kelsh003

That would appear to be absent this time, but it does of course light up

I don't think so, which doesn't bother me personally.

Images just taken on my Motorola so forgive the average quality.

My Black 5 No.5200 has just turned up in the post. Very weighty, and a smooth runner although not yet fully run in. Lamps are indeed replaceable via lamp irons in the accessory bag that also includes additional lamps and the usual recent accessories such as crew etc. Initial impressions so far are this is excellent. The lamps might be a bit gimmicky for some, but it's fun to have them, they work well and you can replace them. Pictures attached.

If anybody is looking to part with their Thane of Fife from the recent P2 releases from Hornby, I would love to hear from you! Thanks.

Well thanks everyone for the help! I didn't expect so much advice. I have tried a cotton bud with fairy liquid on, and while it has helped a little, the vast majority of whatever the hell has happened to the body is still present. I am nowhere near skilled enough to do a repaint etc, and do not want to damage the paintwork anymore so a bit of a loss as to what I shall do. I might well send it into somewhere such as Neville Grove for some weathering etc, which may nicely hide the defects and make the loco look a bit more 'realistic'.

Have attempted but it's still present, so it's clearly done something to the paint. Hence asking if anyone knows a paint restorer etc.

Photos for reference, hope these highlight the issue

Hello all, I have one of the modern Hornby Dublo releases, Merchant Navy 35011 General Steam Navigation in BR Green but for some reason, some of the paintwork has become blemished/damaged. No idea how this has happened, I take car of my models but perhaps its oil residue attacking the paint after servicing. I wondered if anyone knew of a paint restorer/somewhere I could get it sent for some remedial work? Hornby cannot help me sadly, and I do not trust myself to do this so any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I am glad Bachmann are an outlier. It certainly makes life easier, and in Hornby's defense they are trying to help but equally, I won't be alone in having needed body parts. Mine was from the 2022 re-run so that might play into my hands! Other than this though its a superb model.

Managed to get in touch and they said they will see what they have. The problem is they don't keep body parts as spares, and I've compared it to the Bachmann situation where there is a lot readily and easily available. Hopefully they can sort it out. But I won't hesitate if someone has a tender body they can send/sell or know where there is one.

Hi there hope everyone is well. Would anyone be able to help me acquire a Hornby tender body for Merchant Navy Channel Packet, R3434? My body has somehow developed a paint defect that is quite noticeable. I seem to have suffered badly with Hornby bodies and paintwork despite careful handling.

Well good news! My faith in humanity and Hornby has been restored. I have had in the post today not just the PCB, but Hornby instead sent an entire Dublo A4 tender chassis with everything included, PCB, blanking chip etc. All I needed do was put the tender body on and it works again! As @Monkey28revealed I now think it was the tender electrical connector rather than the PCB, so I have managed to order a new P2 style drawbar/connector and I now have a spare blanking chip and PCB potentially from the old tender. Frustrating that we can't just buy these bits from Hornby easily, but fair play to them for sending over the entire assembly.

It is. But they have none in stock anymore, so unless they can get it repaired themselves then, as frustrating as it is, I am willing to wait for the part to turn up from Hornby and fix at home.

That is disappointing. The firebox glow on my two P2s failed on their first day of use, but luckily stuff like that doesn't bother me too much and at least I can fix now. Poor for it to happen on a Dublo model as well, and in fact whats annoying is out of all the new models I had through 2023, it was only Hornby stuff that gave me grief/had problems. The products can be fantastic, but my god I have been so depressed at their customer service. I bought a Dublo Merchant Navy from Chester during Making Tracks, and rang Hornby as the motor was well making some unpleasant sounds. I was told "thats because its diecast" and that I could send it in for repair but they might not have the part. Thankfully Lendons of Cardiff had the motor in stock.

I shall certainly keep on at them, and thanks for the video! I will watch that when...and if...the part appears

Very much so. In fact, I only bought it from The Model Centre back in December so its barely 1 month old! I might get in touch re a replacement, while they still have some in stock. It is a crying shame they do get away with it, because in my view one of the biggest model manufacturers in the country and pretty much the one everyone knows should have a half-decent spares department at least. Being told to wait "7-10 days" when other manufacturers would likely have a bit to you in 2-3 is a bit of a joke. I had four locos firebox glows all fail on me, including two of the new P2s. Its taken over a month for Hornby to finally dispatch the bits I needed. Over a month. That just seems incredible.

So Hornby agreed to send me a PCB within 7-10 days. Frustratingly, they have to "source the spares" which isn't really good enough for any loco, let alone one that is £300 or so. Said it before, but Bachmann have parts like this readily available for purchase, although the flipside is Hornby don't charge for this. I still find it an unusual way to go about things. A £300 Dublo could have been rendered useless, unless I somehow found the part hiding on the internet somewhere.

Thanks to you both for the help. I have again reached out to Hornby regarding this. Its not the first PCB failure I've had on a Hornby, and on one so expensive too. I can't understand why sourcing their bits yourself is so tricky, given Bachmann's spare site is full of parts. I've recovered old split chassis models thanks to just using their own site. I will ring them as well on Monday and express how frustrating it is, politely of course. I don't want to return it to the retailer as they are out of stock, although if Hornby can replace it, its Dominion of Canada, that would be fine too.

Hi all, I've got one of the new great gathering A4s from the Dublo range, but I've suffered a PCB failure. It's a 21 pin but from the new style loco to tender connection models such as we see on the new P2. I can't find a parts number anywhere and struggling get hold of Hornby, so does anyone know how I may acquire a new PCB? I am very disappointed given how expensive the Dublo models are, and I assume a regular 21 pin PCB won't work due to the new location of the loco to tender plug on the PCB itself.

Well it looks like this is concluded! Ordered the 9F worm drive that included the joint between it and the motor, that small black piece. It fit between the two and the Nelson is now running as it should, nice and quiet and with the new 9F motor inside it.

Already have. The sheet doesn't list the actual joint, just the shaft and calls it "Universal gear and shaft" and googling the X number doesn't reveal any results.

For example, would this connect from the 9F fit? I bought a 9F motor for the loco by the way, which did fit and work in it with the bodged connector.

As it turns out, its not the motor. But the shaft that links the motor to the worm broke, and someone has DIY'd it together via metal and it is vibrating like mad. I've circled the bit I am on about in this image attached. Does anyone know how that could be replaced, ie is it a standard component?