mevaman

Bachmann are not in the business of mass production as the run for each model can hardly be called 'mass'! The majority of today's highly detailed locos are niche and bespoke.

Looking at Flikr this loco in this condition travelled quite widely. Regular on Exeter-Waterloo but seen on inter-regionals as well as the odd engineers' train. Great choice and great finish on the model.

I agree an outstanding model. However, the major livery error with the DRS models is more than a 'niggle' as it cannot be readily rectified. As with the 73s, a great loco spoilt by basic livery errors.

It is a baseboard joint. We'll check it tomorrow. I am one of the layout operators!

Why spoil the fun! MGR Hooper - party pooper

I was planning to buy 2 banger blue duffs as I have been waiting ages for accurate 47/0s. I am really disappointed that Bachmann have still used the cabs with rivets and have mucked up the tanks. There is no excuse, with the huge amount of data available on line, for making these errors on locos costing over £100. I could correct these errors but will not do so on brand new models. Similar arguments apply to the Dapol 73s. O well, that is money saved for other projects!

Fat finger! Maybe a rename to Hirnby could be the solution! Many businesses rebrand themselves when they are in trouble. Perhaps the Aldi-like approach of adopting similar packaging to their competitors (blue boxes that are not quite the same) and rebranding as Bachwoman might work! Andrew

In my view, in order to save the business, Hirnby have to increase the margin back to retailers and row back on their direct website selling. The standard gross margin (i.e. the difference between RRP and the purchase price to the retailer) was substantially reduced by Hornby. This had the combined effect of making Hornby products barely worth stocking by retailers and stopping the box shifters offering their usual discounts (normally around 15% off RRP). By supplying direct through their website, Hornby eliminated the retailers' gross margin and kept this themselves. This could have resulted in greater profitability to Hornby. However, retailers have substantially reduced their orders as they no longer want to stock low margin products. This has meant that sales have crashed and Hornby have had to take on all the stock risk. In essence, Hornby have adopted a policy of giving themselves a much higher % margin (by reducing their reliance on retailers) but this has led to a crash in sales and increase in stock. I believe that Hornby have been too arrogant for too long and they are reaping what they have sowed! Andrew

I didn't include Bachmann, Dapol, Heljan etc. as I think that these could readily pick up the gaps left by the loss of the Hornby range. Furthermore, if you want specific models which had only been made by Hornby then eBay, exhibitions and swap meets will become the marketplace. However, with all the 'mainstream' models (as far as general modellers are concerned) having been produced, the more limited market of area specific locos and stock are best suited to the innovative suppliers who can commission shorter production runs. I admit to being a big Bachmann fan as the quality and finish of their models in my collection have been superior. I will not miss Hornby.

To be honest, I would be happy if Hornby were to be liquidated. This would leave a saturated market (as most mainstream stock has already been produced) open to inniovative suppliers such as Rapido, DJM, Oxford, Phil Sutton, Kernow and Hattons. In my view, Hornby have smugly thought that their brand name guaranteed market domination. They have been arrogant, particularly in the way that they have treated retailers. Their attempts to sell direct have been woeful and have not matched the retailers who have been doing it for years. For those of us of elder years, like Woolworths, the brand name has meant something. However, also like Woolworths, they will become a fond memory.

Chris has confirmed on Facebokk that some of the images of 37672 are incorrect and he will upload the images of the production model on Monday.

Rich Shawplan - I have a set of brown BEA plates from them.

Hi Rick Damned if you do....... I still think that sales would be higher on models if colours matched. You may be right that some people would not be happy as far as the Pullmans are concerned but I think the silent majority would want the colours to match. Regards Andrew

Thinking about the contentious issue of colour on models: There should, at least, be consistency within a supplier's range. So Dapol in the first instance should have matched their class 73 liveries to those on their other models. Unfortunately, taking BR blue as an example, Dapol have failed in this respect in the past (compare the 22 with the Western). Bachmann and Heljan,in the main, do not vary their colours across their ranges (I know that there are some well known exceptions but they mostly are consistent). Hornby have been less consistent, particularly of late (HST, class 60). If you are a clever supplier you would ensure consistency with your competitors' colours. You will know that your customers will buy locos, coaches and wagons from all suppliers and will expect to run them together. Therefore, in order to maximise sales, you would think that a supplier would match colours with competitors' products. So, despite the fact that the Pullman colours on 73101 may be 'right', Dapol would have been more savvy if they had matched them to the Hornby Pullman stock. I know of instances where competitors products have been sent to Chinese factories so that they can match colours. This is not difficult. 'Simples'! Andrew

I meant to add to the above post. Dapol will have had a negative impact upon sales and reputation as a result. Andrew

I agree about the colour. I had not coupled my Royal Alex to my Hornby VSOE Pullman coaches until today. I will keep the loco but cannot help being disappointed with the livery errors. It should be so simple to get liveries right - it will require effort but, as it is fundamental to the look of loco, this effort is worthwhile. Dapol

Photos as requested. Taken on my iPad in fairly poor light!

Taking a close look at various photos, I can see that the brown extends to the bottom of the upper rim of the door window (painted brown) which can be opened up/down. I think that this explains why I thought that the model is right. The model itself doesn't have the upper rim on the door window. The difference is small but I think that you are correct.

The plates on Royal Alex were black in my photos in 1997 and later. The delivery company are UPS. They left mine in my designated safe place.

Lastly the plates on Royal Alex have a black background as per the real thing. I will try to post photos tomorrow.

I don't agree about the top brown but do agree about the striping (but this is marginal). Of course I am comparing to my photos of Royal Alex in May 1997 and not Brighton Evening Argus so this could explain some of the differences. Regardless I hope that you don't mind my comments as they are not a criticism as we could both be right depending upon when the livery was first applied and then reapplied.

As you can appreciate, I am having a great time comparing my model to my photos. I agree that the plate should not be central.

Compared to my photos of Royal Alex at Crewe open day in 1997, the warning flashes look correctly positioned to me.

Just rechecked and, my apolgies, the U is to one side of the gutter drain. The word 'Pullman' is not correctly positioned on this side of the loco.

I agree with the nameplate but, given there is an etched set, this will be resolved. The U in Pullman does straddle the gutter drain on the other side of the loco to that photographed.