Hornby 2022 Range - pre-announcement frothing - now closed

[asmay2002]

On 24/12/2021 at 12:28, Carl LaFong said:

Ex GNR/LNER K2 is, I think, the largest class of steam loco yet to be made available R-T-R

Not even close.  There were only ever 75 K2.  The class didn't even run to 3 figures.  Compare that with 943 LNWR DX goods, 499 LNWR Coal Engine, 310 LNWR Cauliflower,  316 MR Kirtley 700 class, etc.  It doesn't even work if you just think about 2-6-0 (80 GWR Aberdare for example) or LNER engines (110 J6, 201 J21, 120 J25, etc).  

Edited December 25, 2021 by asmay2002

[scouse889]

23 hours ago, Standards_in_OO said:

I have wondered why this hasn’t been around even in the Railroad range for a while now. I’m assuming the Realtrack one is more expensive than I’m prepared to pay for but I would happily pick up a cheaper alternative if it was available. 

I think if they were going to do this it would have to include a motor upgrade.

[NXEA!]

My predictions for what it’s worth (not everything, just potential candidates): 

 

• Retooled Black 5

• Retooled 8F

• A J69

• A new 2251 Collett Goods - the Bachmann model is decent but reckon the market would support a higher-end model

• Hanson & Hall 50008

• 31128 in BR Blue (current condition)

• Gresley Suburban push-pull set (would compliment the Oxford N7)

 

Looking forward to seeing what’s announced on the 10th, hopefully it’s varied and exciting! 

Edited December 26, 2021 by NXEA!

[Hilux5972]

A newly tooled County would be a great addition. Possibly a 69 but I doubt it. H&H 50 is an inevitability I’d say. GWR Collett restaurant car would be good. 

[DY444]

On 24/12/2021 at 00:14, The Stationmaster said:

Being (almost) serious I reckon an EMU (? Electrostar as it has plenty of livery options); an LNER streamliner coaching set; a reworked Class 47 because that's fashionable and we can't have other people pinching our models;  a GWR dining car of some sort; a 'Totfield Firebolt' set to look sort of like someone else's Titfield Thunderbolt set but not too close to avoid upsetting the French; steam outline model with working exhaust steam, maybe on a new/revised Hornby Dublo branded model (an A4 in silver grey livery?); a Victorian era industrial loco (because they seem to be all the rage).  Wild card - a superdetailed rework of the Black 5.

 

I would point out that my normal guessing quotient indicates that maybe one or even two of the above predictions almost stand a slight chance of being correct.

 

On the face of it the Electrostar ought to be a good choice given their large numbers in the South East but inconveniently across the various classes there are plenty of variations which I imagine would complicate things from a manufacturing perspective.  If we ignore the 3 variants without gangwayed cabs that leaves classes 375, 377, 379 and 387. 

 

The problem there is that 375 and 377/1-377/5 have ribbon glazed windows and the rest have conventionally glazed windows so the body sides are somewhat different.  Now I'm not a tooling expert but you may need totally different bodies if you wanted to do both styles.  So the chances are you'd have to pick one and it makes more sense to do the later style as these operate in a wider area with more livery choices.  However that does eliminate most of the third rail fleet at Southern, and from a Margate perspective, SET.  

 

So not straightforward which together with the traditional reluctance to venture into emus might explain why it hasn't happened yet and why it may not until other emu families with less variations have been picked off first.  

 

Having said that my total inability over the years to second guess what manufacturers are up to probably means they are a nailed on certainty!

[Hal Nail]

15 hours ago, RyanN91 said:

A Hornby B.R Class 252 prototype HST Class 41 HST Power Cars and original protype livery B.R MK3 carriages. I'd love to see this! 

The argument for Hornby doing this must be the potential to save costs by using existing tooling, so almost a new railroad product. eg a new power car body but otherwise using the existing chassis and coaches.

 

What would be very interesting is how well this would sell. I often see it stated on RMWeb that the market wants more accurate models these days but I'm not actually convinced the majority of paying public are that demanding.

[phil gollin]

.

 

So, what "old" models are in need of updating ?

 

Well, remembering the real roots of the modern "Hornby" are really in Tri-Ang Railways, the only ones they seem to have ignored (excluding the foreign prototypes) are the L1 4-4-0 and the rather imaginative 3-car EMU.   So the L1 really should be a contender.

 

And, if we go back to the modern myth of Hornby, that it is the descendent of Hornby-Dublo, there are plenty there which can be done in the "new" die-cast metal body range.  My favourites would be the Standard 4MT 2-6-4T, or the Castle class.   As an oddity, and using the weight of the die-cast body to best advantage how about the R1 class 0-6-0T ?

 

And, "modern image", how about the Class 455 1980's third rail EMUs ?  They started work in 1982 and are still going strong (!)  They have been in many, many liveries and long lives.

 

.

[ThaneofFife]

I doubt it will happen but youd like to think the 87s will get a tuck and a tweak to allow easier decoder and or sound installation and those lights are reconfigured for better more realistic operation.  Corridor lighting would be nice these 87s are heading to the £200 mark as they are...... I think we might not see any new versions announced for 2022 but if one was I would like to see a BR blue version early 80s with BW pan. 

 

Last year saw the release of the attractive looking white roof INTERCITY charter Mk1 BCK coach so it would seem strange if they left it at that without now adding some First Opens and the Restaurant car to match.

 

 

[scouse889]

2 minutes ago, ThaneofFife said:

Last year saw the release of the attractive looking white roof INTERCITY charter Mk1 BCK coach so it would seem strange if they left it at that without now adding some First Opens and the Restaurant car to match.

 

 

This would seem logical and I would certainly welcome it. It would give an alternative, interesting set of rolling stock to run with the forthcoming 91s (as well as the blue grey sleepers and HST DVT). Any Mark I, II or III in IC executive would be nice too.

 

 

[Blue Max]

My vote would be for the LNER Coronation set and the B17/5 streamline loco.

Edited December 26, 2021 by Blue Max

[Colin]

I'd love to see a class U 2-6-0 but to me, the big obstacle is that the class consists of two distinct variants - the rebuilt "Rivers" with low running plate and larger splashers and the other locos which have a higher running plate. There are also at least two different tenders which possibly got swapped around from time to time. I think my poor old DJH kitbuild will probably have to soldier on a bit longer! 

Good call for the L1 4-4-0 (same coupled wheelbase as the T9 I believe), I have an unmade Crownline kit somewhere. Perhaps if I start to build it, the announcement will appear.......

[Ian Hargrave]

My votes go for investment in both better BR green paint finish and Qualify Control. 

[farren]

I’m going to say more Hornby Double O, the question is dose the tooling need to be designed with metal models in mind? If so would they have designed all new models to be able to be use with metal, could a princess Royal be a possibility? (are using the double O brand as a all new specialist rage or are they staying faithful)

 

Though the black 5 is in need of a update I think the 8f would be the easy option not to many variance needed plus it would sit in the Double O range nicely if Hornby are staying faithful. 
 

and maybe this is the year we see a all new L&YR model hit the rails, just not the Barton-Wright  0-6-0 tender engine I’ve ordered from LRM please.

Edited December 26, 2021 by farren
Spelling! It’s always spelling

[Colin]

46245 “City Of London” (and “Liverpool” for that matter) would be just perfect for the “Dublo” range. Even better if enough were produced to go around this time as well!

[atom3624]

Is there any risk, with recent Hornby marketing initiatives, that metal-boilered locomotives like the Pecketts, D16, J15, Schools, B12 .... could become a sort of in-between sub-H-D range, at elevated price of course?

 

Al.

[RedgateModels]

On 22/12/2021 at 17:00, AY Mod said:

 

Clockwork, System 6, magnadhesion, synchrosmoke and chuffing sandpaper; set the DeLorean for 1972.

well I got this for Christmas

 

[farren]

Oh dear city of London but what livery, I’m torn LMS so it could feasibly run it, BR and it could go with my City of Leicester, I could start a small collection. But Then I’d want King George V. This is getting expensive for models that are not really needed for Chorley. 

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, Ian Hargrave said:

My votes go for investment in both better BR green paint finish and Qualify Control. 

 

It's not just green they have to worry about.

[Downer]

Suggestions for what would fill some obvious gaps when modelling steam in the transition era:

 

an open-cab pannier for the WR

a Q or C2X and an N1 or U1 for the SR

a Stanier 2-6-2T and L&Y 0-6-0 for the LMR

a B16 for the NER

a J69 for the ER

a K2 for the ER and ScR

a Caley 0-4-4T for the ScR

 

All black, I think, and all but the K2 nameless.

 

What we’ll probably get though is re-tools of existing models for perfectionists and collectors, reliveried diesels that others do better, and something big and shiny like the Coronation Scot which only half of us can afford. 

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Downer

[adb968008]

21 hours ago, mdvle said:

 

They could, but is there really that big a market for an low detailed model that can justify the tooling costs?

 

I preface this with the acknowledgement that the UK is not the US, the hobby is different, and the Hornby name influences things.

 

But the US manufacturer ScaleTrains launched about 5 years ago doing what you suggest - they offered a "basic but affordable" version (Operator) and a highly detailed version (Rivet Counter).  But in an interview on a podcast this week the basic version (Operator) is 10% of the sales vs 90% for the Rivet Counter in locos - and the basic version sales are so poor that they aren't economically viable so they are looking at either somehow changing things to make them viable or dropping them.

 

So the lesson (in the US market) is that all those people moaning about prices and demanding affordable locos doesn't translate into actual sales.  And this may also apply to the UK market - certainly all of the manufacturers making high end product think so.

 

Now obviously using existing tooling that is paid off to create lower priced items as newer stuff appears will continue to be viable, but I'm not sure this idea of either tooling a new Railroad level item or attempting to tool a combine Railroad and detailed version are financially doable.

 

To knock this argument in 1 line..

Scale Trains are not making multiple units.

The UK doesnt have the same disposable spend power as the US too.

 

We've been told over and over, the cost in China is in assembly, so reduce the assembly.

 

When it comes to locos people do tend upwards. With stock, many people have a much lower detail threshold. A Multiple unit is self propelled Rolling Stock.

Additionally i’m not suggesting Railroad.

I’m saying “features and accessories are sold separately”…

 

Same tooling but youve a choice to DIY lights, people, smoke, sound, DCC, extra cars or not, and how much of it you buy. 

or another way to look at it, is its still a Mercedes C class, but I choose the optional extras (and in this case DIY)… so the costs, tooling and baseline is the same..

The alternative is to continue moving up the funnel to an ever narrower market for the product at a higher point until it becomes unsustainable (which is where MUs seems to be nearing towards to in its current format and maybe why so few are offered).

 

So its a suggestion for  widening options to the end user, who may have differing price points for the same product and hence enlarge that market.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by adb968008

[Ian Hargrave]

12 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

It's not just green they have to worry about.

Ah yes,of course,I get that.

[adb968008]

4 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

The argument for Hornby doing this must be the potential to save costs by using existing tooling, so almost a new railroad product. eg a new power car body but otherwise using the existing chassis and coaches.

 

What would be very interesting is how well this would sell. I often see it stated on RMWeb that the market wants more accurate models these days but I'm not actually convinced the majority of paying public are that demanding.

Given how popular Network Rail yellow, GWR sleeper coaches have been and others, i’d imagine they would have no issues selling a prototype HST livery set of coaches using the same tooling, despite being wrong…

 

TBH I reckon they might even get away with using the Railroad class 43 power cars in prototype livery  if they were cheap enough too, looking at things like the fake 73/9’s, and railroad sales generally for things like 47/66’s which seem to have done very well.

 

The cheap end does sell, even if its compromised, I bet Hornby sold far more 66’s than other modern image diesels the last few years. Its not all about ever more detail.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by adb968008

[John M Upton]

I reckon they will announce some radical new DCC controlled diesel/steam smoke generator that everyone will go Wow! over and then bring it down to Earth with a bump by only sticking it in the ye ancient Limby Deltic and expecting a couple of hundred sheets for it.

 

And you will have to wait two and a half years for it to actually appear of course...

[adb968008]

14 minutes ago, John M Upton said:

I reckon they will announce some radical new DCC controlled diesel/steam smoke generator that everyone will go Wow! over and then bring it down to Earth with a bump by only sticking it in the ye ancient Limby Deltic and expecting a couple of hundred sheets for it.

 

And you will have to wait two and a half years for it to actually appear of course...

Even more of a shock if they rocked up with an all new super detailed class 55…

 

its not as if they aren't afraid of a fight, had time to prepare, fits their East Coast theme and “big engine” biases, imo it ticks many of H’s boxes… they've yet to try and tackle the Accurascale Elephant they've let grow in their front room…its a matter of time before that Elephant sneezes out a big one and covers Hornby in goo.

Edited December 26, 2021 by adb968008

[Matty P]

All I want is an updated Claud with the fancy valances in BR Apple Green!