Sixties Snapshots - 00 scale

Do you own a Hornby A4? It would be interesting to read about a comparison between them.

J

Do you own a Hornby A4? It would be interesting to read about a comparison between them.

J

 

Jos

YW. You know I share your opinion about Hornby & Bachmann. However, in this peculiar case, the tooling of the Bachmann model is much older than the Hornby one, so the comparison may be controversial. Other members of the forum may find such a comparison of much interest.

 

Regards,

Jos

Jos

Thanks for the articles on the A4 and the A1 Ray. I shall probably get round to adding a Bachmann A1 at some stage so your information regarding the improvements is most welcome. 

 

Re comparing the Bachmann LNER locos against the Hornby, I only have a late crest V2 60825 from Bachmann and I have a Railroad A4 Falcon and a loco-drive Gresley A1 Gladiateur in apple green.  

 

Comparing those three the V2 is a relatively old model.   I do have a soft spot for it.  The detailing is a bit chunky in places, but you at least you know it is sturdy to handle. Despite it's split-chassis age and old body, it's a very reliable and smooth runner. I've not needed to do any major work on the loco, save for a quick shortening of the tender gap and then re-soldering the cartazzi truck pick up wire connection once.  She pulls all the loads I normally use (say up to 6, 7 or 8 coaches) fine. The more recent locos from 31-560+ are well worth their bargain prices. I am very tempted to add the current BR Black release!

 

The A1 Gladiateur is the current/recent loco-drive engine.  I've had it for a good few years and it has been faultless - far better than some of the recent Hornby locos I've had!  The motion work is very fine so it needs careful handling whereas the Bachmann locos are a lot more sturdy in that sense.  Some people state the Hornby rods are too thin.  In relation to performance the A1 has been excellent.  It has been faultless and will pull anything I put behind it.  Bear in mind these have the fixed cartazzi truck; thus if you have train-set radius curves the truck overhand is very noticeable.

 

The A4 Falcon is in garter blue.  It shares the same chassis set up as the A1: hence excellent running.  However, the tender is the old tender-drive with the old connection.  I've shortened the tender gap slightly.  Given all the old weight in the tender the A4  is not as strong or as fast as the A1, but still pulls 6-7 coaches happily.  For the price if you can get a bargain on these they are a good buy if you're willing to put up with the limited body detailing (there is no cab glazing).

 

Cheers,

 

John

Hello John

Thanks for your observations.

I am not a great fan of Hornby locomotives and know next to nothing about their Railroad Range other than being told that the Railroad A4 is very good.  I was seduced into buying a Super Detail A3 which is a very fine looking engine but like you I am thinking that it not as solid as the Bachmann range. I do like the Hornby Britannia.   At one point I had all Mainline and Airfix models but most of these have been moved along and replaced with Bachmann types.  My first Bachmann model was the V2 and I couldn't believe how smooth and quiet it was compared to the Mainline range.  The V2 comes in for a lot of criticism here on RMweb because seemingly dimensions are wrong.  May be it is too 'chunky' but it is still a very useful model.  If we are content to run our 4mm scale models on 16.5mm gauge track we have to accept some other compromises.   I agree with your thoughts regarding the delicate nature of the Hornby valve gear.  Perhaps there is too big a contrast with Hornby's chunky wheels.  Bachmann wheels besides being cast metal seem to have slightly narrower tread and look more the part?  I think the second hand value of the respective models is a good indicator of quality.  Looking in on eBay I would say that Bachmann models generally command higher prices.

 

Speak again

 

Ray