A new N gauge wagon from Peco is a rare event - I think the last one might have been horse-drawn. Their new model of the ubiquitous MGR hopper is therefore a very significant release, especially with a similar product from Graham Farish just around the corner. I'm very pleased to say that the newcomer is a far more convincing replica of the prototype than either of Hornby's attempts in 4mm scale. Particularly noteworthy is the way the sidesheets correctly reach down as far as the horizontal brown framing, something the larger Hornby models distinctly fail to achieve.
There are fundamental errors in the basic shape of the Peco model, though, it's far from perfect. Most significantly, the outer diagonal edges of the hoppers are much too square. The real ones are very rounded and this also impacts on the shape of the side sheets - these curve in rather prominently towards the horizontal framing on the prototype, but not on the model. These flaws are not particularly apparent in my photos, but are easily seen if you compare an actual model with a photo of a real wagon.
Fortunately, these errors are not such a big issue when the wagon is running as part of a train on a layout. They're far less conspicuous than the major errors of the Hornby model and I reckon they're something I could reasonably happily live with. But nevertheless it's difficult to understand how a manufacturer can make such basic mistakes in 2004. With a competing model due from Graham Farish in the near future it'll be difficult to avoid making comparisons. If the Farish is both more accurate and cheaper, Peco's bungling will do them no favours.
But whichever way it pans out, one thing is certain. The trademark MGR trains of the D&E era are much easier to model convincingly in N than in 4mm. At least until you start to look for decent RTR locos to haul them, anyway.
Currently On My Stereo: Marillion - Holidays In Eden