MoonM

Considering investing in automatic train control for my new layout with a railcom system. Can anyone advise if the ESU decoders accurascale sell as specific to their locos are RailCom compatible? Also, anyone any feedback on the range of non sound ESU decoders for accurascale locos? Thanks

Anyone any idea when the new release is due out? Think I've had my pre order of a br blue version with rails of Sheffield out for approx 2 years now. Thanks

Hoping the green lined br with late crest is without topfeed. Looking forward to this...

Latest decorated sample looking exquisite. One minor suggestion (maybe already planned for) would be to paint the chassis block a matt black rather than keep the grey metal colour - this way it will match the non powered cars a little closer.

I personally don't quite understand why companies like Hornby and Heljan don't take feedback on these forum pages as constructively as (say) Accurascale seem to do. Yes, the tone of feedback from some of us on these threads can sometimes leave something to be desired, however sharing the development life-cycle over forums such as this is free r&d for companies such as accurascale. Having us comment on inaccuracies before production is free advice and Accurascale milk us dry for this free r&d. Whereas companies such as Heljan and Hornby tend to ignore this free feedback - perhaps a little too proud or stubborn to take it?!

Yup, quite an odd shape. Nose tapers in and looks very narrow (even Hornby magazine raised this!) and the body sides are too tall dropping too close to the boggies. Sure there may be other things too but those two elements I find quite obviously awkward

Yup, there appear to be some v low hanging fruit out there. Produce (say) 120% of the pre-orders made and you won't be grossly overstocked

Maybe a class 47 with a deliberately fat front profile? That will mean across Accurascale, Bachmann and Heljan we have fat, normal and thin to choose from?! And maybe Hornby could make one too with some oversized additional working front lamps? Or Dapol with their own take on the intercity livery?

Annoucement of new products this week (aside from 37108)? In the days preceding a major show seems typical and it's been a while...

I picked up my j15 in a bargain basement sale. One of Hornby's best locos in my opinion but seemed always to be discounted. Maybe not quite as 'sexy' as some of the larger engines? Or maybe Hornby produced far too many?

The business environment is changing. Hornby and Bachmann have huge operational costs (ie people, processes and business practices) that are hugely inefficient relative to competition that has fewer people and smaller overheads. Hence accurascale and other new entrants can work on a lower gross profit margin than existing participants as they will be impacted by lower operational costs before getting to the net profit margin figure. Bachmann will have had to reduce their gross profit margin to something more akin to accurascale's on the class 31 to just be competitive. I do wish Hornby (and Bachmann, and other sleepy manufacturers) would get more brutal in cutting unnessesary operational costs to become competitive again. Yes that will be hard on some people in redundant roles, but the consequence of not doing this will be the whole business folding (therefore affecting all people in all roles, not just some of the people in some roles). Hornby skimping on QC and exploring innovations where not needed is an example of corporate mismanagement in my eyes - turning a blind eye to the real issues and instead trying to skimp in other areas (eg QC) and try an justify a higher price for features not needed. I wish the company was better run as it is in the interests of all of us (competitors and us customers) for Hornby to survive

Would like to see Hornby move to an operating model lore like accurascale and Bachmann. With both these companies all models are available in different spec levels (dcc ready or dcc sound fitted, plus Bachmann have their deluxe line). The silly lamps can be in the deluxe range and people can avoid and buy a cheaper 'vanilla' version if preferred. I am interested in the Hornby black 5 similar to the smoke fitted version (a generic unnumbered late crest version) but I don't want to pay for the smoke generator that I will never use. As a result I'm not ordering and making do with my previous generation version

Gotta be a question of when and not if...

14xx?

50031 in large logo would be a good and versatile choice. No cantrail in original operations so could suit 80s and early 90s modellers (maybe with an optional nse decal for the headboard, or just as easily removed with thinners). Having the emblem too makes it a cut above a 'vanilla' 50

Surprised one isn't in the first batch (unless a late arriving special). In the market for one in the paler shade...

Revised livery style or also revised darker blue too?

Now the 2Bs are out with customers a perfect time to annouce a new coach (one in, one out so to speak). Ally Pally just around the corner...

Should the last coach at the end of the rake have recessed buffers or extended? Was not aware of the difference until you referenced we have the option!

I'm so excited to receive mine as expecting these to be 'game changing'. Anyone getting their deliveries early, keep those pics coming...

Hi All - I am perhaps in the lucky position of starting afresh (well I do have an old Digikeijis DR5000 and 4088 but I understand they went out of business) in DCC in both N and OO Gauge in the same room. If you were to start afresh and setup will reliable and trusted components, how would you approach this? - Recommended control system? It will need to be easily compatible with iTrain for train automation. Ideally, I’d like to be able to run my OO gauge and N gauge layout on the same controller, bus wire and iTrain system (not needing to buy the same thing twice). I have no idea whether this will be possible! - Recommended surface mounted point motors for the fiddle yards and under board point motors for the scenic section. Emphasis to be placed upon reliability and cost (inc. relevant additional DCC modules). Again, need to be able to work with iTrain and automation. - Track will all be peco. OO gauge will be code 75 bullhead for scenic sections and code 100 for the fiddle yard. N gauge will be code 55 for the scenic sections and code 80 for the fiddle yard. - All stock will be RTR and relatively modern items. Advice on DCC decoders will be welcome too as most my stock is DCC-ready only and I have not yet taken a decision on a consistent brand of decoders. I don’t run sound on locos (not my cup of tea). What is important to me regarding DCC running is reliability, slow speed performance and consistent stopping/braking (especially for getting trains to stop in the right place in blocks when automated). Thanks in advance for any advice that is available!

Thanks all. Some v helpful advice. Sounds like I should not be too afraid of Peco curved points and that Code 100 could be a better bet for the fiddle yard. I'll stick away from slips however. Being able to use curved points is a plus as it looks to give me enough length to split each fiddle yard siding in half - tricky to explain but I hope a track plan helps. More of the project (inc first draft track plan) here... Still to make a decision on point motors.

First idea of the OO plan below (bit messy and clearly cannot draw a smooth curve(!), but not v good at IT/Anyrail!!). Shaded sections are my best go at hidden areas and fiddle yard hopefully should be evident. Consists of: - Single track branch line to local station (top) and mainline station (bottom). - Small shunting puzzle (left of local station) - Loco stand (two sidings top left) - 2x2 mainlines across bottom - Scenic break half-way along mainline station - Other scenic breaks most likely tunnel portals - Uncovered section in the top right is an idea to create a cutting/embankment section with mainlines passing through on a gradual curve - will be a lift-out section. Welcome any thoughts/comments/recommendations. Thanks for looking

After moving into my new house almost 3yrs ago I am now ready to start building a new layout. I had thought I'd start 2yrs ago, but some remodeling of the house put a 2yr delay on things. The Space The space is a c. 7m x 3.5m rectangle. Two access doors in one corner prevent the setup of a 'permanent' oval layout. The space will double-up as a study for those 'work-from-home' days and is being built with plenty of storage loco boxes, models, papers, books etc. The 'Old' Idea The idea was to create an N Gauge layout to run 3 sides of the room and loop back (i.e. using as much perimeter space as possible without blocking access to the room). Trains would be automated and I could watch the world go by whilst working at my desk. The 'Evolved' Idea The 'old' idea still stands but, in my impatience over the last 2yrs, I have acquired a collection of OO Gauge stock. The quality of recent launches has been so good I could not resist - oops!! So the 'evolved' idea is to also build a OO layout around the perimeter of the room. Because of the need to have access in/out of the room, this OO layout can not run permanently but a lift out section should enable running sessions when I provide appropriate 'notice' to the rest of the family. Truth is I could not compromise on the two scales and their relative advantages/disadvantages so I had to have both! N gauge gives me all day operations and opportunity to see run express trains yet occupy just a small space on the layout. OO gauge gives me the opportunity to appreciate the amazing detail of recent models and the motion of steam (in my opinion N and TT does not do the motion of steam locos justice). Why not compromise with TT? Simple - the product ranges are not extensive enough and, to my mind, the 'compromise' of TT more exaggerates the cons of both N and OO, and not the pros. The Plan The room is awash currently with Ikea 'Kallax' cabinets that will form the bottom layer of the baseboard. They have been modified to include adjustable legs which have been leveled to the floor and bolted together where connected. Next step will be to cross-brace with battens and then I plan to build a 'floating' baseboard of ply above this. The OO layout will come first as this will occupy the bottom layer and by inset slightly into the room. Storage/fiddle yards will tuck behind. The N gauge layout will be structured just above the fiddle yards against the perimeter walls on a higher level but plan for this to be removable in sections for access to the OO fiddle yards in case of running issues/maintenance. Very basic diagram, but this is the setup I have (OO in blue, N in red). Track plans to follow. Theme/Eras Being middle-aged (c. 40), I am luckier than some as I don't have the detailed memories of specific details to be concerned with absolute prototypical accuracy. My 'eras' are (i) 50s/60s BR (I like the mix of steam and diesel and the variety of experimental locos - I also pretend that it is easier to assume that stock from different regions would intermix, even though I know this is not true) and (ii) 80s/90s BR (I like the variety of the colours and this reflects my earliest memories of railways as a child). I also could not resist Hornby's recent LNER releases so I arguably have 3 eras now! It could be that the N gauge layout evolves to 80s/90s BR and the OO gauge earlier, but that is too early to say and good stock cannot be run if I enforce that rule. Hence (pretty much) everything will go. I won't concern myself too much with prototypical accuracy as a result. I am more interested in something that is 'evocative' of an era (big picture) rather than on small pictures details. One of the first decisions will be the track. N gauge will be code 55 wooden flatbottom, possible code 80 for the fiddle yard(s). OO gauge will be code 75 bullhead (I just love how fine this looks), but probably code 75 flatbottom for the fiddle yard(s). Next Steps Track plans and base boarding. Watch this space...

All, Starting a OO permanent build and want to make sure I set my fiddle yard as reliably as possible. Layout will be peco bullhead but I am considering code 75 flat bottom for the fiddle yard area (cheaper). Reliability is highest priority with efficient use of space second. Some questions please? Presume the wider radius the point is the better? Will I encounter any reliability issues using medium radius peco points and not their large radius? Locos and rolling stock will be various with steam and diesels. Stock will all be relatively modern. Planning to stay away from 3-way points, curved points, single and double slips for reliability, but am I being overly conservative? Best recommendations for most reliable (preferably surface mounted) point motors? Will need to be compatible with itrain automation software. Anything obvious I may be missing? Thank you!