Michael. Informative review - thank you. Bought one of these off E Bay at the weekend - doesn't 'fit' with my GWR/LMS layout, but it's the sheer beauty of it that attracted me - and with a rake of Pullmans it doesn't look too out of place. The cab/tender side panels are missing on mine, and another review highlighted the snag you did ref small radius curves. The detail pack info was useful - on a test run last night I noticed it slowing on a 'tight' radius curve. I've got minimum 36" radius on the main layout but a bit tighter going in/out of the fiddle yard. I thought the fixed pony wheels were unflanged, but were flanged on mine - clearly the previous owner has used the detail pack wheels, so I really need to get hold of an unflanged set. And I did note from another Mallard review of an earlier model that that confirmed your observation - side panels are prone to damage on smaller radius curves, but can apparently be obtained from Hornby. The front coupling on mine had been removed and someone has clearly driven it into an immovable object resulting in the buffer beam breaking off but that will be a quick fix as its a separate moulding anyway, and the fix won't be noticeable. As you say a heavy loco - reminiscent of Hornby Dublo die cast versions. Good quiet runner - an excellent model.
Thank you for the feedback David! I'm sure you can get unflanged wheels fairly easily, although I was unaware that you could obtain the side panels! Certainly, an all-round excellent model, I'm glad you're pleased with yours!
I apologise for the slight blip at 1:57. This is not in the original file and must be a fault acquired in uploading.
Michael. Informative review - thank you. Bought one of these off E Bay at the weekend - doesn't 'fit' with my GWR/LMS layout, but it's the sheer beauty of it that attracted me - and with a rake of Pullmans it doesn't look too out of place.
The cab/tender side panels are missing on mine, and another review highlighted the snag you did ref small radius curves. The detail pack info was useful - on a test run last night I noticed it slowing on a 'tight' radius curve. I've got minimum 36" radius on the main layout but a bit tighter going in/out of the fiddle yard. I thought the fixed pony wheels were unflanged, but were flanged on mine - clearly the previous owner has used the detail pack wheels, so I really need to get hold of an unflanged set.
And I did note from another Mallard review of an earlier model that that confirmed your observation - side panels are prone to damage on smaller radius curves, but can apparently be obtained from Hornby.
The front coupling on mine had been removed and someone has clearly driven it into an immovable object resulting in the buffer beam breaking off but that will be a quick fix as its a separate moulding anyway, and the fix won't be noticeable.
As you say a heavy loco - reminiscent of Hornby Dublo die cast versions. Good quiet runner - an excellent model.
Thank you for the feedback David! I'm sure you can get unflanged wheels fairly easily, although I was unaware that you could obtain the side panels! Certainly, an all-round excellent model, I'm glad you're pleased with yours!