Hornby 75th Anniversary Edition "Silver Link" Class A4

[ClassA4Mallard]

Looks great, I love the A4s, especialy the Silver ones. I'd loveo one of these, but have got mutch more important things to get done on the layout first, and there willl be other ones. It's a shame Hornby/Bachmann Don't make any silver Coaches to go with her, I bet you could find a coach pack somewhere though.

[benjokazooie]

about the tender, in 1928 an order was put through for 10 Tenders with corridors, LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman departed with the first corridor tender attached on the non stop Flying Scotsman route.

the tenders were around long before the A4 design had been completed (1935, this happened to be Silver Link)

[barry8472]

Look up the video, the Elizabethan express. You will see the footplate crew change over. Also im with you, i thought corridors came later

[paullubliner]

@barry8472 You also need to see the Ray Milland film of Flying Scotsman made in 1927 with the tender corridor itself acting as a script element. Sir H. N. Gresley did not permit filming on the LNER afterwards.

[BR75069]

looks smart and sleak :) it would be good if Hornby could do some silver coaches for 'silver link'

[Themodelrailway]

The Silver A4's are a marvelous model, the detailing too. I have 2510 Quicksilver which came in a train pack. The wires to the tender are a real pain in my opinion, my other two Hornby A4's Union of South Africa and Sir Nigel Gresley have them and there just really tricky as you have to keep on plugging and un-plugging them to get them in the box. Luckily 2510 doesn't have them as it dates from 2006. I do believe that all the silver A4's have been released up till now some are in train packs.

[Henryfan3]

I really wish hornby would release one of the silver A4s as a non limited edition since every time I come across this model it is just outrageously expensive.

[MachRacer4]

The first A4's (like silverlink) I believe had the corridor tenders from the start because they were used on the non-stop Coronation Express.

[streamlinedtrains]

@MachRacer4 Thats right - they could move to and from the engine without stopping. Handy!

[MachRacer4]

@streamlinedtrains And others like Mallard and Golden Shuttle (now the Dwight D. Eisenhower) had non-corridor tenders when built but were later given them.

[eoin730]

this model is sold out on the hornby website

[streamlinedtrains]

@eoin730 Wow - sold out so quickly! You can still track it down on the web I think.

[eoin730]

@streamlinedtrains yea you can track down any thing on the web

[paullubliner]

Is the vacuum line a separate fitting? If not, I will not buy one. The valence's medium gray appears to be a bit too dark when compared with the Science Museum's model built in 1935 and painted in the actual and original colours. Any idea there?

[LateNeverEarlyR]

Thank you for the review. It is a deep shame that Hornby have ruined their A4's by introducing the wire to tender coupling - all in the name of DCC. I believe that the A4's and A3's with the original prong drawbar were one of the best models that Hornby have ever produced - some people actually do not want DCC and if Hornby continue to force the issue, people are simply not going to buy models any more (such as me with this model, for instance).

[eoin730]

i think it is my best model ever.the model is one of the best models hornby ever made

[Liverpoolfcfever]

How much did this cost

[Phippstickman]

eoin730-I doubt the model is sold out(yet),but I only succumbed because of the possibility it might be sometime soon.Hornby's A4s are pretty good(even their "budget" Falcon & Mallard),but they've pulled out the stops for Silverlink.I would say one minus is the packaging doesn't allow you to leave the connecting wire between tender & loco,which is annoying.I had to "modify" mine to allow it to remain fitted to the underside.

[eoin730]

@Phippstickman 

[HARRYMALLARD]

I have a very old colour pic of her she is dirty indeed too!

[Phippstickman]

Hi mate-A very thorough & precise review that does the model justice.I was in two minds about bothering with this.The cost & the "small" fact I have another 7 of these(Peregrine,2x Mallards,UoSA,Bittern,Falcon from a set & SNG by bachmann) plus a Spencer for my son.But the more I'd seen this in pics on Forums & then I spotted some available at a Model Exhibition made me wonder if I might regret turning this down.Bit the bullet today & it REALLY is truly gorgeous.Hornby DO make a great A4-BUY ONE

[streamlinedtrains]

@Phippstickman I agree! They're models really are so much better now than they were when I was younger. I plan on getting probably one more of these, in BR late blue - a Nigel Gresley (current livery) type one. The three I have now look amazing lined up. Its such a shame we can't see such a sight these days any more, since there aren't any of the preserved ones painted in silver.

[eoin730]

is this loco rare.I got my self one for 125.99 euros.I no its limited to 1100 but is it sold out?

[Whiggles1]

Lovely looking locomotive. My brother got a Hornby Silver Link as a birthday present in the early 90s, and I'm sure it's still kicking around somewhere. I bet the detail on it pales in comparison to this new special edition though.

Glad you mentioned the loco-to-tender power connector. The A4 (Kingfisher) in my new "Rare Bird" set (just arrived this morning) has something similar - first time I've seen anything like it. Your theory about it being so a DCC chip can go in the tender makes sense.

[streamlinedtrains]

@Whiggles1 I think its my favourite A4! I've got three now - this one, Mallard, (LNER Garter Blue) and Sparrowhawk (BR Green). I'd love to get the Rare Bird set, or something like it. I've loved the BR Blue livery ever since I saw Sir Nigel Gresley last year! I think the power connector is a new feature - its probably why it took so long to be released - its a great improvement over the old pin connectors.

[Whiggles1]

@streamlinedtrains I love the early BR livery too - much more striking than the later green, IMO. I love the classic LNER blue livery too, though unlike most people (or so it seems) I prefer the A4s with the valances removed and all the linkage visible. As such, the current state of Sir Nigel Gresley is pretty much my ideal look for these locomotives.

To tell the truth I was slightly surprised to get the Rare Bird. I only ordered it in February and was sure they'd all have been snapped up.

[KingofTomedy]

Very nice model of a very nice locomotive! Although why doesn't Hornby ever add driver and fireman figures to their locomotives' cabs?

[streamlinedtrains]

@KingofTomedy Yeah, thats the one thing missing.... They're pretty easy to add yourself though. Seems odd, after all the effort they went to in the cab detail!

[97wolffang]

i dont mean to be rude but that is not the first A4 class the mellard came befor this and another A4 60022 (i think) came befor mellard but they were common in there time so its porssable but i know the mellard came befor the sillver link

[streamlinedtrains]

@97wolffang I'm afraid it didn't - The first four A4s were built specially for the Silver Jubilee in 1935. After than, another 30 or so A4s were built between 1936 and 1938. Mallard was built in 1938. Actually 60022 was Mallard's new number after the 1947 Nationalization. Silver Link was the first - thats why Hornby did the Special Edition I think!

[trainsandfigers]

@97wolffang mellard? Its mallard

[97wolffang]

@trainsandfigers sorry im dyslexic and tend to forget to spell things properbley

[trainsandfigers]

@97wolffang well your trying and thats importand and iv got EM witch is a life long illness that ive develpoed.

[97wolffang]

@trainsandfigers im sorry to here that

[hollpoll]

A lovely loco but I was rather alarmed to see it running on the floor where all sorts of dangers lurk for model railway engines and rolling stock ! It deserves a proper layout to be run on - do you have any plans in this direction ? It is good to see however young people such as yourself embracing the hobby as you are the future. I cordially invite you to visit my hollpoll channel where I have many clips of a wide range of 00 gauge british profile rolling stock running

all the best Stewart

[streamlinedtrains]

@hollpoll Thanks! Yeah, the floor layout is just something I mess with for an hour or two, before taking it apart. I have built a small layout at my parents house, but I obviously don't have time to run it much! Once I have a more permanent house, I'll definitely build a proper layout!

[howarth004]

First class looking A4 good buy.

[streamlinedtrains]

@howarth004 Thanks - I've got one more I'd like to get - and thats a Sir Nigel Gresley in BR Blue. Always loved that livery.

[crazyracer12]

WOW.... How much did this cost? :O

[streamlinedtrains]

@crazyracer12 Not as much as my price range at the end suggests.... but she wasn't cheap! I've had money set aside to buy it since they announced it though.

[crazyracer12]

@streamlinedtrains Oh okay. I'm guessing quite expensive. :P

[ThomastheE2engine]

very nice model.

love the sliver

[InterCity82]

Quite possibly one of the smartest liveries in existence! So simple yet so striking and perfectly suited to the A4 from Gresley. Excellent video! :)

[streamlinedtrains]

@InterCity82 Looks great next to the others - I'll have to upload a video of it running alongside them!

[EWS60008]

I like the A4 mate, I think I might get this one as well.

[streamlinedtrains]

@EWS60008 Great - I'd do it in the next week if I were you. According to the shop I bought this one from, they're selling fast! Good luck!

[tpe18509]

Excellent review as always! lovley loco.

[Trainmaster189]

Good review. Thank you for telling me why there are doors on the back of A4 tenders.

[paullubliner]

@Trainmaster189 That way they could sweep out the cab with out dirtying up the light silver gray paint on the tender sides of course.

[Trainmaster189]

@paullubliner Thanks. The A4 does look modern in a way and too bad that American streamlined steam locomotives never had a "back door".

[modeltrainman12345]

Damn that is beautiful. nice job on getting one.