From Miniature to BIG

The new finish Hornby are using is a big improvement although they are still behind someone like Bachmann who use a warmer green which though isn't as realistic looks a lot more pleasing to the eye











The old model still has a very impressive cab with many separate parts such as the regulator and clear plastic for the water gauges. As for the Gresley coaches they were first released in 2004 with the following versions:

BCK (Brake composite corridor 1st/3rd)  R4170 (2004) R4170A (2005-2006) R4170B (2006-2007) R4170C (2008-2009) R4170D (2010) R4170E (2011-2013)

FK (First corridor) R4171 (2004,2006-2008) R4171A (2005-2007) R4171C (2011-2013)

TK (Third corridor) R4172 (2004,2006-2007) R4172A (2005-2007) R4172B (2008-2009) R4172C (2010) R4172D (2011-2013)

RUB (Restaurant unclassed buffet) R4173 (2004,2006-2007) R4173A (2005-2006) R4173B (2008-2009) R4173C (2010) R4173D (2011-2013)

SLF (Sleeper first)  R4174 (2004,2006-2009) R4174A (2005-2008) R4174B (2010) R4174C (2012-2014)

BGP (Brake gangway pigeon) R4530 (2011-2012) R4530A (2011-2013) R4530B (2012)

*Note about the pigeon van: It was a last minute addition to the range and actually featured a better resolution teak effect  although still a mat varnish over the top

There was another variant of the teak finish between 2014 and 2018 however it was only used on suburbans and Br teaks. It was a genuinely horrible effect as it was mirrored 3 times on each side. It's actually very hard to describe it so for reference search up R4601 

In 2018, after 4 years Hornby Brought 5/6 of the coaches back with a brand new and much improved teak finish, finally with a layer of gloss over the top:

BCK (Brake composite corridor 1st/3rd) R4826 (2018-2021) R4826A (2023)

FK (First corridor) R4827 (2018-2021) R4827A (2023)

TK (Third corridor) R4828 (2018-2021) R4828A (2023)

RUB (Restaurant unclassed buffet) R4829 (2018-2021) R4829A (2023)

BGP (Brake gangway pigeon) R4830 (2018-2021) R420A (2023)

As of now, the only set to include them is the R1252M

I do have 4/5 (1BCK 1FK 1RUB 1BGP) of the 2023 versions already although as I have a buffet car and no third class coaches I'd like to get at least 5 more...