14 April 2023
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A new guise applied to this tooling makes it an appealing model for modellers of the 1970s – here's why...
First released to traffic in the summer of 2008, Hornby’s OO gauge tooling of the Maunsell SR ‘Van C’ has aged very well, as evidenced by this latest iteration of the uneven plank variant, now carrying BR engineers’ ‘drab olive’ as ADB975140 (R60081).
This depicts, rather faithfully, a prototype which though constructed in 1937 as a ‘brake’, was recorded in 1971 as being re-purposed by the engineers as a staff van. A photograph of the prototype can be found online, which purports to have been taken at Norwood Junction/Selhurst. Here's what we like, and what we noticed about this new wagon release...
What we like
We gave Hornby high praise for its tooling in 2008 – little has changed, here. This uneven plank variant of the Maunsell design remains a model with crisp features.
The window bar additions to the glazing have been carried out to a high standard, and these appear to have been tampo-printed. Their finesse is exemplary, as is the application of other decorative items for that matter...
... as a closer inspection reveals. The Tare, Length, Width and Restriction details printed to wagon ends are only visible under magnification. Incredibly fine!
The sprung buffers with turned steel heads are cleverly sprung with plastic bar, located behind the headstocks. Discreet, but effective.
A favourite is the red flammable warning notice placed to the doors either side denoting no doubt propane gas bottles housed for cooking. Similar modified vehicles of this era had warning notices placed to their housing’s underneath.
Related: Read Howard Smith's full review of this model in the June 2023 issue of BRM.
What we noticed
A slight error to the livery appears to be the application of a white dot in lieu of a smaller letter ‘s’ adjacent to the ME acronym denoting ‘mechanical engineers'.
The centre white-painted step was glued proud of the chassis to one side, giving it a twisted appearance. Despite best efforts, it wasn't for being pushed into position easily. A little trimming of plastic with a scalpel might be necessary, on this example.
Our observations on the shape of the truss rods being rectangular rounded bar section rather than rod, remain, but this is an understandable compromise for the strength of the plastic. Overall, a great addition for modellers of the BR blue diesel era, which can be marshalled into engineers’ trains, or equally left parked in departmental sidings, accordingly.
Related: Read Howard Smith's full review of this model in the June 2023 issue of BRM.
Read more reviews of Hornby products, here.
