Definitely. I’m having to rely on eBay and even that is a land field. I got a Hornby J94 for £40 from Rails of Sheffield eBay site and runs really good (even if it has a somewhat noisy motor)
@@hellothere6023 if you haven’t already you might want to consider checking out the prices at your local hobby shop. This might just be mine but prices tend to be drastically lower in them then those online
I remember the magic as a kid ripping open Christmas wrapping paper and seeing a glimpse of that Hornby railways logo but £90 odd for a model that is a lower quality version is just ridiculous for a plastic mould and a motor that’s worth about £5. That’s more expensive than even the super detailed ones should be. I love model trains but i think model trains are the lowest value for money product you can possibly buy. Great video as always sam.
Can I just say, I really appreciate that you have put the ads in the appropriate place, not cutting you off in the middle of a sentence or something, it just makes the video seem that much more professional.
At first I thought it was a good deal, but seing how they downgraded the mechanism I definately agree with your ratings. Value maybe half a star off becase the 2012 one is definately better. Great review, Sam
If Hornby simply standardised across their entire range by fitting a good quality five-pole motor with a flywheel to every loco, it would probably save them money overall and avoid criticisms about crawls, pulling power, smooth running and longevity. You're right that this is more important than differences in detail or finish between the ranges, because many owners will be happy and able to modify, upgrade or weather their models to improve them visually. I was able to stand on the footplate of Mallard recently, and it was quite an experience, making me eager to superdetail the cab of an A4 model soon!
I quit the hobby a while back due to the prices and find it amusing how this is an affordable basic railroad model and it's still nearly £100. It was only around 15 years ago when I'd pay £70 or so for something super detailed. When it came to diesels you could pick up the Hornby superdetailed locos for £50. When sound fitted locos started to become a thing even those were less than you'd pay for just the loco these days. Obviously there's Inflation to consider within the last 15 years but it wouldn't make it that much more expensive.
I found a box full of my dad's old loco's. I was astonished at some of the prices on the boxes. £30, to like £70 for a full on express tender loco. A lot of them hold up to modern standards too.
haha yep - I know I'd love those, but they're just so hard to get! That's the modern way now - manufacturers produce tiny quantities to create value :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Great review Sam. I’m returning to the hobby after 20 years out and your reviews are incredibly insightful. I’ve since acquired a Railroad 9f a railroad Jinty and a Super detailed 2800 class. They were all uses but the super detailed model, while incredible is soo fragile in comparison to railroad models. I will be sticking to Railroad models in future for robustness, shame about the motor and pickups though. But more railroad reviews please. At £100 that’s more my budget (mainly cos I’m tight).
Can you do an episode of Sam’s Engineering where you take the railroad model and spruce it up with paints and wiring such as a beginner could copy and improve? If it has the infrastructure couldn’t you show us how to cheaply make it better, even buying and installing a 5 pole motor?
Interesting idea! In April last year Sam actually tried something like this, converting a Battle of Britain Class loco from a Hornby motor to a similar Chinese five-pole unit. Hornby wanted over £17 for a suitable power unit, but Sam got one on the Internet for under £2. To everyone's surprise, the cheaper motor equalled the Hornby unit in every respect except crawl performance, and in the crawl tests it was... better! The only slightly tricky part of the engine swap was transferring the worm gear from the old motor shaft to the new, but it's definitely doable. Hopefully, Sam will try to do some painting upgrades of models in the future, although at the moment he is a little wary of this. But what could possibly go wrong?
Saw the real thing in person last weekend, always wanted a model one, this seems perfect. Deffo one of the people who just enjoys running stuff, Im not super fussed on detail, as long as the livery is right and its the right shape I'm happy really. And yes, more diesels please! :3
Hello Sam, I guess I have been unfortunate with mine. It had all kinds of bits broken already when taken out of the box, even though I used the holes in the back of the polystarine packaging (railings etc). When i ran it it would continously derail, even though running on outer curves, because the front bogees would come off. Found they were over tightened so loosened them, but still derails. I ve got 60+ locos all bought off ebay, and all but a few work ok, as my first brand new buy this was saddly a disapointment. Understand that my location in thailand might mean postage damage was possible, but the package was ok. Enjoy your reviews mate, keep up the good work!
Very smart. I'm new to this hobby and recently got the Flying Scotsman train set. The mechanism on this model looks very similar to that of my Scotsman, which is, according to the blurb that came with it, a three pole motor with a flywheel. It accelerates and decelerates really nicely and smoothly, but the crawl leaves a bit to be desired. With that said, I'm loving it, and am having to resist temptation to buy a tonne of track, buildings etc.
I have both the Railroad Flying Scotsman and Railroad Mallard. I found the slow speed crawl to improve once I converted them to DCC - I used ESU LokPilot 59820 Micro decoders in both (they're silent decoders, as I'm not really into sound at this point).
Sam now you are talking my language and price range. I purchased this same engine and I love it . I live my buying fantasy through watching your videos. I only buy the ones you recommend that I can afford. Your reviews save me a lot of trouble in returning items that have problems. Thank you for this video. Keep them coming.
I'm not too picky personally. As long as it passes the silhouette test I'm mostly happy, although I definitely do appreciate the more fine detail when it's there. I tend to want mid range locos, but I only really buy basic rollingstock.
I'm a model train fan with a budget, and I usually buy things that catch my eye. Thanks to you, we have an interactive catalogue of models that are worth getting that you can recommend
Bought this model recently , but i also have a Railways A4 , specifically the experimental Purple one I love them both and they've really made me like A4s a lot more than i did lol However I must state that both my Railways A4 and Railroad A4 came in perfect condition - the Railways one has the block of ice and my Railroad Mallard has the same polystyrene as yours , so it shows that there's some models that are good and some that aren't when they arrive. Mine also runs absolutely fine Awesome video as always
Hi sam I only have 2 a4s both in gather blue One a super fat version of Mallard before every one was using the plug. So early till mid 2000s cost me £85 new from Banbury model shop Other one is a 80s Margate built seagull. Look stunning when going round track You rise some good points in this video Keep safe arp
I've been after an affordable A4 for ages, then this year I inherited an old Bachmann Branchline Sir Nigel Gresley (model 31-954) from my grandfather. I recommend it if you manage to find one. This one seems very old but well looked after. It runs well, but isn't a strong puller (I have a 2.4% incline on my layout, and it can manage 4 or 5 coaches up it comfortably at best - although the coaches I used are heavier than standard because my granddad has put loads of lighting gubbins in them). It can do 1st radius curves too, which is good for me on my little 6'x4' layout. That's my review.
I like the Railroad range as its pretty much the era of model trains I remember and they are decent enough to run even when you have some super detailed locomotives on your layout. Hornby Railroad models are also still cheaper than their rivals latest attempt of a budget range known as EFE.
Me too Ben - I started with lots of these too! I don't think EFE rail is intended as a budget range... many of the models might be useless don't get me wrong, but they're flippin' expensive! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I have a c1979/1980s BR Green Mallard, and even that had glazing in the cab, and although still basic the pipework in the cab was picked out in a brass colour! And you got a driver and fireman figuers
That model is pretty much what the Railroad version is based on. Only thing Hornby have done is fit a new mechanism in the loco end rather than keeping the ringfield motor in the tender.
As ever, Hornby have done their stuff. Beginners' level it maybe, but a stop-frame at around 23:46 shows that Hornby have captured the elusive lines of the A4 to perfection. Yep - as to getting the aura of a locomotive, no-one can rival Hornby.
Thanks for sharing Sam. Very good idea. I always go full fat, but Railroad models are extremely important, and as you noticed really pretty well detailed ... 'though not that cheap. A4's are definitely holding their price seemingly at the moment. They do need to differentiate between the 2 grades. I've seemingly found that Bachmann locomotives appear to pickup more consistently without tender pickup, than Hornby ones do, almost justifying their insistence in not having tender pickups! Careful with the locomotive brake rods - I recently purchased a full fat blue Mallard, BR, which is absolutely a gem, except, it was coming off at the points ... which I quickly found out was a slightly bent downwards set of brake rods! Thanks for sharing, as usual Sam. Al.
I think their best one is R2339, the first generation of new tooled A4's. Have managed to fit a TTS chip in the loco body with a long thin speaker. Has the pickups in the tender too, but the tender can still be detached. Still a great runner.
Good review Sam, it also explains a lot of things. I have been messing around with A3/A4 chassis, fitting the newer chassis to my older tender driven locos. Hornby have obviously changed the mechanism, the old ones used the same as the expensive A4s, it was just that the valve gear was a bit clunky. The mechanisms I have been buying also must have used tender pickups, not the 4 pin lead but the 2 way arrangement on the tender pin. What they have done is changed the mechanism to the later Railroad Tornado type and it looks like the tender as well. I had lost the plate that holds the dummy pony truck axle in, as you cannot get it as a spare, I asked Hornby if they could send me one. Hornby did send me the plate, which was good, but it didn't fit. Surprisingly the plate is different between the old A4 chassis and the Tornado one.
Brilliant review. I have the same model as this, and it is a fantastic runner. I got it to remind me of my visit to the NRM, about a decade ago, when I actually got to sit in the cab (The had steps for visitors to climb in, then, I don't know if that's the case now). You can feel the history, when you're in the Mallards cab, it's rather spectacular.
Hi Sam, The TTS sound version is slightly more expensive and viewing some photo's it seems the decoder and speaker are located in the tender. Maybe with tender pick-ups too ? But you're completely right: no savings can be accepted on good running properties and tender pick-ups are a must. They can also blame it on Covid as all the greedy businesses up there now. Thanks for sharing and pointing this out to Hornby !
It's so cool to see an A4 in your videos. While your review may have been a bit harsh, I have started noticing those same things on my Hornby Railroad Mallard. However, considering it was my first purchase, I'm not bothered about that, just aware of the downgrade I have compared to other locos... Aside from that, another cool review overall. Nice to see A4s again
I'm all for more Railroad-style reviews, and not just from Hornby if other manufacturers do something similar. This was interesting and I'd happily watch more like it. One minor complaint is that when you were running the 3 trains, I couldn't see which A4 were on the inside and middle lines. Would have been nice to know.
100% agree with you on this as relatively budget orientated on this hobby as i only have 1 or 2 super detailed models that took me ages to save for there is nothing wrong with cheaper models if you just want to have that model for your layout maybe a railroad vs main could be a good set of videos like the old thomas vs style!!!!! Great review as always!
My 5 year old Railroad A4 runs very well (5 pole, tender pick ups) and looks really good. No trade off in performance against the super detail models, unlike your review sample. Mine cost £48 new at a show! Should have bought 2!
Sam I think the coal is like that because you can get a digital sound version which is what I have so I think the coal was like that because of the speaker and they do have tender pickups aswell and the performance is way better with the pickups and does a really good crawl
Great review Sam. Now in my 3rd year of this hobby I have being favoring Hornby’s Railway models and steering clear of the Railroad range of which I bought a few of earlier on. Having said that I don’t mind some of the railroad ones and would like to see some diesel reviews. Whilst we’re on the topic of Hornby diesels, the class 50’s & 60’s (Railway range) I think are particularly good, almost as good as the class 56. Cheers
Sam, thanks for this video. I skipped buying the more detailed version when they were available a few years ago so was wondering about the Railroad versions. Now I see I will pass on this one. I’m sure Hornby will cycle these back into production again in a year or two.
I bought this exact model at around the same time as a Hornby Railroad Flying Scotsman. The difference between them is that I bought Flying Scotsman fitted with TTS. Guess what? Flying Scotsman has full tender pick ups too. I don't know if a non-TTS Flying Scotsman would have lacked those pick ups, but if this is a normal difference between TTS and non-TTS locos I reckon the extra cost is money well spent because its running is superb, never mind getting the sound as well. On a different note, when reviewing a model that has a close "twin" (i.e. the Hornby Railways Mallard), it would be good to see a few side by side views for comparison.
Good review, Sam! I have a Railroad A4 (Silver Link) that came in a train pack with matching carriages (the ones with the scale 1ft window cill). It's okay, but from what you say it must be closer in age to your earlier Railroad A4, i.e mid 2000's.
You gave a very fair review, I can understand the affects of inflation over 9 years but not that much of a drop in standards ! Maybe someone will take note, I have.
Many thanks Tim - yes you're right - and don't forget mine had a £20 DCC decoder fitted from 2012... nothing like that in this! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains thanks for the reply. I'm following the Mallard Railroad. Just found this SUNNY SERVICE @ TRADE 7686 .COM They are offering Model Railway Locomotives. This Company is a SCAM. DO NOT SEND THEM MONEY 😬
Railroad Mallard is the star of my engine shed microlayout 😂😂 I’ve added a crew and painted the cab detail. Mechanically mine doesn’t struggle to crawl like yours does though. It’s not perfect but it is much smoother at low speeds.
Couldn't find the odd loco out... unless it was the non-blue A-4 you had running. Very nice review and I trust your judgement. I would trust, without comparing to the non-blue A-4 you got for a better deal, this loco will be a good seller for those who like "economy-priced" choice locomotives... for those who always wanted a Mallard. John BC, Canada p.s. gonna watch your review from three years ago on the "same" locomotive.
I need that still, I’ve had models for 14 years and I’ve never got Mallard yet! No idea why. I do have an A4, but that one is 60001 Sir Ronald Matthews with DCC Sound (not TTS). That one used to be LNER 4500 Gargany and built in 1938. Hornby made no. 4500 in a train pack called Queen of Scots I believe. Nice video Sam. Kind regards. Dan
Nice review Sam, I consider myself intimidate level modeller and I balance up new fancy top range, vs hornby last 10 years vs occasional railroad. A good example I bought the latest 9f railroad and I really cant believe for the extra 120 Id enjoy that new bachmann version anymore.
I still have two Horny engines from the 1960s, both still work as I have kept them since new as a child. Not really bothered with scale trains until I started watching the TV series on Horny. After looking into the company as it is now I can not believe the quality issues and standard of customer care that people have to deal with and the running issues with so called high end models. I'll keep my two from my childhood thank you!
Hi Sam Most of my Locomotives are Secondhand apart from my Hornby Flying scotsman which was a train set and she could do with some New Buffers and a new Step but she still runs also I am getting a Mainline BR Black Collett goods Locomotive
For 100 pounds I really need a some windows fitting which probably cost 50p to produce and 50p to fit. Also I can't see why one colour number and letters really save all that much in production costs. The rest is acceptable
Yeah this is probably the same engine that came with my model set last year. The valve came out and I had it sent back to get a replacement. Their choice to do that and I believe the valve malfunctioned again. Lightning strikes twice maybe? Anyway it's nice to see not all Mallards are lemons.
Cheap is right though. I bought a 0-6-0 locomotive from trainworld today in Southern Pacific's black & Roman font livery. I can't wait to see what is in store.
i dont know about you sam... but if i were getting an a4 for a fleet... id get an older or current railroad one and just up-detail it... or modify it. might be cheaper and it wouldnt be too much of a rediculous downgrade from the superdetail version
My first ever model was a slightly earlier railroad mallard, then I bought a Caledonian Smokey joe. I still have my mallard, but it doesn’t run very well. Might fix it up soon.
Hi Sam, really enjoyed this video, A4 are mine and my brother favourite trains, we both have a silver Fox each and we are in the process of building a couple of other A4, my brother is going to build the blue and green Mallard and my myself I'm still try to build The union of south and I would to build the green mallard too, we brought all are parts for are A4 of Ebay and that not cheap any special where A4 are concerned.
Indeed, it is an older tender! But, yes: the tender pickups are a real issue. I have the TTS version of this model, so it's very noticeable when it momentarily cuts out over points and such... and tender pickups would most likely fix that. Overall, I still think it's a good package for the £116 that it cost - but, this is an issue that bears mentioning...
I've got one of the Railroad TTS models and also one of the more expensive Railway models. I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed with the Railway version. The only thing that I couldn't handle with the railroad version was the funny flaky gold lettering on mine. Oh and I replaced the chunky plastic coal load. A few transfers later and I was a happy chappy. Performance on mine is way better than yours maybe I was lucky or the older ones were better? Nice review as always Sam.
If you paid £91 for your other Railroad A4 in 2012, once you’ve adjusted for inflation that works out at £110 today - so the price has not increased at all
Mr.Sam, you need to start a Narrow gauge model railway. OO9 scale is the scale you will need for your narrow gauge, that is if the model railway you have now is OO scale. This OO9 narrow gauge model railway will be higher up and also the engines will be narrow gauge too. I like Narrow Gauge. You NEED a narrow gauge model railway.
I just thought while watching this, how many locomotives do you actually have? I know you’ve probably done a video about it but can’t be bothered to go looking 😂. Great review as always!
Ahh fantastic - yeah at least the mechanisms are still quality... though it'd be better if they had higher quality motors to match! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
This might be a strange idea but potential video idea. Take a model like this and upgrade it with 3D printing ect to try and compete with the more expensive A4. It would be hard to match but would be fun to see how close you can get!
Hi Sam, at 27:38 and in some other times it looks as if the left wheel of the rear pony in not touching the track. Was its pivot bent? Did you notice it?
It's because those are just dummy wheels - Hornby do this on most of their pacifics and it's a common criticism... they're actually not supposed to be touching the track! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@Sam’s Trains the Hornby Railroad models look like they are modeled just before nationalization (even before BRITISH RAILWAYS was painted on the tender or tanks)
All 35 A4s had the valances as built. The first 4 had some differences to the other 31. During the war, all had valances removed for ease of maintenance, just like the b17/5s and w1, and none regained them until preservation. It is surprising how much detail this old 1980s tooling has when stood next to newer ones. Although I think the tender chassis has been upgraded, like the mechanism. A real shame railroad locos don't have the decent lettering or the glazing, unlike the same models 15 years ago. I mean, my tender drive scotsman had 6 wheel tender pickups, and 2 wipers to each driving wheel on the loco. Completely agree about increasing prices and declining quality. But could be worse, could be a 300% inflation in price for the same model (bachmann 4cep/4bep)
Yes, it’s a good idea of Hornby to offer a budget series. It would be nice if other companies also would have a budget series! Most companies don’t offer any locomotive at all for under 100 euros… 😢 Only Piko has a few locomotives in the Hobby-series that are offered under 100 euros, but the choice is very limited.
Rather a great model for the railroad range, really reminds me of the 70’s-80’s Hornby railways A4, that tender is definitely just the one used in that period with a few subtle tweaks, great review as usual, Sam! -theimperialdiamondspinosaurus
The TTS sound version of this is £116.00 from Hattons and it does appear a little different than yours. I think that it is pretty common that a motor adds nothing to cost of a model (that's what people keep banging on about in various forums anyway) With that said I am sure the cost (labour) to fit either would be the same so why not use a 5 pole? Probably so the loco craps out sooner and you have to buy another :(
I think this problem goes deeper than just a few new models, I think they tried to make this Mallard to work as both the basic railroad version and the TTS sound version. I have the TTS sound, and it appears to have identical issues with performance, and the detailing is identical (right down to the sprung buffers on the front but not the back). It is really irritating when the loco jerks into life like that when sound is added into the mix.
I just got a Railways Flying Scotsman and out of curiosity after watching this weighed them as well. Same as with the A4s the Railroad engine(no tender) weighs 54g more than the Railways engine
Yeah they are very similar - the latest ones have virtually the same chassis! Hilarious that they're heavier than the Railways ones though, lol! ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I recently looked at a very old hornby flying Scotsman, and that was very, very basic, but also very robust. I do wonder if railroad is still aimed too high for kids. I wonder if there is a market for a much simpler version aimed for 5 - 10 year olds. Something day can take a knock or bash or too. Maybe with a much cheaper price point, say £50-60. Basically a "toy" rather than a basic model. So no brake rigging to clip on, no vacuum pipes, no separately fitted handrails. Just all cast in like the old basic models? Obviously the current railroad range and also the super detailed models would still be kept for railway modellers. A really basic, tough, range aimed for children. What do you think?
Two days ago, i went to half penny green airport and i also went into the antique shop i saw a model of the mallard and told my stepdad that the mallard is class as a a4. My stepdad said it was very interesting.
Given the general prices of model railway locos these days, hornby railroad seems like a lifesaver for a young person interested in joining the hobby
Indubitably
Definitely. I’m having to rely on eBay and even that is a land field. I got a Hornby J94 for £40 from Rails of Sheffield eBay site and runs really good (even if it has a somewhat noisy motor)
@@hellothere6023 if you haven’t already you might want to consider checking out the prices at your local hobby shop. This might just be mine but prices tend to be drastically lower in them then those online
Not with the quality that Hornby is producing. It would put them off before they have even started.
It is
I remember the magic as a kid ripping open Christmas wrapping paper and seeing a glimpse of that Hornby railways logo but £90 odd for a model that is a lower quality version is just ridiculous for a plastic mould and a motor that’s worth about £5. That’s more expensive than even the super detailed ones should be. I love model trains but i think model trains are the lowest value for money product you can possibly buy. Great video as always sam.
Can I just say, I really appreciate that you have put the ads in the appropriate place, not cutting you off in the middle of a sentence or something, it just makes the video seem that much more professional.
Thanks a lot Patton - I try to make them as unintrusive as possible!
Merry Christmas - Sam :)
At first I thought it was a good deal, but seing how they downgraded the mechanism I definately agree with your ratings. Value maybe half a star off becase the 2012 one is definately better. Great review, Sam
Yep - definitely a worse-performing mechanism than the older A4s :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
That's why I got the Premium One. I just the experimental purple one.
If Hornby simply standardised across their entire range by fitting a good quality five-pole motor with a flywheel to every loco, it would probably save them money overall and avoid criticisms about crawls, pulling power, smooth running and longevity. You're right that this is more important than differences in detail or finish between the ranges, because many owners will be happy and able to modify, upgrade or weather their models to improve them visually. I was able to stand on the footplate of Mallard recently, and it was quite an experience, making me eager to superdetail the cab of an A4 model soon!
I quit the hobby a while back due to the prices and find it amusing how this is an affordable basic railroad model and it's still nearly £100. It was only around 15 years ago when I'd pay £70 or so for something super detailed. When it came to diesels you could pick up the Hornby superdetailed locos for £50. When sound fitted locos started to become a thing even those were less than you'd pay for just the loco these days. Obviously there's Inflation to consider within the last 15 years but it wouldn't make it that much more expensive.
I found a box full of my dad's old loco's. I was astonished at some of the prices on the boxes. £30, to like £70 for a full on express tender loco. A lot of them hold up to modern standards too.
"I have been very guilty in the past of worshipping super expensive and super detailed models."
*Cough*reviewtherapidostirlingsingle*cough*
try getting a hold of one though :)
haha yep - I know I'd love those, but they're just so hard to get! That's the modern way now - manufacturers produce tiny quantities to create value :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
A 5 pole motor, a higher ratio worm and wheel, and some added pickups and you're golden.
Yep! Not too difficult to do either - plenty of 5 pole motors in that form factor available!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Great review Sam. I’m returning to the hobby after 20 years out and your reviews are incredibly insightful. I’ve since acquired a Railroad 9f a railroad Jinty and a Super detailed 2800 class. They were all uses but the super detailed model, while incredible is soo fragile in comparison to railroad models. I will be sticking to Railroad models in future for robustness, shame about the motor and pickups though. But more railroad reviews please. At £100 that’s more my budget (mainly cos I’m tight).
Can you do an episode of Sam’s Engineering where you take the railroad model and spruce it up with paints and wiring such as a beginner could copy and improve? If it has the infrastructure couldn’t you show us how to cheaply make it better, even buying and installing a 5 pole motor?
Interesting idea! In April last year Sam actually tried something like this, converting a Battle of Britain Class loco from a Hornby motor to a similar Chinese five-pole unit. Hornby wanted over £17 for a suitable power unit, but Sam got one on the Internet for under £2. To everyone's surprise, the cheaper motor equalled the Hornby unit in every respect except crawl performance, and in the crawl tests it was... better! The only slightly tricky part of the engine swap was transferring the worm gear from the old motor shaft to the new, but it's definitely doable. Hopefully, Sam will try to do some painting upgrades of models in the future, although at the moment he is a little wary of this. But what could possibly go wrong?
Saw the real thing in person last weekend, always wanted a model one, this seems perfect. Deffo one of the people who just enjoys running stuff, Im not super fussed on detail, as long as the livery is right and its the right shape I'm happy really. And yes, more diesels please! :3
Oh wow lucky you! Yeah sure, it's a fair model overall - probably sounds perfect for you!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hello Sam, I guess I have been unfortunate with mine. It had all kinds of bits broken already when taken out of the box, even though I used the holes in the back of the polystarine packaging (railings etc). When i ran it it would continously derail, even though running on outer curves, because the front bogees would come off. Found they were over tightened so loosened them, but still derails. I ve got 60+ locos all bought off ebay, and all but a few work ok, as my first brand new buy this was saddly a disapointment. Understand that my location in thailand might mean postage damage was possible, but the package was ok. Enjoy your reviews mate, keep up the good work!
Very smart. I'm new to this hobby and recently got the Flying Scotsman train set. The mechanism on this model looks very similar to that of my Scotsman, which is, according to the blurb that came with it, a three pole motor with a flywheel. It accelerates and decelerates really nicely and smoothly, but the crawl leaves a bit to be desired. With that said, I'm loving it, and am having to resist temptation to buy a tonne of track, buildings etc.
I have both the Railroad Flying Scotsman and Railroad Mallard. I found the slow speed crawl to improve once I converted them to DCC - I used ESU LokPilot 59820 Micro decoders in both (they're silent decoders, as I'm not really into sound at this point).
The Famous LNER 3-Cylinder Pacific that Still holds the World Speed Record, Hope Mallard Returns for her 100th Anniversary
Brilliant! I've always been fascinated by the valve gear, it's so mesmerising
Me too! They've done a lovely job with that! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Sam now you are talking my language and price range. I purchased this same engine and I love it . I live my buying fantasy through watching your videos. I only buy the ones you recommend that I can afford. Your reviews save me a lot of trouble in returning items that have problems. Thank you for this video. Keep them coming.
Sam: its only 100 pound! Affordable! Me: im ok with my 040's
haha not quite as affordable as an 0-4-0, but obviously this is a much bigger model! ;D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Glad to see some Railroad models being reviewed. They're all i have now and they are super reliable and run real well.
Me too - it's been a while! Will have to do more soon! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I recently got this locomotive, absolutely stunning
I'm not too picky personally. As long as it passes the silhouette test I'm mostly happy, although I definitely do appreciate the more fine detail when it's there. I tend to want mid range locos, but I only really buy basic rollingstock.
Personally I don't care too much about the level of detail on my locomotives because low-detail is the best I can manage on my scenery.
Sure! If that's the case, then this is definitely one to go for!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I'm a model train fan with a budget, and I usually buy things that catch my eye. Thanks to you, we have an interactive catalogue of models that are worth getting that you can recommend
Would love to see more Hornby railroad reviews! Right in my sort of budget / price range 😊
Bought this model recently , but i also have a Railways A4 , specifically the experimental Purple one
I love them both and they've really made me like A4s a lot more than i did lol
However I must state that both my Railways A4 and Railroad A4 came in perfect condition - the Railways one has the block of ice and my Railroad Mallard has the same polystyrene as yours , so it shows that there's some models that are good and some that aren't when they arrive.
Mine also runs absolutely fine
Awesome video as always
Hi sam
I only have 2 a4s both in gather blue
One a super fat version of Mallard before every one was using the plug. So early till mid 2000s cost me £85 new from Banbury model shop
Other one is a 80s Margate built seagull.
Look stunning when going round track
You rise some good points in this video
Keep safe arp
I don’t actually own a running A4 (I have three old beyond repair incomplete models)so this has got my interest.
Ooh interesting!! Would be nice to have a running one, haha!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I've been after an affordable A4 for ages, then this year I inherited an old Bachmann Branchline Sir Nigel Gresley (model 31-954) from my grandfather.
I recommend it if you manage to find one. This one seems very old but well looked after. It runs well, but isn't a strong puller (I have a 2.4% incline on my layout, and it can manage 4 or 5 coaches up it comfortably at best - although the coaches I used are heavier than standard because my granddad has put loads of lighting gubbins in them). It can do 1st radius curves too, which is good for me on my little 6'x4' layout.
That's my review.
At long last, the affordable mallard!
haha yes! :D
Just ordered this today for my son for Christmas. £120.00 in my local model shop. Looking forward to seeing it running. Looks a great model.
I like the Railroad range as its pretty much the era of model trains I remember and they are decent enough to run even when you have some super detailed locomotives on your layout.
Hornby Railroad models are also still cheaper than their rivals latest attempt of a budget range known as EFE.
Me too Ben - I started with lots of these too! I don't think EFE rail is intended as a budget range... many of the models might be useless don't get me wrong, but they're flippin' expensive!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I have a c1979/1980s BR Green Mallard, and even that had glazing in the cab, and although still basic the pipework in the cab was picked out in a brass colour! And you got a driver and fireman figuers
That model is pretty much what the Railroad version is based on. Only thing Hornby have done is fit a new mechanism in the loco end rather than keeping the ringfield motor in the tender.
As ever, Hornby have done their stuff. Beginners' level it maybe, but a stop-frame at around 23:46 shows that Hornby have captured the elusive lines of the A4 to perfection. Yep - as to getting the aura of a locomotive, no-one can rival Hornby.
Now on Hornby website they said that the railroad mallard have a 5 pole motor and it also said skew wound.Great review Sam
Loving these mini documentries of models it feels like watching it on TV
Thank you so much! Glad you like them! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thanks for sharing Sam.
Very good idea. I always go full fat, but Railroad models are extremely important, and as you noticed really pretty well detailed ... 'though not that cheap.
A4's are definitely holding their price seemingly at the moment.
They do need to differentiate between the 2 grades.
I've seemingly found that Bachmann locomotives appear to pickup more consistently without tender pickup, than Hornby ones do, almost justifying their insistence in not having tender pickups!
Careful with the locomotive brake rods - I recently purchased a full fat blue Mallard, BR, which is absolutely a gem, except, it was coming off at the points ... which I quickly found out was a slightly bent downwards set of brake rods!
Thanks for sharing, as usual Sam.
Al.
I think their best one is R2339, the first generation of new tooled A4's. Have managed to fit a TTS chip in the loco body with a long thin speaker. Has the pickups in the tender too, but the tender can still be detached. Still a great runner.
Good review Sam, it also explains a lot of things. I have been messing around with A3/A4 chassis, fitting the newer chassis to my older tender driven locos. Hornby have obviously changed the mechanism, the old ones used the same as the expensive A4s, it was just that the valve gear was a bit clunky. The mechanisms I have been buying also must have used tender pickups, not the 4 pin lead but the 2 way arrangement on the tender pin. What they have done is changed the mechanism to the later Railroad Tornado type and it looks like the tender as well. I had lost the plate that holds the dummy pony truck axle in, as you cannot get it as a spare, I asked Hornby if they could send me one. Hornby did send me the plate, which was good, but it didn't fit. Surprisingly the plate is different between the old A4 chassis and the Tornado one.
It's a very Beautiful and well priced Model yours also seems like a smooth runner compared to other locomotives I've seen.
Yeah I'd agree - it's a fair runner, but there are better of course!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Brilliant review. I have the same model as this, and it is a fantastic runner. I got it to remind me of my visit to the NRM, about a decade ago, when I actually got to sit in the cab (The had steps for visitors to climb in, then, I don't know if that's the case now). You can feel the history, when you're in the Mallards cab, it's rather spectacular.
Hi Sam, The TTS sound version is slightly more expensive and viewing some photo's it seems the decoder and speaker are located in the tender. Maybe with tender pick-ups too ? But you're completely right: no savings can be accepted on good running properties and tender pick-ups are a must. They can also blame it on Covid as all the greedy businesses up there now. Thanks for sharing and pointing this out to Hornby !
Thanks Sam, you always speak so much sense and good to hear your views as always
Thanks so much Paul, that's really lovely to hear!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
It's so cool to see an A4 in your videos. While your review may have been a bit harsh, I have started noticing those same things on my Hornby Railroad Mallard. However, considering it was my first purchase, I'm not bothered about that, just aware of the downgrade I have compared to other locos...
Aside from that, another cool review overall. Nice to see A4s again
I'm all for more Railroad-style reviews, and not just from Hornby if other manufacturers do something similar. This was interesting and I'd happily watch more like it. One minor complaint is that when you were running the 3 trains, I couldn't see which A4 were on the inside and middle lines. Would have been nice to know.
100% agree with you on this as relatively budget orientated on this hobby as i only have 1 or 2 super detailed models that took me ages to save for there is nothing wrong with cheaper models if you just want to have that model for your layout maybe a railroad vs main could be a good set of videos like the old thomas vs style!!!!! Great review as always!
My 5 year old Railroad A4 runs very well (5 pole, tender pick ups) and looks really good. No trade off in performance against the super detail models, unlike your review sample. Mine cost £48 new at a show! Should have bought 2!
Glad to hear that David! Interesting that they still had 5 pole motors as recently as 5 years ago!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Sam I think the coal is like that because you can get a digital sound version which is what I have so I think the coal was like that because of the speaker and they do have tender pickups aswell and the performance is way better with the pickups and does a really good crawl
Agreed; I have the TTS version which has tender pickups; it runs like a charm
Great review Sam. Now in my 3rd year of this hobby I have being favoring Hornby’s Railway models and steering clear of the Railroad range of which I bought a few of earlier on. Having said that I don’t mind some of the railroad ones and would like to see some diesel reviews. Whilst we’re on the topic of Hornby diesels, the class 50’s & 60’s (Railway range) I think are particularly good, almost as good as the class 56. Cheers
Good review Sam, I like the Mallard it is the same type of my favourite loco Bittern
Thanks a lot Alex - it sure is - same class! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Sam, thanks for this video. I skipped buying the more detailed version when they were available a few years ago so was wondering about the Railroad versions. Now I see I will pass on this one. I’m sure Hornby will cycle these back into production again in a year or two.
I bought this exact model at around the same time as a Hornby Railroad Flying Scotsman. The difference between them is that I bought Flying Scotsman fitted with TTS. Guess what? Flying Scotsman has full tender pick ups too. I don't know if a non-TTS Flying Scotsman would have lacked those pick ups, but if this is a normal difference between TTS and non-TTS locos I reckon the extra cost is money well spent because its running is superb, never mind getting the sound as well. On a different note, when reviewing a model that has a close "twin" (i.e. the Hornby Railways Mallard), it would be good to see a few side by side views for comparison.
me: sees video and clicks on it
sam: time to review the hornby railroad gresley a4
me: i fell into sams review trap lol
haha! Hope you enjoyed it anyway! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Fun facts: Mallard has appeard in the Railway Series, is Spencer's brother and is also Gordon's , Ryan's and Flying Scotman's cousin
Ooh cool - thanks for sharing this!! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I didn’t know mallard was affordable first hand . You’ll find a good deal sometimes on eBay. Great video sam
Sure - you can get a better deal second hand - but the Railroad models are cheaper than the main range ones generally!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Good review, Sam! I have a Railroad A4 (Silver Link) that came in a train pack with matching carriages (the ones with the scale 1ft window cill). It's okay, but from what you say it must be closer in age to your earlier Railroad A4, i.e mid 2000's.
You gave a very fair review, I can understand the affects of inflation over 9 years but not that much of a drop in standards ! Maybe someone will take note, I have.
Many thanks Tim - yes you're right - and don't forget mine had a £20 DCC decoder fitted from 2012... nothing like that in this!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains thanks for the reply. I'm following the Mallard Railroad. Just found this SUNNY SERVICE @ TRADE 7686 .COM They are offering Model Railway Locomotives. This Company is a SCAM. DO NOT SEND THEM MONEY 😬
Railroad Mallard is the star of my engine shed microlayout 😂😂 I’ve added a crew and painted the cab detail. Mechanically mine doesn’t struggle to crawl like yours does though. It’s not perfect but it is much smoother at low speeds.
Ahh fantastic - great to hear yours received some extra love too... that can go a long way!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I'm not an 00 modeller (my scale is H0) but this one is in my wishlist along with the Q1.
I got this one last week! I got it for 94 pounds. It's so amazing. its UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE!
Oh wow! £94 can't say fairer than that! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
"Don't forget the water!"
"WHO CARES!!!!"
"He'll be in trouble soon!" said Thomas
Went to hattons today, bought a rolls royce phantom 3 and an Austin low rider taxi in oo gauge
Ooh awesome! They sound great - hope you enjoy! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Couldn't find the odd loco out... unless it was the non-blue A-4 you had running.
Very nice review and I trust your judgement. I would trust, without comparing to the non-blue A-4 you got for a better deal, this loco will be a good seller for those who like "economy-priced" choice locomotives... for those who always wanted a Mallard.
John BC, Canada
p.s. gonna watch your review from three years ago on the "same" locomotive.
I need that still, I’ve had models for 14 years and I’ve never got Mallard yet! No idea why. I do have an A4, but that one is 60001 Sir Ronald Matthews with DCC Sound (not TTS). That one used to be LNER 4500 Gargany and built in 1938. Hornby made no. 4500 in a train pack called Queen of Scots I believe. Nice video Sam. Kind regards. Dan
Ahh fantastic - maybe it's time to grab a Mallard then!! xD
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Nice review Sam, I consider myself intimidate level modeller and I balance up new fancy top range, vs hornby last 10 years vs occasional railroad. A good example I bought the latest 9f railroad and I really cant believe for the extra 120 Id enjoy that new bachmann version anymore.
I still have two Horny engines from the 1960s, both still work as I have kept them since new as a child. Not really bothered with scale trains until I started watching the TV series on Horny. After looking into the company as it is now I can not believe the quality issues and standard of customer care that people have to deal with and the running issues with so called high end models. I'll keep my two from my childhood thank you!
Hi Sam Most of my Locomotives are Secondhand apart from my Hornby Flying scotsman which was a train set and she could do with some New Buffers and a new Step but she still runs also I am getting a Mainline BR Black Collett goods Locomotive
Hi
@@no-xi5op Hello how are you doing today
@@lewiscartwright3609 good
@@no-xi5op I'm doing well thanks and this UK weather has a mind of its own
Great overview Sam. Did you spot the daylight under the right-hand wheel of the rear truck? Seems the wheel isn't actually in contact with the track.
For 100 pounds I really need a some windows fitting which probably cost 50p to produce and 50p to fit.
Also I can't see why one colour number and letters really save all that much in production costs.
The rest is acceptable
Hey Sam! I love your channel and your very entertaining and I just started watching last week keep up for good work!🤩🤩
Yeah this is probably the same engine that came with my model set last year. The valve came out and I had it sent back to get a replacement. Their choice to do that and I believe the valve malfunctioned again. Lightning strikes twice maybe? Anyway it's nice to see not all Mallards are lemons.
Cheap is right though. I bought a 0-6-0 locomotive from trainworld today in Southern Pacific's black & Roman font livery. I can't wait to see what is in store.
i dont know about you sam... but if i were getting an a4 for a fleet... id get an older or current railroad one and just up-detail it... or modify it. might be cheaper and it wouldnt be too much of a rediculous downgrade from the superdetail version
My first ever model was a slightly earlier railroad mallard, then I bought a Caledonian Smokey joe. I still have my mallard, but it doesn’t run very well. Might fix it up soon.
Hi Sam, really enjoyed this video, A4 are mine and my brother favourite trains, we both have a silver Fox each and we are in the process of building a couple of other A4, my brother is going to build the blue and green Mallard and my myself I'm still try to build The union of south and I would to build the green mallard too, we brought all are parts for are A4 of Ebay and that not cheap any special where A4 are concerned.
A stunning model of Mallard
A good video as always Sam of Gresley Pacifics. Have been looking at r3371 also r3395tts.
Thanks very much! Ahh very nice - the TTS ones are a lot of fun!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Indeed, it is an older tender!
But, yes: the tender pickups are a real issue. I have the TTS version of this model, so it's very noticeable when it momentarily cuts out over points and such... and tender pickups would most likely fix that.
Overall, I still think it's a good package for the £116 that it cost - but, this is an issue that bears mentioning...
I've got one of the Railroad TTS models and also one of the more expensive Railway models.
I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed with the Railway version. The only thing that I couldn't handle with the railroad version was the funny flaky gold lettering on mine.
Oh and I replaced the chunky plastic coal load. A few transfers later and I was a happy chappy.
Performance on mine is way better than yours maybe I was lucky or the older ones were better? Nice review as always Sam.
If you paid £91 for your other Railroad A4 in 2012, once you’ve adjusted for inflation that works out at £110 today - so the price has not increased at all
No, the £91 A4 from 2012 was DCC fitted. Add £20 for a modern decoder and that makes the modern price £120!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
How Cpt Jack Sparrow felt of the Black Pearl is how I feel about Mallard, wish I could've seen her in action, I saw it in York
Oh look, a blue railroad box, can’t say I’ve seen many of those
I know! Me neither! :O
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Yea I have this for close to two years now, bought this with that BR Blue Flying Scotsman you reviewed a while back. :D
Very nice!! Hope it continues to serve you well! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
That's me for my grandchildren,mind you I have expensive locos -Marklin
Oh of course - wow those are expensive! :O
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Those dang marklin and german brands really are in another class I suppose....
Mr.Sam, you need to start a Narrow gauge model railway. OO9 scale is the scale you will need for your narrow gauge, that is if the model railway you have now is OO scale. This OO9 narrow gauge model railway will be higher up and also the engines will be narrow gauge too. I like Narrow Gauge. You NEED a narrow gauge model railway.
I just thought while watching this, how many locomotives do you actually have? I know you’ve probably done a video about it but can’t be bothered to go looking 😂. Great review as always!
haha that's a good question - well over 400 locos now, probably closer to 500!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains He's got so many he can't remember them all. People used to say that about me and my girlfriends, but that was a long time ago!
This was one of the first locos I had, loved the proper bearings
Ahh fantastic - yeah at least the mechanisms are still quality... though it'd be better if they had higher quality motors to match!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
This might be a strange idea but potential video idea. Take a model like this and upgrade it with 3D printing ect to try and compete with the more expensive A4. It would be hard to match but would be fun to see how close you can get!
Hi Sam, at 27:38 and in some other times it looks as if the left wheel of the rear pony in not touching the track. Was its pivot bent? Did you notice it?
10:40 the right wheel isn't touching. How perculiar.
It's because those are just dummy wheels - Hornby do this on most of their pacifics and it's a common criticism... they're actually not supposed to be touching the track!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@Sam’s Trains the Hornby Railroad models look like they are modeled just before nationalization (even before BRITISH RAILWAYS was painted on the tender or tanks)
Very interesting AJ - thanks for sharing this! Perfect for this livery then!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
All 35 A4s had the valances as built. The first 4 had some differences to the other 31.
During the war, all had valances removed for ease of maintenance, just like the b17/5s and w1, and none regained them until preservation.
It is surprising how much detail this old 1980s tooling has when stood next to newer ones. Although I think the tender chassis has been upgraded, like the mechanism.
A real shame railroad locos don't have the decent lettering or the glazing, unlike the same models 15 years ago. I mean, my tender drive scotsman had 6 wheel tender pickups, and 2 wipers to each driving wheel on the loco.
Completely agree about increasing prices and declining quality. But could be worse, could be a 300% inflation in price for the same model (bachmann 4cep/4bep)
Yes, it’s a good idea of Hornby to offer a budget series. It would be nice if other companies also would have a budget series! Most companies don’t offer any locomotive at all for under 100 euros… 😢 Only Piko has a few locomotives in the Hobby-series that are offered under 100 euros, but the choice is very limited.
I have the TTS version of this model, it was £114 a total bargain, it runs beautifully and has the decoder socket in the tender.
Yeah! The early TTS A4s were amazing value - reckon mine was £99, but that was a few years back with Gadwall!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Look really nice just like the other A4s in your collection 🤩🤩👍
Yep! From any kind of distance, it looks perfectly good! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Lovely video, Mr Warwell!
My Mallard’s buffers just fell off, lol!
haha thank you! Oh no!! What happened?!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Derailed and hit a wagon on the opposite track!
Rather a great model for the railroad range, really reminds me of the 70’s-80’s Hornby railways A4, that tender is definitely just the one used in that period with a few subtle tweaks, great review as usual, Sam! -theimperialdiamondspinosaurus
Yes very much so - and you're right, that's definitely the tender-drive tender!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
The TTS sound version of this is £116.00 from Hattons and it does appear a little different than yours.
I think that it is pretty common that a motor adds nothing to cost of a model (that's what people keep banging on about in various forums anyway) With that said I am sure the cost (labour) to fit either would be the same so why not use a 5 pole? Probably so the loco craps out sooner and you have to buy another :(
I think this problem goes deeper than just a few new models, I think they tried to make this Mallard to work as both the basic railroad version and the TTS sound version. I have the TTS sound, and it appears to have identical issues with performance, and the detailing is identical (right down to the sprung buffers on the front but not the back). It is really irritating when the loco jerks into life like that when sound is added into the mix.
I just got a Railways Flying Scotsman and out of curiosity after watching this weighed them as well. Same as with the A4s the Railroad engine(no tender) weighs 54g more than the Railways engine
Yeah they are very similar - the latest ones have virtually the same chassis! Hilarious that they're heavier than the Railways ones though, lol! ;D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I recently looked at a very old hornby flying Scotsman, and that was very, very basic, but also very robust. I do wonder if railroad is still aimed too high for kids.
I wonder if there is a market for a much simpler version aimed for 5 - 10 year olds. Something day can take a knock or bash or too. Maybe with a much cheaper price point, say £50-60. Basically a "toy" rather than a basic model. So no brake rigging to clip on, no vacuum pipes, no separately fitted handrails. Just all cast in like the old basic models? Obviously the current railroad range and also the super detailed models would still be kept for railway modellers.
A really basic, tough, range aimed for children. What do you think?
Two days ago, i went to half penny green airport and i also went into the antique shop i saw a model of the mallard and told my stepdad that the mallard is class as a a4. My stepdad said it was very interesting.
Ooh that's awesome!! What brand was it I wonder?!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains i couldn't quite find the brand but it looked old, it was on a shelf surrounded by glass.
Hello there Sam! Awesome loco there mate! And also, can you do a review on the Class D51 Japanese Steam locomotive?
Thanks very much! That sounds epic - hopefully one day I can! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Just FYI, Amazon have the TTS version (Which has Tender pickups !!) for £105 as of last week, and today Jan 10 2022. 😀 I got one works brill ..