Review of EFE Rail’s 4mm scale HB/Class 74 model

Introduction:

It is almost ten years since both Hornby and D J Models launched their HA/Class 71 models, with Kernow Model Rail in partnership with D J Models proposing a HB/Class 74 to follow.  That Class 74 model never appeared for a reason best not to raise again after so long!  To achieve some HBs I therefore bought two resin Class 74 body shells, intending to super-detail them and mount them on RTR Class 71 chassis, but like many of the kits I acquire they still await building!  Now, after nearly a decade, RTR models have arrived.  Given there was only a fleet of ten of them, and they only ever wore BR blue livery, I still decided to buy three versions, one “E” numbered, one TOPS numbered and one weathered TOPS numbered.

Reference materials I have consulted for this appraisal are:

• Modern Locomotives Illustrated number 198, The Electro Diesels Classes 73 and 74/editor Colin J Marsden/The Railway Centre.com . Including scale drawings.
• Model Railway Constructor Planbook 3, BR Electric Locomotives in 4mm scale/R S carter/Ian Allan. Including scale drawings.
• The Power of the Electro-Diesels/C J Marsden/OPC.
• The Electro- Diesels, An Illustrated History of Classes 73 and 74/Colin J Marsden/OPC.
• Southern Region Electro Diesel Locomotives and Units, A Pictorial Survey/David Cable/Pen & Sword.

I acknowledge there is some commonality between three of these publications, so there is only verification between three sources.

I noticed there are a few discrepancies between both of the scale drawings, numerous photographs and the model.  However, in all instances but one the drawings are incorrect and the model compares very well to photographs, scaling measurements and proportions from photographs where necessary.

There are, unsurprisingly given Kernow Model Rail’s involvement, similarities between this model and D J Model’s Class HA/71.

Packaging:

Each model loco comes in a clear plastic “egg box” crate with fold-up sides enclosed within a clear plastic sleeve.  This is placed within a stout cardboard box surrounded by fairly dense dark grey foam.  None of my three models had parts detached during transit.  There are two packs of details, one of tension link couplers, dummy dropped buckeye couplings, pipes and lifting brackets to be added and the other of headcode slides, plus an instruction leaflet.

The instructions refer to alternative front valances being in the pack of parts.  This appears to be an erroneous repeat from the D J Models’ Class 71 instructions that was not caught by the manufacturers as it is not relevant to this model.  Said valances are not missing from this product.  The exploded diagram in the instructions, as unfortunately is all too common in model instructions these days, is printed too small to be of much use without a magnifying glass.

Unboxing the models:

My first impression was very favourable and encouraging, with nothing standing out as wrong.  Looking closer and measuring up, comparing with photographs and drawings, with a few minor exceptions this is an accurate model.  Every measurement I did – whether a major dimension or of fine detail, was accurate or within 1mm of scale drawings and published dimensions.  All dimensional discrepancies I found are slightly undersize.  Let this be a glowing testament to the Research & Development on this model.

The body:

The body casting is a work of art.  The body shape is captured well and the moulding is crisp.  The see-through grilles (which are obscured behind so the model mechanism is not seen) are marvellous.  The bogie mouldings are amazing as they are very well and sharply detailed.  The model is factory fitted with a number of separately applied parts, such as the airhorns, windscreen wipers, MU cables and receptacles, lamp brackets, wire door and cab front handrails and various buffer beam details, all very well done.  Though there is a tendency for the cab front handrails not to lay horizontally and need careful bending to be level.  Being hyper critical I think the windscreen wipers are a bit too thick, but they are at least robust as they are, and the airhorns a fraction too slender.  The plates on which the airhorns are mounted are slim and rectangular but drawings and photographs show they should be square, or almost square.  The cab side windows and cab door windows are a fraction too narrow and too short.  Although the cab doors are the correct width the cab door windows are noticeably too narrow.  These slightly incorrect items are as bad is this model gets!  They were not noticeable prior to close comparison with drawings and photographs.  According to both scale drawings the battery boxes on the model are about 3mm too long, but their length looks right to me according to photos.  Scaling dimensions from photos confirms that their length on the models is correct and the drawings are incorrect in this respect.

I felt that the headcode windows looked too narrow on the D J Models Class 71, and my measurement at the time appeared to confirm this.  On this model the headcode window width measures as correct, though to my eyes it still looks a tad narrow.  I have come to the conclusion that the prismatic effect around the edge of flushglaze window inserts looks particularly prominent on narrower and smaller windows, which can make the windows appear narrower and smaller than they actually are.  Is there any hope for slim flat, i.e. non tray-like, window inserts that are fitted into rebates around the interior of window apertures, so there is no prismatic effect?

The Headcodes, Chassis and Running:

The buffers are sprung, and separately supplied tension lock couplers fit into their NEM pockets easily.  However, the rear tails of the couplings, when in the NEM pockets can lightly touch the bogie frame, not that this had any adverse impact on running on my layout.  If they do cause trouble, I suspect the end of the tails can be filed or cut down slightly, best done when the couplings are not on the model!  The wheels are correctly spoked, though I admit I have not counted the number of spokes to see if this is correct.  Separately supplied are four “bogie to loco” brackets, which I think are actually body lifting brackets.  As the instructions advise, as these stick out prominently these should only be fitted after checking platform wall clearances.  The drawing in the instructions indicating where these should be fitted is too wide angled for their placement to be clear.  These brackets are similar to those supplied with the D J Models Class 71 and are intended to be fitted into slots on the bogie, not to the body sides.

The supplied headcodes are, according to many photographs, correct for workings HBs ran, and inspection of photographs will reveal other applicable headcodes too.  Supplying double white and double blank blinds permits showing accurate blinds for various circumstances.  Strangely the 8 in headcode 18 has been printed like a stencil headcode, which given all other numeral and letters are rounded looks odd.  Of course the joy of this headcode system is that you can make your own headcode slides.  91 is one not supplied on which I am particularly keen.

Lighting:

This model comes with internal lighting for both cabs and both headcode boxes.  For DC users there are miniature switches underneath that allow the lighting to be configured.  The headcode box lighting is incorrectly labelled “Rear Tail Lamps”.  For the cab lighting “OFF” is both cabs – no lights, “ON” directional – leading cab lit.  For the headcode boxes “OFF” is directional – leading headcode box lit, “ON” is both headcode boxes lit.  It is therefore possible to configure headcode lighting correctly for whether the loco is running light and when hauling rolling stock, but not for when it is pushing a pull-push working.  This model is fitted with a DCC 21 pin decoder socket and hopefully DCC can provide completely separate switching of both cabs and both headcode box lighting.  Hopefully any reader who has fitted DCC to this model will advise.  The yellowness and level of lighting looks credible for the period to me.  Unlike some other Southern Electric models the headcode box lighting is not directionally white/red, only white, so there is no way a numerical, etc, headcode can incorrectly be lit red.

Conclusion:

This is a well-researched, designed and constructed model which is predominantly accurate, runs well straight out of the box and ought to improve with running-in.   At today’s elevated prices I feel it is good value for money too.  It is a very welcome addition to Southern Electric system models.  Many thanks to Kernow Model Rail and EFE/Bachmann Europe.

Colin Duff.  Modelling Officer. 30th December 2025.
revised 31st December 2025.