New 2019 Class 31

[adb968008]

4 hours ago, Markwj said:

I know it’s not quite accurate but cheapest I have seen it

 

https://www.modelrailwaysdirect.co.uk/locomotive-diesel-electric/Hornby-r3880-br-class-31-a1a-a1a-31147-floreat-salopia-era-8/

 

 

not too difficult to remove the nameplate and number.

my pair are in their way to becoming 31530 Sister Dora and another tbd.

[newbryford]

On 26/05/2021 at 13:05, rob D2 said:

I wonder if anyone’s told Simon Kohler. I don’t want to email him with bad news again - seems all I do is criticise his stuff 

 

He said he was unaware of it when I contacted him on another matter today.

[rob D2]

I hope their checking and proofing is better on the steam stuff 

[adb968008]

9 hours ago, newbryford said:

 

He said he was unaware of it when I contacted him on another matter today.

 

8 hours ago, rob D2 said:

I hope their checking and proofing is better on the steam stuff 

Simon is a marketing guy.

For several he is a customer facing point of contact.

Theres no doubting he is a passionate professional about his job, and making money for Hornby, but thats not the same as being a micro-analysing railway enthusiast… he communicates with us, but I dont feel he walks amongst us at the platform ends… I think some expect too much from him.

 

As a marketing person I doubt its his job to QA the models being made, and after delivery and stock is on the shelves the marketing piece is mostly done.

Apart of feeding back for lessons learned next time I doubt theres much he can do, and if the item sold well, despite faults then its hard to argue the fault is an issue.

 

if there is a gap / opportunity at Hornby its for someone with “modern” image interests to proactively check pending releases as a “third” set of eyes.. its too easy to look at the same thing day in day out and miss glaring errors when you look at the same thing every day… I suspect theres a wealth of steam hobbists in Hornbys walls and as such they have “third”, “fourth”, “fifth”… sets of eyes when the EPs and samples arrive, but it feels that isnt the same interest on more modern models….
 

However when it comes to releasing and proposing new modern models. I dont feel they have their eye on the ball, when it comes to modern image.. Personally I just see oppourtunism rather than advancement in modern image. Now that is marketings job, unless the modern market just isn't the focus…in which case they dont need “third” eyes and we get what were given.

It’ll be interesting to see if Hornby fight territory for the 56 like they did with the 66, the 56 isnt a cheap model and flooding even more 56’s than announced may end up like the class 71…(personally I don't see why the Hornby 56 needing duplicating anyway, imo its a good model).  Thing is neither are modern anyway…modern money was the 69…. Did it slip through their fingers, or was their hand even trying to catch it at all ?

 

Edited September 24, 2021 by adb968008

[rob D2]

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

 

Simon is a marketing guy.

For several he is a customer facing point of contact.

Theres no doubting he is a passionate professional about his job, and making money for Hornby, but thats not the same as being a micro-analysing railway enthusiast… he communicates with us, but I dont feel he walks amongst us at the platform ends… I think some expect too much from him.

 

As a marketing person I doubt its his job to QA the models being made, and after delivery and stock is on the shelves the marketing piece is mostly done.

Apart of feeding back for lessons learned next time I doubt theres much he can do, and if the item sold well, despite faults then its hard to argue the fault is an issue.

 

if there is a gap / opportunity at Hornby its for someone with “modern” image interests to proactively check pending releases as a “third” set of eyes.. its too easy to look at the same thing day in day out and miss glaring errors when you look at the same thing every day… I suspect theres a wealth of steam hobbists in Hornbys walls and as such they have “third”, “fourth”, “fifth”… sets of eyes when the EPs and samples arrive, but it feels that isnt the same interest on more modern models….
 

However when it comes to releasing and proposing new modern models. I dont feel they have their eye on the ball, when it comes to modern image.. Personally I just see oppourtunism rather than advancement in modern image. Now that is marketings job, unless the modern market just isn't the focus…in which case they dont need “third” eyes and we get what were given.

It’ll be interesting to see if Hornby fight territory for the 56 like they did with the 66, the 56 isnt a cheap model and flooding even more 56’s than announced may end up like the class 71…(personally I don't see why the Hornby 56 needing duplicating anyway, imo its a good model).  Thing is neither are modern anyway…modern money was the 69…. Did it slip through their fingers, or was their hand even trying to catch it at all ?

 

Some good points,

but even if this isn’t his real responsibility , the alarm bells should have been ringing.

 

Personally I know of the 60 with the logos wrong, the 60s with the wrong roof colours, the 31s that came without discs, and now the 31 with an ETH socket…….most of these would be known to him, and these all ultimately cost Hornby money .

 

They need someone like you say, who can focus on getting the modern stuff right . In 2021 they’ll probably have a title like , “ modern image engagement specialist “ , or something equally tossy!

[adb968008]

18 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

They need someone like you say, who can focus on getting the modern stuff right . In 2021 they’ll probably have a title like , “ modern image engagement specialist “ , or something equally tossy!

Dont forget most modern is old in the range…

perhaps OMG is the job… “Old Modern Guru” … then if they hire a few apprentices they could be

EMU.. “Emerging Modern Understudy”  and

DMU “Declining Modern Understudy” with a 

BMU “Bi-Modern understudy” for the diversity aspect

 This covers all gaps in the range.

 

Seriously though, perhaps most obvious modern omission in the last few years is the 142.. they missed that boat completely.

 

Whilst Hornby are making schoolboy errors, others arent immune.. the Bachmann LT class 20’s are compromised, as are there livery errors on the early DRS20.. though Bachmann are sorting that one.

Edited September 24, 2021 by adb968008

[rob D2]

And to be fair - Hornby responded well to their 31 mazak issues . So it’s not all bad in the customer support side