Hobby

3 hours ago, Hobby said:

I'm not sure it's worth it, they've said they've been taken by surprise by the numbers and there'll be a delay, so sending an email just means someone else has to spend time replying! From what I've seen the main bit in the pack is a catalogue which is available online anyhow. The magazine is due to be sent separately by the publishers so they'll have no control over that. I'll give it another week or so I think! ;)

Update: Arrived today (I joined on the 10/10 like many others!)...

I'm not sure it's worth it, they've said they've been taken by surprise by the numbers and there'll be a delay, so sending an email just means someone else has to spend time replying! From what I've seen the main bit in the pack is a catalogue which is available online anyhow. The magazine is due to be sent separately by the publishers so they'll have no control over that. I'll give it another week or so I think! ;)

I'd see it as more of an "extra string to the bow" rather than them relying on those sales. Though, as plenty of people who are on Continental model railway forums have said, there's plenty of TT modellers over there who have already put in orders for the new trains and others expressing interest, so perhaps best not to dismiss it out of hand... Every little helps!

We'll have to wait and see springs to mind! 😉

11 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Thats clutching straws that is…

aside of 4472 ( which is in a style not seen in 90+ years ).

Ok theres 4468, which last ran in 1988 for 1 year, and 92220 (1979-1989?)  and 92212…(2009-2019)

Not really, I'm looking at it from a different angle to you, thats all. As I said non enthusiasts just see a steam engine, if the model looks similar they'll buy it.

Time to agree to differ? :)

As it said Era 3 (Grouping) that's the only electric Pullman I could think of as well, so yes, it would appear to be so. We shall just have to wait and see. Not my scene but will please the Southern enthusiasts!

We were simply answering your comment:

"LNER A1/A3/A4 and Duchesses, Castles, etc are modern now?"

Acknowledging that whilst they aren't "modern" they are still around and known outside modelling circles and so will sell to non enthusiasts... 

Perhaps you need to explain where you are coming from because I think we may be misunderstanding one another! ;)

34 minutes ago, CME and Bottlewasher said:

I've not seen mine yet, joined several weeks ago🧐🤔🤔

I joined on the 10th, same as Daryll, but nothing yet. I'd heard they have been taken by surprise at the numbers joining and weren't set up for the numbers, I'm in no rush and I collected a paper copy of the catalogue at Gaydon. I'm sure someone has said that the magazine is being sent out by the publishers rather than Hornby to relieve the preasure, it'll be interesting to see which gets to me first!!

Outside the enthusiast circles most people just see a streamlined steam loco and a light green one they know as Flying Scotsman, regardless of what it says on the nameplate, more to the point they "know" them. So as NCB and I have said they are part of the modern scene, same as heritage railways are, but they are better known than most heritage locos. It's got nothing to do with how old they are, it's just what people are familiar with and so likely to buy. So simply something that's likely to sell to non enthusiasts as well as enthusiasts, which is what they want. 

17 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

LNER A1/A3/A4 and Duchesses, Castles, etc are modern now?

Both modern and old, that's why Hornby selected them, well known by the 50s kids and well known working specials today.

Regarding buildings I'm hoping Metcalf will do theirs in TT at some point, I've always thought they look better than the others. 

5 minutes ago, maico said:

With the current economic climate in the UK and Eurozone, the timing of this is a bit questionable. I wouldn't be surprised if was put on the back burner...

Bit late in the day for that, I'd have thought, considering how much Hornby will have spent already, unless you know something we don't? Unfortunate timing, granted, but I feel too late in the day to back pedal.

http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/TrebleO.html

5 minutes ago, Ravenser said:

The reasons given are that they haven't got the space to do anything meaningful in OO, and can't get on with N , which is just too small for them. Which is exactly what I would expect to hear.

Nope, and nope! I just prefer the scale, and feel it's better than 00 or N! I'm sure I'm not alone in that as several others have expressed similar views.

I sincerely hope that it doesn't cause the trouble you seem to think it is doing, what i see is a small number of people for reasons of their own (dislike of Hornby, the scale, they way it's being marketed, the list is endless!) knocking it and those views being blown out of all proportion, though I suppose if we'd had social media back then we'd have seen the same about P4, TT3, N and even 00 far enough back! I'd rather hoped that this thread would have been more constructive, though of late it's is becoming that as the furore dies down!

41 minutes ago, Pacific231G said:

What I don't understand is why, if this range is all new tooling by Hornby, is it so clearly based on E. German DR stock when the DDR disappeared thirty two years ago. There can't be that much nostalgia in Germany for the Stasi and the  "Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart"  so it does suggest that the tooling patterns at least came from a DDR source even though the Arnold range was introduced after Hornby's purchase of the brand in 2014 .  

I doubt there's much nostalgia for the Stasi(!!), but there is a lot for the railways in those times, most German NG stock is based on the old East German lines mainly because they survived. Also TT is big in East Germany and Eastern Europe (second to H0) hence the models will reflect that interest.

11 minutes ago, gc4946 said:

a few J94s served on the continent so could be rebadged as an Arnold model

Yes, in amongst the  near 100 pages I'm sure they were mentioned, in amongst plenty of other locos which ran on British lines as well as on the Continent such as USA tanks, 8fs, etc., not to mention more recently many diesels and electrics. Plenty of crossovers which can be sold by Hornby/Arnold if they wish! The more we look at it the more sense one scale covers all makes.

Thought so, sorry to be picky! ;)

23 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

In the Hornby alternative reality the Flying Scotsman can be anything they dream up.

 

It is called Rule 1 and used by many of us at times in need.

The set is also called The Scotsman, not The Flying Scotsman! :)

Peco don't use code 55 for any of their 009/H0e track, though I wish they did for the 009 track, since the launch of the Mainline I really wish they'd do a finer scale track system for 009 which would match the Heritage line's rails, code 55 would work well.

(Not sure you meant it to read like that?!)

Many existing enthusiast will, I'm sure, but the ones they are aiming at won't and there's plenty of enthusiasts who already know TT and won't be worried. The more Hornby take it around shows the more people will see it as well. Warley next...

9 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Agreed lego isnt the only competition on the block.

But thats why I am also not convinced Hornby is aiming this as a trainset for kids, replacing Smokey Joe…

 

if it were, then TT would be in the triple A… Argos, Amazon and Asda.

 

So who is it aimed at ?

 

looking at the range, it feels like the enthusiastic of 1977. Its a suck it and see.

 

if I were to guess who it maybe is mis-aimed at, my guess would be rmwebbers… yikes you say…but now hear me out..

 

Its only on Hornbys website, there is no retail, there is no body of knowledge on the high street and TT is only discussed in a few minor sections of internet forums. There isnt even a second hand range on ebay to draw from.

 

TT is very niche, very few people in the UK know what 120 even means.
imo the TT society would be the core and key to its success., they are the ultimate evangelists for TT.

 

What is there membership size ? - Thats your starting market size.

What eras/ geographies interest them.. ? Thats your current product range..

if they dont get onboard who else is ?

TT will need customer champions, success stories, inspirational stories, not from the vendor, but from customers. Photos of layouts, ideas just like OO has.

 

Thats where forums like this, other social media come in… there really isnt any other substitute in 2022..

With them on board, helping them promote it, without online support,  with customer champions it might be successgul. In absence of all that its nothing more than a sub-section of one vendors website offering a model thats incompatible to any other product vendor in the UK.

 

Thing is I am a complete novice customer just hearing of this TT gauge thing… so I do as any other human in 2022… I type in “TT gauge” in google…

And Hornby doesnt even come up, despite being the only retailer vendor of it in the UK.

Yes, as you say, we are all guessing, and none of us have a crystal ball, nor are experts in this type of marketing, hence we are up to page 90!! Just out of interest I did the search and Hornby TT:120 came up in the first of the "Ads" just below where you cut off the page! ;)

24 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

here it comes…

 

And thats why its not worth discussing ideas, as everyone else knows better. (not that I think Hornby would listen to anything here anyway).

So please enlighten me how you know there's this massive untapped market for Era 1? It was you that suggested it, and I replied with my reason why I didn't think it was a very good suggestion for a new scale start up! I'd also suggested that, if anywhere, it would be worth a punt in 00, just not TT, as yet!

Yep, that set you pictured will sell, together with lots of other "toy train sets" that have dubious origins, I know several people who buy those sets for conversion into all sorts of narrow gauge stock, but I suspect that Hornby aren't competing in the same market as them (at least in TT!)?! 😀

Hardly unexpected, though... If the politics taking over from the spectacle of the sport is what Liberty wanted then they've certainly succeeded! 

5 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

So instead i’ll give an easy missed one … could have been launching Rocket in TT.

 

The space for era 1 was wide open… and demand existed. This could have been an easy way to grow a TT range.. and the market would have been all theirs to expand.

Seriously?

As a means to expand an already saturated market maybe, though I'd have expected it to be done in 00 if such a demand existed, as it hasn't I'll draw my own conclusions. But for starting a new scale I'd have thought launching Era 1 would be the kiss of death, outside enthusiasts Rocket is about the only well known loco, hardly a springboard for success. Or have |i misread your post?

1 hour ago, dagrizz said:

Sorry, I don't think this is a relevant analogy. East European NG is a rather limited market whereas Hornby are aiming for a broad appeal with British prototypes.  

It's a perfectly valid comparison. Just as you won't want duff models, neither do I, but in my case handling them isn't an option so I have to rely on photos and reviews. So exactly the same as having to buy TT sight unseen.

22 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

I don't know if someone has already mentioned it, but aren't the counterweights on the driving wheels on the A1/3 and the A4 in the wrong position? Makes the locos look a little odd when you realise the error. Or is this mistake just on pre-production stock?

Apologies if already noticed, but CBA to read the whole thread...

Yes it's been mentioned quite a few times, but as pointed out the models we have seen are only pre production prototypes and it is expected that they will be corrected! :)

36 minutes ago, Legend said:

The sets possibly missing Christmas must could be a big set back.

There, corrected it for you, it's not a given, as Simon has said to several of us they are hoping to get them across in time by air if a deal can be done. Even then a delay of a week or so isn't the end of the world... Though it's God's gift to the Hornby knockers!!

25 minutes ago, Legend said:

 I do wonder about this. I wouldn't have though making folk sign up for the club to gain entry was the greatest of moves. I don't like the coercion factor.

 

I signed up when announced. Still haven't got the pack though- so looking forward to my lanyard!  But I am a very cynical person by nature, so I have a question. I know membership of the club is free until January, but is that a full years free membership or will they start charging everyone from January on? 

As I said I feel it was more to limit numbers to those who were genuinely interested, when i went in it was first thing and empty but an hour or so later it was pretty crowded, had it just been open house then I doubt everyone would have got chance to see them close up.

I haven't had the pack either, though I know people who have, saw a few at Gaydon! According to the membership blurb we all got when joining the discount is for 12 months of joining.