Page 57 - Rail Express - September 2019

00 GAUGE 1973to ERA REVIEW
present
4mm:1ft

Hornby’s budget Mk.2f

Brand-newmodels of Mk.2f

air-conditioned coaching
stock have arrived from
Hornby, starting with models
dressed in classic Intercity
Executivelivery with central Newtoolings forthe

door locking detail. three standardMk.2f coaches
have been developed by Hornby
MODELLERSnow have achoice of two including the TSO, BSOand FO.
current‘OO’ gaugeMk.2f coach models Conversions such as the DBSO arenot
with the release of Hornby’s brand-new FEATURES we like included in the rangeatthis time.
Tourist StandardOpen (TSO), First Open ■ Tinted flush glazing.
(FO) and BrakeStandardOpen(BSO) ■ Interior detailwith correctly
coaches, initiallyinIntercity Executive modelled seats.
livery with italic typeface markings. ■ Windowlabels.
The differencesbetween the ■ Correctdampers modelled on the
Bachmannand Hornbymodels is bogies.
stark; thelatter nothavingany of the ■ Available in severalrunning numbers.
electrical and DCCinnovations applied to ■ Budget price.
the Bachmann models. The suggested ■ Potential foraffordable conversions.
retailprice of the Hornby modelsisalso The model sits at the correct height from Apicture that shows the flush glazing,
considerablyless, reflecting asimpler the rail and suits its B4 bogies well. The printed windowlabels and the finely
design and lessinvolvedassembly including Gatwick Express Class 488 couplings arefitted to NEMcoupling tooled underframe fittings which are
whichwillappeal to acertain sectionof sets were either exported or disposedof pockets in the ends of the part of aone-piece underframe
the D&E market. in the usualway. bogie frames. pan moulding.
The model is based on the final Thereisnodoubt that Hornby
design of the hugelysuccessful Mk.2 is wise to tap into the market for panels incorrect forthis
coachintroduced in the mid-1960s air-conditioned coaches which offers type of coach in the past.
following the XP64 trials. Mk.2f stock avastnumber of different liveries to Air-conditioned Mk.2 stock
entered service in 1973, equipped with cover, particularlysince Privatisation. is 66ft long overthe end panels,
air-conditioning and up-to-date seating. Furthermore, loyaltytowardsthe equating to 264mmin4mm scale. The
Interior finishes had progressed from Hornbybrand is suretomakethem a Hornbymodel is 260mm long overthe Cost
wood to melamine panels, lightening success. So, as brand-newmodels, how same panels and is 4mm shorter in the savings have
the interior of the coaches compared do theymeasureup? underframe and overthe retracted been achievedbyusing one-piece toolings
to earlier air-conditioned Mk.2 stock. buffers too. with moulded detailfor handrails and
The success of the Mk.2f is Bodyshells Examining the roof:the ‘Roevac’ other features. The TSOisshown in this
reflected in its long operating life, The lowercostisreflected in the roof ventsappear oversizeonall three picture.
eventuallybeing taken out of use on way that detailisrepresented on the models, although assemblyiscorrect
the WCML andCross-Country services models. Moulding hasbeenusedtokeep in terms of the alignment of the roof
in the early2000s with the introduction assemblycosts down andhas affected hatchwith underframe details and have the correct damper detailfor this
of ‘Pendolino’ and ‘Voyager’ multiple details such as theend handrails, toilet windows, aparticularlyimportant type of coach. The detail is well defined
units, and on the Anglia main line as commode handles,lamp irons, ETH point forthe FO.The BSO exhibits a andwiththe right amountofdaylight
Mk.3 coaches were cascaded from the equipment andthe roof hatch loops. slight depression in the middle of the visible between the frames and the
WCML. Gangwaysare applied as separate roof and one TSOsample has abow in bolsterdetail. Brakeshoes arenot fitted
Some Mk.2f stock remains in daily mouldings to the well definedbodyshells the body which is visible when viewed in line with the wheels, being moulded
mainline service at the time of writing, whichappear to be accurate at first alongthe length of the rain gutter.The as in theone-piece bogie frames.
including asmall number operated by inspection. Windowopenings have the wrap round end doors showsigns of a Footstepsare mouldedaspart of the
DRSfor ScotRailonFifeCircle peak hour right curvatureatthe corners, have vertical line inboardofthe corner on sideframes and NEM coupling pockets
trains and ahandful of modified FOs fine windowframing andare 20mm the TSOmodel too. areincorporated in the outer ends.
operating as sleeper reception cars with by 8.5mm in size,slightly too deep. Wheels arestandardHornbymetal
Caledonian Sleepers (probablyreplaced Detailingincludescentraldoor lock Underframes discwheels of 12mm diameter fitted
with CAFMk.5stock by the time you (CDL)lights and releasehandleswhich Following thecommentsmade about the with pinpoint axlesof25.5mm in length.
read this review). Larger numbers remain areprinted on themodel.Whilst printed HornbyMk.2e model,the underframe Thereissufficient room betweenthe
in use with private charter operators, detail is not normallyseen as ideal; paniswell secured to the body in all bogie sideframes forclosertoscale
being seen on an infrequent basis, printing means thatthe coaches are three of the models andtheyride at the wheels. Thereisnoside playofthe wheel
dressed in numerous private liveries easier to backdatetopre CDL times correct height from the rail.Tomatch sets in the bogies and all of the sample
and debranded train operating company without having to remove moulded the body,theyare afew millimetrestoo coaches ransmoothlywithout wobble or
colours including Virgin Trains redand details. short overthe headstocks. Underframe signs of out of true wheel sets.
Anglia Railwaysteal. Taking aruler to the models is detailisreasonablywell done fora one-
Network Rail acquired asmall important because manufacturers piece moulding. Decoration
number of Mk.2f coaches which have have gotthe length over the end body The bogies arenew toolings and Intercity Executivelight grey is a
been modified forinstrumentation colour of considerable contention,
andrecording use. The with virtuallyevery manufacturer
remainder, having adifferent viewofit(post
1984 warningpanel yellowisanother
example). Either the colour is too light
whilst other shades have too much of
ayellowtint. Hornby’s interpretation
of Intercity Executivelivery is not bad
The first batch of the at all compared to some, with agood
newmodels is decorated Neat flush glazing is shade of Executivedark grey,ablack
in Intercity Executivelivery with fitted to all of the models roof,which is correct, and end body
italic markings. The BSO is shown which is heavily tinted. Interior mouldings with well panels painted black with the edgejust
viewedfromthe brakeend of the coach. modelled seating is fitted alongside printed windowlabels. overlapping onto thedoor afraction
Supplement No. 185 September 2019 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller M25