Thursday, December 26, 2019

R3705 Ruston 48DS

No-one who knows me will be surprised I ordered a Hornby Ruston 48DS as soon as I could. This was after a few weeks of knowing it was coming, but not being able to rush down to my local model shop because of a pesky embargo on the information. What made it worse was that I had been told they were "on the boat".

As it turns out, the boat was slow because I've only just picked up the red version with wasp stripes, but no worry, it was worth the wait.


My model came from the local shop, Classic Train and Motor bus. Although I didn't expect any problems, I still had the model test run before handing over the money. Had there been an issue, it would have gone back with no fuss, and no tantrums on social media.

Anyway, you'll have read reviews already and know this is a good model, but is it as good as my kit built version?

 
Yes it is. And better still, my kit version doesn't look too shabby beside its plastic brother. There's no need for it to hide away. I'll happily run both.

But, does it fit the little engine shed I built for the Collectors Club magazine?


Not quite. I need to shave about 1.5mm off the top of the door. Not bad considering I was basing my measurements on the etched kit. I'm relieved to say that you can follow the instructions and make a mini shed for your 48DS from a resin building.

Anyway, I am very happy with my model. That's no less than 2 RTR locos bought in a year, something of a record for me. Will there be more ordered from the new range? Yes there will, but I can't tell you what yet...

2 comments:

Huw Griffiths said...

Just out of curiousity, how do these two models compare, when it comes to hauling ability and low speed running?

OK - I could also imagine some people wondering about the relative difficulty of fitting DCC, or their personal preference in couplings (Kadees, for instance, in view of locos like these probably featuring on a number of shunting planks). Although I can't see it being too long before somebody posts their own accounts of similar conversions on a forum site somewhere, I don't see you having the time or other resources required to say much about stuff like this here.

Meanwhile, haulage and low speed abilities are more likely to interest you - especially if both the Hornby and kit built versions are run alongside each other, on the same layout.

Phil Parker said...

Huw - Good questions. I think the Hornby model will be a slower runner than the SPUD based kit, it's only moved a few feet and already looks impressive in this respect. Haulage, dunno. I'll have to do some tests when the worktop is clear enough for track to be set up. Results on here, eventually.