Class 50s

>Please tell me that the colour of the plates is the only difference.

Well, its got LA on all four cabsides, this was only carried on the
secondman's cabsides in BR period, even in its railtour only days. 
These are also in a slightly different position, closer to the end.

Its also got the GWR crest painted, this was always left unpainted
brass in BR days - replacement nameplates should take care of that
though.  Cantrail stripe doesn't go through the shoulder grille, it
certainly did in BR days and would be frigging surprised if it doesn't
in preservation either, especially as its registered for main line towing.
(This area does get dirty quickly though so difficult to see)

Other things I've spotted if you want to put it into BR condition
are period related:

- got radio roof pods (post 88)
- white data panels (pre Apr 92, black after this)
- red stripe through the axlebox covers (post Apr 92, all yellow before)
- electrical flashes on the battery boxes (preservation only)

Its also got those god awful oversized warning flashes.  Still, all
relatively minor things that can be corrected.  Just hope etched plates
fit!  I don't think the shade of green is an issue, looks OK to me.
Looks like its got ploughs judging by the box illustration, cool :)

>Even worse decision than that - the plates were Black last Monday

Plates have been in black since the middle of 2002!  As the model has
still got the old warning flashes on, it dates it to 1999/2000. Very
strange indeed.

>At least it's not weathered

Just as well really as at least in this condition it can be worked on.  I
may even purchase one from your fine emporium :)

Si

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 16:14:40 -0000
   From: "John Upton" <jmupton2000@hotmail.com>
Subject: Personal Review - Hornby 50007 Sir Edward Elgar

Hello

Just received this today and I though I would post my thoughts. Some
improvements have been made over the previous releases:

1 - The oft criticised traction tyres are gone

2 - The packaging has been redesigned, the pointless outer slip
cover/case has been dispensed with and the interior foam packaging
and the clear plastic 'bands' have also been changed to make removal
and more importantly reinsertion of the packaging back into the box
a lot easier.

3  -This is the first issue of the Hornby class 50 with separate
nicely moulded miniature snowploughs (are these available as spares
now?)

The good points - excellent running and a wonderful paintjob.  It
was originally advertised as being released in a weathered finish -
this seemed extremely silly bearing in mind the cosseted nature of
this 'celebrity' and thankfully Hornby listened and changed their
minds. The dispensation of the traction tyres from the earlier
releases was of little difference to me but was understandably
important to others.

The disappointing aspects - those front windows still do not look
quite right (but still way better than the old Lima model) and the
black edging in particular seems to jar the eye slightly.  The
infamous rotating roof fan is rather too bright (red as it happens)
although the side louvers seem to be a bit neater and a better fit
over the earlier ones. 

There also seems to be some confusion over some aspects of the
livery and therefore the date this model is supposed to be.

The name and number plates have the as preserved (and I presume
measured by Hornby) red backgrounds, most of us will be preferring
it in its late 1980's or early 1990's main line guise with black
plates, this can of course be corrected with etched replacements
(although this morning I discovered Shawplan are on holiday and Fox
have run out of stock!)

The orange cantrail line seems too thick on the body sides (opinions
please?) and is of course inappropriate for earlier incarnations of
this locomotive.

With ten of my Hornby Mk2 NSE coaches in tow (BTW Hornby, whilst it
was nice of you to issue coaches that match the weathered NSE 50,
its a pity the couplings are all but incompatible!!) it performed
smoothly and faultlessly.

Needless to say I shall be applying proper etched plates, weathering
the buffer heads and installing a driver.  I might do something
about that overly bright roof fan as well.

There - just my inane rambling but I though I would put my
evaluation into print, my next hope is that the new release of
weathered NSE 50 (50002 Superb) has corrected lower grey - has it?

Of course I could always back date 50007 to large logo and name it
Hercules I suppose......

   Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 16:45:21 -0000
   From: "driverrhodes" <djmrhodes@ntlworld.com>
Subject: Re: Personal Review - Hornby 50007 Sir Edward Elgar

I too have just received Sir Edward, I purchased Shawplans plates
last week although I haven't fitted them yet they cover the hornby
plates (in fact the etched nameplate is longer than the printed one
which makes a nice change).

Not sure about the orange stripe, it looks ok against photos and its
missing from the louve. I'll try my hand at removing the LA legend
from under the number side of the cabs (not applied in BR times).

Other than that I think its a great looking model. As for the spares
have a look at Hornbys website they have adjusted the service sheet
for the new models, but I'm not sure whether the ploughs are on it.

David

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 11:32:12 +0100
   From: "Simon Bendall" <simon@d400.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Re: 50007 Elgar + other 50 questions

>I assume that Defiant was painted in RF in 88 then.

RF General carried 9/87-3/89.  There were three incarnations in
this time due to minor livery changes.