sanspareil

Some retailers are saying these are due out today? Any further news folks as we know some of these dates are often just pie in the sky (especially now with all the port issues at the moment)? On the more than disappointing lights issue i think we will have to wait for someone to get their hands on one and a) see how we can get in the cab/see how its all hooked up then b) see whats involved to correct the situation. I guess its possible one of the electronics manufacturers might make a retro fit light kit for the cab end if its an easy mod (there will be demand for sure). Just a shame on a £165 loco we still have to correct basic omissions.

Omission in this day and age of basic marker lights on a brand new top price model where the likes of Acurascale are setting incredible standards at similar cost is poor really. You can understand the omission at bonnet end, sure, but at the cab end they have confirmed the omissions is all but commercial rather than technical. I think for those that dont keep abreast of the developments (and the likes of this forum) there are going to be a number of disappointed customers with a 2021 model at top spec prices (£165 RRP). What I find interesting is that two reviews I have seen of the 20/3s dont mention the lack of markers! Sure for some it wont matter but for others it will and a review is a review. To not to at least mention this in a review is a little sloppy in my view. PS Hornby mag have confirmed to me that their review loco didnt have working markers (as we know), so their image on the cover of their magazine was (likely) doctored or the loco modified. This will only further mislead, especially as the review makes no mention of the lack of markers.

Not the only brand making current release compromises - of course Realtrack have just used painted markers on their wipac 156s due to costs at the point of manufacture. Look pretty dire and enough to put me off purchase. I am sure Bachmann could have done something but am sure its cost related rather than a manufacturing limitation. I bet you Accurascale wouldn't have made this compromise and found a way!!

To update the marker lighting postings, Bachmann have officially stated: None of the four outer marker lights (two at each end) are operable whether used on analogue or DCC due to manufacturing constraints. Now the Hornby mag cover clearly shows at least one marker working so either Bachmann are wrong (!) or Hornby mag modified their loco/the picture! We do know Hornby Mag do a lot of doctoring of their mag images so i go with this?

The cover of the mag shows them working on markers, some suggest on DC markers dont work only on DCC oddly.

And so suggesting that on DC the markers oddly dont function, a bit of a strange setup?

The prices are good by modern standards, looking at maybe £32 ish with discounts. I assume the standard will be more akin to that of their MK2F range though ie not a bells and whistles Cavalex level model but a hopefully serious and affordable step up from the ancient Margate tooling of the past?

Been brought to this page via another thread elsewhere. Agree with other posts on the WIPAC matter. I personally dont want to spend £230 on a compromise with painted marker lights (given I have a heavily modified fleet already that 'will do'). I also see there appears to be light bleed issues with the compromise too. However I will just hold out and wait/hope the mod does come along in time, Charlie has already said nothing will happen any time soon however (kind of helps me out waiting as been spending way too much with Accurascale in recent times). There's no doubt the provincial model has been a good seller but there's no doubt its hitting sales to some degree. No one really knows by how much, thats always the gamble in business. PS Slightly off topic but slightly related, I was once told by Simon Kohler at Hornby there was no need to produce a fresh MK3 TGS to match the rest of the range as we can just use the Lima tooling cheaply and we know it will sell just fine. Sure it did sell but by how much has it limited wider sales? No one knows I guess. Only me personally but the lash up TGS has turned me off buying 2-3 other full length HST rakes including the power cars so far.

I know several have brought up the lighting issue on the older WIPAC style (eg Provincial) units previously. I have had a thumb through the pages since I last looked but cant see if any further comment has been made regarding any progression on releasing the correct pattern lights? It was mentioned some time ago IIRC that once initial costs had been covered then producing some tooling mods to correct such compromises would likely happen. I know there's a certain number of us who are still holding back due to this and further number who did go ahead with the compromise version (given how poor a standard Lima/Hornby unit is) but suggest they would put these straight on ebay and upgrade if the correct lighting cluster was modelled. Its difficult to persuade me as I already have an 'acceptable' detailed no traction tyre, underframe kitted unit with lights so have thus held back on any not too cheap compromise model. Just to add I appreciate and understand Realtrack's initial position, just looking to see if theres an update/anything on the horizon. TIA

Sorry if I have missed any other posting on this (and cannot find by the search function either) but this issue of MR states that Richard Foster is leaving the role of Editor and the Bauer group altogether. Does anyone know where Richard is off to out of interest? George Dent is announced in the same issue as the new editor, promoted from Deputy Editor.

You have to admire how communicative a small number of manufacturers are (Accurascale must be near the top of the tree ) compared to most who lack almost any communication. I have some PTA's on order with Accurascale and the almost daily updates currently is just superb. There have been delays sure due to the mentioned port issues amongst other reasons but its just nice to know where things are. Its like being stuck on a train going nowhere with no info, its just always better when you know whats going on.

I guess there are for's and against with the modern way of only announcing releases once far down the development road. Before when manufacturers just put a flag in the sand for a future release it may have put others off starting anything themselves (but not always). Now as we see its very possible totally innocently two manufactures spend time and effort on the same item. It then ends with both having reduced sales or one backing off and losing a lot of investment. If this happens too often I cant see it be great for company survival.

Out of interest do Dapol include separately fitted nameplates with their named models, such as 73109, or only printed on ones?

So I finally got my hands on some DRS TSO's - who knew it would get so hard to spend your money!! I have only had Bachmann MK 2F's before this so allowed a comparison. As you would expect given price difference the Bachmann ones are significantly better in almost all areas. Some areas are not excused on the price difference really, of my 3x coaches one has got a chronic wobble so much so I thought something must have been stuck to a wheel surface but no, one axle is so off centre it makes the huge wobble. One of the other two has a slight wobble but just acceptable enough I guess. I Think the issue is amplified as the coaches have so much horizontal body/bogie sway potential compared to other stock that a poor axle amplifies the wobble easier through the body. I would or should have sent the serious wobbler back but luckily had some spare good axles to swap with. The light blue DRS livery colour is of some slight question as is the lining colour, but as we know Hornby have big issues with colour time after time.

Numbers wise, indeed we dont know, however given almost all the big retailers are already out of DRS TSO's with many selling out on pre-orders alone someone got something a bit wrong I guess. I am not fully sure how the ordering process between retailer/manufacturer works but one big retailer told me they could only apparently order 23 TSO's, maybe not enough to even fulfil pre-orders?

Yeah Hornby regarding the DRS MK2's at least have made a strange decision regarding recreating prototype formations. Both the Cumbria and Norfolk DRS operations had a standard formation of one BSO (or mostly DBSO with Cumbria) and between two to four TSO's. Yet Hornby release only one TSO and 2x BSO's. Seems odd to me and a few retailers I have spoke said they agree but arent surprised. Seems a bit of a strange business decision. The TSO's are already getting as rare as hens teeth and the big retailers were sold out on pre-orders alone. Expect a lot of further discounted DRS BSO's in 2021 with excess stock!

Have Hornby made a bit of a mess up here in oddly producing 2xBSO but only 1xTSO when every one is going to want more TSO's!?! Also seemingly not producing enough TSO's as it seems most retailers are already out of these just hours after taking stock - some on pre-order alone!!

Thanks so much in taking the time to reply Martyn, I will give this a try in the coming days. Sorry for the slow reply by the way.

Can anyone kindly help? I am having some issues with the dummy power car head/tail lighting. It was something i started looking at a while ago and on disconnecting the wiring made some notes, however coming back to it some weeks later i cant find said notes!!! So basically i am not sure of the correct wiring between the contact plates and the DCC circuit board! Can anyone either provide an image/description of how theirs is hooked up. Many many thanks! PS I attach a picture of how i think it might be wired but am not 100%

Indeed I hope on the Mk4's but as a continually frustrated Hornby customer (like wise with the MK3's/Eurostar coaches to name two) I dont really hold much hope of seeing new MK'4s anytime soon. Also if the new 91 doesnt sell Hornby for sure will use this as an additional indicator that the new MK4's are not worth doing. Hornby all too often dont seem to see the wider picture/chicken and egg situation of only realising part of a train then seeming surprised when sales are low! I was told sales of the Eurostar were disappointing, wonder why! On MK3's I spoke to Simon at a show once and when I asked about an upgrade and doing things properly this time (eg the Lima TGS lash up) you could see he was a bit irritated. He said very high sales have proven there was nothing wrong with Hornbys approach on this and there are no plans to upgrade. Sure maybe sales were good (little other choice) but how much higher would they have been if say the TGS was tooled fresh to match let alone all now to current standards?

This could go many ways but is of course music to Hornbys ears and thus have to hope might mean green lights all the way now for them to do MK4's. The caution they were showing due to the potential competition is now gone and have the full market to themselves. If not then it could mean we are stuck with just a high spec loco. On a flip side now Hornby have stopped the competition they might consider that they now dictate the pace so we might not see any particular speed on getting the MK'4s done, especially with the demanding wider schedule they have currently set themselves. PS I am reading between lines but I assume a lot of the pre-orders must have fallen away and is the reason for the dropping of project 225 or they just looked at the potential worst case going forwards thus pulled to play it safe. I know some buyers still remember DJ Models all too well and with Hornby now weakening things to some degree they fear what may have come if Cavalex had progressed and say this summer Hornby then announced MK4's, maybe some thus walked/became cautious at laying out cash upfront. I know Cavalex have been aware of potential rumblings on the Hornby 91 for some months and when the question has been raised towards them (at least on the surfaces) they showed little fear. I do feel really sorry for the guys for all their effort and expense going to waste 4mm wise. Hopefully all/most can be recovered with the 2mm version.

Has anyone asked this yet on here, I had a look and couldnt see? Will the loco and DVT have some form of hidden/exposed NEM pocket at the sharp end to allow drags/blunt end operation? For those not on DCC will the loco have sensibly switchable lights (more akin to the Bachmann 90 implementation than the Hornby 87!!).

Doesnt really add any more to what we know but Simon at Hornby is on a Hornby Mag youtube video interview and clearly states that their MK4's are far from confirmed at this stage. I think he said 'I never say never I never say yes, lets wait and see'. So thats not too positive and dont seem to be doing too much to stop the many that are about to put pen to cheque towards Cavalex. Very much helps people decide to go that way I think now including me! I was on the fence before this as I sure whilst maybe not as good as the Cavalex version Hornby no doubt would come in a bit cheaper.

Has it been said what the situation will be with sales on the MK4, will they be sold individually or only as packs? No prices yet I assume.

I said similar on the Mk4's in another thread, not at least giving an intent on new Mk4's is a bit worrying and will not help promote sales. It makes me think that Hornby will just test the water on the loco first given the direct competition with Cavalex. However by not announcing the MK4 it will only put some off their product line and stay with Cavalex who have the full product line already announced (assuming there is no change there). Apparently Hornby were pushed yesterday and would make no further statement. Hornby after all do have form for producing part formations in the past if they feel sales are low of the initial product - but this is a chicken and egg situation, only announcing part formations limits initial sales!