The Engine Shed

[The Stationmaster]

My guess is this was written last year and delayed in publication until this year, so until next year is referring to 2018. 

 

Especially when the blog says just above that, that they are looking forward to sharing the development of the 2018 range with us during the year

 

I reckon it's probably a slightly altered delayed one from tehhend of last year because the one they thought they might do this week has been pushed aside for the good old fashioned. 'we're back in yesterday's marketing mode' 'great reveal' next week.  Nice to havea review of the year from The engine Shed but I'm afraid I get the impression that the old vitality of customer contact has been sacrificed for all the wrong reasons.

[rovex]

Mind, still no mention of when the full size H Class will be in the shops, they had that fully decorated one at Warley but nothing at all on Hattons, Kernow, Rails or even Hornby's own website about how much it will be or when it will be out.

 

I think they are having some problems with the packaging and getting the loco out without any of the fragile bits breaking off, or at least that's what I heard.

[Pteremy]

This thread, and similar others, show how an information vacuum is rapidly filled by speculation and potentially misinformation. Of course ahead of an announcement some of this is inevitable. And in a competitive world some information is 'competition sensitive'. But I think that the Hatton's 'Project Update feature' is something that should now be regarded as 'industry best practice'. So once the 2018 announcements have been made it would be good to see everyone doing something along similar lines, not just in terms of the 2018 announcements but also other things that are somewhere in the production pipeline, even if stalled on the drawing board. And at the risk of becoming unrealistically idealistic, more transparency would also allow those with specialist knowledge to contribute whilst there is still time to influence the outcome.

[Bernard Lamb]

To take down and clear away all the decorations before 12th night hardly endears them to me.

Bernard

[Vistisen]

I think they are having some problems with the packaging and getting the loco out without any of the fragile bits breaking off, or at least that's what I heard.

 

No they are having problems getting it running on 4'1" inch track. Martin W has been called in to help.

[toboldlygo]

Maybe it was a reminder to those now in charge of how well liked the Engine Shed is and how it contributes to the development of models.

 

Mind, still no mention of when the full size H Class will be in the shops, they had that fully decorated one at Warley but nothing at all on Hattons, Kernow, Rails or even Hornby's own website about how much it will be or when it will be out.

I'd like to see Yodel try and chuck a full size H Class over a back gate Edited January 3, 2018 by toboldlygo

[Dunsignalling]

I'd like to see Yodel try and chuck a full size H Class over a back gate

To be fair to Yodel, I had one "incident" about three years ago, but the two or three guys that have been delivering for them round here since then do the job very well.

 

John

[Dunsignalling]

I reckon it's probably a slightly altered delayed one from tehhend of last year because the one they thought they might do this week has been pushed aside for the good old fashioned. 'we're back in yesterday's marketing mode' 'great reveal' next week.  Nice to havea review of the year from The engine Shed but I'm afraid I get the impression that the old vitality of customer contact has been sacrificed for all the wrong reasons.

Hopefully, it has just been relegated for a spell whilst the new team get their act together.

 

John

[Ian Hargrave]

Hopefully, it has just been relegated for a spell whilst the new team get their act together.

 

John

Er....."new team" ...."act together" ? The team was playing well to form....so why go on the transfer market ? It is hopefully well clear of the relegation zone.

[Legend]

In the old days you might have got a hint or a teaser to keep you going. Just think of the additional froth that would create. Another missed opportunity. I viewed this edition as a holding edition. Says a lot but didn’t really give you anything new Jury’s still out

Edited January 3, 2018 by Legend

[Dunsignalling]

Er....."new team" ...."act together" ? The team was playing well to form....so why go on the transfer market ? It is hopefully well clear of the relegation zone.

I don't think that was/is necessarily as certain as we might like to think.   

 

There was, and still is, a lot more to getting Hornby properly back on its feet than we see in the form of a few nice new products being released.

 

John

Edited January 3, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[mow]

Continuation of The Airfix workbench blog appears to be a feature for 2018. 

 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/workbench-review-of-2017/

 

I had thought that The Engine Shed blog was worth continuing. 

[Ian Hargrave]

I don't think that was/is necessarily as certain as we might like to think.   

 

There was, and still is, a lot more to getting Hornby properly back on its feet than we see in the form of a few nice new products being released.

 

John

I don't think that was/is necessarily as certain as we might like to think.   

 

There was, and still is, a lot more to getting Hornby properly back on its feet than we see in the form of a few nice new products being released.

 

John

But the whole purpose of this particular thread is just that...."nice new products "as a shop window to promote future Hornby sales.We are talking here of one aspect of what we all hope will be a regeneration of the company...and it is blindingly obvious to all that it is not the whole picture but a small but vital part of it.....and a successful one at that. I simply ask a rhetorical question....why change a winning team? For the rest of it...well,we none of us know.The rest as they say for the present is silence. Of one thing I remain convinced and that is that this small but vital spark keeps alive.What in heaven's name is wrong with that? Unless you or others know otherwise.Let's indeed hear it for more nice new products from a team of bright talented enthusiasts.Long may they keep coming.

[nnich]

I think they are having some problems with the packaging and getting the loco out without any of the fragile bits breaking off, or at least that's what I heard.

Not to mention trying to arrange deals on affordable delivery

[Neal Ball]

Continuation of The Airfix workbench blog appears to be a feature for 2018. 

 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/workbench-review-of-2017/

 

I had thought that The Engine Shed blog was worth continuing.

 

The Airfix one reads as if it’s hear tonstay, with a promise of the next edition being on 12th Jan. Their catalogue is released next Tuesday.

 

Let’s hope the engine shed steps up a gear and the next dates was missed off as an error!

[Steamport Southport]

Maybe Airfix can get away with more as they don't really have any direct competitors in their market. Most of the other plastic kit manufacturers are foreign and are mainly made for the foreign markets with the British market being an afterthought.

 

 

 

Jason

[Legend]

Maybe Airfix can get away with more as they don't really have any direct competitors in their market. Most of the other plastic kit manufacturers are foreign and are mainly made for the foreign markets with the British market being an afterthought.

 

 

 

Jason

A bit puzzled at this. Does it matter where made. Airfix is in any case made in India I believe I think you’ll find that Revell produce lots of items for the British market at not dissimilar prices to Airfix, so they have lots of competition. If you don’t believe me have a look in Hobbycraft where there were as many if not more Revell models than Airfix. Roden does a Britannia and VC10 which are specifically British, so there’s lots of competition out there. If you want to build model airliners you can only go foreign. Airfix did reintroduce 737 727 707 Vanguard and Comet , but that’s it. Revell meanwhile have A320, A319, A330, 787, A350 etc etc etc. Now that Airfix have done British V Bombers I’d hoped they would maybe consider a 1/72 Viscount, Vc10 etc Edited January 3, 2018 by Legend

[Steamport Southport]

A bit puzzled at this. Does it matter where made. Airfix is in any case made in India I believe I think you’ll find that Revell produce lots of items for the British market at not dissimilar prices to Airfix, so they have lots of competition. If you don’t believe me have a look in Hobbycraft where there were as many if not more Revell models than Airfix. Roden does a Britannia and VC10 which are specifically British, so there’s lots of competition out there. If you want to build model airliners you can only go foreign. Airfix did reintroduce 737 727 707 Vanguard and Comet , but that’s it. Revell meanwhile have A320, A319, A330, 787, A350 etc etc etc. Now that Airfix have done British V Bombers I’d hoped they would maybe consider a 1/72 Viscount, Vc10 etc

 

It was not where they are made it's where the company is from. Airfix are British, Revell are German and Tamiya are from somewhere in the East.

 

But do they have direct competitors that are keeping announcements secret from each other like Hornby, Bachmann, etc. are doing? Are they holding off an announcement to see if someone else is doing that model?

 

I've never seen any evidence of that in the plastic kit market. It doesn't really matter if twenty companies make Spitfires or Messerschmitt 109s. You'll just buy your favourite manufacturers model anyway.

 

 

 

Jason

[Dunsignalling]

But the whole purpose of this particular thread is just that...."nice new products "as a shop window to promote future Hornby sales.We are talking here of one aspect of what we all hope will be a regeneration of the company...and it is blindingly obvious to all that it is not the whole picture but a small but vital part of it.....and a successful one at that. I simply ask a rhetorical question....why change a winning team? For the rest of it...well,we none of us know.The rest as they say for the present is silence. Of one thing I remain convinced and that is that this small but vital spark keeps alive.What in heaven's name is wrong with that? Unless you or others know otherwise.Let's indeed hear it for more nice new products from a team of bright talented enthusiasts.Long may they keep coming.

Indeed but are PR exercises like The Engine Shed an appropriate use of the company's design/development staff?

 

Isn't that the sort of thing a certain returnee to Hornby's team used to be rather good at?

 

There's no suggestion that Hornby are intending to break up a winning team, but it seems they may be considering who plays in what position.

 

Finally, whilst the continuing arrival of new products suggests the position is improving, it doesn't necessarily mean that the business is suddenly bursting with health and vigour financially. Indeed, the fact that new management has been brought in may well be an indication to the contrary.

 

John

Edited January 4, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[Neal Ball]

.......... it doesn't necessarily mean that the business is suddenly bursting with health and vigour financially. Indeed, the fact that new management has been brought in may well be an indication to the contrary.

 

John

The reality is that shareholders are more demanding in their returns. They all want their pound of flesh, particularly the institutional ones. That of course is not unique to Hornby, every large Plc faces the same pressures these days.

[Dunsignalling]

The reality is that shareholders are more demanding in their returns. They all want their pound of flesh, particularly the institutional ones. That of course is not unique to Hornby, every large Plc faces the same pressures these days.

That of course is the crux of the matter, Hornby isn't really big enough to sail in those waters and its future strategy would probably be simpler to develop were it taken private.

 

John

[The Stationmaster]

Indeed but are PR exercises like The Engine Shed an appropriate use of the company's design/development staff?

 

Isn't that the sort of thing a certain returnee to Hornby's team used to be rather good at?

 

There's no suggestion that Hornby are intending to break up a winning team, but it seems they may be considering who plays in what position.

 

Finally, whilst the continuing arrival of new products suggests the position is improving, it doesn't necessarily mean that the business is suddenly bursting with health and vigour financially. Indeed, the fact that new management has been brought in may well be an indication to the contrary.

 

John

 

Sorry to 'laugh' John but whoever has been putting together The Engine Shed for us over the past year or two has been doing a darned sight better job at communicating with us than anybody has ever managed before in the 'modern' Hornby's entire existence.  Rather like the old saying about talking to the organ grinder not the monkey.  Folk who are directly involved and know what they're are at probably the best communicators of the lot provided they have the necessary skills for the communication medium they use and there seems to be little doubt that whoever put The Engine Shed together and put content into it were very good at it.

 

What's more it's also clear they understood the contemporary market's thirst for information, instant news, novelty and so on.  Very different from a load of old fashioned 'hail fellow well met' type of public customer relations.  Just look over at the Bachmann thread where Andy Y has a chat with the researchers/designers at work on various project - RM web doing a 'Top Shed' version of The Engine Shed and all that was missing was the the teasers that are so good are building up interest (and froth) which The Engine Shed has been so good at.

 

Sorry but if Hornby aren't prepared to talk to us and they pull a style of communication from what is probably a financially successful area of their business then one can but wonder about their motives and what they have in mind for such things as hi-fi models.  No doubt there will be an ocean of froth, and moans, breaking forth come Monday when Hornby do their 'good old' reveal of their intentions for 2018 but for all that an enormous amount of continuing generation of interest and chatter has been lost in the meanwhile along with throwing away the chance of exploiting attendance and generating interest at one of the largest shows in the model railway calendar.  

 

Just how long does it take someone 'experienced in the business' to make that sort of decision?  I think the answer is in fact 'not very long' - hence what we didn't see at Warley and aren't seeing now - and that can but leave a negative impression.

[The Stationmaster]

The reality is that shareholders are more demanding in their returns. They all want their pound of flesh, particularly the institutional ones. That of course is not unique to Hornby, every large Plc faces the same pressures these days.

One wonders just how many institutional shareholders Hornby might have?  Control of the group is very firmly in the hands of an asset management grouping although they, like institutional shareholders, obviously seek to profit from their investment but at the same time they continue to load their asset with the kind of top end costs very few other concerns in a similar line of business (particularly in the UK) have to carry.   In reality going private would I reckon make little difference as the same effective ownership will still be looking for their return, reducing the costs at the top end and not where the earning power is generated would be my approach (but now we're in the territory of the other thread of course).

[Ian Hargrave]

Indeed but are PR exercises like The Engine Shed an appropriate use of the company's design/development staff?

 

Isn't that the sort of thing a certain returnee to Hornby's team used to be rather good at?

 

There's no suggestion that Hornby are intending to break up a winning team, but it seems they may be considering who plays in what position.

 

Finally, whilst the continuing arrival of new products suggests the position is improving, it doesn't necessarily mean that the business is suddenly bursting with health and vigour financially. Indeed, the fact that new management has been brought in may well be an indication to the contrary.

 

John

 

Perhaps then you might care to post what you consider is such an appropriate use of their talents...if  that is not to explain to an enthusiastic potential clientele products in development.And it is contentious to assume that the returnee who had the field virtually to himself ,thus making his pronouncements necessarily guarded and unassailable, is in any way superior to The Engine Shed.There are one or two members of this forum who will take issue with you on that after their occasional dealings with him.You got what you were told and no more.I know which medium I prefer...dialogue rather than tablets of stone

 

This thread is incidentally about The Engine Shed . PhD theses on the future of the company are to be found elsewhere on this forum.

Edited January 4, 2018 by Ian Hargrave

[Dunsignalling]

Perhaps then you might care to post what you consider is such an appropriate use of their talents...if  that is not to explain to an enthusiastic potential clientele products in development.And it is contentious to assume that the returnee who had the field virtually to himself ,thus making his pronouncements necessarily guarded and unassailable, is in any way superior to The Engine Shed.There are one or two members of this forum who will take issue with you on that after their occasional dealings with him.You got what you were told and no more.I know which medium I prefer...dialogue rather than tablets of stone

 

This thread is incidentally about The Engine Shed . PhD theses on the future of the company are to be found elsewhere on this forum.

The most valuable way to exploit the talents of designers and development engineers should be self explanatory from the job titles.

Edited January 4, 2018 by Dunsignalling