Ian Hargrave

Great quality display of both current and products Accurascale have currently under development at GETS this weekend. Good to reacquaint myself with the team and particularly with Paul whom I haven’t seen since he moved over from Margate. . Great talking with you. Best,Ian.

Two complete 78XXX in Hornby’s display cabinet ar GETS this weekend. Delivery according to SK will be March 2023 .Covid and Chinese New Year provided. They look exquisite.

Before you do .I saw and spoke with SK at GETS this afternoon.They are fully aware of this and a fix is on the way in the form of an alternative bar.I did express disappointment about the current problem but it seems help is on the way. Two gorgeous 78XXX on display.March next apparently…always of course provided a combination of Covid and Chinese New Year doesn’t disrupt production.

TMC editions are on view at MK this weekend but for order only. They do look the business.Rails has a full complement for sale.Thus 45118 is with me and currently trundling around my tabletop with 4 Bachmann Mk2A +3 Bachmann 2F in tow.2axles on each bogie driven with floating centre axle. Nice model. Securely packaged including useful booklet and very well finished. Smooth performance as you’d expect with a Heljan diesel model. Despite misgivings,I’m very happy and will I think soon place an order for one of TMC’s D11–D15…..all of which were visitors to Temple Meads from 1961 on They were then Neville Hill ( 55H ) locos. And they have a certain “ character “ about them that makes them stand apart…..even though the doors were a white elephant. So then,from me at any rate,we’ll done Ben. But then I speak as I find.

D 6912 is I’m afraid incorrect. This was a South Wales loco without split box/ doors etc. delivered several years after.

A feature with this model that I’ve noticed is its solid,robust build quality. I’ve become more confident when handling it.Something that perhaps we’re not used to with Hornby lately. The finish is of a high standard.

Heljan ? They have produced OO models of one -off prototypes : viz Brush Falcon,BRC&W Lion. “Decent Price” ? Well now,that’s a matter of personal judgment is it not ? And is the collective wisdom of this forum that a model’s acceptability is ultimately down to price ? I couldn’t hazard a guess on that. I’m hoping to go to GETS this weekend and curiosity alone will drive me to the KR stand to do an up close etc. on what all the fuss is about.

But maybe wait a while on this to see how demand for these proceeds. Bachmann have a superb model with their new 37. I can vouch for that. The Accurascale will offer the same standard I’m certain. We are fortunate to be spoiled for choice

Which is why yesterday I posed the question of positive points on this model .And unsurprisingly received a generally non committal response. That said,I noticed that a few worthy luminaries of this forum have thrown their hats into the ring and ordered one….or two. So these two posts are very much aligned with my own response to the images I’ve viewed here and elsewhere online.There’s something about it that appeals despite the shortcomings ….but before committing,I need to see one and then decide. TMC are a big player here and supplies of their special edition Peaks …..D11-D15 with interconnecting doors….are imminent.I note with satisfaction that they also have a presence at GETS in Milton Keynes on October 8/9 .Thus a trip down the M1 for an up close look at one might be worth it to settle the matter.No trains due to strike action unfortunately

My first acquaintance with the Peak-With-Doors was at St.Pancras in late April 1961 . Holbeck’s D12 already with smashed glass to one indicator box and none too clean either. Yellow aprons came next year. I had to wait until September for a first trip behind one …it being toYork on the Birmingham-Newcastle behind D75 (17A)which was joined at the front by D40 (82A) from Sheffield Midland. Bath Road received its quota in midsummer of that year .

Taking on board what is posted about the “ face “ of the model which does seem at odds with the prototype,there is still something about it that still appeals. I’d be interested in perhaps opinions on the more positive aspects of Heljan’s Peak if anyone is bold enough to express them.

And to be fair,I have made exactly the same point in posting on this forum in response to a view of Sam’s shock/horror carpet spectacular of the 9F. It may be that their Facebook post is in fact a response to this “critique “ ?

We’re actually not certain that they are in fact the same in any case,even though it points in that direction. The S15 and the B12 were released quite a long while ago so it’s impossible to draw any conclusions after such a length of time.For now in my own case,having run it under load quite extensively since Thursday last,I report no defects in running and in fact ( as is posted elsewhere on this forum with regard to Hornby models in general)there is a gradual improvement . My own issues with it lie as I have posted elsewhere. It remains a damned good model.

Just billed for 47435 by Derails.

Well don’t we all love conspiracy theories

So then,turning aside from the marbles analogy,I’m pleased to report that I still have mine but sadly no longer play the game .I appreciate your rallying spirit though,even if I cannot completely agree with some of your assertions. On the point you make regarding its motor.: we now have your assumption that Hornby have listened with regard to the motor. Yet a well known YouTube prima Donna wildly asserts that this is the very same motor that apparently suffered catastrophic failure when used in the B12. Be grateful if you therefore can shed some light on the matter….because I hope you actually do have knowledge of what’s under the bonnet in terms of motor.

I like your commitment to this new 9F and the above photo shoot which shows it off in a most attractive light. However,I’ll question the assertion that its Bachmann counterpart lacks clout. As I’ve posted above,I have one running concurrently with the Hornby with the same wagon load and find no difference in performance between the two ….haulage very good indeed.And really what you’d expect from a new “state of the art” ,bells and whistles Hornby model. I think it maybe useful here to issue the caveat that everyone’s layout is different and this means that results and assessments will vary accordingly . The aesthetic appearance of a model is also important…..as prototypical as is possible. Here our opinions diverge. I’m at a loss to comprehend why we are presented with a coupling bar that seemingly ensures we can run what is a beautiful model in only one position. For me this spoils its overall impression whilst in motion with its load.The gap just glares at me I’m afraid. To compare this 9F with other recent Hornby releases…A2 & A3…these both are equipped with easily adjustable bars.Why then am I faced with this dumb afterthought with a brand new top of the range model ? The “for display purposes “ position is impossible to achieve in any case without major surgery to the bar. Why spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar ? Research and design ? ?

Well Tony is the doyen of current railway modelling and who am I to contradict him ? But…..having somewhat stupidly decided ( because I do like this model ) to improve upon the unsightly gap between loco and tender by reversing the connecting coupling ,I feel disenchanted with whomsoever designed this piece of kit. I’m being polite here because the air has been blue for an hour . The screws are both different but the one at the front of the tender is so tiny that it is only due to good fortune and sheer doggedness on my part that I managed to reassemble it….having failed miserably to do what I set out to do.It is now returned to full working order and back on the job thankfully. Best rtr…..Hmm. Yes it’s good I know but it has just tried my patience in the extreme and frankly reveals a flawed detail design.

I’m m not really involved in this debate but I’d hazard a guess that it’s because you’re open and approachable and have involved yourselves with this forum since you hit the ground running and keep in touch several times a day.

Further to my issue with the coupling bar,I prised open the lid of the box ( What a job that is in itself ! ) to hopefully gain some enlightenment from the ‘Operating and Maintenance Instructions’ . This as is usual with Hornby is scant in detail,a waste of time and one really has to ask why on earth they cannot pay appropriate attention to after sales customer care by providing us with the same helpful details that Dapol for instance do these days. To me this speaks volumes of an indifferent approach which has blighted Hornby’s reputation for decades. Do they care ? Well,maybe . Item 3 Fig .6 Close Coupling ‘To create a closer coupling for display purpose.connect the tender to the locomotive by utilising the closer of the two holes on the draw bar as shown in Fig 6.’ This despite the fact that it is not possible to do so. Nothing is said about how to do it and nothing also about turning the bar around the other way.In other words according to Hornby ,you can’t achieve a closer coupling in operation than what you get out of the box.Tough ! So we have a 9F with a barn door gap between loco & tender. They design a model.It duly arrives and is marketed. Do they really know what it is and how it works….or doesn’t as the case may be ?

A point made concerning the length of time taken for a Hornby model loco to properly run in is certainly the experience I have had with mine,though mine didn’t have the initial issues seen here.I also take on board his concerns over a seeming lack of torque…..made much of by Sam in a brutal way.Shortening the coupling bar seems a little drastic though and a risky business if it doesn’t work out on curved track. Earlier on this thread turning the bar around is suggested.I have looked carefully at it but it will require sharp eyesight and nimble fingers to achieve.As I have neither,I’ll leave well alone.This is one area where I feel the model doesn’t deliver what it should I look forward to further videos from him later. It was straightforward and believable

And we all know what the character who uttered those infamous words commi😵tted ….

Well certainly something needs fixing. We can all speculate on what that might be.Conclusion jumping for starters..e.g. it’s the same duff motor that he replaced in the B12 . I suppose if I were in the position of Hornby marketing,I’d shrug it off by repeating that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Who knows what effect in terms of lost sales he has. Hopefully minimal . I had to think very carefully before buying but as always I use my own judgement. It is a good model.

For a good spanking ? 😀

Currently running my new Hornby 9F and also revisiting Sam’s “review “. His judgment is harshly OTT. It bears no resemblance to the one currently hauling 24 Accurascale wagons smoothly,9 of then with coal loads,at position 3:5 on a dc controller.IMHO he’s thoughtlessly savaging a model and using very poor judgment.I have to ask how many unsuspecting souls who commit to his “channel” and hang on his every word like the gospel are gulled by this banality and won’t buy one because of it ? Yes he’s a capable lad I know and frequently demonstrates his skill but this is a very good model…not perhaps as good as it could be….but it deserves better than this nonsense.