Hattons BR/SR "P" Class tank engine.

I'd had this loco on 'pre-order' since they were announced last October by Hattons, and in terms of how long these 'specially commissioned' loco's often take to come to the market, a 6 month wait is very little, but the wait has been worth it, and at a relatively cheap £99 (in the UK), great value too!
(Hornby/Bachmann, are you listening???). Detail-wise, it's an excellent and well made little loco, although when you look at the pics, even the small tension lock couplings seem way oversize on such a small loco, and although unprototypical, mine now has Kadee No 19's fitted. So, after unboxing, not an easy task, as it's packed in the same style as Bachmann and DJ models with a wrap around inner with clear plastic sleeve which is a very tight fit, out it comes, and detail is immediately apparent.

 

At the rear, the cab interior is very well detailed with controls picked out, external pipework and fittings too, brilliant finish for the price, only really let down by the 'imitation coal', but that will be resolved later easily enough.

 

After a suitable 'running-in' period on the rolling road, it's now time to fit the DCC decoder, in this case, a 6 pin direct plug-in type. As usual, I used a LaisDCC one which I'd bought specially for this loco some months earlier, this comes with 'stay-alive' wires which were not used so were removed earlier, as there's not a lot of space in this loco. Body removal is simple enough, two screws each end, one either side of the NEM coupling sockets, then the chassis lifts out easily, and the 6 pin DC board can be seen. A 10 second straight swap, then back on the rolling road for programming. The loco was a very smooth and quiet runner straight out of the box on DC, and DCC fitting has improved it's controllability markedly, any slight jerkiness on DC being down to my elderly Hornby DC controller rather than the loco. With the loco now programmed, chassis is re-united with the body with the 4 screws refitted.

 

After replacing the tension lock couplings with my standard fit Kadee's (No 19's in this case) which although not prototypical, look less obtrusive than even the small tension locks originally fitted, then it's ready to join the rest of my loco stable. Included with the loco are the usual steam and vac pipes, 3 oil cans, 4 "Southern" headcode discs and a loco lamp. In due course, I'll replace the 'orrible' imitation coal and probably a bit of weathering to round things off, but all in all, Hattons have come up trumps with a beautiful well made and detailed little loco at a great value price, more power to the elbows of the model retailers who are brave enough to offer these commissions!
Keith.

 

They'll be a good bit cheaper still for you guys in Oz (none of that pesky VAT!) though wether you get a complete one or a "Kit of parts" will depend on Auspost! Still, Hattons do pack them well, thankfully.

Keith.