Centre reduced flange wheels (Britannia and Duchess)

[G-BOAF]

I was looking at some very well displayed Hornby models yesterday. In particular a Britannia and a Duchess (2015/2016 releases). both models were sitting directly on a glass shelf in a shop case. It was quite clear that the centre driving wheels had reduced flanges, and possibly reduced tyres such that the wheel may be 'floating' above the track.

 

Is this a recent 'new factory' fudge, or have these models always has this 'feature'?

 

Seems like a step backwards.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

That's a Margate design hallmark, certainly to be seen degrading the Duchess.

 

The all new loco drive Britannia, along with the other big engines fully retooled since the move to China, all have driven wheelsets of the same diameter and flange depth: the one caveat being that I haven't looked at a big engine from Hornby lately, what with them showering us with small engines, hopefully they haven't gone backwards. As it is, to compensate for making the driving wheels uniform in this fashion, the flange has fallen off the trailing truck wheelsets...

[toboldlygo]

Nothing wrong with the wheel flanges on my former Earl Haig - all the same height.

[JSpencer]

I was looking at some very well displayed Hornby models yesterday. In particular a Britannia and a Duchess (2015/2016 releases). both models were sitting directly on a glass shelf in a shop case. It was quite clear that the centre driving wheels had reduced flanges, and possibly reduced tyres such that the wheel may be 'floating' above the track.

 

Is this a recent 'new factory' fudge, or have these models always has this 'feature'?

 

Seems like a step backwards.

Both My new toolDuchess and Britannia do not have this reduced flange feature, but it is certainly a feature of the old.