Hornby R3522 Class A4 4-6-2 ‘Miles Beevor’ BR (Early Livery) No:60026

Hornby R3522 Class A4 4-6-2 ‘Miles Beevor’ BR (Early Livery) No:60026

One of Hornby’s recent releases of the Gresley’s iconic A4 class 4-6-2 steam locomotive. This current version tooling of the A4  dates back to around 2004. Hornby have managed to capture the shape of the A4 which isn’t easy to replicate in model form. According to some magazine reviews they report back that this tooling version is just slightly too high a little to long, but still a superb model. The model packs lots of detail & a excellent paint job.

Model Features

This release comes as DCC ready (ready to be converted to DCC -Digtal Command Control) with a 8 pin DCC socket, sprung buffers, NEM coupling sockets with small tension lock couplings, fine scale wheels. Other details include detailed cab interior, fall plate, wire hand rails, five pole motor driving the 6 main driving wheels. Power pick ups on 12 wheels gives excellent running. This one is the single chimney variant.

Other details include extra details parts bag with pipe work & steam pipes for fitting by the modeller. A replacement axle for the Cartazzi truck under the cab. This allows the modeller to run the loco on either tighter radius curves using the flange-less axle wheel set or flanged wheel set for larger radius curved track. The cab also features flush glazing.

Other Hornby versions of the A4 come as DCC fitted & DCC sound onboard. The one that we feature in this article is DCC ready. So to convert it to DCC means removing the body & blanking plug. Then simply plugging in a 8 pin DCC decoder.

Running

In tests the model is a smooth & reliable runner giving excellent performance. Managing a rake of ten coaches with in it’s stride. Typical train would be express passenger traffic but it’s worth checking on the internet & railway books on the A4’s for other typical trains the A4’s were employed on.

Price

Expect to pay around £165 mark but as always shop around for best prices.

Model Catalogue Number Range

R2338 – R3320

Model Catalogue Number Releases of the 2007 – onwards tooled model

LNER SILVER GREY

• R2965
• R2445
• R2373

2015 SILVER COLLECTION

• R3306
• R3307
• R3308
• R3309

LNER GARTER BLUE

• R3131
• R3199
• R3254
• R2805XS
• R2339
• R2973 (Argos catalogue)
• R3196
• R3251
• R2684
• R3197
• R3252
• R2888 (Argos catalogue)
• R3095
• R2688
• R3402

NE BLACK

• R2338

BR PURPLE

• R2798

BR EXPRESS BLUE

• R3201
• R3256
• R2991XS
• R3320
• R2906

BR GREEN

• R2435
• R2826
• R2494
• R2615
• R1064
• R2896XS
• R3200
• R3255
• R2909
• R3198
• R3253
• R2910
• R3008
• R2825
• R2721
• R3103
• R2794
• R3012
• R2535
• R2340
• R3522

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Images kindly provided by Jaike Annetts