GBRF CLASS 50S
HORNBY generally keeps on top of current developments when it comes to liveries and locomotive uses, and its brace of new ‘OO' gauge GBRf Class 50s is a good example of keeping the contemporary modeller satisfied.
Class 50s No. 50007 Hercules (dual identity with No. 50014
Warspite) (R3882) and No. 50049 Defiance (R3883) were made available to GBRf by the Class 50 Alliance on a spot-hire basis for use on stock moves and rail tours, resulting in their repainting in GBRf livery after GBRf had assisted with returning the locomotives to the mainline. The repainted locomotives were unveiled in early March 2019 at Eastleigh prior to a return to rail tour duties.
While well finished with level printing and no flaws in the paint, the shade of blue applied to the model is a tad bright for GBRf livery. The orange and warning panel yellow colours are nicely applied, along with the logos, numbers and markings. The detailing pack supplied with No. 50049 includes a set of miniature snow ploughs of the same style as that fitted to the full size locomotive.
The models are essentially the same specification as in the past, with five-pole motor, heavy chassis providing a lot of haulage power capable of handling long trains typical of charter workings and an 8-pin DCC socket. Updating of the models to match current developments now being established in the hobby are
Two Class 50 models, both dressed in GBRf livery dating from March 2019 arrived from Hornby in late December including No. 50049 Defiance which came with a set of miniature snow ploughs.
needed, including replacement of the sprung cab doors and upgrading the electronics to a 21-pin or PLUx22 decoder socket with through wiring for digital sound, built-in speakers and a wider range of lighting functions. Changing the design of the sprung oval buffers to a better type that does not rotate would also be welcomed.
In all, the Class 50 is an impressive part of the Hornby range and judging by the sales of this brace of models, it remains a popular choice too.
❒ Hornby Hobbies Ltd.
www.hornby.com
RRP: £179.99
The second model has dual identity as No. 50007 Hercules and No. 50014 Warspite, the former being the true number. The models are aimed at contemporary modellers, with the full-size locomotives being unveiled in their new liveries in March 2019.