Other model reviews and posts you might like
Review: Working Live Steam Mamod 1920’s Red London Omnibus LB1R
Review: Working Live Steam Mamod 1920’s Red London Omnibus LB1R
Oozing in class, this remarkably beautiful London bus throws collectors back to a time gone by. A world renowned icon of England to this day, the red bus of London is forever popular. Mamod does this symbol of London and the history of the British bus justice. Not straying from the real life 1920’s omnibus the model is based on, the LB1R comes in a vibrant red colour, with lovely old fashioned signs painted in yellow and red. The small details of the curved staircase, steering wheel, driver’s seat and engine give this beautiful bus detail, even down to the most minute parts.
Each LB1R is made to order from heavy gauge steel and brass. These heavy materials give the finished piece a weight of 3.8kg. The model’s dimensions are: 455 x 285 x 170mm (not quite as big as a real London bus, but big enough to admire without a microscope!) and come with fuel tables, oil and a funnel (everyone knows how annoying it is to get a gift that needs batteries, without batteries in the box. You won’t have to worry about this with the LB1R). No fear of overdoing it, though! The models are equipped with a pressure safety valve. If you’re still worried about the safety of the model, rest assured, Mamod’s switch from old fashioned methylated spirits to solid fuel tablets means that running the London steam bus is safer now than ever. The first time you’ll use the product is simple too! No faffing around, and with this particular model in the wide range of Mamod models available, no assembly is required. Just add water and off it goes. Every single omnibus is hand crafted with expertise in England.
This model is a perfect gift for a man who you would ordinarily spend hours pondering over about which gift to buy for them. The LB1R is unique – how many other men can say they were gifted a live working steam London Omnibus? Men who will enjoy this gift in particular are ones who enjoy history and English culture, men who are interested in a range of vehicles, men who appreciate finely crafted models, those who you think welcome a new hobby and last, but most certainly not least, those who are avid hobbyists and would love to extend their collection of exquisite models. Children will also benefit from this little slice of history, but bear in mind that due to the fuel and steam, it isn’t suitable for those under 14 years old to use without adult supervision.
Due to its precise craftsmanship and good quality materials, Mamod’s LB1R London bus is made to last, making it a worthy investment. Just as the real London bus has transcended through years of history and time, your own model will bring about years of delight through generations of your family. This is definitely one to be passed down from grandfather to grandson, giving the piece sentimental value, as well as monetary value.
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Review: Wilesco D320 Steam Lorry with Radio Control
Review of the Wilesco D320 Steam Lorry
Take a look back at the history of how goods were transported with this fully-working scaled model lorry that can be dated back as far as 2015. Back in those days, goods transporting was far more laidback despite being a more labour-intensive and time-consuming process.
Fitted with a fully functioning steam engine that is powered by dry fuel tablets, the Wilesco D320 is a must-have for hobbyists and collectors alike. Good for at least fifteen minutes of running per use, this steam lorry also comes complete with a radio control that allows you to turn the lorry left and right as it trundles along.
A real thing of beauty, the D302 contains a solid brass boiler, flywheel and drive chain and can have a number of accessories attached. These could include a pull-along trailer, and a canvas to cover the onboard trailer but there are many other options out there.
While this model might look like a toy, it is not suitable for children under the age of 14 and adult supervision is always required. The Wilesco D320 is a real working steam engine which means fire, steam and hot surfaces, so care should always be taken when being used.
Under the Hood
The driver’s cab is where the boiler and double-acting cylinder are placed while the steering mechanism of the D320 can be found at the rear of the model. That boiler can hold around 200ml of water and keeping it full is done by removing the caps roof. A sight glass will let you gauge the level of water so that you know when you will need to refill. A steam pressure gauge is also featured and will let you know everything is hot enough to start moving.
With measurements of 49 x 22 x 26cm and a weight of 3.1kg, this is a fairly sizable and heavy unit compared to other Wilesco steam engines. This is very welcome however as you just know that you have something that has been built to high quality and with sturdy materials.
Radio control helps by adding convenience to the operation of the unit, saving you from chasing it around to set the steering in motion. As for maintenance and clean up after use, this is fairly minimal compared to other steam engines from Wilesco.
Radio controlled
Built to scale
Many accessories available
Solid brass boiler
Weighs 3.1kg
This nostalgic model from Wilesco is definitely one of their most beautiful and once up and running, the sound emitted is typical of their whole range of model steam engines. When not in use and out on display, the Wilesco D320 will bring charm to any room and will be a real talking piece with visitors.
Whether you are a collector, hobbyist or somebody interested in the history of steam engineering, the Wilesco D302 is a model that you should certainly consider owning. In terms of pure beauty and power, this is without a doubt one of the finest pieces that Wilesco has produced.
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Review: Mamod SW1 Blue Working Live Steam Wagon with Barrels
Review: Mamod SW1 Blue Working Live Steam Wagon with Barrels
Mamod’s world renowned model making company have once again managed to create a beautifully elegant model. This time in the form of a steam wagon modelled from versions that would have been used in the 1900’s. Wagons were traditionally used for carrying heavy goods, animals and people and the Mamod SW1 embodies the fragment of history it has been taken from wonderfully. The truck the SW1 draws inspiration from in particular is the Foden steam truck, a popular truck from years gone by.
The model has been finished with a striking blue colour, along with six miniature (yet realistic looking) wooden barrels and a steering rod and handle. The parts of the wagon are fully functional, making this model not only great for display purposes, but for active entertainment too! Many models by Mamod are to be put together by the buyer, but luckily for those of you who just want to play without the kerfuffle and argument of fixing something together yourself, this model is ready to go. Simply grab the solid fuel tablets, filler funnel and lubrication oil (all of which are included with your purchase), add water and the steam wagon will work its wonders.
Mamod have thought about every detail when constructing the SW1 and have made it so that the wagon can move both forwards and backwards, just as a real wagon would. A list of the specifications of this product are as follows, to give you a better idea of what kind of size and weight you’ll be looking at upon buying the SW1 steam wagon:
approximately 16 inches/41cm in length
pressure safety valve (maintains the pressure of the working parts)
dimensions of 405 x 181 x 145 mm
3.8kg in weight
As you can see, this model is reasonably heavy for a model of this size. However, this is due to the exceptionally high quality of the gauge steel and brass metals the wagon is made up of. This metal is made to last and with good care and cleaning, will be a proud part of your family’s toy and model collection for many years to come.
As a result of the SW1 steam wagon’s parts and the fact that the model needs fuel and heat for it to work, it is not a suitable product for children under 14 years of age. However, kids of all ages will absolutely love this wagon, they’ll just need some supervision from an adult. The face of any child will light up when you show them this live steam wagon – it’s almost like a mini fairytale land has come to life right before their eyes! How marvellous! Toys are without a doubt not just for kids and the SW1 is no exception. This model would be a great buy for any hobbyist with a passion for scaled down models, history and simply for those who have some spare time on their hands and enjoy spending it actively.
The SW1 steam wagon will look great amongst any set, no matter what kind of models the collection is primarily made up of.
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Review: Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’ Class A1
Review: Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’
The Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’ Class A1 Steam locomotive was built in England and completed in 2008. Astonishingly, the first of its kind was built in 1960 by British Railways. Indeed, this locomotive was tested and proved up to 97km/h. Of course, since its creation it has been running on the UK rail network as well as on mainline-connected heritage networks. It is a great gift for train enthusiasts on a special day or during the festive season
Who’s it for?
The locomotive is best suited for young as well as old keen modellers. Also, it can be used by newcomers and therefore caters for a range of users. It provides an ideal complement to the various locomotives, rolling stock, track, buildings, and accessories in the Hornby catalogue.
This locomotive is DCC ready and compatible with analogue train layouts. It can also easily be converted to suit a DCC digital layout. The model is suitable for you if you are in search of a static display model. You can gift this locomotive to anyone, and it will suit their needs.
What do customers think?
Customers who have bought and used this locomotive attest that it is a beautiful model that has been reasonably priced. Consumers who have used the Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’ Class A1 Steam Locomotive confirm that it is nicely detailed. Additionally, the locomotive can be upgraded with extra parts, so it remains realistic and up to date. Moreover, customers on Amazon have commended the quality of this locomotive.
Customers on Amazon have also been impressed by the ability of this locomotive to run quietly and smoothly as well. The locomotive has also been rated as being a good performer across a varied track layout.
Key features
The locomotive weighs only 599g for easy portability from one point to another. The fact that the locomotive uses an electric engine ensures that there is no battery needed for its operation. Also, it is DCC ready as it has a special socket which is ready to receive a DCC decoder. This locomotive is 293 millimetres long and features a 00 gauge that it uses for operation. Its motor is made of three poles that contain flywheels which also helps in operation.
So, what is the bottom line?
The Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’ Class A1 provides a thrilling collection of locomotives with varied rolling stocks. The lightweight property of this locomotive ensures that you do not have to scratch your head when you have to move places. If you are considering a locomotive model to gift to someone or for yourself, this is the perfect fit.
Its quality and therefore durability has attracted more consumers. Furthermore, the Hornby R3060 RailRoad BR ‘Tornado’ Class A1 is DCC ready which is a unique capability. You can therefore never go wrong with this locomotive irrespective of the person you are purchasing it for. Its impressive capability of offering good value for the money spent has remained a key marketing feature for this locomotive.
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