Hornby - Warley Model Railway Exhibition Special announcement 26.11.22

[Dunsignalling]

31 minutes ago, Gary704 said:

I can’t see Rails, Rapido or Accurascale getting into the trainset market anytime soon.

Simply because they have no reason to. It's a market that nobody but Hornby needs.

 

Even Bachmann seem pretty half-hearted about it.

 

Mind you, I get the impression that Rails would be in like a shot if they thought it would "stick one " to Hornby.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2022 by Dunsignalling

[ThaneofFife]

Well it better not be more efforts like reward points gteen shield stamps or such novelties......with solid announcements this week from Heljan on the 50 and 86/2 Hornby better pull something out the bag something decent.

[AY Mod]

1 minute ago, ThaneofFife said:

Heljan on the 50

 

Missed that one. 🥺

[andythenorth]

46 minutes ago, Gary704 said:

It’s illegal for one company ( in any business) to advise another of their business intentions, as SK admits in the you tube video. 

Nah it's not. 🙂  It's only illegal if it trips the competition laws around e.g. cartels, price-fixing, limiting supply of product, carving up geographical regions etc. 😉

 

In the video, SK makes a fuss about Treaty of Rome competition stuff, then tells the story of how he informed Peco anyway once he got wind of their TT intentions.

 

Not wanting to start an armchair law debate, they're always a bit boring eh? 😀

Edited November 25, 2022 by andythenorth

[Torbay Express]

Aparantly Hornby are having a Busking Band at Warley.....every little helps.  Just hope that they are in tune with something.  Rumour has it they are good at 'the blues!' 

 

 

[Torbay Express]

37 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Trouble is, if Hornby consistently under-supply the market, it can only encourage their  competitors.

 

Those with more cost-effective business structures can succeed commercially on lower sales volumes and will not fear going head-to-head with them.

 

John

Well they sacked all the reps earlier in the year, that must have saved a few quid! 

 

The problem is, they never stuck at what they were good at, took their eye off the ball and went off at tangents for a quick buck! 

[55020]

Hornby are the roots and foundations of the hobby. The problem is that they are now acting in a way to exclude the grass roots retail arm by introducing more and more direct sales. Their actions, not the customers (us), will lead to the virtual total collapse of the local model shop. They are simply heading off down a path of self destruction in my opinion, by not realising and capatilising on what makes them such a widely know brand. They might see a short term win with their bottom line, but if they retreat to an online only presence, they will simply end up with the model consumer being driven by Google i.e. an online search that will show Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol, Rapido, Accurascale, etc. That shop front, shop display, can I touch element that they enjoy at the moment will be lost.

I think they are a company with a huge potential that simply don't know where to go and how to turn a profit in a very dynamic market. What are they? A toy train manufacturer that hangs on to legacy name but can't adapt to the modern market, and can't compete on quality, price, or business accumen.

[Torbay Express]

58 minutes ago, SHMD said:

 

Well done, name a list they didn't do the dirty deed - now list the models they did...

 

 

Kev.

Rmweb crashes.... 

[Covkid]

On 21/11/2022 at 15:59, Elaine said:

Bring back Battlespace and the Giraffe car yes please who doesn't love the Turbo Car

 

 

 

So Sam's Trains has "copied" Hornby then with his blue thing.  Didn't know that

[Torbay Express]

4 hours ago, Delta_Who said:

You could of course... lay-out the Accurascale_Product_Development_Plan.pdf for us... for.... verification purposes

 

But then the rest of the hobby world will know exactly what AS are planning and plot against it.  Do you show your hand in a card game?

[MidlandRed]

I thought I’d tune in to the last page of this thread to see what was happening, only to find the usual arguments about Hornby killing retailers and going direct and every other rather well worn moan about them and how they should run their business, which appear in many Hornby threads - I shall wait and see what they actually do announce - in some ways I would like to see them announce an ultimate class 50 which is available before competitors - just to see the outcry on the appropriate threads - especially if made available in a few more early variants than a competitor’s D423 (though kudos to them for even including that version - the class 37 has avoided most early versions). 
 

It’s funny, there was a long running Hornby moaning thread about models not being available at retailers - but I’ve had emails from a certain large retailer offering new Hornby models - I can’t believe none of the usual members who moan about such things didn’t receive such emails - maybe it doesn’t suit certain people’s view of the world to publicise it 😄

 

Anyway roll on tomorrow for the actual announcement. 
 

(PS couldn’t we have one thread called Hornby gripes and business management suggestions such that one didn’t have to wade through posts of that nature in most other Hornby threads 😜 )
 

 

Edited November 25, 2022 by MidlandRed

[Delta_Who]

15 minutes ago, Torbay Express said:

But then the rest of the hobby world will know exactly what AS are planning and plot against it.  Do you show your hand in a card game?

 

Ah yes... *rips off mask*... and I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddlin kids.

[Torbay Express]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

I have got some info ready for the morning ready to go at 10. If it's what this is I shall be lobbing it into the metaphorical room, stepping back, shutting the door and walking quietly off out of earshot.

You suggesting something like this...... https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DZe54BiPAu9M&ved=2ahUKEwiv7_rKqsr7AhWKSMAKHRqLDPEQwqsBegQIBxAF&usg=AOvVaw1rzJEnTP_84dzRkn-U-SBx

 

Positivity Andy....... Things can only get better!  Whatever happens at least you won't be tearing your hair out... 

 

With the popularity of direct selling, instead of a display are they taking a sales stand instead.  

 

Most folk will miss the announcement at Warley anyway due to the strikes.  

[AY Mod]

11 minutes ago, MidlandRed said:

roll on tomorrow for the actual announcement. 

 

Do come back and let us know how utterly thrilled you are.

[andythenorth]

11 minutes ago, MidlandRed said:

I can’t believe none of the usual members who moan about such things didn’t receive such emails

Those people are far too smart to fall for something as obvious as 'being on a mailing list'.  That's just marketing, they can see through that for what it is - an attempt to trick them into buying things by incompetent manufacturers.  They can't waste their time on such things, they have to be on here explaining the important facts about what everyone else is doing wrong. 😉

 

Oh wait, I'm doing that too...but I'm in it for the lolz 🤑

 

Every day is a 386 day... https://xkcd.com/386/ 

[Hroth]

21 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Do come back and let us know how utterly thrilled you are.

 

Oooooooooooooohhhhh....

 

Its that dull?

 

Ok, expectations dampened!

[wombatofludham]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

I have got some info ready for the morning ready to go at 10. If it's what this is I shall be lobbing it into the metaphorical room, stepping back, shutting the door and walking quietly off out of earshot.

Ooh, that sounds fun.

As my normally rock solidly reliable Saab State Barge chose this week to spring a leak on the power steering cooler matrix leading to me having to cancel planned muti-purpose trip to the Midlands including Sunday at the NEC I'll have to tune in tomorrow to see what the craic is.  Should be more involving than the M54 at any rate.

[Covkid]

14 minutes ago, 55020 said:

Hornby are the roots and foundations of the hobby. The problem is that they are now acting in a way to exclude the grass roots retail arm by introducing more and more direct sales. Their actions, not the customers (us), will lead to the virtual total collapse of the local model shop. They are simply heading off down a path of self destruction in my opinion, by not realising and capatilising on what makes them such a widely know brand. They might see a short term win with their bottom line, but if they retreat to an online only presence, they will simply end up with the model consumer being driven by Google i.e. an online search that will show Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol, Rapido, Accurascale, etc. That shop front, shop display, can I touch element that they enjoy at the moment will be lost.

I think they are a company with a huge potential that simply don't know where to go and how to turn a profit in a very dynamic market. What are they? A toy train manufacturer that hangs on to legacy name but can't adapt to the modern market, and can't compete on quality, price, or business accumen.

 

Can't really disagree with any of that.

I just wish Hornby, with or without SK would focus on products for the model railway instead of faffing around with imitation steam, opening cab doors and other such gimmicks.  There are still hundreds of locos, multiple units, coaches and wagons which could be produced - both ancient and modern.  IIRC the only LNWR designs in RTR form are the Bachmann "Super D", the Bachmann "coal tank" and the RoS Precedent. Obviously plenty of other pre grouping companies, then the big 4 then BR.

 

Given Hornby's success with the Pecketts and Sentinels there are dozens and dozens of small locomotive designs, which do not need gizmos. I would have thought the easiest way to make money is to produce something new which modellers will buy      

[Torbay Express]

25 minutes ago, Delta_Who said:

 

Ah yes... *rips off mask*... and I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddlin kids.

Yep, caught in the act.....so what "gang" are you affiliated.... The Barwell Bandits or Margate Mafia.....*before answering he throws a smoke bomb in a bid to escape* and he runs down the street to escape and fight another day....da...da...da.....to be continued...... 

 

Carnt beat the tv tac of the 80s......

 

[Craig1989]

All I’m saying being a present day modeller I’m not holding my breath and can see it being a steamer announced tmwr

 

cheers Craig 

[Delta_Who]

10 minutes ago, Torbay Express said:

Yep, caught in the act.....so what "gang" are you affiliated.... The Barwell Bandits or Margate Mafia.....*before answering he throws a smoke bomb in a bid to escape* and he runs down the street to escape and fight another day....da...da...da.....to be continued...... 

 

Carnt beat the tv tac of the 80s......

 

Whilst my benefactors remain anon... like the illuminati, we've been pulling the market strings since the dawn of time.
- You never questioned the mystery of mazak rot
- Did you think it was co-incidence a OO gauge Electrostar wasn't made?
- Sapphire decoders anyone?
- Rapido HST-E where? Or did someone throw a... spanner... in the works.

- Hornby 0-4-0s are an experiment to immortality

- We are the ones who took sledgehammers to your Accurascale Deltics. 

- DCC is actually connected to the 5G network

 

We are legion. :3
 

[Les1952]

I've just realised the benefit of NOT going to Warley (first one I've missed in 15 shows).  Apart from it being a sight cheaper to stay at home, I'll get the updates quicker by email and RMWeb than I would by trudging round a big number of stands- Hornby and Rapido aren't usually all that close together in the hall, for instance...

 

Les

[Michael Hodgson]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

It'll be a race to see who wins...  You with your lobbed News at 10, and a Hornby email.

 

I know who I have MY money on!

 

(Do you think we'll be able to crash RMweb responding to it?)

 

So we can expect it to be someting more significant than a 3D print in TT scale of Simon Kohler?

[frobisher]

3 hours ago, Roddy Angus said:

Or looking at it another way, Hornby is just alerting the other manufacturer that they are already working on a model so that the other manufacturer can decide whether or not they still want to spend their money going head to head against each other.  Similar to Accurascale and Revolution who are both doing the FNA-D but at least both know they have competition. 

 

That's the altruistic view certainly... But the way Hornby has done it on more than one occasion comes off as the big dog marking its territory.

 

Regardless, Hornby needs to improve its communications and learn from the new guys (some of whom are doing it better than others).  The whole "Titgate" thing smacked of arrogance (in a "rules don't apply to us way") and was a PR disaster for Hornby.

 

3 hours ago, Roddy Angus said:

To be honest, I prefer Hornby's approach to other manufacturers who don't announce until the models are about to ship, thereby possibly leading to a smaller company committing expenditure on a model which suddenly has unexpected competition.

 

 

 

And yet Bachmann have moved deliberately away from such an approach as Hornby went the opposite direction.

 

2 hours ago, Gary704 said:

Outwith the big two ( Hornby and Bachmann ) the others are almost “specialist” in the model train world. I can’t see Rails, Rapido or Accurascale getting into the trainset market anytime soon.

 

 

 

I don't know Accurascale's intentions, but it is clear they are seriously "upsizing" and building a complementary range quite rapidly.  Their potential approach to train packs would have a very different complexion to Hornby's though.  Rapido of course already have a train pack in their forthcoming products.

 

 

[MidlandRed]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

 

Do come back and let us know how utterly thrilled you are.

Will do - 10 am you say - I hope not but it sounds somewhat mundane from this - I shall see it in person (if something tangible and not a new super duper TT club or the like) Sunday, Network Rail and various TOCs and their staff permitting…..they say currently they will be.