In recent months Hornby has released a significant number of Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2s,primarily in its Hornby Dublo range as part of the Great Gathering 10th anniversary collection. This new ‘OO’ gauge ‘A4’ arrival is from the main range, but no less exciting as it represents one of the five Commonwealth-named ‘A4s’ in original condition, finished as 4491 Commonwealth of Australia.
Hornby’s latest example of the ‘A4’ carries a neatly applied LNER garter blue paint scheme, with numbers and LNER tender lettering picked out in silver, along with silver lining to the bottom of the valance and tender body. The Commonwealth coat of arms is printed on the cabside rather than the usual builder’s plate and the locomotive features a red-backed nameplate with silver writing.
Above: Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2 appears in LNER garter blue for its latest appearance as 4491 Commonwealth of Australia.
As expected, detailing is superb with rivets, lamp irons, whistle, opening cab ventilators, LNER speedometer and fully detailed cab interior all accurately represented. There is also a flickering firebox feature. The locomotive is paired with a correct streamlined corridor tender which houses a new 21-pin Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder socket. Also of interest is that the tender drawbar is of the new kinematic design.
A detail pack is included with brake rigging, front coupling, front hook and chain, drain cocks, driver and fireman and vacuum pipe for the front buffer beam.
For enthusiasts of the LNER or just ‘A4s’ in general, this is another top-notch locomotive release from Hornby. (BC)
•Gauge: ‘OO’
•Price: £217.99
•Cat No: R3992
•DCC: 21-pin decoder socket
•Site: www.hornby.com
•Era: 3
