TomE

Take a close look at the wheels, specifically the flanges. If that is N Gauge those wheels are more like 2mm Finescale standard. Compare to the Mogul CAD. The finesse of the motion, and the appearance of the fixings. They are more or less identical to the OO Manor. There is no N Gauge NEM pocket on the front bogie and far too much detail to accommodate one in this area, Again, compare to the Mogul (and why include it on the Mogul CAD but remove it from the Light Pacific CAD?) The overall finesse of the detail, the size of the rivet detail and handrails, thickness of visible wall edges/ends. The amount of detail present. Those cylinder draincock pipes, in N Gauge, don’t think so if you want to get it round 2nd radius curves! The more I examine them, the less and less I’m certain that is CAD for an N Gauge model, as much as I hope it is because it would certainly be one of, if not the best steam locomotives ever produced in N based on that CAD. I could be entirely wide of the mark, in which case I'll happily hold up my hands and say I was wrong, but when you look at the N Gauge Mogul CAD in comparison, there is just something about that Light Pacific that doesn't look right to my eyes for N Gauge. Tom.

Usually the first Wednesday of November, so the 2nd if the trend holds! Tom.

My impulse buy EMT 08 arrived yesterday and runs excellently out of the box around a unitrack loop, although it will benefit further from some stay alive being fitted when I get around to putting a sound chip in it. I need to dig out my old version to check, but it feels like they’ve slimed down the cranks slightly, making it a fraction narrower? Lovely livery application though: Tom.

With many thanks to Andy at Rapido, there's a close up look at two samples for the Class 28 here VERY impressed with these! Tom.

Not something I’ve ever had to have done to be honest, but I’m sure it’s possible. I’d ping someone like YouChoos a line, they may be able to help with a reblow of the chip. Tom.

No, there are no pads on the chip to connect the stay alive circuitry and the model’s own PCB doesn’t include any either. The only way you can do it is to identify the relevant connections on the NEXT18 socket and attach the wires to those, but that requires some deft work with the soldering iron. It can be done, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are confident in your fine soldering abilities! The MS series chips do have connection pads so if you want the easy route, buy a non sound 08 and fit a separately sourced MS series chip. Tom.

Standard NEM coupling pocket. Tom.

I'm comparing RTR N to RTR TT:120, I don't think there is anything misleading there. My point is the Hornby TT range does not appear to be as detailed (and those photos from KGX reaffirm my first impressions) as recent N Gauge models from Revolution, Farish, Dapol etc, and it's disappointing to keep seeing, throughout this thread, the same old outdated tropes about N still being wheeled out even in the face of clear evidence the scale has moved forward significantly in the last decade. If, as you have asserted, the main competitor to TT is N, then Hornby are not making it particularly attractive by going for something only slightly better than railroad. I'm willing to bet that those not worried about the size of N gauge, when faced with the decision, will go for detail and breadth of range over a fractionally larger scale. I also think comparing one corner of the hobby that is trying to approximate a prototype using old and out of date parts to a RTR range being released in 2022 is really comparing apples to oranges, and given the limited initial range I'd wager you may see more of that type of modelling in TT as people try to use the limited available parts in an attempt to produce different models. Tom.

Really? I doubt Hornby will produce anything in TT:120 anywhere near the level of detail we're now seeing in N Gauge. Tom.

Speaker in the bonnet end, no intrusion into the cab at all. Tom.

No magic required! Tom.

Farish have been updating their N Gauge range for some time now to include pre-fitted speakers, and offer sound fitted versions alongside DCC ready models, just like they do in OO. You can even get the N Gauge Farish Class 08 with factory fitted sound thanks to a recently upgraded chassis. Revolution and Dapol also offer factory fitted sound options as standard on models across their range. Tom.

No no, I sat through every excruciating minute of it. It’s clear from the available photos of the products this is not a highly detailed range comparable to the latest OO models from Accurascale, Bachmann and even some in Hornby’s own OO range. As for N, this is a sample for the forthcoming N Gauge Class 59 from Revolution Trains. Current RTR N isn’t up to the same levels of fidelity as OO? Maybe not quite yet, but it’s snapping at its heals. I do take the point someone made about couplings. The Rapido coupler is certainly one of the weakest points of N, but there are at least some alternatives now, and the tension lock is not exactly OO’s crowning achievement either in many people’s eyes. Only time will tell if Hornby can make TT work for them, and although I question the logic and motives behind this move, I certainly wouldn’t want it to be the thing that brings about the end of Hornby, especially given the importance of the name to the Model Railway hobby in the UK. Tom.

Are you suggesting one person giving up on N means it’s not a viable scale? I absolutely accept that N will not be suitable for some, however I suspect it will be the older end of the age scale that discount it and logically that’s where Hornby should be targeting TT. But they’re not, they’re targeting new entrants at the younger end of the age range who will most likely not have any problem handling or working in N Gauge where they will find a much bigger range and wider support base. I also suspect the scale/gauge ratio issue is only a concern to a tiny fraction of the modelling customer base, and those are the people will look to 2FS, EM or P4 if they’re that worried about it. Tom.

Or the limited market size for a smaller scale in the UK has already been fullfilled by N and TT will find itself trying to fill a gap that doesn’t really exist. N Gauge has seen a total transformation since Bachmann took over the Farish range, pushed on by Dapol’s entry and latterly Revolution Trains, to make it a more attractive alternative to OO in terms of detail, features, reliability and range. If N hasn’t been able to shift it’s market share upward, even with those improvements and in the face of shrinking house sizes, what chance does a railroad level product have with limited range, limited distribution and limited exposure? Point accepted on total market share, I wasn’t considering the other scales. Tom.

Source for those figures? Bachmann have previously stated the ratio of N to OO sales is around 20%. Tom.

Still waiting for my RSS version to arrive, but when it does I'll be looking to fit stay alive so will try and document the process. Tom.

I've seen a couple of comments like this recently, and I'm not sure it will. N Gauge is an established scale, it has major manufacturers supporting it with a strong pipeline of future releases and continues to see investment to bring it up to modern standards with features like DCC Sound etc. On top of that it has an active society and extensive support from smaller suppliers. There really isn't any contest if you want to have the option to grow your layout over time and you're space restricted, the choice is N Gauge. The argument that people will choose TT over OO due to shrinking house sizes also doesn't hold up for me either. If that were the case N would have seen that 20%-ish figure of sales vs OO gauge start to rise, and all the available evidence is that it's actually holding steady. Despite Hornby throwing everything and the Kitchen sink at TT, and a few others dabbling around the edges, people will very quickly hit the dead end of what's available and realise if they want to progress they should have gone for N or OO. And let's be honest, Hornby have gone scurrying off to TT because people like Accurascale have come along, have listened to what modellers really want and then given it to them in spades, diminishing Hornby's position and stature in the market. They're also not working from one person's ego driven view of what they think the market should want from them, rather what they can offer the market to recapture some of the ground lost to the new kids on the block. Bachamnn appear to have taken up the challenge posed by Accurascale and are responding with improved models. 'Hornby' are having a massive sulk and are now trying to leverage the only really valuable asset they have left, the name. Tom.

There’s a review of the KTAs now up here Tom.

A little review of these excellent wagons here Tom.

You’ve been catfished! Tom.

Good to see a new run of these produced and now available to purchase. Missed out the first time round so snapped a couple up at GETS. Impressive models! Tom.

What new customer base? I don't recall seeing a massive groundswell of frustrated TT modellers constantly posting around the web demanding models. And only selling to those who happen to look on the Hornby website? You make a massive investment in a new range for a scale that all but died out, and then immediately limit its sales potential by not moving it through the trade. It's all even more bonkers than I already thought it was! Anyway, I'm sure they'll flog a few sets then it'll die quietly in the inevitable fire sale (or catch fire followed by an insurance claim.....) Tom.

Don't disagree on the heritage aspect, but sometimes heritage is best left where it belongs..... Tom.

My overarching question is, why.... Why waste time, effort, and more importantly in Hornby's case, money, on a scale that has almost zero industry support (even with other recent announcements it's still practically nothing relatively speaking) Why not invest in a scale that already has a user base, i.e. N Gauge, where people will be able to buy models and run them on existing layouts with existing stock. Hornby have clearly decided TT is going to be the alter on which they sacrifice themselves. It all seems pretty bonkers to me. Tom.