Hornby: A Model World

[Darius43]

2 hours ago, AY Mod said:

like seagulls at the council tip, they never fly alone.

 

Didn’t Eric Cantona once say that...

 

Cheers

 

Darius

[AY Mod]

18 hours ago, Markwj said:

although I did feel as a forum member we were painted a bit as the bad guys

 

Being honest, SK doesn't really like forums. Why that's felt to be worse than comments on their own social media channels I know not.

[Not Jeremy]

2 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

And to tell everyone else that they are. They'd be heartbroken to know that the majority of people don't care about their perspective and they're unlikely to actually bring anyone down to their level of gloom (as it's not just this topic) but the problem is that, like seagulls at the council tip, they never fly alone.

Biggles flies undone.

 

Just a thought.

 

Might give the prog a watch myself, thought part one was pretty good - lots of Merchant Navies!

 

Mind you, those adverts kept popping up

[Ian Hargrave]

6 minutes ago, Not Jeremy said:

Biggles flies undone.

 

Just a thought.

 

Might give the prog a watch myself, thought part one was pretty good - lots of Merchant Navies!

 

Mind you, those adverts kept popping up

 
Easy fix…..record &watch on dvd . Then skip ads on fast forward.

[RJS1977]

52 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Being honest, SK doesn't really like forums. Why that's felt to be worse than comments on their own social media channels I know not.

 

My suspicion is that the Hornby social media pages are easier to find than the forums, so are more likely to be inhabited by 'less serious' modellers (including parents who have bought trains for their children, teenagers, and younger generations in general), who are probably less fussy about detail but with an eye on the price, whereas forums like RMweb tend to be populated (by no means exclusively, but I'd say at least a majority) of older modellers with a keener eye for detail and more money to spend, for whom price is a secondary consideration provided the detail is right.

[Vistisen]

On 26/10/2021 at 18:21, RJS1977 said:

 

My suspicion is that the Hornby social media pages are easier to find than the forums, so are more likely to be inhabited by 'less serious' modellers (including parents who have bought trains for their children, teenagers, and younger generations in general), who are probably less fussy about detail but with an eye on the price, whereas forums like RMweb tend to be populated (by no means exclusively, but I'd say at least a majority) of older modellers with a keener eye for detail and more money to spend, for whom price is a secondary consideration provided the detail is right.

my recollection of the price debat. Is that us 'real' modelers want super detailed engines for low prices. I thought of this when SK in the first programme talked about the same dubblo trainset costing two and a half weeks wages. I doubt that people would pay £1000+ for such a trainset today.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Vistisen

[SamThomas]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

Perhaps Hornby will introduce a range of Skaledale seagulls for 2022?

 

In true RMW pendacity may I point out that there is no such species as a "seagull" - what we saw on Hornby's roof were predominantly "Herring Gulls" which can be prevented from nesting by specialist companies (out of the nesting season - it's a criminal offence to disturb them at those times).

 

The O Gauge layout was impressive & the detailing superb, both myself & Mrs T are looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. As for PW's effort, that gets the thumbs down from us - big - yes, lots of trains - yes, a definate public crowd puller - yes. But really, all that length & small radious crossovers, panto's down, daylight visible through tunnel months & no close couplings ! Some of the Horby layouts are very trainset but could have been built to a higher standard (gaps between baseboards & the next level, bad railjoints).

 

As for the programme itself we are enjoying it, certainly some is staged but most programmes of this type will contain a certain amount. The "rivets" were, we think a little TIC from SK. (It often makes me chuckle that someone will complain that a minor detail is missing/incorrect but perfectly happy that the wheels are too close together !).

 

The Steampunk aspect was also very good & we have both seen the layout & met the builder.

 

Personally, we like the way the programme shows other aspects which are not Hornby. Looking forward to the next episode.

[blueeighties]

4 hours ago, melmerby said:

 

 

IMHO Just because it's big and well researched and also expertly constructed, doesn't necessarily make it good entertainment from the general public's point of view.

The fact it is 200' long, genuinely takes your breath away when you see the sheer size of it, there is simply too much to take in upon a first visit. 

I have already watched various members of the public, who all collectively know diddly squat about prototype railways or models, literally stand open mouthed upon the reveal. You are completely missing the point of just what this venture is all about.

Edited October 26, 2021 by blueeighties
Typo

[Phil Parker]

4 hours ago, RJS1977 said:

 

It didn't come across to me as a formal 'performance review' as such - more an ad-hoc meeting where Simon told him how good the reviews of the van was.

 

Since the mags all appear at different times during the month, how come the designer hadn't seen any of the reviews? It's almost like the scene was staged for telly...

[Mike Bellamy]

16 minutes ago, Phil Parker said:

It's almost like the scene was staged for telly...

They wouldn't do that - or would they . . . . ??  

[PaulRhB]

11 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

seagulls 

 

8 hours ago, Not Jeremy said:

Biggles flies undone.

Different kind of peck . .

 

I don’t think certain aspects of forums are popular with many manufacturers because of the instant gratification demands. Hornby aren’t the only ones who don’t particularly like them from a recent chat I had with another but that does mean they are probably working in the broader sense because they are in their consciousness. Not many of us like performance reviews but they do keep us ‘honest’ to an extent. 
 

I’m not a great fan of any of the jeopardy aspects of much reality tv but that’s the media side not the companies featured and once you look past it there’s some good nuggets in many of the shows. It’s a bit like an exhibition, I’m not likely to be into all of it but there’s enough to keep me watching for the gems. A slightly warmer, or gently humoured, tone of narration or Mr Dunn’s infectious enthusiasm would be my choice for such series. Enquiring on our behalf but not dumbed down. 
 

I could happily lose the staged meetings etc for more with the designers and researchers and to see more of their character and humour. That’s where the similar Truckers programme shines in letting the  staff be characters and tell the story around them. 
 

I’m glad that the Toy stories, model rail challenge and the couple of Hornby series have lead to railways becoming regular tv fodder, it can only be good to get people into model shops and shows  Maybe they could slide some more adventurous modelling demos in to future ones to keep up the good work demonstrated in the challenge series? 
 

Edited October 27, 2021 by PaulRhB
Offended software . . .

[ovbulleid]

Kernow report a surge in sales of the Churchill van. Maybe Hornby should commission ‘making of’ programmes for all of their new releases to push sales in the right direction!

 

Will the locomotive join the carriage at Margate? They do ‘tell the story’ better when united 

[Ouroborus]

Generally i like the program, but the 'mild peril', a feature of so many documentaries, gets tedious.  Also, whilst I'm sure that SK is a lovely chap, i got the inclination of him trying to create a impression of Hornby that some off us see a little different.   His 'we've got to get it right' and the 'nowhere near good enough' rang a little awkwardly with those of us who have some of their D&E stuff.

[HeatonLodge40]

In my defence what I wanted to create with Heaton Lodge Junction was the sheer anticipation of being able to see a train approaching from well over a scale mile away. This can only be done on a huge scale by its very nature.

In O gauge (like the real thing) it’s pretty mesmerising. As such there will be 10 pairs of binoculars at each end of the model for visitors use.

Yep, it may not have siding or a station but it does have steep and shallow gradients, tunnels, a viaduct & bridges, superelevated curves, complicated handbuilt pointwork and a 150ft fiddle yard with lots of long heavy trains.

Above the layout are 4 platform type timetables which show the time of all the trains inc the next steam charter.

 

Pete Waterman’s Chester cathedral layout had 44,000 visitors over a month. If I get half that over 2 weeks I’ll be very happy.

I guess we’ll see soon enough! 

 

[melmerby]

10 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

In my defence what I wanted to create with Heaton Lodge Junction was the sheer anticipation of being able to see a train approaching from well over a scale mile away. This can only be done on a huge scale by its very nature.

In O gauge (like the real thing) it’s pretty mesmerising. As such there will be 10 pairs of binoculars at each end of the model for visitors use.

Yep, it may not have siding or a station but it does have steep and shallow gradients, tunnels, a viaduct & bridges, superelevated curves, complicated handbuilt pointwork and a 150ft fiddle yard with lots of long heavy trains.

Above the layout are 4 platform type timetables which show the time of all the trains inc the next steam charter.

 

Pete Waterman’s Chester cathedral layout had 44,000 visitors over a month. If I get half that over 2 weeks I’ll be very happy.

I guess we’ll see soon enough! 

 

I wish you well and do hope you get a decent footfall. The exposure on the Hornby programme should help enormously.

e.g. PW's layout received much coverage on mainstream TV which would have helped it greatly.

 

As you will have gathered from my posts, I'm a bit of a pessimist when model railway items are presented to the general public and have seen people's (presumably not hardened modeller's/enthusiasts) responses at some of the good layouts at Warley. 

Although the models are excellently constructed, more often than once often I have heard such things as "not much action", "not enough trains" etc. at a layout.

I must admit I'm guilty myself when if I stand by a layout for a period of time, I expect to see a moving train, even though away from urban centres and some mainlines, the reality is long periods of inaction.

[HeatonLodge40]

4 minutes ago, melmerby said:

I wish you well and do hope you get a decent footfall. The exposure on the Hornby programme should help enormously.

e.g. PW's layout received much coverage on mainstream TV which would have helped it greatly.

 

As you will have gathered from my posts, I'm a bit of a pessimist when model railway items are presented to the general public and have seen people's (presumably not hardened modeller's/enthusiasts) responses at some of the good layouts at Warley. 

Although the models are excellently constructed, more often than once often I have heard such things as "not much action", "not enough trains" etc. at a layout.

I must admit I'm guilty myself when if I stand by a layout for a period of time, I expect to see a moving train, even though away from urban centres and some mainlines, the reality is long periods of inaction.

I designed HLJ to work automatically from the outset to get around the points you made. 
Because the layout has many conflicting routes and space in the fiddle yard for 28 full length trains it would still be exceptionally difficult performing all these complicated manoeuvres - with even 15 operators. 
With the automation switched on there will always be 3 trains minimum either approaching or actually passing. 
It’s great to see the colour light signals change slowly too - just as the old filament bulbs did back in the day 

[SamThomas]

Both Mrs T & myself are looking forward to seeing HLJ & wish HLJ every success on tour & after.

 

Some great publicity is deserved. PW is a high profile "personality" & will get bucketloads of publicity whatever he does.

We do think that HLJ deserves a programme or two to be made, noy only from the concept idea, but through to the design, buikd & the not inconsiderable logistics required to relocate it at regular intervals.

I certainly, would like to see some more of the "behind the scences".

 

Maybe, HLJ should have it's own dedicated thread ?

[Gilbert]

 

[Miss Prism]

2 minutes ago, SamThomas said:

Maybe, HLJ should have it's own dedicated thread ?

 

err, yes it does !

[Andymsa]

One thing that appears to be missing from the train aspect of the show is average joe modeller, although future episodes may show mr joe average. Its great to see the likes of HLJ and it’s impressive modelling but I like to see more of layouts like Cato pass and layouts built by the wider public, although not my personal cup of tea it was well modelled and much thought put into it, I did enjoy the loco conversion especially and take my hat off the layouts builders imagination and what can be achieved. 

[SamThomas]

1 hour ago, Miss Prism said:

 

err, yes it does !

Thanks - maybe I should have used google to look for one instead of the forum search !

[spamcan61]

13 hours ago, Ouroborus said:

   His 'we've got to get it right' and the 'nowhere near good enough' rang a little awkwardly with those of us who have some of their D&E stuff.

..not to mention their various interpretations of BR green on steam locos, dodgy assembly of A2/2s, 'ski ramp' front ends on A3s etc. etc. But then it's showbiz, not a quality audit.

[melmerby]

31 minutes ago, SamThomas said:

Thanks - maybe I should have used google to look for one instead of the forum search !

I found it quite easily with a forum search, going on what had been posted about it previously in this thread.

There is also a dedicated website

https://www.britainsbiggestmodelrailway.com/

[melmerby]

33 minutes ago, spamcan61 said:

..not to mention their various interpretations of BR green on steam locos

Just like the real thing then..........

I grew up in the BR Green age and they weren't all the same as some might like to think.

[spamcan61]

15 minutes ago, melmerby said:

Just like the real thing then..........

I grew up in the BR Green age and they weren't all the same as some might like to think.

Absolutely, conveniently ignoring people's ability to accurately recall a colour they last saw 50 / 60 years ago. I don't get hung up on "exact" colour personally, I was just making the point that Hornby's less than perfect QC / whatever wasn't limited to D&E.