From Miniature to BIG

That picture showing the details inside the Cab through its widow is...awesome 👍

It's even better than the photo shows, to really do it justice I should really de-couple the tender and then I could get a full picture of the interior.  The level of detail even goes down to full dials on the various gauges such as the speed, steam pressure etc...

These new Dublo models are truly a work of art...

For those who don't know, this year is quite a big one in the world of British Outline Steam as it is the 100th anniversary of the Flying Scotsman locomotive (as opposed to the Flying Scotsman train service).  This locomotive is of course world famous mainly for it being the first steam locomotive to break the 100mph speed barrier.

With this in mind and as expected Hornby are releasing a range of commemorative products including a special range of their Dublo range of locomotives which model the Flying Scotsman in its various states and liveries over the years of its existence.  Naturally I've got some of them on pre-order, unfortunately I couldn't afford them all, but have picked out my favourites.  The first two of these arrived this morning in the form of the 1946 incarnation and 1963 versions.  Although obviously similar one of the main differences between these two was a change of the engines registration number of 103 to its more famous 4272.

Each locomotive is packaged luxuriously in beautiful boxes with plenty of padding, a numbered limited edition certificate, a commemorative medallion (nearly 2" in size) and even painted train crew and a prototypical replacement wheel for the trailing truck included with the optional detailing parts.  As you would expect these marvels of engineering are not only superbly detailed and finished but also feature diecast bodies in the tradition of the original Dublo models.  Overall pretty much perfection.

Anyway here's the 1946 version, I will post the 1963 in the next post.  Also keep a lookout for more to come!

and, now the 1963 version;

[Super]

I just love those big spoked wheels. Wonder why the 'G' in Flying looks like a 'C' in both versions. Is this what the real name plate looks like?

Yeah you don't beat that style of wheels on loco's, you should see the size of them in reality.  That's a good point about the name plates, I must admit I never noticed that, but its curious it is the same on the box sleeve so maybe it is genuinely like that.  I'll have to go look for some pics of the real thing and compare them, if not I'll be onto my mate Simon at Hornby lol!

Ok, after the excellent Flying Scotsman a few other of my pre-orders have turned up, this time they are Hornby TT:120 models of some tank wagons and guards vans, the first 'goods' vehicles that have been released in this new range.

Like all the other Hornby TT:120 range I'm very impressed with the detail on this minute models, in each picture I put a AAA battery (yes the little ones) to give you an idea of how big (or should that be small?!?) these models are, yet look at the level of detail on them - I think you'll even find some rivets Super

Lovely!

[Super]

Wow...even the rivets on those tankers are well defined on these miniatures. 👍😍✔

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with these goods wagons, primarily by the quality of them and the level of detail. I've seen OO gauge models (new ones not old ones) that are not as good as these. But the real surprise was just how small they were, at first I thought I'd been sent N scale models instead until I remembered that Hornby doesn't make N scale anything currently!!

The next pre-orders expected are an A4 class Dublo (OO scale) loco named 'Sir Nigel Gresley' (you could say I had to have that for the name alone lol), and a rake of TT:120 pullman carriages WITH LIGHTING built in!!

I do already have two more Flying Scotsman Dublo variants here, but haven't had the chance to photograph them yet. Super you will love one of these as its the variant model of the Scotsman when it toured America some years back including some special 'additions' it had to have to be allowed on USA railway tracks including a boiler mounted light, cow-catcher and other bits you guys normally fit on your steam loco's. It also comes with two tenders which it had for the trip to allow it to travel longer distances without stops. A very very nice model indeed and one I think will become very collectible. I know the pre-orders were sold out long before they were ready to ship.

I just love those big spoked wheels. Wonder why the 'G' in Flying looks like a 'C' in both versions. Is this what the real name plate looks like?

Hi Super,

I did actually do a search on google for photo's of the real Flying Scotsman to check the name plate and for whatever the reason it is exactly the same on the real loco as depicted on these models.  Whether it is a font thing, or maybe something to do with Scotland (they can be weird at times) who can tell.  Ironically I did find the odd photo of some older models made which did have a more recognisable 'G' on the name plates, but ironically if you compare them with the real thing they are actually the ones that appear to be incorrect.  That is of course unless it changed at sometime in the locos history and they are reflecting another incarnation of the locomotive.

Very strange and something that needs a bit more researching I reckon as I get interested in weird things like this...


Cheers, Nigel