Die-cast locos

[Alessio]

Is there a list anywhere of which Hornby models have been produced using some die-cast metal as part of their construction? I know the Drummond 700 and J15 did. Just interested to know which others - were they the first?

[Rana Temporia]

If you go back to the start of Hornby (Dublo) I think all the early locos had cast bodies. Some had tinplate tenders. It was only later that some of the locos such as the R1 and Class 20 had plastic bodies. WRT the Tri-ang range I think the only die-cast body they ever produced was the clockwork N2 which they inherited from Trackmaster. 

 

Other ranges including Grafar OO had cast bodies long past when Tri-ang Hornby were producing everything In plastic. 

[SRmike]

This will depend on how far you want to goback. For example all Hornby Dublo locos were diecast to start with and I think that only the R1 had a plastic molded body.

HD 3rail models:

N2 tank in LNER, SR, GWR and LMS. liveries

A4 Sir Nigel Gresley, Silver King & Mallard

Duchess of Athol, Duchess of Montrose

Standard 5 tank

Rebuilt West country Dorchester

Deltic

Cl28 C0-B0 deisel

Bristol Castle

Class 20

8F

HD 2-rail (as 3-rail except)

N2 only BR

West Country Barnstable

HD went to Wrenn when they went bust and then to Triang as Triang Hornby.

They produced models with molded bodies like the 3F. Diecast parts were included to improve traction after Mainline and Airfix started to produce superior detailed models. I dco not have a list for Hornby that includes this detail.

 

[LCDR]

I think the OP was asking about models in the present Hornby era.

To the best of my knowledge in addition to the 700 and J15 he already mentions the T9 had a diecast body, and the new Rocket also has a metal body. I am not 100% certain but I think the 2008 Schools also has metal in the superstructure.  Exceptionally the new Duchess of Athol will have a metal superstructure too. I think everything else is plastic.

[Alessio]

LC&DR is right but it's my fault for not specifying; I am nonetheless grateful to everyone else for taking the time to explain - it was definitely interesting and has helped me understand better the timeline.

 

Thanks all.

[LCDR]

Using diecast bodies in modern locomotive models is a means of getting more adhesive weight over the driving wheels especially on small boilered types. 4-4-0s are notoriously light footed and the old R350 Triang L1 was a horror in this respect. It was Triang who introduced Magnadhesion to compensate for this. More recently tender drives were used to overcome this tendency to slip, especially when nickel silver rails replaced steel..

The ability to get finer detail has made the use of cast metal for the body much more attractive.