The retooled Hornby Castle class loco's recently released are probably as near perfect as is possible to a realistic 00 scale replica of the class and is unlikely to be beaten by another ready to run model.
For most people the Airfix version that came out in 1977/ 78 is now consigned to history but spare a thought for the 00 scale locomotive model that was revolutionary in its day.
In the mid 1970s the typical Rovex Hornby [formerly Tri-ang and later Triang Hornby] locomotives were coarse scale toys that were too high, too wide, had moulded hand rails and pipe details, and coarse scale generic wheels. In their favour, they ran well, had a long life expectancy and could easily and economically be serviced or repaired. Wrenn produced the ex- Hornby Dublo die cast metal range which had finer detail and ran well out of the box but were more expensive and were spoiled by wheels that were too small.
In 1976, along came the Airfix Castle with reasonably scale dimensions that looked the part. Although it had the motor in the tender, it ran quite well until the rubber tyres on the tender wheels became loose or split. The Great Western version was named Caerphilly Castle whilst Pendennis Castle suited early British Railways layouts. It was spoiled by the driving wheels being too small.
Circa 1988, the Airfix Castle tooling was taken over by David Boyle, sold under the Dapol brand, and came out with a ring field motor in the loco similar to the Dapol County. The pancake motors were noisy until well run in but were better than tender drive.
Dapol did not reproduce the Collett 4000 gallon tender used on the Airfix version and all Dapol Castles towed the County version of the Hawksworth tender. [Hawksworth County tenders were 8ft-6in wide in full size whereas the Hawksworth tender used on Castles, Halls and Modified Halls were 8 feet wide].
Hornby acquired the Airfix/ Dapol tooling and created improved versions with Airfix Collett 4000 gallon tender (now free- wheeling) and the wider Hawksworth County tender. The Hornby painting and lining takes some beating so many were sold, especially the Collett- tendered ones.
The Airfix Castle loco moulding is wrong in the cab roof contour (can be improved), firebox shape and the wheels are too small but the low profile boiler bands have been equalled only by Hornby in the Grange, retooled Castles, Black Five and other very recent models.
Soon after the Airfix Castle and Royal Scot loco's came out, General Mills (Palitoy) released the Mainline range made by Kader Industries. The range later included the GWR Manor class which has had several reincarnations since Bachmann Branchline started in 1990. The Manor is a good model but the boiler bands on this and most of the Mainline/ Bachmann range stand too proud of the boiler compared to the Airfix Castle.
The now superseded (Airfix) Hornby version of the Collett 4000 gallon tender represents the type built for the King class in 1927-30 which have different tank, fire iron rack and chassis so it has a possible reuse to give some variation on a layout. As the shade of green is fairly constant on Hornby GWR/ WR loco's, the Castle tender can create other livery variations of the King by mixing and matching.
The Airfix tender top can be made to fit a Hornby tender chassis as per Hornby service sheet numbers 260C (King), 293 (Castle) and HSS 306 (Hogwarts Castle). The Airfix top has moulded hand rails which need improving but do not look too bad running on a layout. The colour and lining of the Airfix BR Pendennis Castle tender top is a reasonable match for a Bachmann early WR Wraysbury Hall {Modified Hall class}.
A sensible use can be found for the Airfix- derived King type tenders but the problem is what to do with the Airfix, Dapol, old Hornby Castle loco's? They would be difficult to sell minus a tender so has anyone got some ideas for converting them into something else? Or improving same?
For most people the Airfix version that came out in 1977/ 78 is now consigned to history but spare a thought for the 00 scale locomotive model that was revolutionary in its day.
In the mid 1970s the typical Rovex Hornby [formerly Tri-ang and later Triang Hornby] locomotives were coarse scale toys that were too high, too wide, had moulded hand rails and pipe details, and coarse scale generic wheels. In their favour, they ran well, had a long life expectancy and could easily and economically be serviced or repaired. Wrenn produced the ex- Hornby Dublo die cast metal range which had finer detail and ran well out of the box but were more expensive and were spoiled by wheels that were too small.
In 1976, along came the Airfix Castle with reasonably scale dimensions that looked the part. Although it had the motor in the tender, it ran quite well until the rubber tyres on the tender wheels became loose or split. The Great Western version was named Caerphilly Castle whilst Pendennis Castle suited early British Railways layouts. It was spoiled by the driving wheels being too small.
Circa 1988, the Airfix Castle tooling was taken over by David Boyle, sold under the Dapol brand, and came out with a ring field motor in the loco similar to the Dapol County. The pancake motors were noisy until well run in but were better than tender drive.
Dapol did not reproduce the Collett 4000 gallon tender used on the Airfix version and all Dapol Castles towed the County version of the Hawksworth tender. [Hawksworth County tenders were 8ft-6in wide in full size whereas the Hawksworth tender used on Castles, Halls and Modified Halls were 8 feet wide].
Hornby acquired the Airfix/ Dapol tooling and created improved versions with Airfix Collett 4000 gallon tender (now free- wheeling) and the wider Hawksworth County tender. The Hornby painting and lining takes some beating so many were sold, especially the Collett- tendered ones.
The Airfix Castle loco moulding is wrong in the cab roof contour (can be improved), firebox shape and the wheels are too small but the low profile boiler bands have been equalled only by Hornby in the Grange, retooled Castles, Black Five and other very recent models.
Soon after the Airfix Castle and Royal Scot loco's came out, General Mills (Palitoy) released the Mainline range made by Kader Industries. The range later included the GWR Manor class which has had several reincarnations since Bachmann Branchline started in 1990. The Manor is a good model but the boiler bands on this and most of the Mainline/ Bachmann range stand too proud of the boiler compared to the Airfix Castle.
The now superseded (Airfix) Hornby version of the Collett 4000 gallon tender represents the type built for the King class in 1927-30 which have different tank, fire iron rack and chassis so it has a possible reuse to give some variation on a layout. As the shade of green is fairly constant on Hornby GWR/ WR loco's, the Castle tender can create other livery variations of the King by mixing and matching.
The Airfix tender top can be made to fit a Hornby tender chassis as per Hornby service sheet numbers 260C (King), 293 (Castle) and HSS 306 (Hogwarts Castle). The Airfix top has moulded hand rails which need improving but do not look too bad running on a layout. The colour and lining of the Airfix BR Pendennis Castle tender top is a reasonable match for a Bachmann early WR Wraysbury Hall {Modified Hall class}.
A sensible use can be found for the Airfix- derived King type tenders but the problem is what to do with the Airfix, Dapol, old Hornby Castle loco's? They would be difficult to sell minus a tender so has anyone got some ideas for converting them into something else? Or improving same?
