Hornby 66s

[TravisM]

Having seen the new release of the Hornby Class 66, the paint looks great but underneath it’s still a Lima loco with a few additional tweaks.  Good enough for those starting out but I don’t think in the same league as the Bachmann and Hatton’s ones, but then again you’re only paying half the price.

[adb968008]

 

Close up pics here

 

http://www.locomotionmodels.com/exclusive-models/diesel-and-electric-models/bachmannnrm-exclusive-32-983nrm-class-66-66779-evening-star.htm

 

The the big difference is after the “f” in GBRf... there’s a door missing, as well as the bell. The bogies, tanks, buffer beam and frame are all a bit naked in detail.

 

https://www.hattons.co.uk/430625/Hornby_R3747_Class_66_7_66779_Evening_Star_in_BR_green_with_GBRf_branding/StockDetail.aspx

Edited April 7, 2019 by adb968008

[railroadbill]

On 06/04/2019 at 15:45, Ian Hargrave said:

 

Easy answer.A cost benefit to Hornby to sustain its viability and development.With that there can be zero argument.Never mind the niceties....they don’t always put bread on the table.Bit of bargain basement helps us with loftier values.In theatre terms,musicals put bums on seats,Chekhov doesn’t.

Surely it's just different bums on different seats.  But Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of the Cherry Orchard would cover both areas.   :-)

[adb968008]

On 06/04/2019 at 15:45, Ian Hargrave said:

 

Easy answer.A cost benefit to Hornby to sustain its viability and development.With that there can be zero argument.Never mind the niceties....they don’t always put bread on the table.Bit of bargain basement helps us with loftier values.In theatre terms,musicals put bums on seats,Chekhov doesn’t.

I’d proffer its more like a Hollywood movie vs the Theatre,.

 

Lets note the Hornby 66779 Evening Star has sold out, Bachmann one is reduced, Hattons might have made a super 66, but 779 wasn’t on the original list. Where is their incentive to make a 66779 now ?, Where as Hornby may well be emboldened to make more.

 

Edited April 7, 2019 by adb968008

[Hilux5972]

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

I’d proffer its more like a Hollywood movie vs the Theatre,.

 

Lets note the Hornby 66779 Evening Star has sold out, Bachmann one is reduced, Hattons might have made a super 66, but 779 wasn’t on the original list. Where is their incentive to make a 66779 now ?, Where as Hornby may well be emboldened to make more.

 

I purchased the boxed Evening Stars from Locomotion when they were first released. Would I buy one from Hornby now? No most likely not. Would I have if I didn’t have the Locomotion one? Quite possibly. Will I buy a Hattons one if they eventually release one? More than likely. Hopefully this brings in some much needed cash for Hornby. 

[TravisM]

5 hours ago, adb968008 said:

Lets note the Hornby 66779 Evening Star has sold out, Bachmann one is reduced, Hattons might have made a super 66, but 779 wasn’t on the original list. Where is their incentive to make a 66779 now ?, Where as Hornby may well be emboldened to make more.

 

 

Hatton’s have always stated that don’t plan to produce a Class 66 that has been covered by either Bachmann or Hornby.

[Coryton]

On 06/04/2019 at 07:36, Hroth said:

When announced the price was nearer £100 (particularly for 66779)  and suddenly dropped to the £70 mark. I've the feeling that this was done to reposition the Hornby model with the announcement of the Hattons model.  Not as an undercut, purely in realisation that Bachmann would perhaps feel squeezed and might act accordingly.  The box was designed for "main range" and hadn't caught up with the price reduction to Railroad levels.

 

That's not my recollection - I am sure they were announced at £75 at the start, apart from Evening Star and the large logo BR one which were £100.

 

A few weeks ago, I noticed a few model shops with these two still at a considerably higher price than the rest.

 

So if they were "repositioned", it happened before the announcement.

[Legend]

26 minutes ago, Coryton said:

 

That's not my recollection - I am sure they were announced at £75 at the start, apart from Evening Star and the large logo BR one which were £100.

 

A few weeks ago, I noticed a few model shops with these two still at a considerably higher price than the rest.

 

So if they were "repositioned", it happened before the announcement.

 

Its covered elsewhere , the pricing was a mistake , which some shops haven't caught up on.

[Coryton]

16 hours ago, Legend said:

 

Its covered elsewhere , the pricing was a mistake , which some shops haven't caught up on.

 

Yes, but my point (which I don't seem to have got across) is that only two of them were initially at £100, not the whole range of 66's which a previous poster seemed to be implying.

 

I mentioned the shops with those two at a higher price as evidence that I didn't imagine this.

 

Anyway - I have the BR large logo one and I'm very happy with it - a lovely model for the price.

[Damo666]

On 07/04/2019 at 22:26, adb968008 said:

http://www.locomotionmodels.com/exclusive-models/diesel-and-electric-models/bachmannnrm-exclusive-32-983nrm-class-66-66779-evening-star.htm

The the big difference is after the “f” in GBRf... there’s a door missing, as well as the bell. The bogies, tanks, buffer beam and frame are all a bit naked in detail.

https://www.hattons.co.uk/430625/Hornby_R3747_Class_66_7_66779_Evening_Star_in_BR_green_with_GBRf_branding/StockDetail.aspx

How on earth did they miss the door in the original mould? Was it not there when the 66 was first introduced on our rail network, but is a latter prototypical addition?

['CHARD]

8 minutes ago, Damo666 said:

How on earth did they miss the door in the original mould? Was it not there when the 66 was first introduced on our rail network, but is a latter prototypical addition?

 

Later versions of the 66 (lower emissions versions?) have the different door configuration.  I'm certain a Class 66 specialist will be able to provide chapter and indeed verse on the number range(s) so constructed!

[Legend]

9 minutes ago, 'CHARD said:

 

Later versions of the 66 (lower emissions versions?) have the different door configuration.  I'm certain a Class 66 specialist will be able to provide chapter and indeed verse on the number range(s) so constructed!

 

Yep which brings me back to the original question posed , which locos are correct for the colour scheme carried?

 

What has happened is that the Hornby 66 is essentially the Lima 66. Certainly the body hasn't changed although the motor has and its now DCC ready and has capability to have sound .  The Lima model was introduced when it was only EWS and perhaps Freightliner that had ordered the locos . It was certainly before the Low Emissions version with the extra door .  So Hornby haven't updated the body even though some of  the paint schemes carried are those of the later Low Emission locos with the extra door . I think "Evening Star" is one of these locos , but I really don't know about the rest and whether the colour scheme is appropriate to the body.

 

There seem to be three issues that Hornby have turned a blind eye too

 

1. The type of headlights carried

2. Original body or newer Low Emission body with extra door

3. Fuel tanks , which I think vary according to type

 

Others know more about it than me , but Hornby have basically painted the livery regardless of version . So are any of these versions actually correct ? Note I'm not criticising Hornby here , it is still a good entry level model , but it has compromises that Bachmann and the forthcoming Hattons model won't.   While it still looks ok to me , I think Id prefer to buy a version that had correct body style.

 

 

[JohnR]

Bought a GBRf 66 for my boy. I've also got a TTS sound chip for him. So he's going to end up with something that looks like a 66 with sound for £100 ish. He cant wait. Is he counting doors or fuel tanks? No. If it was for me, I might be somewhat bothered (and maybe only got one of the EWS liveried ones? I think I would rather stretch to a Hattons one).

 

He has already suggested we get a lighting kit to fit to it. So even at his age, he is wanting to do some modelling, rather than just play trains. 

[Hilux5972]

Start em young, that’s the ticket! 

[No Decorum]

Five-year-old grandson finally got his way after days of asking to come to see trains. “When are you going to get him a train set?” I was asked. “When he’s 40,” I replied. That evening, his mother sent me a picture of him holding an old push along monstrosity. He wanted to know if it was a train or a locomotive. The women in his life keep misleading him. He obviously knows the right questions to ask, so I might get him his set a bit sooner. Kato track and a Hornby 66 might be a good start. 

[Legend]

Hornby should produce the 2019 equivalent of my 1965 Freightmaster set with 66 and modern wagons from railroad range . Maybe a derivative with sound and DCC controller , although I’m not convinced DCC is suitable for the general ( not enthusiast) trainset market, although sound might swing it . Feel sure the old Rovex would have introduced it had it still been around

[Hroth]

Hornby did a boxed set of three EWS mineral wagons in Railroad, R6367.

 

They're not in the catalogue at present but Hornby might have the nous to box five of them with an EWS liveried 66, an oval of track with a siding and a basic controller.

 

"Modern Freight" Set?

 

 

 

[toboldlygo]

On 09/04/2019 at 11:13, 'CHARD said:

 

Later versions of the 66 (lower emissions versions?) have the different door configuration.  I'm certain a Class 66 specialist will be able to provide chapter and indeed verse on the number range(s) so constructed!

 

I seem to remember an article in Model Rail, a number of years back - that covered class 66 detail differences and a 'How to Guide' on updating your Class 66 (including the additional door(s), lighting configurations, etc).

 

Just not sure which issue it was.

[Hilux5972]

Issue 81, July 2005 was the issue that featured the Class 66 upgrades according to the index on ukmodelshops.co.uk. Article called Shed Heaven. Here’s the cover.

[JohnR]

16 hours ago, Hroth said:

Hornby did a boxed set of three EWS mineral wagons in Railroad, R6367.

 

They're not in the catalogue at present but Hornby might have the nous to box five of them with an EWS liveried 66, an oval of track with a siding and a basic controller.

 

"Modern Freight" Set?

 

 

 

 

I'd say 5 is probably too many for a train set. But bundle three with a 66, and offer an extra 3 (different running numbers) as an add on?

 

They also have a container wagon in the Railroad range - bundle a couple of them with a GBRf or Freightliner 66 and you have another option. Hornby never seem to have done them in liveries like Tesco or Asda, which I'm sure would be popular with the kids.

 

[truffy]

Are people who buy train sets at all bothered with running numbers, let alone spares?

[Ouroborus]

Pondering binning my order for the Hattons BR blue and jumping ship to the Hornby version.  The money saved goes some way to another Accurascale 92.

[YesTor]

4 hours ago, Ouroborus said:

Pondering binning my order for the Hattons BR blue and jumping ship to the Hornby version.  The money saved goes some way to another Accurascale 92.

 

So a Hornby 66 parked up next to an Accurascale 92?  A bit of a ballpark mismatch in terms of detail, huh? Each to his own etc, but personally I don't understand the mentality - it's a bit like parking a Lamborghini up next to a Skoda and hoping that no one will notice the difference... 

Edited April 16, 2019 by YesTor

['CHARD]

12 minutes ago, YesTor said:

 

So a Hornby 66 parked up next to an Accurascale 92?  A bit of a ballpark mismatch in terms of detail, huh?

 

....both are posed on NG track, I suppose....

[No Decorum]

10 hours ago, YesTor said:

 

So a Hornby 66 parked up next to an Accurascale 92?  A bit of a ballpark mismatch in terms of detail, huh? Each to his own etc, but personally I don't understand the mentality - it's a bit like parking a Lamborghini up next to a Skoda and hoping that no one will notice the difference... 

I would. I like my Škoda. I couldn’t fit all the sprogs, never mind the weekly shopping, into one of those flat Italian jobs.