A BRACE of Class 40s were announced by Hornby for its 2022 catalogue, with the models arriving this August. Both use the bodyshell tooling with train reporting discs and marker lights which are cosmetic mouldings on both models. They remain popular with modellers and with a list price below £100 and discounted to around £87, they are the perfect base for a budget modelling project.
Both models are part of the ‘Railroad Plus’ range which means they have a generally better livery application. The BR green model finished as No. D210 Empress of Britain (originally listed as No. D232 Empress of Canada) is supplied with metal nameplates.
The second model fits a small slice of time in 1986, being dressed as departmental No. 97407 Aureol with white embellishments and both its original and departmental numbers.
Modelling potential
The models can be enhanced with some detailing parts and may also be used with minimal effort to represent other members of the class fitted with train reporting discs, bearing in mind that the bonnet fronts on the models have fully modelled communication doors. As Class 40s reached their twilight years, doors were plated over on some locomotives and the discs lost too. In some instances, marker
