General merchandise open wagons

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

I have for sometime thought that Hornby were neglecting to fully exploit the old Airfix tooling of a typical Big Four five plank general merchandise open design that they have in their tool bank. After the half million RCH design mineral wagons, this was the wagon of the Big Four period and well into the BR steam era, and certainly the most neglected common wagon subject in RTR ranges.

 

And lo! Hornby have re-issued it as a three pack, (and at a price soon to be a nostalgic memory) liveried for an ex-LNER fitted open. Now it is not perfect, rip those Volvo bumper couplers off among much else to do; but for sheer usefulness this takes some beating. These will go to supplement mainly kit built trains of opens.

 

I hope they get sufficient support for this offering to consider doing more. If so how about some in BR grey Hornby? Make them ex-LMS to add to the variety...