I only fell over this review by accident, as Doug compared it to the Bachmann Class 20 in the 'Ugly Stakes' elsewhere.
Well, ugly it always was and ugly it steadfastly remains, but with enough weirdness 'character' to become almost attractive in spite of that! Strange how one characteristic can produce its opposite characteristic in its emotional effect on us.
Apart from what one might think of the prototype's looks, again I am favourably impressed by Hornby's success in reproducing it, so effectively and at a very reasonable price. Very impressed by electrical pickup from all six tender wheels in addition to all six loco wheels - THAT's the way to do it! This model should run as well as any diesel or electric loco and that's fairly unusual for a British steam loco - well done.
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It's good that Doug noted the loco's difficulty with tighter radius curves, more worryingly a difficulty in negotiating turnouts, and in then identifying the need for just a little more lateral play in the centre axle. I don't know if there is any play in this one's front and rear axles, but the usual continental practice is to spread the lateral play over all axles, so that no single one has to handle it all by itself. This, of course, results in the same amount of slack needing to be provided for the connecting rods, which then detracts a little from the charateristic 'tight' visual appearance of their bearings. The poor old manufacturer just can't win if the user demands that all his locos must negotiate minimum radius curves!
Apart from that almost insurmountable compromise area, this is a very fine effort by Hornby, though this could be one loco that would benefit from a filthy, weathered paint job as standard - the chances of ever seeing a pristine version would have been very unlikely, apart from on delivery day, and even then perhaps not, given its historical period and role in life! A good coating of grime on the outer edge of the wheel treads would be a must.
