Hornby Schools Class

This replaced the previous 'Schools' model which had been one of four new 4-4-0 locomotive models, released in 1981, as part of an upgrading of the whole of the Hornby fleet. Of the four, the 'Schools' model proved to be by far the most popular and outlived the others which had all been dropped by 1999. The original 'Schools' Class V ran to 18 versions, the last being available in 2001.

The first of the completely retooled 'Schools' Class models to arrive last year was 30932 Blundell's, in BR lined black livery with small early BR insignia on the tender. Since then we have also seen SR Dulwich (R2843) and BRb St Lawrence (R2844).

The detail on these models is quite stunning, my personal favourite being the interior of the cab. The red regulator handle and hand-wheel (for reversing and adjusting cut-off) look as though they would turn and the water gauges look as though they are made of glass. The dial gauges have dials printed on them and the sanding and damper levers are just waiting to be pulled (be careful not to do so as they are easily dislodged). The ejector pipe stands as a separate attachment and the cab roof interior has been painted a cream colour. The model comes with the cab and tender doors and fallplate already fitted.

The external pipework is also extensively reproduced including the sanding pipes, boiler feeds and whistle. There are very fine lamp irons on the back of the tender and on the front of the loco. The reversing rod is metal coloured and the nameplates finely printed. The loco comes with brake pipes ready fitted but with brake rods to fit, along with front steps, a front coupling, cylinder drain cocks, an imitation screw coupling for the front and further hoses. All the things now considered as standard are here, including sprung buffers, removable coal in the tender, a decoder point in the tender, glazed cab windows and power collection extended to the front bogie.