Clearwater

If you were cynical, you could argue that with an underwhelming list of new items (partly driven by the 2021 backlog), the creation of the "film" range to give cover for the inspired by item and the inevitable row draws attention away from the lack of other new goodies. If you take the volume of posts on this thread and similar ones compared to the Black Five thread, it is clear what is the big issue on the 2022 range. It wouldn't surprise me if Hornby thought all publicity was good publicity and that they could get further publicity in a month or so time by issuing a statement of their own. "We had been keen to bring our inspired by the TTTB to market but were surprised and dismayed by the negative comments we received due to the presence of a competing product. Having reviewed the position, we are taking the step to withdraw our product. We wish our competitor luck with their sales." or similar. Suddenly they're being magnanimous and seeking to be "the good guys." And get another round of free publicity for their products.

Great video. I’ve dipped in and out of the Hornby launch video. I did note a) a direct tie in with Studio Canal on the Railway Children and b) a comment in the start of the railroad section about manufacturers who put in lots and lots of detail.

I had wondered if youtube ran on a different time zone (eg EST not GMT) but in the comments they expressly say GMT:

If you believe the naysayers about the escalating costs of track for the 1mm:1mm railway, again Hornby is only following prototype practice!

I think we’ve already seen the impact of the generation who saw steam pre 1968. However, the younger generation have a different perspective. We’ve grown up seeing preserved steam. I recall being told, and it may be incorrect, that in the 70s BR was funny about having preserved locos in BR livery hence some of the fictional ones and the predominance of Big 4 liveries (an interesting aside in that some of those preservation pioneers were themselves recreating what they’d seen when younger.). Certainly my recollection is of GWR, the Longmoor bright blue and LMS reds on the SVR of the late 70s/early 80s. If you think of the Bluebell today, the locos that stand out are the SECR liveries. Which we see in rtr…. With some notable exceptions, preserved railways operate what they’ve got and a lot of Mark 1s. It’s sadly not anachronistic to see a beautifully liveried pre grouping loco hauling maroon mark ones. Hence if you’re a manufacturer, you can argue that you’re allowing modellers to recreate what they see. You don’t need accurate pre grouping rolling stock. My predictions: Die cast A4 and Castle. Possible Silver Jubilee set to complement a die cast A4. Saint.

I’m going for an announcement that they’ve acquired a load of old toolings from Bachmann and their first new release in the Railroad range will be a GWR Manor….

Apologies if it's been asked previously and I've missed the answer. Are the cabside plates printed and do they have lipped edges? Am thinking whether it's easy to affix etched plates or whether there's a lip that needs filing off. Thanks David

1000000% agree. If that revenue from December, the people who visit enjoy the trip and spend their money in the shop and team room and that all helps subsidise the restoration of a carriage or loco, then I'm all for it. And you never know, the spark of a future enthusiast may well be planted when they see that big loco chuffing for the first time with its polished brass etc.

Its a way of shifting stock at a discount without saying that you're directly discounting and risking undermining your relationship with independent retailers.

I’ve posted elsewhere but my iPad notified me this morning that those who subscribe electronically to Railway Modeller now have access to digital copies of the back catalogue back to 1949. Browsing through an 80s edition, I happened on these articles.. I’m sure there’s more of Tony’s back catalogue to explore! David

Not seen this posted elsewhere, but this notification popped up on my iPad. Great that there’s going to be online access to the archive back to 1947 for subscribers. Bravo peco! David

Have any of the magazines reviewed the Dapol tanks yet?

Neal, Complimentary on the level of detail. "hard to believe .. 3D printed". They comment on the 'stepping' om the printing and there's a comment that it fits the Jinty chassis and not the Bachmann 57xx but it's fairly short and factual.

John, there was a review in the September Railway Modeller. David

Thanks Neal! No idea why it went upside down. Came out right way up in the other places I’ve posted. I’ll claim it was that way up to help out our Australian correspondents!

A great day out. Some, ahem, spirited running from Swindon to Didcot if my gps Speedo is to be believed. Though no @The Stationmasteron the footplate alas.

Great to see some proper motive power at Birmingham Snow Hill.

Hi I'm following this with interest. I know I've been told the answer before, probably by Martin, but am I remembering correctly that the geometry of a cross over on a main line is likely to follow B7 dimensions but the points to a siding are likely to be more to B6? Thanks David

Hi on dining cars, I vote 1,2,3 and 4! thanks david

We’ve been on the SDR on previous holidays and I agree it’s a lovely railway. Is the fish restaurant the former station building? We enjoyed the boat trip though #1 son complained it wasn’t on the steam paddle steamer. We were all impressed by the way the naval college towers above the river.

Currently on hols on the English Riviera. Staying within walking distance of the Dawlish to Teignmouth sea wall and have made several pilgrimages. Both sons thoroughly approve. Sadly no steam specials this week as had been looking forward to chance to be lineside as a big express loco thundered by. Pleased to report that most drivers my sons’ have waved at have waved back with about 50% blipping horn. Also visited Kingswear and Dartmouth which I’ve not been to before. Younger son wants to get “a zoomer back to Paddington.’” A successful week to date!

I'd vote 2,3,6,7 and 8! David

Hi Mike, Is David trading again or is he just selling off what he'd already got? Kind regards David

Hi I vote 1. I fully agree that something is better than nothing and to make a range commercially viable you'd have to make compromises. I'd either pick prototypes that didn't get the toplights plated over in BR days or I'm sure a clever tooling could manage some plating over for example. David

As our American cousins would say, do the math. Phoenix has put way more into Hornby than I’ll wager they first intended. I’d suspect that the current carrying value, at traded share price, is below their net cash investment. To sell, they’ll want a certain minimum amount of cash when they sell. First gate is cash breakeven, second is cash investment plus cost of carry. Ideally, they’ll want 15% annualised. The curve ball is how this investment sits in their fund and when that fund matures. Sometimes, asset managers hold investments in time limited investment funds. Whilst those can be extended, there may come a point where they want/need to sell to release their own economics of the whole fund. That could lead to a lower price particularly if some other assets have performed extremely well. as of today, Hornby’s market capitalisation, ie the value of the shares, is £75m. Let’s say they want a 30% premium to that( (equaivalent to 60p a share) so valuing the company at c£100m. That’s a lot of cash for a private individual to raise even if they finance with debt. As such, I’d be surprised if LCD would lead a buy out. If he got new equity backing, then it would need to be with the tacit consent of Phoenix. However, that’s probably not offering value to them - better to sell to market with a management team in place. I think LCD is early / mid 60s? My feeling is that he sees a large pay off for him in line with him realising the value to Phoenix. Perhaps 18m transition for him at that point. However, if he’s say banking mid single digit millions at that point, it would have to be a very big carrot to stay on. If he thinks there is more value, why wouldn’t Phoenix incentive him to deliver it?