[Gary]

Coming soon...

The contest that nobody else dares to bring you. The Bachmann 4MT (the current champion) v the Hornby Dublo 4MT (the 50 year old veteran heavyweight).

Both have outstanding qualities but there can be only one winner!

Which one would you put your money on and why?

The result will be revealed only at Model Rail Forum!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[kewrail]

Although the Hornby model seems to capture the sheer brutishness of the prototype, my money is on Bachmann for this one - The improved drive and wheelsets look (and run) far better

 

[Jim Potten]

QUOTE (kewrail @ 26 May 2005, 13:57)Although the Hornby model seems to capture the sheer brutishness of the prototype, my money is on Bachmann for this one - The improved drive and wheelsets look (and run) far better
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How many of the Bachmann ones will be running in 50 years time? Not many I think.

 

[Gary]

Just to let you all know that testing is now underway and that I am using the Bachmann EZ-Command Control Centre in analogue mode to power up both the 3 rail Dublo 4MT and the 2 rail Bachmann 4MT as this should give me a consistent result performance wise. Its interesting to compare the pulling power of these two locomotives. The Dublo 4MT will haul a 1.5kg bag of flour placed on the back of a low loader wagon from a standing start....

The review should be available in the next day or two.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

I almost finished the review/head to head contest last night when the software crashed and I lost all the info!

One interesting fact to emerge from my research was that of the initial batch of 100,000 locomotives that were produced by Hornby Dublo in 1954/55, only 6 were returned under guarantee!

Lets hope my Micr..... software tonight is as reliable as the Hornby Dublo Class 4MT!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Specialsteel]

Personally I like the Wrenn (Hornby Dublo) tank. I had repainted and re-lined mine and fitted flush glazing before the Bachmann model came along and have seen no need to replace it. Indeed on my railway with sharp(ish) curves, the Wrenn model is far superior as it says on the track!

 

[Gary]

The rail test of the Bachmann 4MT Tank Loco is complete. How does it compare with the Hornby Dublo version?

All will be revealed if you click here

There is more information about the prototype available at the following sites:-

Southern E-Group

Nicks Pix

The Bachmann website does not contain a service sheet for this model.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Specialsteel]

I have some doubts about the long term durability of Bachmann - I have heard of several problems with certain models (not necessarily the 4MT tank) - wheels moving on axles (the centre part of the axles are plastic), plastic motion brackets breaking and the valve gear going everywhere as a result, the plastic spoked centres of the driving wheels coming loose and rubbing on the coupling rods - makes the whole engine wobble as it runs - this problem appears quite common on early Standard Class IV tender engines.

Also does ANYONE out there like the AWFUL loco to tender connection on the Class N Mogul? It is an abortion and no mistake. It ruins the entire loco. I hate it so much that I will probably be selling my example soon.
Regards, JIM

 

[Gary]

I don't have any doubts at all about the longevity of the Bachmann 4MT.

Most of them will be shelf queens won't they!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Specialsteel]

Gary - can I put a topic to you. Does nobody model any more? Go to any model railway exhibition these days and most layouts are Bachmann and Hornby benefits. I get quite excited when I see unusual or kit built engines these days.
JIM

 

[Colombo]

In the review of the Hornby Dublo Standard class 4 Tank, the screw behind the hole at the back is not a body fixing screw as suggested by the reviewer. It is in fact designed to allow you to alter the magnetic field of the motor by moving a steel plate closer to the magnet. The body fixing screw is under the front bogie.

At one extreme, you were supposed to get a slower speed and a higher tractive effort. Turn the screw the other way and you get higher speeds and less tractive effort. That is something that Bachmann never thought of and must be worth a few extra points for Hornby Dublo.

Colombo

 

[Gary]

You are right!

QUOTE "Adjustable Magnet Shunt" improves running at slow speeds according to Dublo sales literature.

The Hornby Company general information book records QUOTE that the magnetic shunt was provided for the purpose of varying within presecribed limits the flux available across the field pole tips. It will be fairly obvious that when the shunt is fully engaged a portion of the field flux is bypassed thus weakening the field strength in the air gaps between the armature and the field poles. Thus a very fine adjustment is provided which will enable the field and armature fluxes to be balanced at starting ie when the armature torque is at its lowest to give a smooth start. The secondary effect is that with a weakened field the armature current is increased, which increases the voltage drop across the armature when the motor runs slower. Withdrawing the shunt from the magnet of course has the opposoite effect and the motor runs faster for a given voltage. Normally the strength of the field flux due to the magnet is more than actually required to produce optimum useful power (the point where any increase in power is wasted due to the limit of track adhesion). The shunt does not therefore greatly effect top speeds of the locomotive.

At a Hornby product meeting on 29th December 1961 it was decided to delete the magnetic shunt unit to save on production costs. This was not put into effect until 1963 due to the high stock position. It was the February 1963 edition of Meccano Magazine where the announcement was made that the shunt was to be discontinued. However, due to the high stock position of bodies every 4MT body has a hole in the back, whether it has a shunt fitted or not.

I guess that the stiff competition from Triang forced this cost cutting excercise by Hornby. Too little too late. Wrenn bodies do not have the hole and Wrenn did a very good job with the mold alteration as there is no sign of it at all.

Of course all the effects of the shunt are provided for by the modern control units of today so it is not really required within todays motors.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[CeeDeeI]

I thought that figure of 100,000 units just for one model was amazing. Have you any idea what todays production figures are for both Bachmann and Hornby's most popular models?

 

[Gary]

That was the initial batch of 100,000 for the first year!

The thing is look at the Hornby Dublo catalogue for 1955. You have a choice of 6 locomotives! And Triang offered about 10!

And these did not change from year to year. Just new items added. The Dublo Class 4MT of 1953 had exactly the same loco number in 1963.

Now the Hornby catalogue of 2005 offers you a choice of over 120 locomotives and the Bachmann catalogue 80 odd. Thats over 200 scale OO locomotives to choose from in just one year!

And then you have N gauge that simply was not around in Hornby Dublo's day.

So you can see that it is really impossible to make a fair comparison as we live in different times.

The only thing for sure is that games consoles did not exist for young boys to play with in 1955.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[CeeDeeI]

Add that figure of 200 scale locos in one year to the selection of loco kits available and we should all be happy bunnies. I am anyway. Cheers.