Godfrey Glyn

I was in Alton Model Centre yesterday when the Hornby 71s arrived. I have to say that the Hornby Team have every right to be very proud of their latest release, right from the moment power was applied to the test track it was clear that the running is superb. I have one of the the DJ Models 71 on order but couldn't resist getting one of the Hornby ones in blue. Back at home, even on my extended module the running was just a smooth and I think its one of the best runners in my collection already. It is amazingly quiet, but then its an electric loco rather than a diesel! Looking forward to receiving the DJ version and being able to make an informed comparison. all the best Godfrey

Frydays get my vote Godfrey

Interesting article by Larry Elliot in the Guardian this morning quoting Bryan Gould who writes that to kickstart a recovery of British business and prevent us from buying everything we want from abroad we need to devalue our currency by 30% and create a mechanism that will provide credit for investment. We certainly live in interesting times and I don't envy Charlie and Arran in their decision making; one thing is for sure if Brexit does happen we will end up with a government that will spend the next ten years having to concentrate on sorting out the new trading relationships we will need to have. Happy days! Godfrey PS Looking forward to seeing the new Railtrack DMU when its ready to announce Charlie!

Mine arrived too this afternoon, no 81 - a DCC ready version. Sandra and her small team must be fairly well shattered already. I bet they will be pleased when they are all out. I must admit that if I was her I would not have told anyone that they had arrived until she and her team had them packed and they were ready to go. It might have saved her the additional hassle of impatient customers. BTW blown away by the model, even if I have to very seriously invoke Rule 1 to run it at home. Thanks to Rapido and all at Locomotion for having the bravery to produce such a wonderful and iconic model - and such VFM. all the very best Godfrey

I too was fearing that the full RRP for the SWTrains 450 was going to be nearer £400 so just a tad relieved it's not. However, I have already told my retailer that I would not want to commit to the 'weathered' version until I see it. Having sent Bachmann a set of photographs (my dirty dossier) which demonstrated that their image of a weathered 450 did not look at all like the real thing I suspect that they could not do a decent job for £20, its far too complicated. I would be delighted to be proved wrong! At the moment I plan to get two pristine ones and then look to weather one myself. Looking forward to them finally arriving in the shops. All the best Godfrey

I agree with you Andy but let us be hopeful that this is the first sign of a fundamental change in Hornby's recent relationship with the retailers. I note that the website prices no longer show the discounted price for members of the Hornby Club. Given a bit of time, whilst they work to secure their future with their most important 'partner' - the bank, they may even start to talk to the media again! Fingers crossed.

DavidH wrote But from that article: "Some insiders suggest Mr Ames’ departure is simply designed to offer up a scalp to protect Mr Glynn." Perhaps you should be careful when working with a Glynn, much safer with the four letter version!! This removal may indeed be cosmetic but hopefully it will help to stabilise things for the firm. I suspect we will have to wait a long time to find out what exactly has happened at Hornby. I am sure someone in a business school will be working on it as we ponder. I am always astonished how often in so many types of business - manufacturing, retail, football and even in something like Further Education - that highly paid people who have not been successful in one organisation can get appointed very quickly to a new CEO post in another organisation and make a mess of that too. I do hope the Hornby board takes great care when making its next appointment, my particular dream of owning one or two original Merchant navies this autumn may depend on it. all the best Godfrey

Chris, I didn't like to mention it when I saw you the other day, but .........!! Looking forward to seeing your completed coaches sometime soon! all the best Godfrey

Listening to the piece on R4 this morning I wondered and worried that the 'financial expert' might have a point in they should concentrate on toys that have high levels of returns. We here want Hornby to produce ever better model trains but seemingly many only want to pay toy train prices. If these highly detailed wonderful models do not sell for a price that provides the investor/manufacturer with a good return the business model simply doesn't work. We have been exposed to a business model of increased sales based on significant price discounts and in the long term that cannot work. I cannot remember any BMW dealer offering the highly sought after new model at a significant discount, and yet that is what we saw at many model railway exhibitions around the country. If the manufacturer then falls into the trap of selling off their stock on the internet at 'bargain' prices the purchaser response is re-inforced. There is clearly much wrong with Hornby at the present; I agree with Mike Stationmaster that the management team is large and looking at the financial report the SMT seem to consume a very large amount of resources in terms of pay and benefits. We probably need to wait a while to see if they deserve their posts, something for the bankers to decide rather than us! Without detailed and accurate knowledge we cannot tell whether they may just be doing a fantastic job to clear up the mess they inherited. One thing they have however clearly failed to do is to treat the model railway media and their retailers with respect. What has impressed me is the team who are developing the new models, and the way they have communicated their enthusiasm both at exhibitions and via the internet. However the business case for this work must be sound and whilst i have no desire to pay more for my models I do agree with Coachman that the first Colletts that arrived the other day are a snip at £39 and dare I say it, underpriced. The recent products have given me the confidence to order a number of their future products; maybe the Rapido business model is the way forward for the company if they are to continue making the high end products. all the best to all, and to Hornby! Godfrey

With them developing the Mark 3 there is always a possibility that they could do the Wessex 442 set. Godfrey

Also available at Alton Model Centre where I picked up one this afternoon. Had only ordered the Carmine and Cream versions but on seeing them I was so impressed I decided very quickly to get a GWR version as well. Godfrey

Just checked my card statement and yes they have charged my account. Will change my cash flow planning (what planning!) but given the interest rates at the moment they will not be making much out of my contribution. Looking forward to getting mine, the sample at Warley was very impressive. Godfrey

Great news from the Beer Heights team, I shall certainly be buying a lot of it. I wonder if PECO will offer the new track as 'pre-weathered' as Tillig have done with their track; that would make it even more attractive to me, I am one of those who hate weathering track. Godfrey

I presume that if they are setting this as the price they have factored in that they will not be selling very many! Godfrey PS Happy Christmas everyone!

My two Island versions arrived yesterday and I totally agree with Trevor, they are really lovely. I have a rather fuzzy photo of 'Ventnor' at Ventnor Station so that for me is quite special. I also received the Southern 207 version which is really exquisite and I am sure we will have quite a number trundling around the modular layout at Taunton in April! I am busy trying to build a model of Chard Joint for next time, will make a change from a container terminal. All three happily run on my less than perfect module's track. all the best Godfrey

Just learnt from two emails that my three are on their way, I ordered two of them back in September 2010 so really looking forward to to seeing them and planning something new for them to run on. I ordered the Bulleid diesels at the same time, might have to wait some time for them! Thanks to Chris and the team for working all hours to get them out, enjoy the rest when you have completed this wrapping fest! all the very best Godfrey

No, no, no, it should be like this!!!! Godfrey

It gets around; as seen in the yard at Eastleigh. I'm looking forward to this one, it looks very impressive. Godfrey

Saw these at Warley yesterday and I thought they were absolutely stunning. Really looking forward to them coming out next year. Godfrey

A couple of photos of the Adams Radial taken today at Warley. I think the Hornby version looks good, they have got the bend over the smokebox door looking more like the real thing which helps the front view. the LSWR coaches looked absolutely fabulous. best wishes Godfrey

Another photo of the 73 taken today at Warley

Just to add a few more!

I was in Alton Model Centre last Friday when the first issue of Radials arrived and although I have two Hornby versions on order I had only ordered the LSWR version from Oxford. However it looks a beautiful model and I was very tempted! Paul had one out on a test track ring which had been set up and tried it out. The track is uneven in places and the Radial did not like it at all. When it went over a piece of poorly laid track or point with a dip in it it would lift the driving wheels off the track and come to a halt. I decided to give it a miss. Paul has investigated the problem and by simply filing off the front top surface of the front bogie the problem has been solved. I have now bought one and tonight's modelling task is to get the file out and make the modification. I have taken some photos on the iPhone which I hope will demonstrate the problem and the simple solution - that's if any of your track is less than perfect! The first photo demonstrates how the top of the front bogie can foul the front buffer when there is a dip in the track, the second photo is a comparison between the original version on the right and the modified version on the left. The modified version copes with the undulating track and runs beautifully. I did video it but alas I haven't worked out how to get that to load into this reply. All the best Godfrey

Anyone have it running on their layout yet? Godfrey

Very many thanks to Sandra, Simon and all at Locomotion, and indeed to Hornby - both in the UK and in China - for my King which arrived safely this morning. I am most impressed, love it! Some rather rushed photos just taken on my iPhone. I am sure much better ones will soon grace this Forum. very best wishes Godfrey