Sonic Models LNER Class A5
◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Sonic Models S4101-07 GCR/LNER Class A5 4‐6‐2T BR lined black ◆ PRICE £149.95 (DCC‐ready) ◆ AVAILABILITY Rails of Sheffield Web www.railsofsheffield.com
I’ve had my eye on acquiring an ‘A5’ 4‐6‐2T for some time, after refinishing a kit-built ‘OO’ model for a colleague some years ago. Not only did they sport an unusual wheel arrangement for a tank locomotive but, having spent several years living next to the former Marple-Macclesfield line in East Cheshire, I’d seen archive images of the ‘A5s’ working local passenger services on this route in the mid-1950s.
Unsurprisingly, I was chuffed when Sonic Models announced a RTR ‘A5’ in ‘OO’ a couple of years ago and, now I’ve finally got my hands on one, I haven’t been disappointed.
Robinson’s elegant 4‐6‐2T marks Sonic’s first offering in 4mm scale, with models being sold exclusively via Rails of Sheffield. The tooling has been designed to allow for numerous detail differences to be observed across locomotives running in the Great Central, LNER and BR eras, with a pleasing choice of livery and number options to suit. Both the original and later cab styles (with and without side windows), domes, coal rails of varying sizes, GCR top feed apparatus and LNER snifter valves are all catered for, along with two different types of smokebox door handles.