Hornby Star Class

[Legend]

Not really, the picture of the back of the box is a photo of the loco on which the model is based. In no way could someone suggest they thought that was an accurate portrayal of the actual physical item they were going to get in the box. If the photo of the model on the front differed, which is a representation of what should be in the box, then that would be different.

 

I understand why some people are mainly using this forum to vent their frustration, but I do think things need to be kept in perspective, Obviously the model has some details that aren't done as well as people had hoped for, and it has what seems like a rather stupid error, but it is what it is. People have a simple choice, to buy or not to buy. One thing I would say is this though, if people do buy it and find manufacturing faults, and decide for whatever reason to fix them themselves, it would be helpful to make sure you contact Hornby about it. An email of complaint, or a post on their facebook page, explaining what was wrong and why you didn't return it, but instead fixed the problem yourself. This would mean Hornby could get a proper idea of just how many locos are actually being delivered with faults.

But will they care?

[locoholic]

How many perfect models have there been in the history of RTR OO gauge? If you don't like the Hornby Star, or don't think it's worth the price, then you don't have to buy it.

 

The Dapol D1000 that Steam Museum sold has been mentioned as a benchmark for excellence, but Dapol glued the cab interior in, so that you have to stick the headcodes on the outside of the headcode box glazing - oops...

 

And then from Bachmann, we've had the mistakes with Collett and Hawkesworth Halls, and when compared to the FIATrains LMS diesels, the Bachmann one is plainly not quite right above the windscreens.

 

What would be interesting would be some of the experts and critics on this site getting together and, using 21st century methods like 3D printing and crowdfunding, setting up a business to make the perfect models that everybody craves. What about it, chaps?

[Miss Prism]

What would be interesting would be some of the experts and critics on this site getting together and, using 21st century methods like 3D printing and crowdfunding, setting up a business to make the perfect models that everybody craves. What about it, chaps?

 

Like the 7mm outfits, you mean? Or did you mean without adding an extra zero to the price?

[Ian Hargrave]

If there were no experts or critics,this forum would cease to exist.Which one are you?

Edited November 5, 2013 by Ian Hargrave

[Guest Celticwardog]

If there were no experts or critics,this forum would cease to exist.Which on are you?

Succinct and profound

[Barry Ten]

IT shows when opened the degree to which the cab handrails are visibly a drawback, or not, and I think the proportions are excellent and 'get' the GWR character of the engine BEAUTIFULLY.

 

 

 

That's the main thing to me - does it have the right basic shape and capture the character of the prototype? It's a shame not to have some of the nicer details of recent models, and also a shame if the price doesn't reflect the lowered specification, but it's the look of the thing from 3 feet that matters most to me. Hornby got the look of their Castles bang on and this looks similarly convincing. On that note, if it was a choice between separate cab handrails and a convincing shade of green, I'd go for the colour because that's what catches the eye from half way across the room. Again, though, it's got that drab, khaki-ish shade that spoils all their GWR and BR locomotives.

[coachmann]

......... On that note, if it was a choice between separate cab handrails and a convincing shade of green, I'd go for the colour because that's what catches the eye from half way across the room. Again, though, it's got that drab, khaki-ish shade that spoils all their GWR and BR locomotives.

I've always admired the BR green Hornby locos on't Peterborough layout. I wonder what Gilberts model specialist does to them to get that neat wiped over with a oily rag appearance...?

[Stevelewis]

I've always admired the BR green Hornby locos on't Peterborough layout. I wonder what Gilberts model specialist does to them to get that neat wiped over with a oily rag appearance...?

A light  rub  over  with Virgin Olive Oil!l  works  well

[coachmann]

A light  rub  over  with Virgin Olive Oil!l  works  well

Was Olive Oil a virgin?

[melmerby]

Just had an e-mail from MRD to say my 4018 has been dispatched.

 

They must have had another small delivery as the website is now showing next expected stock as 12/12/2013 for R3166.

 

 

Keith

[robmcg]

4018's top lamp iron had been lowered by its shirtbutton era, so that is incorrect on the Hornby model.

Can't have that, can we?

 

To me it is superb and VERY GWR.... (and I'm more a Bulleid nut case...)

 

The great boiler on a beautifully engineered 4-cylinder frame and front-end, well, you have to just sigh with admiration... and Hornby might have not got some details right, but a tiny bit of sympathetic editing here and there....

 

Edited November 6, 2013 by robmcg

[darren01]

Hi

I had the same thing when the T9 came out and I had a chat with SK about the problems they had, only to be told "there is nothing wrong with them”? But I do think Hornsby don't help themselves by not communicating with the out side world.

[Ozexpatriate]

My sympathies are with SK even if he was a bit less than accepting of the faults which were explained to him. Faults are common with this level of short-run high-detail production and I for one want to APPLAUD Hornby for producing this beautiful model. Which I can improve-on if I wish. I like my TMC-weathered 72XX too, which was £150.00.

Rob,

 

I agree with you in principle, this model appears to be "almost" excellent. (Still waiting for mine.) You are certainly correct in your statement that faults are now quite common in short-run, high-detail production.

 

I think we are frustrated because we know they can do better.

 

Mr. Kohler would be well advised to emulate his rivals and start displaying photographs of EP samples. Yes we missed the twelve-spoked wheel on what we assumed was a Photoshop job in the online catalogue which might actually be a photograph. Ironically it is quite evident (along with the water scoop) in the photograph Pat Hammond provided when the Star was announced early this year. We all missed it there too.

 

Having said that, my hunch is that someone here would have noticed it had clearer photographs of EP samples been available.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Ozexpatriate

[robmcg]

Rob,

 

I agree with you in principle, this model appears to be "almost" excellent. (Still waiting for mine.) You are certainly correct in your statement that faults are now quite common in short-run, high-detail production.

 

I think we are frustrated because we know they can do better.

 

....

Yes, but there is still in my opinion value in what Hornby have done with the Star; the front bogie is better than the Castle, spokes excepted, the paint appears to be very good, unlike some Castles, and other details are very good, I am not overly worried by the cab handrail, and these engines are, when shops are lucky enough to receive any, being sold for typically £108-120, same price as, say, a Bulleid spamcan.

 

I guess I'm coming across as an apologist for Hornby, and yes, that is what I am, because a very much enjoy photographing this lovely model and recalling in my mind the great days of steam, exemplified by this superb piece of Churchward engineering. I have 10 spoke wheels too, now, just received from Peter's Spares.

 

I feel quite lucky to be around when models of this quality can be bought for under a hundred quid (no VAT for we colonials).

 

I couldn't decide where to put this pic done today so it is in two threads. Apologies.

 

[papagolfjuliet]

How many perfect models have there been in the history of RTR OO gauge? If you don't like the Hornby Star, or don't think it's worth the price, then you don't have to buy it.

 

The Dapol D1000 that Steam Museum sold has been mentioned as a benchmark for excellence, but Dapol glued the cab interior in, so that you have to stick the headcodes on the outside of the headcode box glazing - oops...

 

And then from Bachmann, we've had the mistakes with Collett and Hawkesworth Halls, and when compared to the FIATrains LMS diesels, the Bachmann one is plainly not quite right above the windscreens.

 

What would be interesting would be some of the experts and critics on this site getting together and, using 21st century methods like 3D printing and crowdfunding, setting up a business to make the perfect models that everybody craves. What about it, chaps?

 

I like the Hornby Star very much. I think it's a lovely model of an overlooked prototype. Slight detailing errors don't bother me; for the kind of money we're paying when compared with the products of, say, German manufacturers, I reckon we can cope with the odd inaccuracy. On that basis, the moulded cab handrails on the Star are perfectly acceptable. Avoidable carelessness on the other hand is not acceptable and those bogie wheels, like the T9 tender chassis, are a cock up pure and simple. I don't mind short cuts. I do mind poor quality control.

Edited November 6, 2013 by papagolfjuliet

[melmerby]

Yes, but there is still in my opinion value in what Hornby have done with the Star; the front bogie is better than the Castle, spokes excepted, the paint appears to be very good, unlike some Castles, and other details are very good, I am not overly worried by the cab handrail, and these engines are, when shops are lucky enough to receive any, being sold for typically £108-120, same price as, say, a Bulleid spamcan.

 

 

I feel quite lucky to be around when models of this quality can be bought for under a hundred quid (no VAT for we colonials).

 

My 9 month old pre-order in the UK only just went over the ton inc VAT!

If it had been 25% more I would be less than happy with what we have got, however what I am getting for what I paid is still pretty good.

The niggling errors, which should have been corrected are annoying however, but not so disasterous IMHO to make the model a dud.

 

Keith

[mow]

Getting it right first time, always helps. The niggling errors now matter how few, still add to costs if Hornby do decide to rectify them. Then there is the unknown damage to the brand. Pre-ordering short runs is all very well, if the specification is clearly communicated, otherwise it is akin to buying a pig in a poke. 

[6959]

External links to photo's of 4062 Malmesbury Abbey for future reference of BR version.

 

http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/no-4062-malmesbury-abbey/print/698265.html

 

http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/no-4062-malmesbury-abbey/print/698354.html

[6959]

External link to 31 pictures of Star class...

 

http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/star-class-locomotives/photo/91848.html

[6959]

External link to picture of 4018 in 'Great Western' livery pre-roundel for those who want to back date it to 'proper' GWR.

 

http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/no-4018-knight-of-the-grand-cross/print/7664015.html

[jeremyv6]

Has anyone else noticed the 'rough' area on the cab roof of the Knight of the Grand Cross. It looks like a glue spill or just bad moulding. It also seems to be on the bird's eye view photo on the box.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

I remember a time when Hornby was irrelevant to scale modellers. Doesn't seem that long ago either.

With the addition of 'almost entirely' ahead of irrelevant, this is true. If they happened to produce a piece that was useful as a basis to work from in the production of a scale model, that was regarded as a happy chance that could be exploited. But nothing was really expected of them.

 

I am hardly a 'scale modeller' but didn't buy a sausage from Hornby from sometime in the 1960s until about 2004, or whenever it was that the Q1 was released. Now here was a prototype that I could justify operating, but would never get around to making for myself as it wasn't exactly an everyday occurence in my area of interest. It wasn't perfect, but it was different from anything previous I had looked at from this concern, that was for sure. Hornby subsequently have brought out a slew of suitable items that usually exceed my target standard of matching a competently kit/scratch built model, and I have been happy to purchase these too.

 

Maybe that's over now, maybe not. Either way the other methods of getting the models I like are still open, so that's no real problem. If Hornby can do without my and like minded other folk's custom that's entirely their business to take care of. Had a good nine years run of worthwhile product. The only 'lost' commercial product I do mourn is Kodachrome...

[melmerby]

External link to picture of 4018 in 'Great Western' livery pre-roundel for those who want to back date it to 'proper' GWR. http://www.steampicturelibrary.com/no-4018-knight-of-the-grand-cross/print/7664015.html

Complete with Crimson lake coaches?

 

Keith

[coachmann]

With the addition of 'almost entirely' ahead of irrelevant, this is true.

Absolutely...I had overlooked 'we' used Triang loco chassis under so many whitemetal locos, in fact I built a good many bodies in plastikard to fit on scale wheeled RTR chassis.

 

For anyone considering backdating their 'Star' to pre WW1 condition, they will need to line out the brass beading on the splashers and remove the rivets.

Edited November 6, 2013 by coachmann

[Miss Prism]

If I read the 28xx thread correctly, the fitting of a lubricator cover on the left-hand side (as Hornby has put on 4018) indicates the presence of a 'five-sight' feed lubricator rather than a 'three-sight' as would originally have been fitted. Such five-sight feeds were I think around from c 1930 (on Halls), but I don't know when the few Stars receiving them got so fitted. Glastonbury Abbey was one that did, as did Lode Star when withdrawn for preservation, but it got correctly removed at some stage after. I do not know of a left-hand side picture of 4018.