Wrenn/Hornby Dublo Class 08.
I must say that this model first impressed me when I read about it in a model railway magazine as the article was about a 00 gauge garden railway which operated daily in all weathers, where some locos gave up after a couple of years with the better model locos lasting five to ten years (Often with major rebuildsnand modifications), he had two Wrenn class 08 which reliably shunted in all weathers and I believe he mentioned they had done that for some 20 years.
Well, it took me about 20 years to buy one as they were either too expensive being nearly new prices (Wrenn was very expensive new when it was in production) and I didn't know as I let a few Hornby Dublo examples pass, that the Hornby Dublo versions were the same model. Back in those days I didn't know this. By the time I did find out and was able to enlarge my hunt with looking for either a HD or a Wrenn classed 08, I managed to find a secondhand Wrenn version in immaculate condition. Even its box was immaculate. It looked like it had never been used.
My impressions of the model.
It will never win on the detail side as it is very much a Hornby Dublo "Built to outlast its owner" affair. It has a flat screwhead noticeable on the top of the locos bonnet which is right in the centre. Apart from this (Which is a little noticeable so modellers may need to paint this screw the body colour of the model but make sure one can still undo it!) and the B.R. blue model has yellow ends with no wasp stripes (I prefer wasp stripes!), the rest of the model starts to get impressive.
The first noticeable aspect is its weight. Gosh, it is heavy for its small size. It has external con-rods unlike the Triang, Triang/Hornby and slightly later Hornby models which skimped out on here. The Dublo/Wrenn 08 is starting to impress. Then one turns it upsidown and sees a set of brass gears along with six lovely looking wheels. Then removing the body it is a combination of watch like precision and durability. Even its plastic body is tough. Not long after buying mine I went into DCC. I opened up this model to see if it was possible (I've since found it is possible). I hardly looked at it and thought "No". What an intricate but durable piece of engineering were my thoughts back then. As I did a clear out back then when all the ones which were difficult to convert went for sale, the Wrenn went to a friend.
Now a decade later I did a swop to get the Wrenn back as my thoughts are more inclined towards DC these days..
Back to the loco... Its so well made. Solid brass buffers. Brass gears. Heavy chassis. It runs lovely and smooth. You know the sound of a steam train slowly negotiating curves or pointwork? The noise the wheels make on the track? Its like you expect to hear this sound with the model and with ones ear to the layout one is almost convinced one can hear it!
Though one probably can't, its weight... It can shunt 10 coach trains with ease. To sum up. It will never win on detail, as lets face it... Its crude. However it is a well proportioned model which will probably outlast you or me, and if you can find one, is a bargain for such a well made mechanical masterpiece. It has a durability which one would think the designers would say "Try to wreck this, kiddies!" It is the type of loco that a kid would throw through a window and it would still run afterwards... Well. Just about if the con-rods and wheels survived...
Now your turn. What model locos have impressed you the most and why?
