Nice video Dave. Vintage modeller mode. The old short 3’s did the job, that said the grand daddy of the Jouef 3a’s still take some beating , still capture the look in a way the newer versions don’t , the separate roof vents on the buffet coach still look the part now at what are nearly 48 yrs old. When Hornby announce the move to China , they also bought the old Airfix / David Boyle era Dapol / mainline oddments of tooling. Back in 1981i/ 82 was known Airfix where tooling up for some scale length mk3 coaches, then they went bust & the tooling not known about / forgotten or how far on they where with it. Then Hornby announced new mk3’s , these appearing pretty quickly & lo & behold these are the Airfix ones. The construction of the coaches exactly the same as the Airfix mk2d’s even down to the coupling mounts. These being great coaches. If you fit the tiny Airfix tension locks to these mk3’s it gives almost gangway to gangway coupling. Hornby when they released pretty adamant they wouldn’t produce a TGS & so we had the dilemma of having no TGS - homogeneous Hornby sets or mixing a Lima TGS in, that just never looked right. The problem is that not one manufacturer has ever produced a definitive model or the whole suite of variants The SD variants at £27 from Hattons where a sensible price for these , given the woeful wheels , loopy kinematics & thin paint finishes. Somebody someday has to take a proper look at mk3’s & include the 442 5wes as part of it. It’s a massive undertaking but it is sitting up & begging for it to be done.

I love the vintage industrial film intro, complete with generic period music and narration. As usual, excellent production values and a thorough review. Oh, and spousal moaning can be good or bad, depending on the context. 🙂 Cheers from Wisconsin!

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Andrew, I really enjoyed doing this intro for this. The mk3 is such an important part of the history of British rail.

An original plan for the Mk3, especially for the HST, was for them to feature sliding plug doors, and retention tanks for the toilets. The decision not to go for these was later regretted, and as it was, the Tyne and Wear Metrocars were the first trains in Britain to have plug doors, from when they were introduced in 1980.

Still got my shorty hornby mk 3 coaches the build quality from 77 too the last ones made in a virgin set I got my son is light years and showed that these could be made to look ok,I went on a 125 service to Reading from Paddington in 77 and I was talking to my dad do smooth was the ride I looked out and we were moving especially we got a Hammersmith and city line train with its C stock which rode rough until refurbishment ,all the best Dave Mark 😊😊😊

Excellent review. The first 7 minutes or so are really interesting, thanks.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I do enjoy giving a historical look back on the real thing so I’m really glad you enjoyed that. Dave

Just wanted to say about the MK 3s. On one of their final days out of Paddington a friend and I got an 800 from Reading and then a HST back to Reading from Paddington. We were both shocked and how much smoother and quieter the 800 WAS NOT!. The MK 3s were in another world in comfort.

@darren25061965

Жыл бұрын

Ticket prices go up, passenger comfort goes down, privatisation at its best.

Great informative Video Dave

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers James, I especially enjoyed doing the research for this one.

I got the Hornby HST set in Blue for Christmas 1980 .It had the power car ,dummy car and two coaches .I've still got it .I've just replaced the motor bogie and added additional MK3 coaches to it (the original short ones) to run just for the nostalgia.Ive got the more Upto date Hornby HST power /dummy car which runs with Lima mk3s in blue .Nice video .Cheers

Awesome trains

They've done a good job, especially for the price. I'll be getting a rake when my preferred liveries appear. I do have some of the BR blue Oxford models, which run perfectly ok.

A very interesting update Dave!!! Good job! Thanks for sharing this video! Cheers Onno.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Onno. :-)

Thank you for your very detailed account of the BR Mark Three Coaches. It is interesting that Hornby and other manufacturers have taken a while to ensure the correct detail. Though it is also encouraging that this is being addressed, despite the cost of purchasing new items, so perhaps the detailing is also reflected in the cost.

I'm currently happily running a few of the Lima rakes, I couldn't get on with the shorter coaches and the Limas were reasonable value. I'm in the process of upgrading the class 43s though and discovered with the class 91 that new locos don't always work well with old coaches so my hand may well be forced in three near future. Very informative, thanks!

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers. Thanks for watching.

Great video, I’ve still got the short Mk3s from my 1980 Inter-City 125, like you back then I thought they were great. I also bought some of the Oxford Rail Mk3s, the detail is great but they’re too flimsy and thinking of using them as scrapyard models. The sliding door Mk3s were a big step forward so I was pleased they announced more retooled Mk3s. I’ve got the new East Midland Trains coaches and I was also surprised by the noise, so thanks for confirming I haven’t gone crazy, I will change the wheels for a quieter ride. 😉

I have a right mix of mk3s. My first HST set was a blue and grey 2+7 class 253. I've wired a DCC socket and a red tail LED into the motor car but not the dummy power car yet, and I haven't run it in ages because my layout was DCC only for ages. I also have a lima InterCity executive 2+7 set, which has been DCC fitted and runs ok, much better than the hornby offering. I also have several of the longer hornby mk3s, in Virgin Trains, MML teal, blue and grey (with lights, albeit only 5 of the 8 coaches I want for a 254 rake), and FGW/GWR. I also have 3 gwr and 5 ScR I7C sliding door mk3s with matching power cars. Also of mention is the 3 lima mk3 sleepers in blue and grey, and the blue and grey oxford mk3as I have (the blue and grey livery looks much better than the IC and ScR liveries on them, and the coupling mechanisms are better if the tension locks are swapped for Hunt Elites). The hornby 00s mk3s were actually a Dapol design which they didn't produce before they sold Hornby most of their toolings, hence the airfix-style clip couplings. I'm not keen on these new gangways, as when they have the Hunts fitted to reduce the gap accurately and are pushed, the lip on the inner edge of the gangways rub and stick to each other. The mk4 hunts seem slightly longer so this isn't an issue, but I had to modify both the mk3SD rakes to prevent derailments. These ones look great, however I'll just be after 2 FGW fag packet ones to model the 2+2 set in use for a short time. This allows me to have a selection of 2+2, 2+3, 2+4, 2+5, 2+7, 2+8, and 2+9 rakes (once I get more powercars too. I'm not sure which set to get as 2+6 though, whether Grand Central or the NMT).

An excellent look at the mrk 3 coaches I do like the pullman coaches thankyou for the video

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers. And thanks for watching. :-) Dave

I’ve got a complete rake of the Blue Pullman and put them on my railway a few days ago. They just keep derailing, I haven’t been able to run them round from end to end once without a derailment. I’ve tried both the magnetic couplers and and the fixed bar type couplers, but the coaches derail with both types. Not sure what’s going on as I ran my APT (9 Coaches) without any issues. But derailments aside, the coaches do look quite superb. Though I completely agree, they are very noisy ! I also had the shorty Mk3 coaches from the late 70s/early 80s and yes, looking back the quality was pretty dire ! But I loved them at the time. I’ve still got about five old HST Power Cars and some shorty Mk3s, including a train set of the original one. I’m keeping them for my younger grandsons when they grow up a bit more. When they’re about 8, I’ll pass them on and they can have their first Hornby train set with them. Great review thanks Dave, especially the leading historical “Davumentary” 😁

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Bryan. Interesting that yours derail. Are you using code 75 track? Daveumentary….brilliant 😆

@bryan_lane

Жыл бұрын

@@DeanPark No, I’m using Code 100 (for backward compatibility with my large collection of older Hornby and Lima models). Will do a bit more investigating today, see if I can get to the bottom of it. Interestingly, I did check the back to backs with a DCC Concepts B2B gauge and they were all a bit tight - but made no difference to the derailment issues 😕 Daveumentary - you’re welcome 😁

I've got 'shorties' - when running on the layout I'd challenge anyone who isn't an avid enthusiast to spot the difference and a lot of the detail in newer coaches just isn't visible when on operation. I run a 6 coach set plus the power cars, all purchased second hand from local model shops and E Bay and the power car has a CD motor fitted - all for under £90.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Personally I can tell the difference without looking closely. They are markedly shorter and don’t look anywhere near like the scale lengthen ones. I don’t think many people who model would have a problem picking these out. But that’s just my view. :-)

Great video here dave, the mk3 for me probably comes in second place for the most coaches I have in my collection with the mk1 probably coming in first place, I have a rake of 5 virgin ones in the red and black with the white stripes, virgin pretendolino, one in GNER, 2 present day GWR ones, 5 blue and grey with 2 of those bing lima and the other three being jouef and in answer to your question I have 7 short mk3s in the intercity swallow and another 4 more short ones that have been repainted into the prototype HST livery, I actually disagree with you regarding the short ones being awful, they are definitely not the best but overall they are not awful because when you have a full set of them they make a really good train and also they can be bought quite cheaply hence why I have used them for my ongoing prototype HST project, I definitely want to get an Oxford one to do a conversion to test car 10 like you did, from the looks of it hornby have done a good job on their new mk3 coaches and definitely nice to have more detailed mk3 coaches for our HSTs and loco hauled trains.

You forgot about the class 442 which also had mark 3 coaches on it between two driving cabs

Very detailed insight Dave. Those Hornby ones from the 80s were truly awful but they were great back then

Really interesting review Dave snd I’ve got mixed feelings about these Mk3s. If Accurascale hadn’t just released their astonishingly detailed and lit mk5s for £45 a coach I’d have said these were ok at £40 - certainly compared to the bonkers £95 rrp for lit Bachmann mk2f. This Hornby Mk3 is a simpler model because the Mk3 is a simpler prototype and for £40 I’d want lighting. I’ve got a rake of beautiful Inter7Cities, love them and at £30 a coach they were great value - although like you I swapped the noisy wheels. I’ve also got a rake of shorties for my well loved 1980 HST - my first ever model train. I still run them and they suit my little layout and tight curves. All the best, Colin

Excellent review. I think the red on the Mk4s is slightly closer to the real thing

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

I’d agree. Both aren’t bad. But the fact both are different at all is annoying!

I don't have an HST yet so I am tempted to buy the revised East Midlands Trains set with coaches

Thank you for this excellent detailed review. Is there any noise of Hornby including a new tooling rerun of the Virgin WCML and/or Virgin XC liveries in their new batches, I wonder? Or indeed new Virgin HST power cars? And might we wish sleepers? Thanks again.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

I’m sure original virgin liveries will appear at some point. As I hope does a GNER Set of coaches and power cars.

I was so excited that Oxford were going to do the MK 3 coach. I really thought that they would do all the liveries that were no longer available or had never been available. What the released was a massive disappointment and the liveries were a mystery. Also no lights which I thought was a massive mistake. At the time I had just under 100 MK 3s and would have replaced the lot with the Oxford ones but I ended up buying none of them. Massive opportunity missed.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Yes while they were fine in BR BLUE, the other liveries were poorly done.

Hope Hornby release Scotrail Mk3’s to go with the Bachmann 47

My only problem with this review is now I really want the East Midlands HST set. I had put off purchasing them as I mostly collect sectorisation and early privatisation, but I do miss seeing these on the Midland Mainline.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

It really is a lovely livery! I was tempted too! :-)

Lima did a great job for the time. Id like to see Hornby run some Mk3a's but maybe the Oxford Rail ones will not allow......i think they look undernourishrd in all the key areas. Some mk3a's in executive livery would be welcome.

🇧🇷🚂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Great vid as usual Dave. Can you tell me where you got the clip of the carriage works from as I used to work at BREL York and it brought back a lot of memory's

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Hi. It’s from KZread. Just type in inter city 125 - 1976. There’s a video there. It’s vintage BR footage.

@michaeldouglas8151

Жыл бұрын

@@DeanPark Many thanks

Great stuff David, I’ve got to the Midland Pullman ones & they’re very impressive but I 100% agree on the noise! Can I ask what your plans are for changing the wheels & where your planning on getting them from as this is something I’m very keen to do but don’t really have an idea where to start? Kind regards Ian

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Hi. Hornby do coach wheel packs. But to rewheel a whole rake isn’t cheap. I think they are 12.6mm diameter. I have a pack somewhere. But I suspect sales of these will be going up as modellers ditch the crap ones Hornby supply on the coaches. Truly a terrible ‘improvement’ over the last models!!

@Shoddy127

Жыл бұрын

@@DeanPark Please post your results as I am keen to see how things go & any advice you can pass on would be great fully received & appreciated!

Dean, I wonder if their is a coating that can be applied to the less conspicuous under body to quiet them down? It seems like hollow noise amplification like an old record player sound chamber. I notice the noise also on hopper cars.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

It’s the wheels on the rails…best thing, replace the wheels :-)

Hi Dave I am hoping hornby retool the exlima mk3. Sleeper coaches soon mate

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Yes agree 100%

Id like to see Hornby release mk3a in inter-city executive livery (not swalliow)

@DeanPark

6 ай бұрын

Due in 2024

Will there be and gwr green version for the 4+2 sets

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Hornby have already released them coaches with more power cars coming soon.

Shame on Hornby for not retooling the Class 43, they merely updated it and put the price tag up. On the other hand, the price of the Mk3 is pretty reasonable

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

The HST was already a extremely good model. Retooling it wouldn’t have brought anything more to the look of it. The internal and subtle upgrades to its outer appearance were arguably all that was required. I think in this case, ‘if it ain’t broke why fix it?’ Is probably the approach they took to this update.

Got a like purely for that horrendous 50 shades of red joke hahahha

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Haha. Thanks.

@learningoogauge3452

Жыл бұрын

@@DeanPark keep up the great vids though:)

they look ok but for a full rake and the hst train pack to make a train would probably be near on £800, which is well above what i could possibly afford or justify paying for a model train.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

8 coaches are £320, plus £330 ish for the power cars. It’s certainly not cheap. But if you wanted one bachmann loco and mk2 coaches it would cost a lot more. Sadly buying full trains has become increasingly expensive. Shame

You weren't kidding about the noise. It's a shame as it does look like a nice model and to be honest, who looks at the wheels in that much detail, especially when it's running around a layout?

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

agree. We don’t need the wheel detail. It’s form before function. And those of us who like to run our stock won’t be putting up with these awful wheels.

To this day the mrk 3s still out preform mostly everything when I a on the phone with my gf and she is on a mrk3 u can't hear anything in rhe background not noise but on the 800s u can really hear every point bump and even the creaking of the coach when it's going though the normal stress that coaches go through its so annoying to think that with costs now days of train travel and given how long and old the technology of the mark 3s is you'd think it would be feasible to make a newer coach that has the same if not better and quite ride quality

Another great video Dave. I wonder why Hornby produce such rubbish wheels. Die casting may be cheaper than turning but it is an inferior product. I would have thought that by now Hornby would be producing turned wheels sets to the RP25 profile - a level of quality which matches their moulding and painting abilities.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

Yes they are cheap and in one of my coaches I suspect it’s not even round!, as the coach wobbles!

Interesting and good content but with two commercials every five minutes it becomes ridiculous.

@DeanPark

Жыл бұрын

I don’t place these. KZread do. I shall go in to the settings and have a look at this.

Interesting and good content but with two commercials every five minutes it becomes ridiculous.