Hornby 2019 Speculation

[Jammy2305]

Perhaps the real problem, which Hornby may be on the verge of tackling, if the last hint in the OP is as radical as it might be, is a lack of imagination, allied to an undue reliance on wish-list polls.

 

Where is the real excitement in the announcements these days?

 

The Peckett has so far been stunningly successful. Astonishingly popular on first release and still packing them in now its back on stream. One of the interesting things about it is apparent number of people who bought one without having any need for one. What's also significant is that its "a really useful engine" both in itself and with a near infinite variety of liveries. Funnily enough 10 years ago and back it used to be received wisdom that a viable model should be one with a wide service appeal both in terms of geography and liveries. 

 

Doesn't sound like rocket science, yet how often have we been served up with a diet of black locomotives not looking terribly different from each other. Yet another Pannier variant or filling that last gap in the Standards,may well gladden the enthusiast,  but do sales in the wider world match that specialist clamour?

.

There's talk above of this or that Great Eastern loco, but is it being offered in blue or is it just another black loco? The J36 is to be applauded, but more so surely is the Caledonian blue 812 coming from Rails.

 

The argument against pre-grouping locos in the past has always been that they are too limited in their market, but so too are all-too many other recent releases of locomotives which worked on only a few lines in one small corner of the country.

 

I have long questioned why Hornby went to the effort of creating all the variations in their J15 tooling (different cab roof heights, different tender frames etc) but couldn't go the final step to allow a GER condition example to be built. There is so little that needs doing to open up a further four livery variations (GER blue, GER grey, GER black and ROD) all of which would be popular and yet they still shy away from it? Whilst I'm glad that Hornby gave us so many nice GE section models, I can't help but feel Bachmann would have given us some actually relevant to the GER period.

 

Equally, whilst Hornby should certainly be congratulated for doing the J36, I can't help but notice the fact that their NBR liveried example isn't in NBR condition and is yet another missed opportunity for the pre-grouping market...

[Jammy2305]

As for loco's, I'm hoping for something that originated from the GER, so a J69, E4 or something else from the GER. 

 

As for wagons, an LNER bogie brick wagon as I've just built a parkside kit and it'll be just my luck 

 

As for coaches, hopefully something that originated from the GER 

 

As for diesels I don't really know, but I've heard that the 47 needs a retool, so I'll go with that.

 

 

Even better if they actually produce them in GER condition! We can but hope...

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

... Unless Hornby or another manufacturer releases a chassis only option will we know if they will be popular or not. Yes the low volume trains from the past would be uneconomical but trains like pannier tanks, class 47, class 37’s may be economical and profitable

 The experiment has been performed, and by at least two different manufacturers I believe.

 

Bachmann made available their designs of split chassis mechanisms to fit a dozen of the earlier Mainline and Replica split chassis models, including the 57xx. Did not sell that well, and Bachmann saddled themselves with an expectation that they should continue doing the same with their current mechanisms, which has proved something of a 'poison pill' for them.

 

HobbyCo(ViTrains) had their 37 and 47 mechanisms available as spares, practically drop in replacements for the earlier Lima, and doubtless adaptable to other maker's duff tractors. And they have exited the UK OO market...

 

Now, I and others here enthusiastically insert modern drives into older bodies of all sorts. How do we do this? I cannot speak for anyone else, but my method is to look for both good retailer reductions, and any second hand that floats into range. A complete model is only an assembled kit: use the pieces you need, sell on the 'off falls'; for which there is a decent market, caused by the lack of body spares for current products.

[Zunnan]

I obviously don’t know the economic maths, but a Stanier III CK would seem like a sure fire seller to all those who’ve bought the TKs and BSKs in the various liveries. The lack of a Gresley BTK or CK is just as glaring, but unfortunately Hornby shot themselves in the foot with the tumblehome and beading problems on the original releases. As someone willing to overlook these shortcomings (and unwilling to purchase more SKs and BCKs) I’d be happy for them to repeat the errors in the cause of consistency, but I’m sure many others wouldn’t. So whatever they did, half the potential purchasers would be put off.

 

Couldn't agree more. I'd love to see these two coaching stock ranges padded out to make the most of them.

 

I still think they'd have been better off doing the 60ft chassis and producing a D1925 CK and perhaps the rarer D1850 BCK to make further use of the chassis, rather than doing the 50ft BG which was duplicated in the blue box anyway. As much as I like the BG it doesn't help form a prototypical (ex)LMS rake, and until the advent of the Bachmann Portholes you couldn't do that without either using a CK of older lineage than me or using a Mk1. The LMS crowd are still stuck with using 1970s tooled CKs of Mainline and Airfix origins or kitbuilds, and that can't have helped with sales over the years. It was only arrival of the Portholes which made me buy more Hornby Staniers, and I'd buy D1925s (as well as a fistful more BTKs) in droves if they were produced.

 

I'd also like to see the Gresley range padded out with a BTK and CK, warts and all for what its worth nowdays. Kirk kits are getting harder to come by, they're becoming an investment rather than a viable building alternative with the prices they can fetch!

[GNR Dave]

With Hornbys affection for Pullmans, I wonder if they might produce earlier versions (with cream panels over the windows (cant rails ?)) I've seen pics of them pulled by pre-grouping locos such as GN and Brighton Atlantics in this livery. This would resolve the 'nothing for it to pull' argument levelled at pre-grouping locos.

[brushman47544]

A thought.  Is there any mileage in Hornby acquiring the Vi-trains 37 and 47 tooling and reintroducing them?  I don't know what happened to Vi-trains UK outline production and or plans other than they vanished into thin air.

ViTrains is alive and well and producing models for the Italian market. I think all their 37s and 47s were commissioned by their (UK) importer, which no longer does so. If someone took over, presumably ViTrains would produce further models. But it might be considered as too risky financially with the current steady flow of 37s and 47s from Bachmann.

[magic_monkey09]

they’d be mad not to do a ScotRail HST and a GWR celebrity power car set with the option of TTS sound

[Bailey Gate]

I'd be more than happy if they would do what DJM intended and developed a 74 from the 71. 

[Dunsignalling]

Couldn't agree more. I'd love to see these two coaching stock ranges padded out to make the most of them.

 

I still think they'd have been better off doing the 60ft chassis and producing a D1925 CK and perhaps the rarer D1850 BCK to make further use of the chassis, rather than doing the 50ft BG which was duplicated in the blue box anyway. As much as I like the BG it doesn't help form a prototypical (ex)LMS rake, and until the advent of the Bachmann Portholes you couldn't do that without either using a CK of older lineage than me or using a Mk1. The LMS crowd are still stuck with using 1970s tooled CKs of Mainline and Airfix origins or kitbuilds, and that can't have helped with sales over the years. It was only arrival of the Portholes which made me buy more Hornby Staniers, and I'd buy D1925s (as well as a fistful more BTKs) in droves if they were produced.

 

I'd also like to see the Gresley range padded out with a BTK and CK, warts and all for what its worth nowdays. Kirk kits are getting harder to come by, they're becoming an investment rather than a viable building alternative with the prices they can fetch!

Bear in mind though, that Bachmann's LMS BG is of exactly the same Mainline origin and vintage as their panelled 57 footers. Hornby's is a very different and much superior beast.

 

However, I wholeheartedly agree that a 60' CK from Hornby is long overdue, along with a full re-tool for the Restaurant Car.

 

Also that they need to sort out the (in)complete dog's breakfast that is their Gresley corridor range. However, the CK problem raises its head once more, Gresley ones being shorter than other varieties IIRC.

 

For Hornby, maybe sticking with their established penchant for the GE section and going for the 52' 6" versions would be a good way of drawing an unambiguous line under what has gone before? They could even do a streamlined B17 as a launch partner...

 

Also (please) the 51' non-corridor full brake, as the Kirk kit seems to be virtually extinct and I'm on the verge of chopping up two other kits to make one.

 

John

Edited December 27, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[Steamport Southport]

With Hornbys affection for Pullmans, I wonder if they might produce earlier versions (with cream panels over the windows (cant rails ?)) I've seen pics of them pulled by pre-grouping locos such as GN and Brighton Atlantics in this livery. This would resolve the 'nothing for it to pull' argument levelled at pre-grouping locos.

 

The problem is I believe nearly all of the Hornby Pullmans are post grouping types.

 

I think the 12 wheelers were built in 1922 so could just about be pre grouping.

 

 

 

Jason

[melmerby]

The problem is I believe nearly all of the Hornby Pullmans are post grouping types.

 

I think the 12 wheelers were built in 1922 so could just about be pre grouping.

 

 

 

Jason

Cream above would be OK on the earliest batches of the Matchboard K type but they weren't introduced until 1923

The 12 wheel versions were from around 1908 onwards but I don't know whether any of the Hornby ones match.

I need to read my Ford volumes more closely.

 

Keith

[Mr chapman]

With Hornbys affection for Pullmans, I wonder if they might produce earlier versions (with cream panels over the windows (cant rails ?)) I've seen pics of them pulled by pre-grouping locos such as GN and Brighton Atlantics in this livery. This would resolve the 'nothing for it to pull' argument levelled at pre-grouping locos.

Hornby have actually produced them in this livery, be it the now railroad range tooling. However with replacement bogies and a bit of detailing you'd be amazed how well they come up.

Here's an example...

https://www.hattons.co.uk/91599/Hornby_R1118coaches_U_Pack_of_3_Pullman_coaches_split_from_Southern_Belle_train_set_Pre_owned_diffe/StockDetail.aspx

Edited December 27, 2018 by Mr chapman

[Zunnan]

Bear in mind though, that Bachmann's LMS BG is of exactly the same Mainline origin and vintage as their panelled 57 footers. Hornby's is a very different and much superior beast.

 

This is in no doubt, and I am quite fond of the Hornby 50ft BG effort. However, the rationale for not doing the CK was that tooling a third chassis would have been cost prohibitive. If tooling a third chassis really was the sticking point I'd have thought a CK and have to make do with a near 40 year old BG made far more financial sense than the current situation of no CK and two BGs. Would the Staniers have sold better with a CK in the range than a BG? I would say more than likely, yes. I know you can argue the LMS suburbans provide a composite to modern standards, which is entirely true and a viable option for a scratch set, but that isn't everyone's cup of tea (I tend to use Brakes for this rather than a compo). Thankfully the Portholes have been done and provide that vital CK now, but until those arrived I know that I'm not alone in holding back from buying Hornbys offerings, so you could say that the lack of a CK has cost sales for a number of years. You can't put a quantity on that as it is pure conjecture, but its still undeniably something to factor in. As it stands I have a sizeable pre-order for more Portholes that I'd rather cut down should a D1925 ever materialise; I'd be in for double figures...

 

And its pretty much the same story with the Gresleys, where Bachmann have only recently come to the rescue with a range that covers a CK and BTK with the Thompsons...well documented body issues with the Gresleys aside. You can go to the non-corridors to fill the gaps for a scratch set, but again, I don't think many modellers would consider that a viable option. The vogue with modellers seems to be neatly matching sets.

Edited December 27, 2018 by Zunnan

[The Stationmaster]

 

My biggest hope is that Hornby release a completely updated version of Railmaster that is designed for the Latest PC’s on the market Windows 10. Railmaster at present is built on Windows XP architecture which is causing lots of issues for a lot of people. The last time I saw software using ini files other than Railmaster was about 10 years ago and I work in the IT industry.

Every year Hornby release a lot of steam loco’s and a lot of people presently buy then but steam disappeared from our railways over 50 years ago now and those buying these models generally are now 60 plus.

A lot of the new generation of modellers and those under the age of 60 grew up with Diesel, Electric, DMU and EMU trains. As the years go on those wanting to buy steam will drop in numbers.

At present there is a lack of Hornby models in the Diesel and Electric ranges with modern motors powering both front and rear bogies. For example Hornby’s Class 47 options are a joke for a Diesel that was very common on British railways.

TTS has now been out for 2 years but no sign of anymore train types being added.

 

 

The odd thing to many folk is that in the real world the first acquaintance many youngsters have with railways today involves steam trains and not the other things.  This happens for the very simple reason that many families simply do not travel by train on the national network but they do visit steam railways especially for such events as Santa and Mince Pie special.

 

Today i have seen three 'big railway trains, one was a n EMU, one was a diesel hauled LWR train, and the third was steam hauled. - thus 33.33% of the trains I saw today were steam trains, and the steam train was more heavily loaded with a wider variety of passengers than was the EMU.

 

Incidentally today I also placed pre-orders for various items I expect to appear in Hornby's 2019 new releases.  Come a day in January not too far away I'm either going to look exceedingly stupid or gain immense respect and be worshipped as a seer of incredible prescience.

[Ian Hargrave]

The odd thing to many folk is that in the real world the first acquaintance many youngsters have with railways today involves steam trains and not the other things.  This happens for the very simple reason that many families simply do not travel by train on the national network but they do visit steam railways especially for such events as Santa and Mince Pie special.

 

Today i have seen three 'big railway trains, one was a n EMU, one was a diesel hauled LWR train, and the third was steam hauled. - thus 33.33% of the trains I saw today were steam trains, and the steam train was more heavily loaded with a wider variety of passengers than was the EMU.

 

Incidentally today I also placed pre-orders for various items I expect to appear in Hornby's 2019 new releases.  Come a day in January not too far away I'm either going to look exceedingly stupid or gain immense respect and be worshipped as a seer of incredible prescience.

Faites Vos Jeux !

[gwrrob]

 

Incidentally today I also placed pre-orders for various items I expect to appear in Hornby's 2019 new releases.  

 

You're a bit keen to get your Father's Day and Christmas 2019 wagons aren't you Mike.

[bart2day]

they’d be mad not to do a ScotRail HST and a GWR celebrity power car set with the option of TTS sound

What about the new EMT HSTs? A very popular livery and no need for new tooling for the mk3s.

['CHARD]

Well I only buy Hornby and I only model the TOPS class that matches my age, so this year I'm expecting them to release D0280/ 1200 'Falcon.'

[The Johnster]

Why would you only buy Hornby, Chard?  All UK RTR manufacturers' products are compatible in terms of wheel profile and standardise on NEM couplings, and are designed to work together.  I buy mostly stuff in blue boxes, with a selection of stuff in red and yellow ones, but this is only a reflection of the fact that that particular supplier provides more of the stock that I particularly want for the area and period I model, and would never restrict myself to one manufacturer's products.  

 

If it so happens that Hornby provide all your needs, and none can be met by other manufacturers, I understand, as I do if you are a Hornby collector.  Just curious, and no criticism of what you are doing is intended.

Why would you only buy Hornby, Chard?  All UK RTR manufacturers' products are compatible in terms of wheel profile and standardise on NEM couplings, and are designed to work together.  I buy mostly stuff in blue boxes, with a selection of stuff in red and yellow ones, but this is only a reflection of the fact that that particular supplier provides more of the stock that I particularly want for the area and period I model, and would never restrict myself to one manufacturer's products.  

 

If it so happens that Hornby provide all your needs, and none can be met by other manufacturers, I understand, as I do if you are a Hornby collector.  Just curious, and no criticism of what you are doing is intended.

[newbryford]

Well I only buy Hornby and I only model the TOPS class that matches my age, so this year I'm expecting them to release D0280/ 1200 'Falcon.'

 

 I think it may be another 3 years before you purchase another loco............

 

[leopardml2341]

I think it may be another 3 years before you purchase another loco............

 

Surely only 2, the ex Lima '55'........

['CHARD]

 I think it may be another 3 years before you purchase another loco............

 

 

I had a few lean years in my thirties too, when modelling went on hiatus....  

[newbryford]

I had a few lean years in my thirties too, when modelling went on hiatus....  

 

Is that when you fell off the wagon?

[leopardml2341]

@ The Johnster, I suspect by stating this:

 

Well I only buy Hornby and I only model the TOPS class that matches my age, so this year I'm expecting them to release D0280/ 1200 'Falcon.'

Mr Chard is taking the Mickey, relating to an earlier post iirc.

[Steamport Southport]

Where did he get the Western?

 

Always fancied one of those Hornby Western Couriers for some reason. 

 

 

 

Jason