Hornby Railroad Plus Class 47
◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL R30046 BR Class 47 47812 Rail Operations Group ◆ PRICE £96.99 ◆ AVAILABILITY Hornby stockists Web www.hornby.com
Based in Derby, Rail Operations Group operates a range of heritage diesel locomotives, upgraded and adapted to haul modern rolling stock around the national network, as well as hauling charter trains. Initially operating a bunch of Class 37 locomotives, ROG soon also acquired a handful of Class 47s, the first being 47812. After a few years operating in plain blue livery, a striking new scheme was applied, which is the basis for this recent addition to Hornby’s Railroad range.
It marks another run-out for the ex-lima Class 47 tooling, this time carrying a futuristic, eye-catching livery, which has been applied via printed decal overlays. The standard ‘47’ bodyshell is not wholly accurate for a refurbished Class 47/8, lacking the cutaway bufferbeams, underslung fuel tank, and multiple working sockets on each cab front. Roof top detail is also not accurate, with a boiler exhaust port still in situ.
That said, it must be remembered that this is offered in Hornby’s budget range and, what the Lima tooling may lack in 21st-century finesse, the revamped motor unit and all-wheel power collection (save for the two wheels fitted with traction tyres) provides good performance, while an 8-pin DCC interface and space for mounting an internal speaker means that digital installation is a piece of cake.
The livery is certainly striking, with the decal overlays applied to a very high standard and colour matched closely to the painted cab sides. There’s a hint of economy in the fact that the side access steps and engine room doors have been obscured by the decal film, but this is only discernible at close quarters.
The colour gradations and ‘glow’ effects of the livery are captured nicely, although the overall scheme is not completely accurate, compared to the real thing. Nonetheless, it feels harsh to criticise a budget model too keenly, as this ‘47’ has clearly been manufactured to a low price point. And, like the rest of the Model Rail team, I’m a firm believer in making this hobby as accessible as possible. In that spirit, the model definitely captures the spirit of the real 47812 in its current guise.
And to put it into context, Rails of Sheffield’s exclusive commission of the high-fidelity Bachmann Branchline Class 47 as 47812 in this livery costs over twice as much as the Hornby
Railroad model!
Many modellers will enjoy the model as it comes, but the Railroad ‘47’ is ripe for some good old-fashioned detailing work. By carefully masking the sides, it ought to be possible to modify the cab ends, roof and underframe without disturbing the key elements of this impressive livery. In fact, I’m tempted to have a go myself, so maybe it will appear in our Workbench pages at some point…
In many ways, the foundations of the old Lima tooling still looks good today, especially when examining the moulded surface relief. Indeed, the grilles and louvres, panel seams and rivet heads are as crisp as ever. The bogie frames aren’t bad either, considering the tooling dates back to 1987. This is another very welcome addition to Hornby’s Railroad range, offered at a walletfriendly price and boasting a decent performance and appearance, to boot. (GD)