ndg910

I was wondering how long it might be before we saw the SR Raworth Boosters. We have just about every other prototype loco post WW2 - Bulleid Diesels, Fell, 18000,181000, Leader (I know its not released), etc in 00 Gauge and these were the obvious missing candidates. I didnt expect EFE Rail to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat but having thought it through, I guess there is some link up with Graham Muspratt of this parish and Kernow. I for one was not expecting Bachmann/EFE Rail but I see them as a safe pair of hands for this and well done for a good choice.

I can just about justify one on the basis I have a 94xx and venerable Dapol County that dont quite fit my late 30s/early 40s time period either. I was hoping for the whitewash car or GWR Dynamometer car but very happy with this. Now where is that wishlist gone? - Aberdare, 1101 class dock tank, Toplights, Super Saloons......

Been a bit of a GW announcement day but I am nervous about how these will turn out. A good reputation takes a while to build and whilst I have no KR Models products and so have no first hand experience, I just seem to be drawn to the reports from others about their other releases. hopefully the quality control has been sorted out and these are on a par with Accurascale and Rapido.

Totally agree. About time this was done and I'll be in for at least one. I know this is an Autocoach thread, but what happened to the corridor Toplights?

There seems to be people trying to defend this year's announcement but I dont see it that way at all. If they are so far behind that they they need to curtail their production of new items or any items, their project managers have some explaining to do. They cant keep hiding behind COVID as that doesnt wash for the 2022 releases that are late. Yes the transport issues and costs were possibly unforeseeable but it seems to me that the admission of a catch up year is an admission that the marketing team got too excited in 2022 and announced too much without consulting with the people tasked with delivery and the blame for that has to lie at Mr Kohler's door. In my view it would be much better for Hornby to try the new Bachmann style of announcements. I know that doesnt placate the shareholders but would a 3 or 6 monthly announcement be better to ease the load and give Hornby more certainty on deliveries. I was very much against the Bachmann policy of 3 monthly announcement when it came out but I'll readily admit it works and I have come to be more excited at the possibility and knowledge that I only have to wait 3 months for another dose. Yes they are still catching up on the back catalogue releases but Hornby are now in the same position with a huge list of outstanding items. It might take Hornby a year to get to position where they can be ready for such a new style of announcement but its the way forward in my view and would create a more level layer of froth rather than the huge spike of froth in January and little for the rest of the year. It might also give the social media teams more opportunity to have something useful to say. The other point to raise is what are the market research team doing at Hornby? The wishlist poll might have only just arrived but a review of forums or talking to the modelling fraternity at shows would have picked up the pent up demand for a SR U Class, more AC electric classes, a class 120, various modern electric units, the s160 class, numerous GER/LNWR/LYR/GWR classes. But no, a small obscure LNER class with two examples that looks like Mallard is their big splash. To be fair, I suppose the retooled chassis can possibly be used as the basis for a retooled B17 in the future as the B17 is getting long in the tooth now.

A monumental fail in my opinion. Just needs another manufacturer to cheekily announce something today and the Hornby announcement will be forgotten,

Interesting stuff and a big thank you to Brian and the team. A quick scan suggests very little demand for diesels or electrics introduced post Grouping - 14 out of 50 top polling items by my count with only one - class 120 DMU, in the top 10. I read that two ways and neither is a criticism or dampener for the modern era market as it has its place in the market but either the market is flooded with reruns of the modern classes and there are few rich pickings or there is no demand. Either way, I can well see the manufacturers taking note and scaling back on yet another retool. There are some really good low hanging fruit in the top 50 covering classes in all the Big 4 companies, many of which had examples survive in to BR days and whilst quite a few will need careful consideration to account for variations, I'll be looking forward to see how this affects manufacturer's plans. The downside for me is a fair few of the top 50 I have kits in the pile to complete. Cue a rummage, completion of said kit and the inevitable announcement......

I am open to all suggestions (as long as they are steam era) but I really don't see any point chasing the duplication market any more. Accurascale, Rapido, KR models et al are here to stay and have already eaten into the core market that was Hornbys. I have bought Hornby for many years but my demand for their product has dwindled recently and I am sure I am not alone. I think the only new models purchased in the last few years have been the SR diners and Hornby need to understand the change in market forces and need to flex with it. They cant be moaning that xyz manufacturer has snapped their golden model if they leave open goals. Yes, Hornby have a market (almost a monopoly) for Flying Scotsman and little Billy's first train set but that wont be enough for them to survive without market diversification. I think I am trying to say, talk to the modelling community, do your own wishlist poll and understand what the market wants. That's how others respond to market forces (maybe not with the wishlist poll). For the past 10 years Hornby have been lucky that their major competitor have been slow between announcement and delivery allowing Hornby to keep up with them. That's now changed and many other manufacturers have different business models (no pun intended) and Hornby need to make the splash and be creative. I can well see, the Hornby B-set being brought back to fight off Rapido, the Class 50 to resist Accurascale and others in a similar vein. Hornby need to be creative in their corner and not responsive and they will succeed. I really hope in a few weeks we are saying, they've retooled that or are bringing out this - what a fantastic package of releases/announcements, and that we are not seeing the headlines of "Hornby are just reacting to xyz's announcement of a better highly detailed version of a class xxx with a Railroad version first introduced in 1975". Oh and a Saint, Aberdare, 1101 dock tank or a pre-57xx pannier (1854, 2744) would be a good welcome.

Has there been a limited edition wagon issued for this years show? If so does anyone have a picture/details. Sorry if it’s been asked already.

I had my money on Simon Kohler dressing up as Buster Keaton and running after an Accurascale Class 50. At least is steam and not a duplication of another manufacturer!

As a kid I used to catch the 209 (which became the H12) from South Harrow Station and LS402 in 50th anniversary livery was always one I looked out for. Not always on the 136 but that was its more common route and along with Metrobus M1000, these two were the garage pets out of Harrow Weald Garage.

Fantastic. A great choice to tool the 44xx. Definitely one of the missing GW locos in RTR form. Suppose I can cancel my search for a decent but economically priced Bachmann 45xx which I was going to convert. Just an Aberdare and 1101 class dock tank now to keep me even happier 😃

Time to revive this topic. Email from Model Rail says there is news in the latest magazine out tomorrow. Model Rail are not at Warley with a stand but it is clearly the intention to have some news for the big show. Those VoR RTR coaches cant be far behind now - but by whom?

Hmm, big red announcement either tomorrow or at Warley according to an email I've received... sorry I deleted it so cant remember now. I wonder if a Class 50 might be on the cards.... Have Accurascale trumped the Kohler brigade with some of their own mischief?

Praise the Lord. Bachmann are hopefully through their retooled diesel phase for a while. Does that mean some steam models will get retooled or we might get some new models. I had begun to label Bachmann as a modern image manufacturer. Am glad I will have to rethink that.