Hornby Trout

[waveydavey]

Managed to have a very good look at two of Hornby's new Trout wagons at the DEMU Showcase exhibition yesterday. Although the buffers don't look very good and the brake gear is set to OO spacing I'm very pleased to say that the axles are 26mm long and that a pair of P4 wheels borrowed from Simon Bendall on the society stand dropped in nicely. Quite an improvement over some recent Hornby wagons.

Without a diagram or photos to refer to I can't say whether the model is accurate in any way but looks very nice and I'm already wondering about the possibilities of converting one into a Herring to run in a Dogfish rake.

Cheers

David

[Wizard of the Moor]

Hornby Trout purchased at Manchester yesterday and converted to P4 in about 30 mins. New wheels just drop in, but the brakes shoes need to be moved out to avoid fouling the flanges. They are pretty well glued in to pockets in the underframe, so I ended up sawing them off, drilling and pinning them in their new positions. The wagon runs very sweetly through Waterloo Street's pointwork. Springing the wheels will be challenging...

The model is of the Met-Cam 1951 built Trouts, so they very nice LNER livery on mine is incorrect. There are some missing rivets on the hopper end stanchions, and there are no cross shafts or safety loops for the brakes (despite there being rebates in the back of the brake shoes for them). The central strut inside the hopper could be more detailed.

Metal buffer heads are fitted, having collars integral with the shanks. Springing them will be tricky, as the gusset plates and buffer spring gaiters are fully modelled.

[iak]

Well if it runs, why spring it?
Oooops I'm in trouble now.....

[Will L]

Well if it runs, why spring it?
Oooops I'm in trouble now.....

I think David was talking about the buffers...

The CSB Maffia

[Wizard of the Moor]

Well if it runs, why spring it?

Because it's there

[iak]

Well if it runs, why spring it?

Because it's there

Its a good point well put...
Having got my hands on a couple last night, they look pretty decent.
Yes some work will need doing put hey...
I do wonder if anyone will look "carefully" at the LNER liveried one mind - time travelling axleboxes anyone?

[dmsmith]

The release of the Hornby Trout sent me looking for my copy of David Larkin's BR Departmental Rolling Stock. One of the Trout hoppers shown, which has extensions to take slag ballast from Appleby Slag Heap, has a large orange diamond on the side. Might anyone know what the diamond signifies?

David