gregpokes1/Camden

Tony, Thank you very much for the compliments. I'd thought about the coal covering the detail... but there still would be at least something sticking out. Since my model is the NRM glossed edition, I decided to have a go at modeling this one empty to a museum standard. Even with tenders relatively full, the water filler area would still be visible and maybe the top of the front when the coal would start to form a dimple where you could see the coal door and corner bracings. I think the representation of the detail ought to be there if you're paying close to the £200 for these models. Since the A3's/A1's are obviously undergoing a retool, I think we should expect to at least see some sort of representation of the interior as we did with the new A2's Hornby is rolling out. Since there were no A4's in the 2021 range announcements and the A1/A3 retool was announced, I think it's reasonable to expect a retool of the A4 announced next year? I hope they do something better than the horrid '90s tender drive valve gear, sort out the slab-sided cylinder valancing and correct the tender height and interior detailing to a degree, longer front buffers, and an open-framed front bogie. Oh how I can wish! Regards, Camden

Evening all, I wanted to unveil a project that has been in the works for the past couple weeks. RMWeb user "Ribird" and I have been working together to produce 3D printable detail packs for the current "super" detailed Hornby A4 tenders. I must admit that I've no knowledge whatsoever on CAD and have left it up to the professional Ribird to design the kits so all credit ought to go to him. I helped with a few measurements and quite a bit of the research aspect but never mind that... The first prototype is installed in my LNER 'Mallard' in 1988 condition when she was restored for the "Mallard '88" special runs, hence the application of warning flashes on the rear of the tender. This kit was designed using the base structure of the original Hornby insert and designed to replace the stock insert attached inside the tender shell, therefore the base measurements were not altered in any way, just detailed properly. A coal door, corner braces, and rivet strips were 3D printed along with the new insert to correctly model this streamlined non-corridor tender which are separate pieces. Two types of inserts have been drawn up for the streamlined non-corridors, one with a high flat-topped rear bunker and one with a sloped-back top bunker. We believe Hornby did not model the insert properly since we have no evidence of a low-flat top rear bunker ever being produced for the non-corridors. Seven different variations are currently being drawn up by Ribird for the non-streamlined corridor and at least two, maybe more, designs are being drawn up for the the streamlined corridor tenders. Differnces include flush riveting versus exposed riveting, bunker shapes, water filler caps, etc. I hope you'll agree that the detailing on the interior of the tender truly brings the model much more to life. Updates to follow as new designs are printed and installed into my other A4 tenders... Regards, Camden

I must say thank you to all who complimented me on my work on the Hornby A4. It will soon have further developments with a P4 conversion using brassmasters easichas kit and Alan Gibson wheels. I'm also trying to find out a solution to replace the rather awkward cylinders and existing valances that protrude around them. For those who might be interested in knowing how the valve gear transplant took place, I've attached several photos of work done during the process. The chassis block had a groove cut in it with a Dremel for the crosshead gear to sit in and the pre-existing eccentric attachment groove was deepened with a file allowing the Bachmann equivalent to take its place. Happy Christmas, Camden

I haven't done work to any of my OO collection in what must be months, if not over a year. This week, I decided to have my hand at truly renovating the Hornby A4 (which, in my personal opinion, is due for a retool anyway). The valve gear was from a donor Bachmann A1, yes you read that correctly. I rather like the look of the A1 gear on this loco as it looks far more prototypical than the cheap Hornby stuff they stick on. She's been renumbered/renamed from Hornby's 60031 'Golden Plover' to 60017 'Silver Fox.' Lots of work still to be done on the tender. It needs cab doors and a new insert, as the inside is lacking loads of ribbing, bracing, and riveting. The drain cocks were made from scratch using fine copper wire and the lubrication decorative linkage needed replacing so I took it upon myself to make it from scratch. I hope everyone is having a wonderfully happy Christmas thus far this year given the circumstances.

I must admit... all the items Hornby's announced and released is quite impressive. The W1 really surprised me for a number of reasons... and did anyone else spot not a single super detail A3 or A4 in the range? Thought those were the staple trademark of that range. Little did I know my advice sent via email to Hornby on a retool on the A3 and the A4 might be taken seriously. I'd had a number of issues with the current super detail tooling of the A4 in particular. I'd criticized the valve gear and tenders most on the tooling. The crosshead was a rather ungainly sight on the gresley pacifics. When Hornby's Tornado was released, the crosshead was properly modeled, which I thought would carry over to the other gresley engines but never happened. That is the main problem I had with the Hornby tooling on the A4 engines along with the hinge rivet detailing lacking on the cods mouth door. The tenders are almost unacceptably poor as well. The interior of the bunker and water filler area is lacking a massive wealth of detail. There should be bracings, rivets, ribbing, supports and a flange on the rear bunker arch. What intrigued me is that every single critique of the A4 engine applied to the rebuilt W1... down to the crosshead swap from the Tornado tooling. The tenders are also completely retooled... which, if done as I'd have thought them to do with no retooling, would have robbed the super detail tooling for the A3s and A4s. These tenders have the added ribbing, riveting, and bracing inside the bunker and water filler areas as I'd suggested. Just some fuel for though for the possibilities of what we may see in the 2021, 2022 range...

I may be replacing the chimney on mine and swap it for a metal one. As for the tender, I think the replicated tyres are a bit too thick and makes the tender higher than it ought to be. Possibly an easy fix with ultrascale wheels? Reason for the metal chimney for me would be the addition of a fan-driven synchronized puffing smoke unit. A Lokprogrammer will have to purchased first, though and I've already got an I/O expansion board. Getting 4468 detailed and running with sound is my priority before smoke, though.

Oh, OF COURSE! I'm trying to sort out the difficult-to-get items first, then I will order the plates from Fox Transfers.

Hi, all! I'm beginning a new thread here on improving Hornby's OO gauge LNER A4s. More specifically, I am improving my own stock example of Hornby's 2018 release of the R3676 'Mallard' in as-preserved livery. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post in here with your own tips, tricks, and project related to any OO gauge A4! My goal is to detail my own 'Mallard' to 1986-1988 specifications when she ran. I've got Brassmasters detail parts and front bogie etch coming soon along with a "MALLARD'88" headboard and "RESTORATION SPONSORED BY SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL" custom etches within the next few weeks. The main connecting rod and crosshead have been replaced on both sides of my model using parts from a Bachmann A1. The only other modifications are painted details. Paint REALLY can bring a model to LIFE! I've installed a speaker into the tender and am waiting for a SWD ESU Loksound V4 decoder to arrive. The speaker is from a donor MTH HO scale steam loco (Arguably the best speakers for size in ANY OO/HO loco) and the tender shell is being sealed off as the speaker's baffle. A support coach (FNRM 35362) that ran behind her during the mid-late 1980s is also being customized through TMC models. The cylinder drain cock pipes WILL be replaced once the Brassmasters bits have arrived and will be made from copper wire. This project is looking up!

Hi, all! I'm beginning a new thread here on improving Hornby's OO gauge LNER A4s. More specifically, I am improving my own stock example of Hornby's 2018 release of the R3676 'Mallard' in as-preserved livery. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post in here with your own tips, tricks, and project related to any OO gauge A4! My goal is to detail my own 'Mallard' to 1986-1988 specifications when she ran. I've got Brassmasters detail parts and front bogie etch coming soon along with a "MALLARD'88" headboard and "RESTORATION SPONSORED BY SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL" custom etches within the next few weeks. The main connecting rod and crosshead have been replaced on both sides of my model using parts from a Bachmann A1. The only other modifications are painted details. Paint REALLY can bring a model to LIFE! I've installed a speaker into the tender and am waiting for a SWD ESU Loksound V4 decoder to arrive. The speaker is from a donor MTH HO scale steam loco (Arguably the best speakers for size in ANY OO/HO loco) and the tender shell is being sealed off as the speaker's baffle. A support coach (FNRM 35362) that ran behind her during the mid-late 1980s is also being customized through TMC models. The cylinder drain cock pipes WILL be replaced once the Brassmasters bits have arrived and will be made from copper wire. This project is looking up!