It just gets better for 4mm scale Southern Electric modellers, particularly those whose time period is the late 1960s to mid 1970s period. In their early minutes of Christmas Day new product range for 2010 launch, Hornby announced a 4 Vep model. Due to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2010, initially original condition Veps in BR blue and Network SouthEast livery will be available, product numbers R2946 and R2947 respectively. These models will feature interior lighting and headcode boxes and will be DCC ready or DCC fitted (product number suffixed with a "X"). Hornby have stated that this model has been tooled to allow refurbished units also to be produced and window bars are not an impossibility. We do not yet have information about unit numbers, therefore knowing details like having lifting rings or not, on the all blue model having unpainted aluminium window frames or not, and whether early or late blue and NSE liveries. These models are already advertised for placing pre-orders with major retailers on the internet for as little as £120.

This model has thus far been developed with the assistance of railway industry sources and the Southern Electric Group. The choice of the unit type and liveries was entirely Hornby's and it is not lost on modellers that Hornby have chosen to model yet another type of Southern stock which ran/runs in Kent! Note if an early blue version is produced it will be compatible for running alongside late steam stock on the South West Division.

Veps may not have been everyone's favourite units but it is a good choice filling the outer suburban gap between the mainline 4Cep and forthcoming suburban 2EPB models, both from Bachmann. If they sell well, hopefully more versions will follow in future years, particularly a BR blue & grey version (which will make modelling the SE Divison in the 1970s a cinch) and also refurbished units with a multitude of liveries to exploit.

photographs (above left) 7733 and 7747 at Haywards Heath on 18th August 1968, © Buggleskelly Books
and (above right) 3185 at Leigh on 26th February 1995 by John Atkinson

all photographs by Colin Duff unless otherwise credited

So the $64,000 dollar question has to be "has the wait been worth it?"

Well, the answer unequivocally is "yes!"

The first of three versions (plus a limited edition also due from Modelzone) product code 31-425 was released in small numbers the week before the Warley exhibition. 31-425 represents unit 7105, the lowest numbered "production" Cep (phase 1/1957 equipment) in early form - BR(S) green livery (incidentally unlike recent Bachmann Mk1 coaches this a credible shade), no yellow warning panel, whistle above the driver's window, large numeral headcode, double white blank rear blind and the notoriously rough riding Mk3/Mk4 bogies. 7105 is the unit owned by the EPB Preservation Group and is a neat choice because it avoids modelling the differences of the prototype units. The detail on the body is very finely executed - of particular note are the jumper cables on the cab fronts, separately applied wire grab rails picked out where appropriate in orange or black, representations of cable runs along the solebar and superb representations of the underframes - including brake rigging - and electrical equipment mounted onto the underframe. Inner car ends correctly have no buffers and have the correct electrical connection cabinets. The cab end corridor connection doors and headcode boxes are correctly slightly offset, the handbrake wheel can be seen through the offside cab window, and the interiors are painted to represent the laminates used on the production units. Window edges and ventilators are silvered - there is no sign of the white glue problem noticed on Bachmann coaches in the past - and there are representations of orange curtains in the windows. Headcode boxes are illuminated, as are the car interiors, by LEDs. Another headcode is provided by way of an alternative corridor connection door assembly. 7105 is provided with headcodes 50 and 46, plus the double white blank for the rear - correct for the early period. Ventilators on the roof seem to be in the correct positions - i.e. not the same as on a Mk1 coach.

The model is powered by a large can motor plus flywheel driving, via a short drive shaft, the cab end bogie in one DMBSO. Perforce this assembly takes up the guard's compartment, transverse vestibule and the first seating bay in this car. The motored car has a heavy metal chassis providing good traction.

Cars are coupled together by electrically conducting drawbars which push into sockets on the end of close coupling units. The drawbars are conducting to permit control of the lighting throughout the whole unit to be done by a single DCC decoder (if so fitted). Even though each car is fitted with pickups to power its own lights, for the lighting to work the cars must be connected in the correct order with the right orientation. The instruction leaflet clearly details this. Prior to this model going on sale Bachmann issued a pre-release note to dealers alerting them to this and also warning that any damage resulting from coupling the unit incorrectly would invalidate the guarantee. Several days after this model went on sale DCC users were reporting that the switching of the interior lighting and headcode boxes did not work correctly. This was traced by these modellers to a reversal of polarity of wiring in the TSK. Two immediate solutions are to reverse the orientation of the TSK (in which case the unit is not formed correctly) or to resolder to reverse the polarity of one set of light switching connections to the PCB in the TSK. No doubt the latter will invalidate the guarantee, so it will be interesting to learn what Bachmann propose to rectify the problem. Note this problem does not affect those using DC, where the lights are on permanently.

Coupling and uncoupling of the cars is very fiddly, none the least because of having to insert or withdraw the drawbars firmly into boxes which are lightly sprung by way of the close coupling mechanism. The instruction leaflet provides advice but I would advise this model is best left permanently coupled if possible. The model come with eight drawbars of two different lengths. Those with railway layouts with curves of a greater radius than 3ft have reported that the short drawbar does not maintain close coupling on their curves. Unit ends are provided with a tension lock coupling inserted into a bogie mounted NEM pocket. A Kadee will look better. Obviously with this coupling arrangement detail on the outer bogie ends is missing.

There is an issue with 4mm scale bogies concerning whether they are modelled to a true 4mm scale width or narrowed for OO/HO gauge track. With Southern Electric models the width of the bogies will govern the position of the pickups - do the pickups align with a conductor rail affixed to the end of true to scale sleepers or with a conductor rail fitted to the end of OO/HO gauge track? In the case of this model the pickups are aligned for OO/HO gauge track, so some work will be required by those converting this model to EM or Scalefour standards.

Given the many good-to-excellent aspects of this model it seems churlish to point out the brilliant white illumination of the headcode boxes could be toned-down to reflect the original's tungsten bulbs, that the interior illumination in the MBSOs is dimmer (due to having fewer LEDs) than that in the centre trailer cars, that the lower end of the water tank filler pipes on the car ends turn back into the body without a representation of the spigot a hose pipe should fit over, that the shoebox fuse may be hanging a tad low and that the handbrake wheel assembly is set too far back from the offside cab window. I suppose one could also mention that this model has not got double glazed windows but representing this in 4mm scale might be pushing the envelope more than a bit! However, all these are pointed out light-heartedly and none of these get above the very minor niggle status. A Southern Region railwayman friend who has a good knowledge of Ceps has yet to find anything more significant than mentioned thus far. So that is quite some recommendation.

Following on in December 2009 were:

31-426 unit 7126 in BR(S) green with small yellow warning panel, 1st class yellow cantrail stripe, roof mounted two tone horns, small numeral headcode, headcodes 4 and 18 supplied,double red blank rear blind, and Mk3/Mk4 bogies

and

31-427 unit 7113 in BR blue and grey, all other details being the same as 31-426 except headcodes 8 and 50 supplied.

Both of these are also phase 1/1957 equipment units.

photographs of plain blue Cep by Robert Armstrong, showing the fine detail Bachmann have achieved on this model, (above) around the cab and (left) on one TCK end

In February 2010 the Modelzone special limited edition version became available. This portrays unit 7119 in plain/overall BR blue. As students of the Southern Electric system 1960s period will know, the Southern Region interpreted the new BR Corporate Image guidelines strictly. As the Southern had no routes then branded as "Intercity" they decided that the new blue & grey "Intercity" livery was inappropriate and started to apply the plain/overall blue scheme specified for suburban/commuter services to their multiple unit stock regardless of whether being mainline, outer or inner suburban types. Twenty one 4 Ceps were turned out in this rather drab, thankfully short-lived (on mainline stock) scheme; seven of which had small yellow warning panels, the remainder gaining full yellow ends. 7119 was one of the latter.

Bachmann's 31-427Z model for Modelzone comes supplied with headcodes 05 and 15 and rear double-red-blank blinds. It is correctly detailed for a unit of this era.

A highly detailed RTR Southern Region EMU has been long-awaited and modellers are very well served by its arrival, even at full "list prices" this model is excellent value for money (price-wise think of it as a loco + 3 coaches) , so congratulations and grateful thanks to Bachmann.

Bachmann have set a very high standard to emulate and we hope their forthcoming 2EPBs and Kernow's 2Hs at the very least match it. Given Bachmann did a 3D scan of the EPB Preservation Group's unit at Shepherdswell, given there is a significant amount of commonality with original Ceps plus Bachmann already manufacture 4mm scale Commonwealth bogies, maybe there is even hope in the future for refurbished Ceps?

photograph by Colin Duff

Hornby's record with Southern EMUs over the past two decades has been rather chequered with their toy-like and incomplete Eurostar and the good-in-parts Class 466 Networker. For their latest foray into the Southern EMU stock the choice of the Hitachi Class 395 Bullet train (the use of the marketing term "Javelin" should really be restricted to these units' use as shuttle trains during the 2012 Olympics) appears to be quite astute because it has appeal to both modern image modellers and Southern Electric modellers plus the more general appeal of being Britain's only high speed domestic train and its forthcoming association with the 2012 London Olympics. There is also the matter of Hornby's known attachment to the type of trains which run or ran in Kent! Hornby have released their model, initially their R2821 4 car pack, ahead of the class's full introduction to service with the December 2009 timetable change. However, these units have been in service since the summer running SouthEastern's "preview" service, which has proved to be more popular than anticipated.

Hornby have chosen to model unit 395001, the first of the class arriving from Japan but then used for extensive type-testing and so not initially fitted out for passenger use. This unit is likely to be one of the last in passenger service and at the time of writing is being commissioned and tested.

Class 395 units have 6 cars. Hornby are selling their models as a 4 car pack consisting of DPTSO 395011, MSO 395012, MSO 395013 and DPTSO 395016. The other MSOs 395014 & 395015 will be available individually. Being a modern unit it is easy to describe them as featureless, which may be true about the large body panels, however there is a fair amount of fine detail to represent and then there are the complex curves. This Hornby have done to a high standard which elevates this model well above their previous forays. In terms of moulding, the detail on the roofs is very well done- of particular note are the airconditioning fans below grilles. True this model does not contain the separately applied detail and etched metal grilles that their new HST power cars have but the moulding is of such a high standard that this is of no concern. SouthEastern's sombre High Speed purple/lilac/black livery is well executed and although not easy to see the dotty fading out of the black window cheat line is reproduced. Also very well reproduced by printing are the door open buttons and assorted legends. Some of the finest details on this model, both moulded and printed, are easy to miss due to being on the recessed inner car ends. Make sure you take a look! And whilst looking there also note the representation of the glass doors to the corridor connections. The flush glazing is very pleasing, through which a representation of the interior can be viewed.

This model comes with working directionally controlled lights- including the "Cyclops" light- but non working plastic pantographs. The latter are quite delicate which underscore this being a scale model rather than a toy. It is powered by a single "pancake" motor power bogie at the inner end of driving car 395011. An elementary form of compensation is applied to the non powered bogies. All wheels pleasingly have brake disc inserts. Cars are coupled together by plastic drawbars sprung into sockets which are part of body mounted close coupling mechanisms. Whilst it is relatively easy to insert the drawbars detaching them is very difficult (requiring narrow point tweezers to compress the springy tongues so they can be withdrawn from their receptacles) so the unit is best left permanently coupled, if possible. Some Class 395 services will run as 12 car. There is no provision on this model for coupling units together which keeps the sleek front end from having un-naturally large panel lines if removable hatches were fitted to allow coupling. If modellers want to run 12car formations they would be advised to attempt surgery to a single front of two units, fit couplings such as Kadees and then aim always to run them together.

Conclusion - this is by far the best Southern EMU produced by Hornby to date, for which grateful thanks.

• R2821 4 car pack DCC ready
• R2821X 4 car pack DCC fitted
• R4382 MSO
• R4383 MSO