Hornby Dublo R30261 A4 4468 Mallard Great Gathering 10th Anniversary

Tech SpecsItem Scale 1:76 Scale 00 GaugeFinish PaintedColour BlueGauge OODCC Status DCC Ready 8 pin socket (This is NOT DCCfitted)Operator LNERDesigner Sir Nigel GresleyWheel Configuration 4-6-2Livery LNER Garter BlueMinimum Curve (mm) Radius 2Class A4 ClassBuffer Type Sprung Metal BuffersCoupling Type NEM Tension Lock  Product InfoThe LNER Gresley A4 is one of the most iconic expresslocomotives in Great Britain, with its streamlined casing a classic symbol ofthe attitude towards speed and design in the 1930s, which saw increasedcompetition to the railways from road and air travel. The LNER Board knew thatthey had to make travel between the major cities faster, comfortable and morereliable. Nigel Gresley, the LNER’s Chief Mechanical Officer,travelled on the Fliegende Hamburger diesel locomotive in Germany and wasimpressed by its streamlining, although he realized it was only efficient athigh speeds. Gresley was certain that a modified A3 Pacific, with streamlining,could haul greater loads than other locomotives at the same speed or faster anda series of trials were conducted to confirm the A3’s suitability.With thetrials successfully completed, the LNER Board gave Gresley the go-ahead tocreate the "Silver Jubilee" streamlined trains, the first of the newstreamlined A4s.The streamlining of the A4s’ steam circuit, higher boilerpressure and extension of the firebox to create a combustion chamber, made themmore efficient than the A3 as they consumed less coal and water- especiallylater on when they were also fitted with a Kylchap double chimney. Thisimproved their free steaming capabilities further.  Their streamlined design not only made them capable of highspeeds but created an updraught of smoke, obscuring the driver’s vision, amajor problem on the new Class A4 engines. The story goes that during windtunnel testing, after several unsuccessful efforts to get the smoke to liftclear, a thumbprint was inadvertently left on the clay model just behind thechimney. This succeeded in clearing the smoke and was incorporated into thefinal design. The most famous of the A4 locomotives is surely 4468Mallard, the locomotive that broke and still holds the world record for thehighest speed achieved by a steam locomotive. This record was achieved at theheight of the streamlined battle between Gresley’s A4 and the StreamlineCoronation of Stanier’s LMS. Mallard would go on to serve under BR as 60022before being withdrawn in early 1963 having been earmarked for preservation asearly as 1960, its historical significance recognised and understood. Hornby Dublo A4 models feature a diecast body, just as theiroriginal Hornby Dublo counterparts would have seen. This is coupled withenchanted decoration, which when paired with the diecast of the boiler,provides a realistic finish to the body. The models contain a 5 pole motor withflywheel and are DCC ready with an 8 pin socket. These models will also containa detail bag containing etched nameplates and headboards, allowing the model tobe displayed as it would have appeared at the Great Gathering.