Hornby Merchant Navy Class, Beautiful in Blue?

[@GrahamMuz]

A couple of minor corrections to the background historical information, whilst not all the light pacifics were rebuilt, all 30 of the Merchant Navy Class were rebuilt. with respect to 35024 the BR blue was not her inaugural livery she entered service in November 1948 in Malachite green and gained the BR Express (not 'Rail' ) Blue livery in March 1949. The wheel are technically Bulleid-Firth-Brown design not 'Boxpok' as there were a development of the American Boxpok design and therefore avoided any royalties.

[@JPoulAndersson]

Good to see you here on KZbin mr. Muspratt, I'm a fan of your blog/website and indeed of Fisherton Sarum!

[@MegaTrainlover]

Lovely detailed review of a beautiful looking loco! Really enjoy these, keep up the good work! 👍 Just a slight fact correction with regards to the history, all of the Merchant Navy Class were rebuilt. It’s only the Light Pacifics (West Country and Battle of Britain) where only part of the class were rebuilt whilst the rest were left in original condition.

[@Warbler-Productions]

All of the Merchant Navy class were rebuilt, which is why General Steam Navigation is being in-rebuilt at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. It was the BoB and WC class where some were never rebuilt, hence why there are a few original form ones around now along with some rebuilt ones.

[@andrewmeah3082]

Great review of this stunning locomotive display you notice the blast pipe detail in the chimney that's a really good feature on these locomotives even though you can only see it if you look straight down the chimney funnel I have this loco and the motor on this loco is exceptional nicevlayout you have got there Jenny

[@roystudds1944]

I saw another video of this locomotive the other day and wanted one then. I want it even more now! Thanks Jenny. I understand your reasoning regarding giving points out of ten, probably agree with you because your detailed explanation during the video says far more than a number could. Roy.

[@BobFarnell]

greatest reviewer ive seen, keep up the good work

[@arthouserailway4214]

Excellent review Jennifer, the Loco is impressive, I agree with review scoring, numbers don’t matter as it would be too difficult to determine a 9.8 from a 9.9 or even a 9.5, I think the quality of running, level of detail and it’s reasonably accurate is all that matters. Most of the reviews I’ve watched the models have all been of a high standard. Thanks and have a great weekend, cheers Leigh.

[@andrewmeah3082]

Hi Jenny Could you tell me where you got your southern br blue van from and do you have a reference number for it many thanks

[@JPoulAndersson]

Being half Danish I only realised that East Asiatic Company is of course the former Danish Shipping company Østasiatisk Kompagni, hence the 'ØK' on the nameplate. When you said it was named by prince Axel I at once took a closer look at the nameplate - thanks Jen! ØK themselves were superseded in the 1970's by Maersk by the way. Cheers Joachim

[@stuartaaron613]

Hi Jennifer, excellent review. While I don't have one of these locos in my radar, I did recently purchase a slightly older Hornby model of the rebuilt version, R3617 BR (Late) "Elder Dempster Lines" #35030 (the last one built). It has the functioning trailing truck (bogie), but the tender coupling is not NEM. It does run very well (I fitted a NCE D14SR decoder - I had it already). On this model I did have to fit the brake rigging, and on the engine I did end up gluing the rigging in place. One nice change between your model and mine is that Hornby changed the way the railings at the front of the tender are attached. On my version the bottom of the railings go into holes on the deck of the tender frame, while on your model they are attach at top and bottom to the tender shell. When I removed the tender shell from my model to fit the decoder on of the railings went flying off and now I have to fabricate a replacement. I tried to remove them before I removed the shell, by the top end appeared to be glued in. Also, I don't care for the non-functioning tender truck. I've seen videos of other Hornby locos with this feature and I find the effect disturbing. It may also be that being an American all of my steam locos have functioning trailing trucks, and seeing how the back end of these Hornby models swing out just doesn't look correct to me.

[@Ryanr75rc]

Looks soo nice

[@krishnabarot1708]

I was going for the black version of it but I am buying the new 9f and will wait for other version the navy's like the first style of the casing when it comes I thinking of buying one

[@paulredding5864]

That cab detail is stunning. I hv just ordered Aberdeen in black and was in two minds about this but not hvg any in blue, will now be ordering. Just found 4x tts decoders too at a good price so all sorted.ps pleas get a loco cradle to aid working on these models

[@IKB1967]

Great review. I have the same engine in blue and love it

[@andrewmeah3082]

Hi Jenny Great review and great layout.Any chance of doing a tts sound fitting on this loco please would be most helpful for me if you could thanks

[@wamgoc]

Great review Jenny. Just goes to show how complex the Locos from Hornby are and I feel this gets overlooked by people comparing them to some of the great offerings from smaller manufacturers, at a much higher price. My SpamCans stay on my track, so I haven’t noticed the problems with brake rigging coming off or coal loads falling out. Thanks again for sharing.👏👏👏👏

[@garylewis3815]

Hi Jenny, a nice fair and great review of this great loco from Hornby. I have the loco in my fleet and livery has applied very well. I have obtained the tts sound decoder for the loco and it sounds great..i may look at a different speaker..loco runs lovely. Like you suggested, I have applied needle pin of ca glue to the brake rigging to keep them in place. Keep safe....😁👍

[@petersmith4455]

its all very well. but is there a spares back if something goes wrong or if the motor fails

[@patrickwebb7311]

Great video Jenny. I love the Bulleid's in blue, though I am biased towards early BR Blue (I really like Canadian Pacific in the BR blue). Regarding the Merchant Navy rebuilds, I can't remember which one, but I know there is a group rebuilding a Merchant Navy back to original form. Edit: it's General Steam Navigation.

[@ausfoodgarden]

They really do look nice in BR experimental blue. Hopefully one day I can get one. My 2021 budget is already spent 😢 I don't like the nameplate on your model for some reason. I think the Royal Mail logo looks much nicer. I've no idea if Hornby makes that in this newer model but hopefully, they do or will. Nice review 👍

[@davidwatts1871]

Is it just me who would prefer a proper articulated pony truck with flanged wheels?

[@kellypaws]

No. It's dire cost cutting, which would have disgraced a decent model of 30 years ago.

[@samueldenehytheoriginalhal6022]

Thats a great engine.

[@trelly4472]

A great review Jenny, I love this engine. But I find it difficult to justify spending that sort of money. If at any time I see one cheaper anywhere, then that will be my signal to buy.

[@michaelcotgreave271]

Hi Jennifer, what a great loco, though as nice as it is, I'll not be buying one. Unfortunately it doesn't fit in with the locos and rolling stock I already have. With respect I think the Princess Coronation is a Princess Royal. Most entertaining, thanks regards Mike.

[@John_N_from_NC]

Great review Jenny, luv that Blue color, don't listen to the dingbats that give you a ration of crap because you give give higher scores ^,^

[@paulsmith6616]

Hi from Oz..., I am on board with all your comments, however, if you would take some advice, you need to address the fluid in your hands etc, as we do not want to lose Jennifer!

[@kellypaws]

Sorry, I could not see any complex shapes. They were called spam cans for a reason. But it is what it is. I certainly couldn't see anything to get quite to so effusive about, by any stretch at all. Please have a mind to just how many times you might be saying "really, really", since it really, really was a really, really lot.

[@chrisdee5032]

Oh get you!