MikeParkin65

Pose-able firebox doors; AS Manor - has it ? Only found the Bachmann V2 had them as thought the flicker wasn’t working until I read the manual 😂

Again, already done both on factory fitted projects and aftermarket

Smoke and steam don’t scale down - all I see is ‘Michael Bentines Potty Time’. Also wonder what the long term effects of water based emissions will have on electrical components around the layout and card structures.

Factory fitted projects in the Accurascale Manor, Rapido 15xx and Bachmann V2 all do just that. Bachmann V2 even has pose able fire box doors!

Although having spent a large part of the weekend at the Severn Valley Railway (its local to me and it was the Spring steam gala) I was struck at just how many 'glowing fireboxes' on the prototype I saw! Maybe I was looking for them to prove the point to myself:)

Where is this clamor for working headlamps? Have Hornby sold more Black Fives on the strength of it and in the unlikely event that they have how many will either cancel preorders or just not buy now until the price drops? Firebox glow on the other hand has (rightly or wrongly) become expected so to keep pace with the market Hornby should offer it but linked to dcc functions rather than as they have at present just on or off like a headlamp.

Spot on. Make proper technical improvements to keep pace with the market (so copy Accurascale and Dapol for tender coupling cams), firebox glow again copy Accurascale/Dapol and Rapido. Keep gimmickry to a minimum or if you must fit 'working' headlamps test it on Railroad where there is more need to enhance the product and the market more willing to dabble with 'functions'. As you said literally all that Hornby had to do with the Black 5 was the same as the Coronation and the lovely BR 2MT. Non working lamps with a hole in the base to pop on a lamp iron (first offerred by Bachmann with the A1 circa 2000!) would have been a nice touch, have cost pence and kept everyone happy.

I'm reluctantly going to cancel my pre order for the Hornby model as I feel it is too compromised by gimmickry for the price asked. The Black 5 is one of those iconic classes that the market can sustain more than one manufacturer of and with Hornby taking the mass market rtr segment the window is open for someone else going for the high end market. In the meantime I've enough Hornby Black 5 and Brassmaster parts 'in stock' to build up as many variants as I need. In time 'parts' from the new model will also filter in to the second hand market and if they do I might well find a use for them - my most recent new model Princess Coronation came to me this way - £25 for the body, £75 for the chassis and tender.

Works perfectly on the Accurascale Manor, don’t understand why Hornby and Bachmann can’t do the same. Or, better imho retain the 4 pin plug (which I have never had an issue with) and then use Bachmanns infinitely adjustable sliding tender pin arrangement.

For my sins I get to meet regularly with reasonably senior Civil Servants and I can confirm ‘reaching out’ is very regular in their sentences. These are people in their 30s and 40s - I’m late 50s. As @Roy Langridge says, language evolves. Chill lol.

I watched this last night. Can't say I am as optimistic as to the ease of removal or concealment of the 'repair'. Peter had to revisit his first attempt as light blead (presumably because the LED's are permanently lit on DC?) through the PVA he'd used. Second repair with black tack worked but as we know, black tack doesnt really allow for 'invisible' repairs. The rear tender lamp is he said a permanent fitting with no alternative lamp bracket provided. The actual 'traditional' part of the model looks very well done indeed but the lamps and the loco tender coupling will be the minimum I'd need to do.

Agree - Tubby Duff :)

That highlights just how overscale the Hornby lamps are. As I said a while ago, they'd look good on the Ellis Clarke Black 5!

Its too matt for ex works - either varnish or weather it I reckon. Hadnt noticed previously the 'cam coupling' securing the tender a good 2 ft further from the cab than it needs to be (but at least its allowed Hornby to model the cab doors in the fully closed position 🤣. )

All very true. The exception will be for modern day steam running where mainline loco's carry Network Rail compliant (ie bright) lights - usually but not always on the middle from lamp bracket. Also some of the preserved lines carry similar lamps but usually in the traditional lamp position. My 'local' preservered line - the Severn Valley has used battery powered lamps in lieu of oil lamps and these are noticeably brighter (and a different colour temp) to traditional oil lamps.