MC HAAmmer

Monday evening - 03/11/03

Having spent the last few days going through photographs of HAAs and weighing up Hornby's latest release, I've concluded that the following parts are useful:

2 wheelsets (as long as you model in OO)
2 NEM coupler pockets (as long as you use NEM couplers)

The rest, I'm afraid, is scrap. My contempt for Hornby's latest wagon is only matched, one assumes, by their contempt for me as a consumer. I'm supposed to shell out for dozens of replacement wagons just because they've stuck a few details onto something that's as inaccurate as it's predecessor, am I? Think again, kiddies.

To rub salt into the wound, this startlingly mediocre release sits alongside a range of steam locos that are quite exquisite. For the last few years the steam enthusiast has been showered with a wallet-threatening array of quality products whilst we D&E types have sat twiddling our thumbs, hoping for a crumb from Hornby's table. Well, we've eventually got something and it 's crumby indeed.

I suspect the most fun I'm going to get from this product is watching for the flattering reviews in the monthy comics. Who'll be the first to prostitute themselves for a free wagon?