Hobby

As it said Era 3 (Grouping) that's the only electric Pullman I could think of as well, so yes, it would appear to be so. We shall just have to wait and see. Not my scene but will please the Southern enthusiasts!

We were simply answering your comment: "LNER A1/A3/A4 and Duchesses, Castles, etc are modern now?" Acknowledging that whilst they aren't "modern" they are still around and known outside modelling circles and so will sell to non enthusiasts... Perhaps you need to explain where you are coming from because I think we may be misunderstanding one another! ;)

I joined on the 10th, same as Daryll, but nothing yet. I'd heard they have been taken by surprise at the numbers joining and weren't set up for the numbers, I'm in no rush and I collected a paper copy of the catalogue at Gaydon. I'm sure someone has said that the magazine is being sent out by the publishers rather than Hornby to relieve the preasure, it'll be interesting to see which gets to me first!!

Outside the enthusiast circles most people just see a streamlined steam loco and a light green one they know as Flying Scotsman, regardless of what it says on the nameplate, more to the point they "know" them. So as NCB and I have said they are part of the modern scene, same as heritage railways are, but they are better known than most heritage locos. It's got nothing to do with how old they are, it's just what people are familiar with and so likely to buy. So simply something that's likely to sell to non enthusiasts as well as enthusiasts, which is what they want.

Both modern and old, that's why Hornby selected them, well known by the 50s kids and well known working specials today. Regarding buildings I'm hoping Metcalf will do theirs in TT at some point, I've always thought they look better than the others.

Bit late in the day for that, I'd have thought, considering how much Hornby will have spent already, unless you know something we don't? Unfortunate timing, granted, but I feel too late in the day to back pedal.

http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/TrebleO.html

Nope, and nope! I just prefer the scale, and feel it's better than 00 or N! I'm sure I'm not alone in that as several others have expressed similar views. I sincerely hope that it doesn't cause the trouble you seem to think it is doing, what i see is a small number of people for reasons of their own (dislike of Hornby, the scale, they way it's being marketed, the list is endless!) knocking it and those views being blown out of all proportion, though I suppose if we'd had social media back then we'd have seen the same about P4, TT3, N and even 00 far enough back! I'd rather hoped that this thread would have been more constructive, though of late it's is becoming that as the furore dies down!

I doubt there's much nostalgia for the Stasi(!!), but there is a lot for the railways in those times, most German NG stock is based on the old East German lines mainly because they survived. Also TT is big in East Germany and Eastern Europe (second to H0) hence the models will reflect that interest.

Yes, in amongst the near 100 pages I'm sure they were mentioned, in amongst plenty of other locos which ran on British lines as well as on the Continent such as USA tanks, 8fs, etc., not to mention more recently many diesels and electrics. Plenty of crossovers which can be sold by Hornby/Arnold if they wish! The more we look at it the more sense one scale covers all makes.

Thought so, sorry to be picky! ;)

The set is also called The Scotsman, not The Flying Scotsman! :)

Peco don't use code 55 for any of their 009/H0e track, though I wish they did for the 009 track, since the launch of the Mainline I really wish they'd do a finer scale track system for 009 which would match the Heritage line's rails, code 55 would work well. (Not sure you meant it to read like that?!)

Many existing enthusiast will, I'm sure, but the ones they are aiming at won't and there's plenty of enthusiasts who already know TT and won't be worried. The more Hornby take it around shows the more people will see it as well. Warley next...

Yes, as you say, we are all guessing, and none of us have a crystal ball, nor are experts in this type of marketing, hence we are up to page 90!! Just out of interest I did the search and Hornby TT:120 came up in the first of the "Ads" just below where you cut off the page! ;)

So please enlighten me how you know there's this massive untapped market for Era 1? It was you that suggested it, and I replied with my reason why I didn't think it was a very good suggestion for a new scale start up! I'd also suggested that, if anywhere, it would be worth a punt in 00, just not TT, as yet! Yep, that set you pictured will sell, together with lots of other "toy train sets" that have dubious origins, I know several people who buy those sets for conversion into all sorts of narrow gauge stock, but I suspect that Hornby aren't competing in the same market as them (at least in TT!)?! 😀

Hardly unexpected, though... If the politics taking over from the spectacle of the sport is what Liberty wanted then they've certainly succeeded!

Seriously? As a means to expand an already saturated market maybe, though I'd have expected it to be done in 00 if such a demand existed, as it hasn't I'll draw my own conclusions. But for starting a new scale I'd have thought launching Era 1 would be the kiss of death, outside enthusiasts Rocket is about the only well known loco, hardly a springboard for success. Or have |i misread your post?

It's a perfectly valid comparison. Just as you won't want duff models, neither do I, but in my case handling them isn't an option so I have to rely on photos and reviews. So exactly the same as having to buy TT sight unseen. Yes it's been mentioned quite a few times, but as pointed out the models we have seen are only pre production prototypes and it is expected that they will be corrected! :)

There, corrected it for you, it's not a given, as Simon has said to several of us they are hoping to get them across in time by air if a deal can be done. Even then a delay of a week or so isn't the end of the world... Though it's God's gift to the Hornby knockers!! As I said I feel it was more to limit numbers to those who were genuinely interested, when i went in it was first thing and empty but an hour or so later it was pretty crowded, had it just been open house then I doubt everyone would have got chance to see them close up. I haven't had the pack either, though I know people who have, saw a few at Gaydon! According to the membership blurb we all got when joining the discount is for 12 months of joining.

Yes.

Nor me, I leave that to the Missus! But in this case I see no reason not to join as it's free and it gives me a 15% discount for the first year on stuff I will be buying, bit of a no brainer really! At the end of the year I'll see what offers are around.

They've been planning it for 5 years so, as proved, so they are much further down the line than other manufacturers. They have also decided to go in with a full range, unlike Heljan and others, thus enabling them to sell to newcomers as well as existing modellers. With a totally new scale I'd suggest that isn't "predatory" but a sensible way to launch a new scale. I've no doubt that in due course other manufacturers will get involved when it gets established.

There's a few of you, granted, but many of us have to buy stuff unseen. I've been modelling east European narrow gauge for years and have bought lots of things sight unseen and not been disappointed... There's also the point than most model shops don't stock every single item of stock! In your case you'll just have to wait until a few of us get our layouts up and running and then you'll see them and you can decide then...

It also limited numbers who could enter. Like Les i was in there when it opened so had a good view of the models and was able to talk to Simon about them. Later on when i walked past it was crowded and there was a queue to get in. Just imagine how bad it would have been if they'd have opened it up to everyone and there would have been crowds of people with no interest in the scale and only there to knock it, rather like this thread at times, at least the form filling got rid of most of the uninterested! I felt they did the right thing! Didn't to me, they looked quite good, but as pointed out they were pre-production samples.