do plan to do the same Bachmann A1 swap on that as well. Loving your channel and reviews so far!
@@gregpokes1 Thank you again, I can see the issue now. Matt
I can see why you’d be disappointed with the tender, on a loco at £300+ it’s surprising. True the later Dublo Princess Coronations City of London and City of Liverpool had plastic bodied tenders, but the chassis were still die-cast. I think the A4’s always had the tinplate tender, though when they were marketed by Wrenn they used the plastic Triang Hornby version from 4472. I’ll certainly never be able to afford one of these, so I’ll just keep on the look out for original Hornby Dublo which still seems easy to find at far more reasonable prices! Looking forward to seeing your comparison video. Obviously the older ones don’t even get close detail wise, but if I compare my Dublo 4MT 2-6-4T with my Bachmann version, I know which one I prefer! It just has a presence no new version could ever match,
I am on the same page, the old locos have something nostalgic and tangible about them. I am very fortunate that I could get one of the new released locos and I so wished to do a very positive review, hopefully I got a good balance as the engine was rather good, if a little sole less, but I couldn't let the tender pass without comment. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
They should put this thing back into regular service. It would get a lot of the tourist market, and I for one would ride it all the way from Maidenhead to Oban if the route wee available, and I'd do it often. These locos are iconic, even in the United States, and I'm certain that it would attract rail enthusiasts from all up and down the entire world given a chance.
Regarding the model, that's a lot of money. I'd be giving up eating to pay that off. I'm a bit surprised that anything about it would be shoddy at that price. I'd at the very least require that they replace the tender with one without blemishes for that price. It's a shame that they don't have more pride in their product than that.
In other news, there seems to have been an accident. The Spencer is off the rails. I hope no one was hurt or killed, and that the damage to the building and rolling stock was minimal. I hope they'll have a team out to put things right soon, and that the yard will again be open for use.
Oh dear that wagon, so many comments, I am just appreciative everyone is paying attention. I assume the Gresley will be back on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at some point, but I do agree its a real crowd puller and yes holds its own in the USA which is amazing considering they have the big boy and challenger. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment,
Very nice hardly worth sending back although I would be annoyed over the tender maybe a fine brush and some matt black paint and touch them in 👍
Thats kind of what I thought, I can make good. but its a case of, push the cost and price point, then expectations also raise.
I think as you’ve chosen to run the model you have chosen to keep it. Either return as soon as you found fault or keep. That’s my opinion. Also if you were unhappy with a plastic tender then return as soon as you found out, which again doesn’t involve running the model.
I totally agree with you if I was unhappy with the plastic tender, but as there is poor quality on the tender and now found on the loco, I think it is fair to ask these areas to be put right regardless of running, Thanks for watching
Tempted myself. I would expect nothing less than perfection at this price. Those marks are unacceptable. That porthole on the tender always bothers me. Still a stunning model though.
Yes great model but I will contact Hornby, thanks for watching and commenting.
Would be a nice set for starting a new hobby. Long live the King!
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
Beautiful loco, but the prices these are going for are quite frankly obscene, at least in my opinion. Yes, you get a die cast boiler and a nice looking box, but that is not worth the price jump in my opinion.
I do know where you are coming from, this is the first I have bought for a while. Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Sams Trains mentioned about Hornbys poor packing as well
Yes I saw that a while back, but I wanted to demonstrate how things have really improved.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Luck of the draw who in the warehouse gets to pack your loco I think. Mine came with no outer bubble wrap this time, but I've had other boxes from Hornby swamped in the stuff.
The blemishes on the tender were not acceptable for that price. Also, should not be plastic for that price. But if you look closely at your video, you can see blemishes on the locomotive as well. Not as bad, but they are there.
I will go and take another look, with my other glasses, thanks for watching
Interesting how the pony truck floats in mid air quite often in both directions. Design flaw or a slight misalignment when coupling the tender?
Have to say for the price I'd expect the finish on the tender to be better, you shouldn't be expected to have flashing and imperfections on the paintwork.
I almost returned a TfW MK4 for some poorly printed lettering but decided not too, wish I had to be honest, nowhere near the price of the A4 but that's not the point.
If you are referring to the pony truck under the cab this is fixed and does not rotate, hence the wheels are not flanged and it floats (I was aware before I purchased) . The model comes with a set of flanged 'display' wheels or the ruck if its not being run.
I really don't want to be to critical of Hornby as I enjoy hearing of their success, they are a mainstay of the hobby after all , but it is difficult when disappointment creeps in.
Anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Why do Hornby use those unflanged pony trucks, my old Tri-ang Princess had a pivoting one with flanges albeit the centre driver was unflanged, radii I suppose.
The marks on the tender are awful. I'd send it back. For Marklin/Trix money you'd expect perfection.
I would have sent it back .
I think I will contact Hornby, but probably wont send back .
WTH? a plastic tender for a model at THAT price? thats not a rip off but kinda close to one tbh, especially cuz of the markings on the tender too...
To be fair they only said a diecast body, The train is beautiful, but just a couple of quality points. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great review !!! I've just recently gotten into British OO scale rolling stock in anticipation of the Marklin "Flying Scotsman" and bought a few Hornby "Flying Scotsman" train sets:
- th-cam.com/video/Dld2P9QwXO8/w-d-xo.html
- th-cam.com/video/R0Qx400JlYk/w-d-xo.html
I kind of like them, but I'm still wondering where this manufacturer takes the audacity to charge this kind of money for a not-so-nicely detailed and executed model. Having gotten back into models trains just about 2 years ago, I'm doing a lot of catching up after a 45 year hiatus, and its amazing to see the highs and lows of this hobby...
Thanks for the reply I will take a look at the videos later. Yes a lot has changed in the last 45 years but the price has really accelerated since the pandemic. Id love the marklin loco, maybe..... Thanks for watching.
@@dustyshelfcollectables Thanks for your comments. Since I had a Marklin layout as a kid, that's what I started with. In my quest to find more "Orient Express" trains, I happened onto the Jouef trains, and bought quite a few over the past 2 years (and added a DC / DCC oval to my layout). Then I found the British "VSOE" and had to get this as well (and subsequently the "Belmond").
Now, the Marklin "Flying Scotsman" is probably going to be quite extraordinary (and expensive), and comes with digital decoder, factory sound & smoke, but it's HO scale (Trix will issue a DCC version). I did find some HO scale British passenger cars (older Fleischmann versions): th-cam.com/video/BwKlLlxYr-0/w-d-xo.html (I know the loco is not correct, but Marklin does not make any British locos).
@@tomsmaerklintrainlayout6742 I think this is the joy of the hobby, hunting out those locos of stock for your collection. I am very much Hornby, triang dublo etc with a few wrenn and Bachmann. I do have some French outline from Jouef, but love the detail and look of the Marklin, maybe a direction I should take next, although the Scotsman may be a bit far at the moment, anyway thanks again
@@dustyshelfcollectables I've been having a lot of fun with trains for the past 2 years as well, and think I'm in a pretty good place (met a lot of nice folks, learned a lot and overall enjoyed myself). One of the main things I learned is that if you want to deal with relatively trouble-free items, get the old Marklin / Trix / Fleischmann /Jouef / Triang stuff, they seem to be bullet proof. As with most everything else (like cars), adding electronics made everything so much more complex & prone to failure (never mind having it made in China)...
If you want a feeling of success, get an old Marklin loco, put it on the tracks and see it run like new after having been in storage for 50 or 60 years...
@@tomsmaerklintrainlayout6742 Well said, totally agree!
I don't think you are being overly fussy about that for the price they charge there is no reason that tender should be plastic first off and if it is plastic you should do a hell of lot better job than that I mean have respect for your work respect for the history of the engine respect for the customer overall that's someone's hard earned money it's almost criminal to me Lionel here in the states ha gone down in quality also its sad
Yes I agree, I am a Hornby fan believe it or not, I wanted it to be special, anyway thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
From all the reviews I have seen on there is always something which spoils the fun. Warped base plates, bogie wheels not touching the rails(hush hush) poor quatlity of running gear, hugely overprized for what is delivered, very poor post-and-packaging etc. I wouldn't buy anything anymore from this incompetend self indulged company. It is not strange that they still don't make any profit on their products. Watch Sam's trains by the way.
I tried to be balanced, I am a Hornby Fan at heart, but with the price also comes the expectation, thanks for watching and commenting
Typically Hornby, get that money in….!! I never buy the brand, just overpriced…
I wasn't trying to bash Hornby, just saying with an increased price there is always and increased expectation and the engine was really good, it was just the tender.
In a word, shoddy - product not video !!. The original version had all flanged wheels. I just cannot imagine a loco with non flanged wheels it looks awful in my eyes.
I do understand if it helps the running, but I filmed a follow up and had issues running on a smaller radius, I don't want to return it so I will contact Hornby. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
How much!!!? That’s why us old farts wonder why the younger generation aren’t interested in model railways today.
I know, Thats why my expectation was so high, I am working on a video comparing this new one back to a 1948 version I have and I will highlight to cost. Thanks for watching Matt
To be fair, Simon Kohler more or less said that the Dublo offerings are intended to appeal to old farts' nostalgia and to collectors, more so than the average modeller. They're an appeal to retirees with disposable income, not the working stiff with a mortgage and 4 mouths to feed.
Still pricey though… my 5 year old granddaughter was round a couple of weeks ago, she saw my display models and said ‘ Grandad, why aren’t your trains going around’…… She’s inheriting all my models, railways and diecast