bart2day

Hi Mike, I too have this crackle that happens right at the end of the loco shutdown on both my Loksound 4s as well as the Loksound Select that came factory fitted in my Bachmann 37. My two Loksound 5s however don’t make this crackle. Whether that is because of the decoder or the file I’m not sure.

Sad news but thanks for the update.

Does anyone know if any progress was revealed on the upcoming class 170s from Bachmann on Tuesday? Thanks

This was in the latest issue of BRM. I thought it might be of use to some people.

Tried to place an order on this website for a Metcalfe kit and the code worked but they want £8.70 postage. A total rip for something that can be sent Royal Mail large letter for a couple of pounds. Not paying that.

Yes, because there are plenty of modern trains that have never been modelled before and the chances of Hornby/Bachmann picking them up anytime soon is very small. Taking a train from another manufacturers range and retooling it always carries some risk, as the 66, Terrier and 91 situations make clear.

The comparison to a class 66 is incorrect. I highly doubt there’s would have been a market for two class 91s. By contrast, 66s travel all over the country, 91s are confined to the ECML. There are so many trains that manufacturers deem unprofitable for even one model version, let alone two.

Absolutely. I think the other three power car pack choices for this year (GWR, NMT and Intercity) are good choices but I honestly think a buffered EMT/EMR ex grand central set would have made a better fourth option over the Scotrail, especially given the buffered theme this’s year. EMT buffered HSTs haven’t been released before and the unbuffered version, so to speak, from eight years ago attracts big money on the second hand market. Meanwhile, as you rightly say, Scotrail power cars from last years range gather dust on retailers shelves.

Agreed. I also didn’t like his answer on the question of whether mk4 coaches will be made to accompany the new 91 being very vague. I want to support Hornby over Cavalex for the 91 project but the lack of a declaration of coach production makes it very difficult.

Says the man who lists his location as being in... Stevenage!

What’s wrong with St Albans? It is a much nicer city than Stevenage and has good road and rail connection. Furthermore there are no other model railway exhibitions or model shops along the southern section of the MML compared to many on the WCML and ECML making it unique. The organisers should have just found a bigger venue in the St Albans area rather than moving 15 miles away.

I used to love this show when it was in St Albans and went every year. I have also heard it is just as busy in Stevenage as it was when it was in St Albans, so if the organisers are reading this BRING IT BACK please.

Completely agree. Despite some nice reliveries of existing tooling such as the Scotrail HSTs and Network Rail mk2fs, I am rather disappointed by this years offering as Hornby once again entrenches the view that they are not interested in the current era modeller particularly when it comes to new tooling. As you say, there are so many current scene prototypes that have never made it to model form and yet most people are screaming that their favourite loco hasn’t been retooled in the last ten years. The hobby’s future is bleak as by the time the manufacturers come round to manufacturing up to date stock (if ever) a lot of potential current scene modellers will be put off as there will be such a backlog. Nonetheless I acknowledge that this is not a popular view on this forum.

Incorrect. ‘The February issue is also available as a special multi-save purchase for a limited period at Tesco and WHSmiths with the Hornby 2020 catalogue saving £4 over purchase individually. The offer is available at selected Tesco stores for one week from January 8 2020 and for two weeks from January 9 2020 at WHSmith High Street stores.’

Yes. As many others have come to realise this forum does have overzealous moderators. If someone don’t have an opinion they agree with they will sometimes shout them down and accuse them of being ‘stupid’. On the the other hand, I honestly thought you’re original post was sarcastic. I didn’t think you were serious. Lol.

Isn’t it just lovely that we have two manufacturers here fighting over making one train when there are so many locos/units out there which have never even made it to model form.

Thus eliminating all of the pick up issues that are such a stress when running a model railway particularly on DCC.

That’s a fair point but in BBC4’s documentary on Hornby last year I remember the Hattons rep being distinctly peeved when he met Simon Koehler at Hornby HQ for the 2019 range launch, calling the release of so many class 66s by Hornby ‘spiteful’.

Wow. A fourth batch of GWR power cars in the gloss livery and a third batch of GWR mk3s. I was under the impression many shops couldn’t get rid of the last batch. LNER mk3s without power cars is odd too.

Three manufacturers now have been burned by producing models that have been staples in Hornby’s range for years: Rails of Sheffield (Terrier), Hattons (Class 66) and Cavalex (91) and then complained afterwards that TS ‘spiteful’. Maybe it will actually teach them to manufacturer one of the dozens of locos/units that have never been produced in model form before rather than constantly retooling the same old locos from other manufacturers ranges’.

Interesting. My prediction is some sort of virtual reality along the lines of being able to see a new loco/coach/wagon on your layout without it actually being there through the screen of a tablet or smartphone. A sort of virtual try before you buy. Been used in children’s toys for years.

They did the coaches but not the power cars and you are right, the coaches sold out super quick. That’s why I predict a batch of power cars and possibly another run of coaches to go with them. Also totally agree with you on the Electrostar/turbostar. It’s such a gaping hole in the range of contemporary models. Even though I think it’s much more likely Bachmann will announce one than Hornby or any of the new companies which have appeared on the scene in recent years, which means we’ll be waiting until at least 2025 even if they do announce it in February.

Surely a new ‘Flying banana’ HST set in post 2016 Network Rail livery is extremely likely as is a Class 802 in Transpennine livery?

Yes they are gloss whereas the train set one I saw Matt. Also the coaches in the train set are mor basic with no coach letters or orange door opening lights. Quite disappointing from Hornby as it makes it more difficult to match coaches if you want to expand your train, without getting out some Matt varnish.

When you say performance, do you mean sound quality or running quality. If the former then fitting Megabass speakers from Richard at Roads and Rails does hugely improve the sound for a nominal cost when compared with buying ESU or Zimo chips.