Hornby Flying Scotsman Review |💨Steam Generator💨| 🔊TXS Sound 🔊

A review of the new Hornby Flying Scotsman that comes with a steam generator and a TXS sound decoder pre-installed (R3991SS).
After the disappointment of the recent Black 5 which over promised and under delivered, Hornby have really pulled it back with this incredible model of an iconic locomotive.
The tooling may date from the mid 2000s, but it's super detailed and has had a modern tech upgrade with the fitting of:
- a new tender close coupling connection
- TXS Bluetooth Sound
- flickering firebox feature
- steam generator synced to sound and wheel rotation
I'm incredibly pleased with this model.
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00:00 Introduction
03:15 Unboxing
10:35 History
12:27 Detailed Review
15:54 Smoke Generator
23:27 Speaker Enclosure and DCC Socket
24:19 Summary

[@GelatoTaco]

I'd love it if Hornby made it possible to buy replacements of the steam generators, I'd instantly begin figuring out ways to cram those into some of my favorite models.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

We can't be too far away from being able to install these ourselves

[@GelatoTaco]

@@LittleWicketRailway Let's hope. I'd love for another manufacturer to come out w/ a new tooling for the LNER N2 (my favorite class) and I can cram the generator in the smokebox

[@grrfy]

@@GelatoTaco aliexpress sell them for the really cheap rc cars, have done for a while

[@brat96th]

Unfortunately the tank is bespoke for each loco so that is the stopper for a generic retro-kit.

[@modelrailfan37]

Michael Ramsey, a KZbinr, made a video on installing similar systems to G Scale locos and TRS Trains has done something similar with OO

[@NewModelRailway1]

Modeloco has presented a fix for the intermittent steam issue in one of his recent KZbin videos. It simply requires changing 1 or 2 of the CV settings. It's worth a watch. Glad to hear you're pleased with your loco.

[@gregmacdonald927]

Was just about to comment the same thing. But you beat me to it! Nice model though.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I'll check that out!

[@davidstrains4910]

Dusty Shelf Collectables did a video talking about this fix, he did the fix himself and while there was a minor improvement the steam was still intermittent from time to time, I actually wonder if it’s got anything to do with the Scotsman being a single chimney loco because in the video he mentioned how the P2 doesn’t have this issue, I have just received one of those today but back to the loco it has double chimney and provided is an alternative chimney with a bigger hole for the steam to escape from, In the video he also shows how he is having to clear the chimney with a piece of tissue to get the steam coming out again.

[@brat96th]

There are 2 CVs one for chuff 'steam volume' and one for huff.

[@NewModelRailway1]

@@brat96th So is CV211 the chuff? The amount of steam did seem to reduce in volume when others reduced 211 setting in their tests. If so, then CV212 would logically be the huff which I assume you would want to increase in order to make sure the steam gets ejected fully and not hang on to the chimney sides causing the build up. Does that make sense?

[@garysoap7925]

Looks and sounds brilliant, with that sort of steam generator it from my experience it only clogs up when running slowly or at a standstill.

[@tabishahmedpk]

Wow Awesome 👍

[@IronHorseRailways]

Jolly good Rob, seems like you're happy with it. Personally, a Scotsman would be the last thing I'd buy, seems to be running well enough! Cheers mate!

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Wrong region, wrong era, but I needed a Scotsman. Love it or hate it, it's piece of railway history.

[@EsotericArctos]

The steam generator is a good addition. For me, workign lights and the other little gimmicks like the steam generator just add that realism to the model. I wish more steam loco models would have working lights though.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Yeah. John JMC adds lights to all his steam locos and they look incredible.

[@StormmyStormmy]

Nice loco, I wonder if the evening star and the Mallard will get steam generators fitted, I do like Hornby steam locomotives and I have a few in my collection, if or when they make these locomotives compatible with other sound decoders then I will consider buying one, thanks for sharing.

[@jackstrains4468]

Looks awesome Rob! What a beautiful loco and the features are amazing! I would love to get one at some point but I only use DC - do you think I can use it on DC with the smoke generator? I doubt it'd work but I thought you'd be more experienced and would potentially have a better understanding of DCC 😅😅 great video as always mate!

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Good thing about HM7000 is you don't need a full DCC setup. Use a suitable DC supply and control it via the app.

[@timharrison2894]

I doubt you can get smoke on DC/analog. Maybe Hornby are trying to get more of us in to hm7000. I'm doing great with it tbh, and all you'd need to fork out on to start is the right power supply. I got a Hornby select off eBay. Think this channel has really good videos on this

[@jackstrains4468]

@@LittleWicketRailway ah, thanks Rob, I may give it a try then!

[@cesarcarranza216]

How come I feel like that a lot of railway model fans in the uk are going crazy

[@LiveSteamNick]

The steam problem is the small chimney orifice on the Scotsman. It cant let enough of the steam out before closing. My P2 with steam gen has a much larger outlet and a double chimney with no means to clog, however, it is getting a new Road and Rails speaker to improve the sound department. 8 ohms only though.

[@Knack-fo5dc]

This mechanism was used to make electric fires smoke 15 years ago

[@pebbleschan6085]

You need to add soot to the mix and wear a period hat for a more realistic reenactment. 😂

[@LittleWicketRailway]

😂

[@DaveAtLittleton]

Good point about the potential for mould, I would suggest running only in a warm room, so, turning the smoke off if in an attic or shed, during the winter, but I would think water vapour, which can by dryed off with a hair dryer, is preferable to deposits left behind by oil based ones. I don't know if the speaker could be changed by removing the mounting plate.?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Could probably mess around with the DCC socket mount to fit a better speaker, but bit of a faff.

[@supstersmodelrailways3202]

Hi. Nice review. Thank you. Can you just confirm that it does or doesn’t have a metal running plate above the wheels or is it plastic? Cheers. Dave.

[@michaelball68]

Great review Rob. I couldn't resist buying one myself a few days ago, unboxed it last night and started playing, and so far very impressed. First time I've tried HM7000 with the Hm/DCC app, and have to say I think it's amazing. Question for you if you have time... in the video I notice you are using a Hornby turntable on the layout. I looked for a video from the layout build period but couldn't see one that looked like it might cover the turntable. I'm in the middle of layout design at present and really fancy a turntable but all the options seem either too expensive, too clunky or the wrong size (Atlas). How have you found the Hornby one? Apart from noisy that is, I know it makes a racket!

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Hi Michael 👋 glad you're enjoying the model too. It's a good one. I've only used the Hornby turntable and as you say, it's super noisy. I found that the tracks didn't always align when they were meant to, so hand of god had to come in. I don't think the turntable itself stays powered, it only connects when aligned (I think), which isn't great for sound fitted locos or Bluetooth. There must be better options out there. I've definitely seen conversions of non motorised turntables.

[@michaelball68]

@@LittleWicketRailway thanks for that Rob 👍 Yes, I've seen videos of Hornby and Peco mods and conversions, and I found a brilliant article on converting both the Hornby and Peco turntables to DCC with the bridge being constantly powered. Complicated but it can be done!

[@Knack-fo5dc]

The locomotive rocks on the test rollers. Fancy bells and whistles but no manufacturer seems to be able to make a decent well engineered chassis. It's luck of the draw when you buy a model.

[@bulleidboy1]

If it "rocks" on the rollers, it usually means the rollers are out of alignment with the loco wheels.

[@AndrewH561]

I have just received this loco and I have to say I think it is great. The only (very slight) issue I have is that because the 'water tank' plug was very hard to get out (it was an extremely tight fit) it flew across the room when I extracted it and I am now in the process of trying to get a replacement. Maybe I did something wrong but I wonder if there is a simple way to remove and replace the plug.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Easily done I think. A screw in plug might have been better or something magnetic.

[@AndrewH561]

@@LittleWicketRailway I agree. It would have been better to have a screw plug..

[@paulsharpe3794]

Hi there looking good, I'm wondering how my Metcarfe bridges are going to react to all that water

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I've got the same concerns

[@richardsweeney197]

I've seen a review of the new P2 with steam generator and the fill is behind the smokebox door. It looks like a better solution. Any way, I look forward to getting a locomotive with this option. I hate the oil based ones.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

How is the smoke box door held on? Magnets?

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

Nice model, I have the older TTS unit. It seems that the Brit manufacturers tend to resurrect old molds or remake the older molds leaving off any extra detail that modellers want now a days as a standard business practice, reminds me of the Austin Marina, as a friend of mine at the time said, the operation was a success, but the patient died. I wonder if there is any UK modeller pressure on Rapido Trains UK for them to do any of the classic historical steamers, now that would be an incredible model, pricey though.

[@NewModelRailway1]

Back in the early 1990's I was having a conversation with an accountant about how quickly office equipment or computers got dated. I questioned why the manufacturers couldn't just hold back a year and bring out a product with 2 years worth of improvements. He told me (back then) that Japanese R&D departments were typically working on the product that will make obsolete the product that they're going to release next year. It's how they keep us spending our money.

[@keiththesoundguy2890]

Are you driving the model via Bluetooth or via DCC? if the latter, which DCC system are you using? This model does not operate at all well via my high-end Zimo system (but is ok using a Gaugemaster Prodigy). Also, it won’t link to my iPad so I can try on Bluetooth; it comes up as a ‘resettable device’ but has never been linked so the code is NOT in device manager of the app . Therefore, I need to contact Hornby for the code. This is a ridiculous situation as I can’t now do anything with it until Monday when I can call Hornby. This is the exact reason I don’t like mixing model railway operation with apps or anything to do with computers. I only have 2 HM7000 and both need Hornby’s involvement to get them set up! By the way, you will find that the chuffs are only in sync with wheel rotation at certain speeds as the chuff frequency changes in fixed increments, rather than the infinitely variable changes used by Zimo or Loksound decoders.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Operated via Bluetooth in the video. The decoder showing up as a resettable device is a known issue. I made a video on it with some possible solutions. You shouldn't need to actually reset it. If you do want to reset it then use the code a4c13800 followed by the last 4 letters/digits of the decoder's MAC address which you'll be able to see if it's appearing in the app.

[@keiththesoundguy2890]

@@LittleWicketRailway thanks so much for the info, I will try the reset as per your guidance, although I need it to work with my Zimo DCC system as I prefer using physical buttons so I can watch the trains rather than having to look at a screen to check where my finger is! It’s a personal preference not a criticism ..... ‘ horses for courses’ as they say. 😊

[@angelosparanero1018]

Bellissimo video spiegato bene ,una curiosità lo smoke generator funziona con water. Di solito vanno tutti con olio ti ringrazio fammi sapere, un saluto da Roma

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Grazie per la visione

[@jamiemurney9857]

Hi which rolling road is that you use please ? Thanks

[@LittleWicketRailway]

It's the Hornby rolling road R8211 (amzn.to/3XMBo2b). It's good for steam locos, but not so good for diesels. Shop around, there are other options out there that might be better.

[@petes6814]

I wonder if you could use dyed water for a more “darker smokey” effect? (I somehow doubt it though)

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Interesting thought. I wouldn't be brave enough to try it on this model.

[@rocketchen2890]

@@petes6814 Nah I think it will only clogged up the system.

[@learn_with_gern]

Is there any mention of using distilled water for the steam? Or can you use just tap water? Maybe there was and I missed it.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I don't recall seeing the word "distilled" in the instructions

[@bulleidboy1]

@@LittleWicketRailway I recall seeing a comment that de-ionised water is best - type used for acid car batteries and steam irons - it's cheap in Halfords. If you live in a hard water area, you might, in time, experience scale forming in the works.

[@LiveSteamNick]

Ultimately Distilled water will be best in the long run, as no part of the generator will clog up over time. This could be the reason those running on tap water or deionised water may be having blocking issues. Just my thoughts

[@grah84mck]

Hi rob I got mines today! I use bachmann dynamis controller. Do you need anything other than the app to get it to work. Can't seem to get anything moving

[@davidstrains4910]

On the app you need to go into locomotive setting and switch Control mode from Bluetooth to DCC.

[@grah84mck]

Now the app is telling me it doesn't recognise it. Why do they need to make stuff so difficult.

[@davidstrains4910]

@@grah84mck Just to clarify this is the HM7000 app you are talking about isn’t it, on that all you need to do is this. Select the locomotive you want from the top of the screen Click Locomotive settings Scroll down to Control mode and on that there is a slider which slides between Bluetooth and DCC If it’s the dynamis you are talking about I’m afraid I can’t help you as I have no experience of that.

[@grah84mck]

@davidstrains4910 yeah on the app. It can't find out now. Sent a email got a new code number still can't find it. Keeps telling me to take off the tracks for 5seconds if have a powerbank to leave for 60seconds. Just imagine if this was for someone christmas what a total disaster. Not a complete idiot tho these message will be making me sound like one. Talk about making thinks difficult. It's a nearly £300 model and it is a utter disaster.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

When you say "doesn't recognise" what do you mean? Is it showing up in resettable devices or not at all? This is the HM DCC app.

[@charlotteistance4386]

Come on Rob... lets see you 3D print the all female crew!! 😉

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Yes! Do you have a scan?

[@charlotteistance4386]

@@LittleWicketRailwayI could send you the pictures of us 🤣

[@Rturn2609]

I want a female crew as well! I guess the era is why it’s male?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

@@charlotteistance4386 you should contact Modelu. They were after models and the first female Flying Scotsman crew would be special.

[@paulmacey9084]

do you have to have a hornby decoder as I don't like there blue tooth decoder

[@LittleWicketRailway]

The HM7000 (Bluetooth) decoder comes preinstalled and setup to operate the steam generator, so it's pretty much a package and, personally, I wouldn't try to change it. The HM7000 decoders are essentially normal DCC decoders with the added option of Bluetooth, they can be used in exactly the same way as any other decoder. They've got functionality to rival far more expensive decoders. What don't you like about them?

[@keiththesoundguy2890]

I will be looking at some point in the near future to replace the decoder with a Zimo sound decoder because the HM7000 doesn’t work at all well with my Zimo DCC system. I’ll replay here on how I get on in a few weeks.

[@rocketchen2890]

Is tap water just fine ? Or should I use distilled water?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I don't think the instructions say distilled water.

[@rocketchen2890]

@@LittleWicketRailway so tap water it shall be I order my from tmc. Can’t wait to see this lovely loco up and running with some pullmans.

[@alanwhite4003]

Hi Rob, would you (or anyone in the comments) know how I could connect a BDL 168 (or similar block detector), to detect a OO gauge loco on one of many blocks within a reversing loop. Will a block detector work if the current is reversed ? Many thanks, Regards Alan

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Afraid I'm not familiar with BDL168s, but isn't this a DCC detector? It should detect regardless of how it's connected to the DCC bus. How you wire your reverse loop to avoid shorts is the key.

[@alanwhite4003]

@@LittleWicketRailway many thanks Rob 👍

[@jrisner1951]

❤ to own one. Will Hornby ship to the USA?

[@LittleWicketRailway]

If Hornby won't then I'm sure some retailers will. Shipping is likely to be expensive.

[@josefbuckland]

I cancelled pre order last night and this video confirms we still have a couple years of improvements until we revisit this great progress but from the other videos there are still some challenges that need working out. Price wise it’s very on par and those who pre ordered do get a nice discount but for me the new Bachmann class 31 with that auto uncoupler is my focus for the next loco video stay safe.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

What needs to change before you would order? The auto uncoupler looks awesome.

[@andrewhotston983]

It is possible to pack any more stuff to go wrong into an OO gauge loco??!!

[@stewartclark1847]

Just watch modeloco and he pickup a type error on the front of the box. Have a look at the Flying Scotsman logo. The ‘g’ is a ‘c’. Just an interesting miss by Hornby.

[@LittleWicketRailway]

I don't think that's an error. If you look at the actual Flying Scotsman name plates this is how the G appears.

[@NathanielKempson]

My main concern with this gimmick, is moisture. Whats it going to do to your card foot bridges and tunnels etc. Its cool though, but i think I prefer the suthe smoke units, the smoke is thicker and I think better. Though that does have its own issues

[@LittleWicketRailway]

Yeah, moisture on wood and card might not be ideal

[@LiveSteamNick]

@@LittleWicketRailwayyou would give your card superstructures a coat of Matt varnish to seal the surfaces. Worth doing anyway to protect from general moisture in the atmosphere.