B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Discuss Hornby Model Railway products and related topics here. This includes (Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren and Oxford Rail).
Post Reply
muggins
Posts: 638
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:24 am

B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by muggins »

I'm rather taken with the idea of acquiring a secondhand B12, so is there anything in particular that I need to be aware of? Any difference between R3242 and R3242A apart from running number?
Bigmet
Posts: 10172
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:19 pm

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by Bigmet »

Those are K1 catalogue numbers (BR period LNER design 2-6-0). The BR B12s were 3431 and 3432. An 'A' suffix is usually the same model with only a number change (though as ever with Hornby take nothing for granted!)

Both are good models, but the B12/3 I reckon about the best thing Hornby have done in steam. Nearly all metal body for a start.
muggins
Posts: 638
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:24 am

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by muggins »

Ooops! Sorry Bigmet. Brainfart ...

Anyhow, since posting that I've acquired a very nice Bachmann K3 with which I'm rather chuffed, so I can now put off the decision on whether to go for a K1 or a B1 next ...
Bigmet
Posts: 10172
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:19 pm

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by Bigmet »

Good job getting the K3 first. It was a class leading model on release near fifteen years ago, and looks decent enough, but overall is well behind Hornby's B1 and K1 which are 'very good indeed', a good indicator of the progress since.

What's the catalogue number of the K3? The first 3 releases, 32-275/6/7, had flaky soldering attaching the wires to the pick up strips -at the time lead free solder was in vogue - and quite a number had 'dry ' joints, you could literally just pull the wire out of the solder, or the solder would just fall off the pick up strip. So if it is one of these three releases and ever becomes unreliable, that's one area to look at.

It has another little foible. The footplate is metal, and if your layout has the odd hump or hollow, the pony truck wheel flanges can scrape the underside of the footplate. It takes quite a lot of running before the paint wears away, but when it does you will either see sparks on DC, or a dead short and system trip on DCC
muggins
Posts: 638
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:24 am

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by muggins »

Bigmet wrote:What's the catalogue number of the K3?
It's 32-276 but I seem to have been a lucky boy with this one! Cosmetically it's what I'd describe as "mint" and functionally it's a little beauty! I'm on DC but I'm a real stickler for reliable slow-speed running, and I'm really happy with this one. It's still chugging it's way round the layout now with 17 wagons behind it, just like it's been doing for the last 40 minutes!
Bigmet wrote:It has another little foible. The footplate is metal, and if your layout has the odd hump or hollow, the pony truck wheel flanges can scrape the underside of the footplate ...
Thanks Bigmet, that's really useful to know.

Over now to the Bachmann sub-forum 'cos I have my sights set on a B1 next and the Hornby ones are going to be oput of my price range ...
Bigmet
Posts: 10172
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:19 pm

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by Bigmet »

Make sure you get the current Bachmann B1. The previous split chassis units could easily be over 25 years old by now, and the plastic drive line components in these are known to deteriorate over time even if never used. Very unpredictable, some will still be fine!
muggins
Posts: 638
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:24 am

Re: B12 - R3242 and R3242A

Post by muggins »

Point noted! Thank you.
Post Reply