Sixties Snapshots - 00 scale

Some of the Britannia spares could be used to upgrade the DoG, e.g. a new set of jointed coupling rods to replace the rigid ones.

 

Have you removed the two chassis and put them side by side? Would be useful to see whether the basic Britannia block (not including trailing truck or cylinders / Walschaerts, obviously) could be shoehorned into the DoG body.

 

Still got that overhanging smokebox error, though.

Hello Horsetan

Some of the Britannia spares could be used to upgrade the....

Yes I had overlooked that possibility. I had forgotten that the Clans, Britannias and DoG all had the same size driving wheels - also according to the book I have just looked at DoG was only 3 inches longer than the Clans and Britannias.

 

Taking DoG apart is not a problem - I will need notice at getting inside Apollo!

 

Thanks

 

Ray

...I will need notice at getting inside Apollo!

 

Will a week's notice do?

Will a week's notice do?

Oh at least - however here some pictures of DoG to be going on with.

 

Regards

 

Ray

Highly revealing, thanks. The Britannia innards will be equally interesting, particularly as there are quite a few chassis blocks going on eBay right now (from wrecked engines).

Ray, superb pictures. Not my period at all, but your photos make me want to buy these locos! (you aren't employed by Hornby are you? Only joking.). Once again thanks for these informative and well-written posts.

Thank you  Mikkel

 

These Japanese cameras are really very good - especially when they have a German lens!

...you aren't employed by Hornby are you? ...

No - chance would be a fine thing.

 

You are right about the models - they are both really very good - far far better than anything I could conjour up.

 

Regards

 

Ray

Hello Horsetan, As you say some pictures of Britannia chassis types on eBay.

Highly revealing, thanks. The Britannia innards will be equally interesting, particularly as there are quite a few chassis blocks going on eBay right now (from wrecked engines).

I have reacquainted myself with Apollo and will not be taking it apart (again) just yet.  It is one of the quietest and smoothest performers on the layout and I want it to stay that way!  For your interest I have pictured the two engines 'wheels together'. 

I suspect that should you wish to upgrade DoG with Britannia parts you would need wheels, rods, chassis and motor - and then you would have to make it fit 'on the day'. Not something that I am about to do.

 

Regards Ray

Apollo, that chimney surely lets it down ?

Hello, thanks for the interest.

Apollo, that chimney ....

I cannot comment as I am not that familiar with the prototype.  My only childhood photograph is not that clear. 

Mercury - Carlisle Citadel 04 August 1962

Perhaps the chimney on the Hornby model is over heavy but I would say that in the way of things not a concern to myself.

 

Regards

 

Ray

Another interesting read, I have completely stripped my model down, I dare not remove the moulded on pipes in case of damage to the body, so that will have to do.

What sheet of HMRS are you using for the overhead power warning symbols? Got a few sheet's but not seen those, then again, I haven't actually used or looked for them before.

In terms of comparison between the 2, it's like 2 different era's of Hornby... one from about 10+ years ago... and Apollo something they should be continuing to do now.

Hello Bluebell,

 

Sounds a bit stressful?

 

In answer to your question, Sheet No. 14 - "BR steam era loco and coach insignia"

 

Good luck

 

Regards

 

RAy

Interesting comparison. The sad thing is I would've paid Brit + prices for a top notch Duke no problem at all. Such a wonderful loco deserved to be done to Hornby Brit/Clan/A4 standards. Instead we got something not that cheap but pretty nasty in places. I can even handle upgrading external details and the moulded plumbing but skimping on the chassis with so few pick ups and poor bearings is a huge leap back. I'm seriously considering cancelling my P2 now and not bothering with future Hornby steam releases if this is the path they're trodding down. More of my money will be heading to Barwell and kit manufacturers.

Damn I'm going blind... never saw those despite having 2 sheets of them.

Nah not stressful, all in good fun... is it me but in some shots does the green look lighter on the 71000 than it does on the Brit? I have a Brit also... and certainly looks slightly darker.

Many thanks for your help Ray, I did do a you tube review of the RR version...  sadly mostly backing up what 071 was saying above...


 

....I can even handle upgrading external details and the moulded plumbing but skimping on the chassis with so few pick ups and poor bearings is a huge leap back. ...

 

Plus some very odd dimensional errors at the front, as I mentioned in the earlier post. I think the tender is the best bit, and eminently reusable behind the DJH kit loco.

Hello Bluebell

 

Couldn't believe that you wouldn't have Sheet  No. 14.  Not sure about the 'shades of green' - but DoE is almost matt compared to Apollo.

 

Thanks to 071 and Horsetan as well - couldn't agree more.    Does it leave the door open for Hornby to produce an upgraded model in say two or three year's time after they have recouped their initial costs?

 

Regards Ray

 

 

Interesting comparison. The sad thing is I would've paid Brit + prices for a top notch Duke no problem at all. Such a wonderful loco deserved to be done to Hornby Brit/Clan/A4 standards. Instead we got something not that cheap but pretty nasty in places. I can even handle upgrading external details and the moulded plumbing but skimping on the chassis with so few pick ups and poor bearings is a huge leap back. I'm seriously considering cancelling my P2 now and not bothering with future Hornby steam releases if this is the path they're trodding down. More of my money will be heading to Barwell and kit manufacturers.

Agee 071, I would have been prepared to to pay more for a "Brit quality" Duke, so no sale to me. Great review and phots Ray......Thanks.

Rgds.....Mike

Hello Mike

 

Like the comments

... I would have been prepared to to pay more for a "Brit quality" Duke,... Great review and phots Ray......Thanks.

Says it all

 

Regards

 

Ray

The RailRoad version is probably the best bet, most of the differences are paint details which are easily rectified.I don't there are enough differences to justify the 50% price increase for the "detailed" model.

Hello Ray, I found it very interesting reading this thread after spending so long building the Seven Models O gauge kit. Somewhat disappointing to see the "dumming down" of detail levels compared to the Britannia and the more recent Clan models. I guess that the costs of fitting separate items (by hand, which means labour intensive)must be rising in China.

 

That's a definite improvement on the boiler handrail, but I note that the whistle manifold also appears too low, and the reversing lever goes up under the footplate too soon. It should extend further back to the bracket between the middle and rear driving wheels. Apologies if these have already been mentioned.

Cheers,

Peter

Hello Peter

 

Thank you for the contribution

... note that the whistle manifold also appears too low, and the reversing lever goes up under the footplate too soon. It should extend further back to the bracket between the middle and rear driving wheels...

I had wondered about the position and shape of the whistle as it didn't quite match with the picture that I found and included in the 'thread' at the end of my last post.  Also I did wonder why Hornby had not used the actual whistle from the Britannia model but I guess that could have something to do with the all the other little parts on the same moulding that would be surplus.  The reversing rod is a very flexible moulding and it is bent on my model and pressed up against the footplate - may be something else to sort.

 

Readers have pointed out a number of discrepancies.  I am perhaps most disappointed by the rather crude chassis and lack of sanding gear, plus the Railroad tender which comes without any fittings (handrails, handle to water dome, lampirons, water scoop).  Yes - adding all this detail comes at a price but it does rather seem to me that the price difference between the Britannia / Clan and Duke of Gloucester should actually be much greater and that Hornby are perhaps well in pocket for the price of Duke of Gloucester with minimal added detail?

 

If I want something better I guess it will have to be a DJH kit?

 

Regards

 

Ray

Hello Horse Tan

For he who waits, some pictures of a decent model

.....The Britannia innards will be equally interesting,.....

Just had an E-Mail from Hattons advising that the "pukka" DoG R3191 has been deleted from the production list and no info as to whether it has gone for good

 

Elgar

Hello Elgar

.. ." DoG R3191 has been deleted from the production list .....

I guess that is to make room for R3236 the 1960s version.

 

Keep your fingers crossed

 

Regards

 

Ray