Hornby vs Bachmann sectorisation-era wagon quality

[faa77]

When it comes to (diesel) locos I find its easy choosing between Hornby and Bachmann because they tend to focus on different models. Bachmann tends to focus on 37, 47, 57, 66 whilst Hornby focuses on the 08, 31, 56 and 60, whilst they both produce a decent class 08.

 

However, in terms of wagons there seems to be a greater overlap? Hornby TTAs seem vastly inferior to Bachmann. However, I couldn't see much difference between both manufacturers' seacow wagons. 

 

In terms of BR Sectorisation era wagons, how does the detail compare between Hornby and Bachmann? Is Bachmann generally better or does it totally depend on which exact wagon? I don't have a model shop nearby so I am totally reliant on photos/videos and sometimes they can be deceiving. Are there any wagon models to particularly avoid?

[Fat Controller]

A lot of the Sectorisation-Era wagons in the Hornby range have been around for at least 30+ years, and are showing their age:-

VDA- wrong chassis, too narrow, and the lump in the middle of the roof only existed in the minds of the Hornby mould-maker. The system of having a single axle bogie at either end makes the wagon sit far too high.

OAA; not too bad, though the bogie comment applies

SAA: not too bad, though it would have been better had the bolsters been left in the down position, so the model could be used for coil, runner and vhicle use. 'Bogie' comment applies.

TTA; the Bachmann one's ahead by a country mile, apart from the suspension.

TEA: for reasons unknown, Hornby decided to use the bogies from a 'Transcontinental' coach on this.

The Hornby Seacow is a nice model; it has different (but correct) bogies to the Bachmann one, representing one of the later batches to be built.

 

Bachmann have a broader range, with nice models of the mundane vans and opens, and some lovely ones of private-owner hoppers.

[Matt]

there are a few nice Hornby wagons but a lot of them are pretty dated. I can't think any of the Bachmann wagons are too bad and most of them are excellent. Generally I would go Bachmann unless you can't get the wagon you want from them then worth looking at Hornby.  off the top of my head the following Hornby wagons are good Seacow (with welded sides), clam, Rudd, pca, br brake van, shark, haha, hea. A lot of the rest are very old mouldings from either Lima or Hornby themselves and I wouldn't bother generally.  if you're  considering anything specific then ask on here and we can help.  Heljan do a couple of nice wagons too as do Dapol.

 

M

Edited October 15, 2016 by Matt

[tamperman36]

The Hornby HAA is available in 2 versions, the Railroad version is around the same age as the VDA / OAA wagons, where as the main range  version was retooled and much improved in 2003. Along with this new version of HAA came the HBA, CDA, and MHA all based on the same chassis.

Both companies make a HEA which if you trace there production back actually come from the same origin, however Bachmann have modernised the wagon in recent years.

Hornby make the PCA depressed tank which is a pretty good model, however Dapol and Lima made these wagons first and Hornby actually own both  versions now.

Hornbys Clam, Rudd, Tope and Shark engineers wagons are actually good models, but they are recent models.

Hornby where the first to do a container flat, which is now getting on for fifty years old, however they have recently done a KFA single container wagon which is equal to the Bachmann container wagons in detail. Bachmann are due to do the original version container flat soon which should make the old Hornby container flat totally redundant.

Both companies have produced the OTA timber wagons which are both good models, however they have made different versions so that each company has a different wagon.

 

Hope this is of some help.

[MartynJPearson]

Resurrecting an old thread, but was intrigued by the differences between the Hornby and Bachmann TEA / 100t tankers.

 

I have a rake of Hornby TEA tankers, but just added a Bachmann (38-113) and was surprised to see that they are quite different in size. The Hornby version is a good few millimetres taller.

 

I wondered if this is a case of one being a poor representation of the prototype (assuming Hornby is the less accurate, as the tankers are taller than both Hornby and Bachmann locos too!) or do they represent different prototypes?

[Butler Henderson]

The Hornby TEA is 48 years old  dating from a time when all Triang Hornby stock rode a couple of mm high

[Fat Controller]

The Hornby TEA is 48 years old  dating from a time when all Triang Hornby stock rode a couple of mm high

It also runs on bogies originally used, I believe, on coaching stock from the 'Transcontinental' range; you'd think that, by now, they'd have been replaced by something a bit better.