Vespa

Hello Ray, being a Britannia fanatic I gave up finding faults with the Hornby models as there are just too many variations in real life to accurately model them all. I have just accepted minor detail differences and added odd bits if I thought they looked more like a photo of the real thing, such as battery boxes. I did change the front bogies of all my earlier models for the later ones but resisted changing the cylinders as the costs would become too much. I have 28 of the locos with 2 specials on order from Hornby concessions. I am sure that you have seen the fantastic articles on David Heys website  http://www.davidheyscollection.com/page90.htm and pages 91 & 92.

Hi, I have enjoyed your pages on here regarding all the locos. A big thank you for the info contained. I have just bought the Duke in the Heritage Rail Express set with 3 of the new Mk1's. Overall I am satisfied with the loco but Hornby are making a backward step with the design clever production. Regarding your Brits and the cab roof ventilation ( I have 26), I wouldn't worry too much about the size on different models. I have many books on these locos and I really think that Hornby would have to model all the locos individually to be accurate. I have a photo of 70034 with the large tender fitted to the Firths etc on the last batch for BR. Also photos of locos without lining. So as the locos were rarely photographed from above, who can say if at some point in time they were modified.Here is a link to David Hey's website and a Brit section  See also pages 91 and 92.

(Rather than put bits of info in the relevant areas I put my two pennorth here)

I pre ordered this in 2012 and the delivery got put back again and again. So on Dec 16th 2013 I cancelled it as there was still no sign. I then ordered the 60's version. I have now cancelled that as this looks like a very poor effort by Hornby and I am not a nit picker. The idea of design clever is not the slightest bit clever and this model is just back to the days of Triang at inflated prices. The Railroad range seems to be Hornby's prority so my buying of locos will be very limited now. I am dreading the P2 I have on order and am considering cancelling that too.