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Lima Model Railway Locomotive Reviews -
Class 156 Super Sprinter DMU
Author
"Metrocamel"
(forum member)
 Lima
Class 156 Super Sprinter DMU
Rating 7/10
The Lima Class 156 is
truly an excellent model. By modern standards it could do with
improvements however. Detail to the under frames is minimal and
the exhausts by the joining ends of the cars are left black.
End detail is very good
with lights fitted at glass or plastic in small drilled holes to
give an effect far better than the painted on types seen on
Hornby Class 142 Pacers. One car is powered with the motor
visible inside but not too much. The windows are nice and flush
too and the roof grooved like the real thing.
156443 is pictured alongside a Bachmann 158.
In trials the model runs very well and makes a very realistic
engine sound which may or may not have been intended. It takes
to most speeds well and slow speed control is good. A better
motor than the old type ringfield would make the model more
reliable.
Destination boards are stickers which are one of the few bad
points on these models. Mine was bought from Ebay and so they
were already stuck on. Replacements should be easy to make if
you wished.
Gradient climbing has not been tested but the model has little
in way of heavy weight or weight difference between the cars and
so should run up and down slopes well.
The model could do with a few things to make it perfect for your
chosen period or location. A detailing kit is available from
Hurst Models which replaces the under frames with more detailed
ones and adds other details such as debris collectors.
Snowploughs are also available which are fitted to Scottish
Class 156 units. Lights would improve the model greatly and
Express models produce kits for both DCC and DC including an
advance day and night digital set.
The Hurst Models kit as it
looks applied to a Class 156 without paint applied to it.
Overall the Class 156 is a must for modern image and even though
it is out of production it looks like Hornby will revive this
amazing DMU.
At a Glance
Good points
-
Reliable
-
Variety of Liveries
-
Variety of upgrades
Bad points
-
Poor under frame
detail
-
dated motor
Resources
Name - Class 156 DMU.
Manufacturer - Lima
Liveries produced -
Provincial 156443, 454, 470, 480, 481 and 465 (last with
Scotrail logos). Regional Railways 156402 and 420 (last with
Green stripe). Central Trains 156407. Strathclyde PTE 156433.
Strathclyde 156501, 502, 512 and 513. Scotrail 156447. Northern
Spirit 156490.
Class History -
http://members.madasafish.com/~dysgraphyk/156/class156_origins.htm
Notes - 156470 is a single car while all others are two car
sets. Hornby plans to re introduce three Class 156 models, these
are Central Trains 156401, Strathclyde PTE 156430 and Northern
Rail 156425.
Also see Hornby Class 155 and Bachmann Class 150/1/2 which is
due this year.
Available from - This
model is out of production but is often sold on Ebay and should
be available from some outlets with remaining stock and other
such outlets.
Upgrading the model
- Hurst Models for a detailing kit and
snowploughs.
http://www.hurstmodels.com/4/hm_4mm.htm
Express models for lighting kits.
http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/
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