Hornby Gresley Full Brake

[60800]

Regardless of what anyone else says, I think the current teaks are brilliant.

BUT, they aren't economically viable for me. It would cost close to £300 to replace my old teak set ......get lost Hornby, I'm saving up for Bacchy D11's

[Dave]

Why replace ?

Repaint in a better teak finish and alter the underframes of the old Hornbys as Mr Trice see MRC 1982 etc renumber and run as eastern region carriages along side full length ones.... no excuse.

[Atso]

Why replace ?

Repaint in a better teak finish and alter the underframes of the old Hornbys as Mr Trice see MRC 1982 etc renumber and run as eastern region carriages along side full length ones.... no excuse.

Or you could ask Atlantic about his old style Hornby conversions. IIRC he extended them to full length and made some great improvements. He did an article in BRM(?) but I can't remember when, I do remember that once he'd finished with them they looked the business!

[Dave]

Interesting Atso, try to remember, I did not see that article, as I very rarely read that mag.

[Green Nigel]

I wonder if Bachman would fancy doing a couple of Gresley carriages, say a four compartment end door brake third, a compartment door composite, an open third and a three or six compartment door brake third?.

[Green Nigel]

Oh, and a nice BG with fox bogies and turn buckle trussing.

[Atlantic 3279]

Owing to the time and effort that I put in to tarting up a whole host of old-style, cheapo Hornby Gresleys (BRM Oct '06), and the fact that they had a decent tumblehome/turnunder, a roof shape that I liked, gangway connectors that reach right up to roof-end level, and (by the time I'd finished them) graining that ran in the right directions, I was never tempted to buy any of the first-issue of the newer Hornby teaks, and as prices have gone up further since then I am still reluctant to buy. BUT, my conversions of the earlier coaches have their own failings, such as the large windows being too small, no flush glazing, beading not as fine as on the latest ones and so on. I had one go at using MJT etched sides on an extended (or shortened) Hornby shell relieved of its own sides, which produces a significantly better coach, but at a higher cost - though much cheaper than a full MJT build and probably involving less time and specialised skills. It is therefore a matter of individual taste and preference, but doing the improvements for yourself is certainly an education in the details of a Gresley coach.

[Dave]

Thanks for the date Atlantic I will look out a copy.

When all said and done the new Hornby full brake is a big improvement over their other offerings, and if I can run crappy Kirk kits with all the upgrades and scratch built mods along side the amazing MJT kits I can well accept the full brake. I wonder if all the people complaining about Hornby run Kirks ?.

[Manxman1831]

Yup!

[2512silverfox]

I think the thing to beware of is running different makes/origins which emphasises the failings of each. As some of you know, I do quite a bit of scratch building of types unlikely to be the subjects of kits or RTR, but I find that they run very well with carefully built Kirks, incorporating MJT underframes and bogies.

Hornby corridor teaks look OK in a rake, but not with vehicles of a different provenance.

[mick b]

Hornby and Kirks are not a good combination

However Hornby and D&S Suburbans look great = similar quality = well done Hornby on the latest issues. the Thompson suburbans should be excellent !!

[Blink Bonny]

Why replace ?

Repaint in a better teak finish and alter the underframes of the old Hornbys as Mr Trice see MRC 1982 etc renumber and run as eastern region carriages along side full length ones.... no excuse.

What I did was to paint the coach sides in pale cream then overcoat with Precision LNER coach teak but leave a slightly streaky finish. Gentle sanding over the beading will produce a convincing lining effect. The number transfers are fiddly but worth the effort.

Currently working on some old Triang Thompsons (still) now that I've got a bench clear(ish) of repairs.

[Green Nigel]

Probably the best Gresleys I've ever built are the Sparmac and Just like the real thing models, they are beautiful, just like the real thing.

In 4mm I have standardised on a concoction of parts and some scratch building that provide the results I'm happy with. I've seen some excellent kit built Kirk and mailcoach carriages in both 4 and 7mm that are superior to the Hornby offering. Personal I like to work in brass but have standardized on the Hornby bogie because it is an excellent representation of the eight foot six standard type, it runs well, and speeds up build time.

I agree with Atlantic, once you've built your own or examined a GA drawing, or the real thing for that matter, it's hard to tolerate the discrepancy's in the expensive Hornby product. Even in a rake of their own non corridor stock they stand out like a sore thumb.

For those people that have not the time, inclination or skill to build there own, I think it is not unreasonable that a major manufacturer should provide a model that is at least as good as a well built MJT kit for the price being asked.

Gresley gang-wayed carriages are beautiful examples of the carriage makers art, Hornby have done a real Jack the Ripper job on them.

[mick b]

Well the first person who has said something is wrong with the Hornby suburban stock ? Which is ?

Pretty amazed that you have seen better Kirk and Mailcoach Coaches as well. Poor moulded detail, deep windows and vritually impossible to paint Coronation and Tourist sets in clear plastic sides and all have diabolical roofs and flimsy lightweight bogies.
To get anything slightly decent you have to spend a fortune on MJT detail parts which still doesnt cure deep windows on the Kirks and the hardly clear plastic windows on the Mailcoach kits.

Hornby. £45 ish or even cheaper on ebay there are always ones for sale at around the £30 mark.

MJT . Coach partsonly £60.30 + comp bogies £12.80 or rigid bogies £7.30

You then still have to buy wheels and couplings , seating , partitions, glazing and paint and decals.

Total cost a minimum of £80.00 , oh and build it !!

How many people can paint one to the standard of the current Hornby offerings ?

Cant comment on 7mm models.

[Green Nigel]

I didn't say anything was wrong with the Hornby non corridor stock please re-read. I am not comparing the cost of a hornby coach against a full MJT kit please re-read.