Class 423 4-VEP EMU

Welcome to the September edition of Engine Shed. This month features decorated samples of the South West Trains and Southern-liveried Class 423 4-VEP EMUs and the launch of our annual Model Shot of the Year competition!

South West Trains & Southern Class 423 4-VEP EMU Decorated Samples

Decorated samples of the South West Trains and Southern Class 423 4-VEP EMU models have arrived at Margate for us to showcase. Please note that these are still a work in progress – we may still amend some features of this model. We've already incorporated many improvements since our original announcement of these models in January 2022: New Year’s Revolutions :: Hornby Hobbies.

You can see images of the decorated samples below.

After South West Trains acquired Southwestern in 1996, they repainted the 4-VEPs they inherited in an NSE-style livery with an added orange strip. This livery matched the iconic Stagecoach bus colours of their parent company. Our models represent this unique livery in a detailed manner with vibrant colours splashed across the body.

Improved tooling

We have also improved the moulding to correct the size of the roof vents, enlarging them to match the prototypes.

Reformatted cab front

The cab front has been brought to life in the decorated sample, with improvements such as resizing and repositioning of the corridor connection in the middle. The windscreen wipers and the jumper cables are now also formatted correctly.

Below, we have exposed the inner electronics and blue seating by taking the body off the power car: No. 62206. In the prototypical units, passenger seating was displayed in a 2 + 3 format, and there were doors for every seating bay, which are replicated in our model.

Increased weight

As mentioned in our January edition, the new VEP features a die-cast chassis on the Motor Brake Second Open (MBSO) coach, and the model weighs a hefty 424g - 136g more than our 2011 models. This addresses two major criticisms of the old model: the wobbly running due to rubber traction tyres and the visible weights and motor in the coach. The weight increase gives the coach ample traction, and the model can now pick up electricity from the track through all wheels of the Motor Brake Second Open (MBSO) coach, greatly increasing connectivity.

As part of the powered-chassis redesign, the motor bogie is obscured by the Brake Compartment. You can see the HM7000 21-pin decoder fitted on the chassis above the new motor location with allocated space for the speaker and HM7070 Power Bank in the guard’s compartment. The new VEP has a custom-sized acoustic chamber in the accessory bag that can clip into the seat unit.

Redesigned power coupler

One of the many improvements to this model is the redesigned power coupler between coaches. Not only is this more robust than previous iterations, but it also conceals the integrated electronics and allows each unit to couple more closely. It was common to see multiple 4-VEPs connected on rural routes through Kent and Hampshire, such as London Waterloo to Basingstoke. Our new model has a fixed bar, allowing multiple units to join together to run extra-long trains. This buck-eye style coupler fits to the NEM pocket in place of the standard tension-lock coupler and allows the Driving Trailer Composite (Open) Lavatory (DTCL) coaches to be spaced at the same distance as the rest of the rake.

One feature to point out is that when multiple VEPs are connected, you can turn the end lights on and off with a simple tap on the roof for both DC and DCC operation. This means only the front and end coaches of the rake will have illuminated headcodes and trailing lights. This feature is demonstrated visually in the two GIFs below, one with yellow lighting and the other with red lighting.

Network SouthCentral inherited a fleet of 50 Class 423 units. Connex South Central won the bid to operate the fleet and repainted the units to their yellow and white livery. After poor service, they transferred the franchise to South Central Trains in 2000. The company was later renamed as Southern. They only painted one prototypical unit, No. 3514, in a Southern green livery. Our Southern-liveried models can fulfil your wish to run a complete unit in this livery on your layout.

As always, these decorated samples are still in development, and we will endeavour to improve them further.

Excitingly, they are available for pre-order now!

Secure your South West Trains Class 423-4-VEP EMU Train Pack and your South Class 423-4-VEP EMU Train Pack and get ahead of the crowd!

Model Shot of the Year 2023

It’s time for your favourite annual Hornby competition!

Entries for Model Shot of the Year 2023 are now open. Enter now for the chance to win £500 worth of Hornby models!

Open to all skill levels, give it your best shot and show off your Hornby model snaps by sending us up to five Hornby model images to marketing@hornby.com, along with some information about them. Alternatively, you can post your photographs to:

Model Shot of the Year,

Hornby Hobbies Ltd,

Westwood Industrial Estate,

Margate,

Kent, CT9 4JX.

Additional prizes include a one-of-a-kind ‘Model Shot of the Year 2023’ plinth and plaque and a special mention in this blog and our Collector Club Magazine! Our esteemed panel of judges, including the renowned railway photographer Jack Boskett, OBE Peter Waterman and our very own host of Signal Box, Mike Day, will carefully review each image.

The deadline for entering is 23.59 (BST) on 22nd of October 2023. Give us your best Hornby photography skills now!

For more details and information on how to enter, please visit the following link: Model Shot of the Year 2023 :: Hornby Hobbies.

And now we come to the end of September’s Engine Shed. We trust you enjoyed seeing the Class 423 4-VEP decorated samples and reading about how you can take your best Hornby model shot for our annual Model Shot of the Year competition.

Please email marketing@hornby.com if you have any questions or comments. We love to hear from you!

As always, we will see you next month for another edition of Engine Shed.