Nova Scotian

Fixed it for you ;)

I don't know why some posters are obsessed with the idea that if you have a separate company's house listing then the parent company doesn't control you. It's absolutely 100 false and shows no understanding of corporate governance and ownership. The majority owner of Oxford Diecast, LCD Enterprises, was wholly acquired by Hornby Plc. That means they are the only shareholder - as the only shareholder they have complete control of the company. There are many ways they can decide to treat it - one can have an independent board of directors - or one shares directors across the organizations to be able to divest more easily - or you can delist. Most acquisitions the subsidiary remains an entity on the books for lots of good reasons. My father was listed for 8+ companies, all of which were subsidiaries of a parent. There was no question of the parent not having full control - when the parent was sold so were the subsidiaries (although one could choose to divest). In my last job we would navigate corporate mazes of controlling minority interest, majority interest, ownership, branches versus subsidiaries etc - large multinationals would have hundreds of legal entities, sometimes thousands. The new Hornby Plc CEO was appointed Director of both LCD Enterprises and its subsidiary (of which it had majority ownership) Oxford Diecast. That's pretty clear. Now - what comes next is the question. Hornby could divest itself of the company - through a variety of means. It could also just shut it down so there's no onward competition. It could keep it on the books and do any number of things.

So, June 9th to August 8th is two months for them to have seen my brilliant idea, measured the loco, drawn the CAD then sent for tooling - right? That's it. I'm claiming credit. Or, you can blame me, if that's your persuasion.

They've clearly never been to Great Yarmouth - no way is any part of the town that clean ;)

Absolutely - the range can't expected to be planned when they were two separate entities. However, there should have been a brand and product plan to maximise their value - and I would suggest in doing so that is also supporting the hobby. Had forgotten about the Janus - I liked that one too. Some cracking deals a few years ago on Janus plus trucks. Something like 50 to 70 quid - no way to get that in post-covid times.

I don't wish to speak too ill of SK and others that have since left Hornby - but the brand strategy there never made sense. Reviving Dublo with high-end, limited edition, high margin, diecast range was inspired. Bassett-Lowke steam punk - what in the actual ****? Railroad, Railroad plus - and then Oxford rail in there too somewhere? Hornby Junior - made sense until they had to kill it for Playtrains, which also seems to have not sold as well as hoped? Unfortunately, as I had high hopes for it. Oxford Rail and its line could have found a place in the Hornby brand mix, if they'd known what they were doing with it. Some would go away. Some may come back with improvements. The radial is pretty good, the the second run was better than the first. Maybe it's not back for a while, but once demand picks up. The Deans Goods was fixable. The N7 good. Maybe they needed to better link Oxford Diecast and Oxford Rail? Create a new line of nostalgic locos - but that's where they've revived Triang? Or it could have been the second/third rung up on the brand ladder: Railroad Triang - Nostalgic old tooling Oxford Rail, by Hornby Hornby Hornby Dublo Bassett-Lowke - special o gauge runs (like they did for centenary) Maybe there's just not room for it? No matter the details - it doesn't feel well planned. It doesn't feel consistent. It's certainly not well communicated. With so much potential "value" in their brands they certainly pissed much of it up the wall (steampunk being the worst).

The variation in the texture of the ground is excellent. As is the depth of the detail on the brickwork - it's not flat. But again I keep coming back to the rich varied texture on the floor - I assume it was deliberate to have the smoother texture at the foot of the steps where there'd have been more foot traffic?

Thread on Freightliner storing their 90s: Per other comments lots of failings and factors here: - Slow electrification, no confidence in a plan to deliver electrification - so limited utility of electric freight (eg. fast container freight a 90 can pull you're not going into Felixstowe!) - Refusal of successive UK governments to structure low cost, resilient baseload generation to support electrification - Failure of governments, but especially the last twelve years, to make strategic investments in grid and gas storage that would have mitigated price shocks since February 2022. - Failure of governments to make and implement both policy and regulation to set the conditions for greater electrification and use of electric - Arrival of class 93s and 99s a challenge to remaining class 90 moves, particularly as they'll be significantly more flexible in operation (can run longer stretches not under the wires, such as Felixstowe) It's utter madness to me that we have so many freight diagrams running diesel under the wires. The grid is easier to decarbonize than a locomotive (can only go so far with biofuels and/hydrogen currently), and the point source emissions of particulates etc are undesirable compared to the alternative. We've seen this was the 92s too. And in the passenger world the unsuccessful 769s.

Couldn't see this posted elsewhere. This tweet went past my feed today - a screenshare of a DB article stating they have stored the last of their class 90s due to high electricity costs, and are looking at disposal options. https://twitter.com/pipdunn/status/1683496922189910020/photo/1 They state of the 24 Class 90s on DB Cargo's books half have been stored between 5-20 years. This mirrors the Freightliner decision too. To me this is disappointing and demonstrates that the market has not appropriately priced carbon, and the deregulation of the utilities obviously couldn't hold up to the market strain of an event like Ukraine (not surprising given the government's lack of investment in energy storage - despite being told since the mid 2000s this would be a problem...). I have a soft spot for the 90s having done Norwich -> Liverpool Street regularly.

Don't you just hate it when modellers go with the clichéd stationary on train the bridge ;)

Checking out the new Flying Scotsman bundle and Silver King bundle I noticed this disclaimer: "This bundle does not qualify for the original 15% discount for TT:120 Club members This bundle does not qualify for the 20% back in Hobby Reward points for TT:120 Club Members." Had I paid thirty quid or more to be a member, then found Hornby are selective in the benefits of membership I'd be pretty pissed off.

I would 100% have been in for a brown as-preserved if they'd been straight with us. I don't understand how valve gear works, it does stuff, that'd be good enough for me if they were clear about what they were selling. As per my previous post I'm not buying because I don't like and don't trust them. Which is a bloody shame, because this is absolutely a top rule 1 purchase for me. Sigh.

USATC S160 - not been an OO version of this before. Slightly jokingly: - An HO A4 and/or A3. The A3 in HO has now been done, but an A4 hasn't. Steal a page of out Hornby's pacific book! Infact, you could even follow these up with HO LMS Coronation Class, Royal Scot, and a King Class. Most sales would be NAM, but there are a few odd British HO odd ducks around.

I've been so tempted by this one - and honestly the running sample doesn't look bad. If they were clear on "we can't model this exactly as it is, these are the compromises and why we made them" I think that'd help many people here. It would help me, but the fact they won't and haven't is a symptom of why I won't be ordering this (despite having had it in my cart a few times the last months!). Their e-mails, approach to customers etc just gives me no confidence. That GT3 set of e-mails was just awful. If I miss out I miss out - it's a pure rule 1 purchase, but rule 1 is my heart and that usually overrules anything else. I've made lots of silly purchases I couldn't be happier with because I love the model, the prototype etc. But because it's a heart purchase, if it doesn't feel right, I won't do it. And that's why I've not. Rapido's videos annoy me (sorry, fellow Canadians), but I don't doubt they love the hobby, they're authentic, and that they listen to customers. They are a model for how to do communications, even if their style doesn't fit with mine. Accurascale are another example of how to get it right. It doesn't have to be combative. It doesn't need to be over-egged and overblown - it's the only Bellerophon model out there - don't tell me it's the best oo gauge model ever made, just tell me it's the best within a set of parameters including cost, complexity, realism, and manufacturing technology. I don't have a monthly model budget, so it's not competing against others, just my own reluctance to spend money I'll then owe the bank for!

Wow at those e-mails. I was close to an order for Bellerophon - the first they'll be producing I've really wanted. Hummed and harred over it for a very long time. Was put off in original GT3 by their combative nature and not really wanting one. Then issues with the Fell. Kind of embarrassing to also be British ex-pat in Canada if this is what they sound like... My most immediate thought is a cashflow crunch. Selling each bundle would free up 40k - probably enough to pay for the next downpayment on CAD or tooling etc - and one assumes the ficticious liveries are not selling as hoped. My second thought was "why the hell would you still send an e-mail like that?". A persecution complex in no.1, flying close to the sun on "guaranteed profits" in no.2, and I just can't see it working on anyone. I'm still cringing. KR models off my list for a long time now. Can't trust them, don't like them.

The body sides actually look like a better attempt than the doors (shocking) and the front side by cab. Wonder if for models like that they need to replicate real life - start printing vinyl wraps and applying those.

Any chance they've improved the livery at all? (equipment boxes on coach ends etc). Interior the right way around? Not exactly complaining - the quality for the price is exceptional.

We're allowed to be disappointed by life in general that there is indeed a market for it. Remember, there's nowt queer as folk. Someone, somewhere, will be into something that makes the toes curl on some of us. Tacky purple blingy crap is right up there with those awful Charles and Diana plates I remember so *fondly* from my youth.

Here's hoping they have one more announcement before the end of May - would hate for the last Hornby announcement before retirement to be that Coronation 66... he should be sent off with something special. There's no denying his dedication to the hobby and the industry. Wishing him a happy retirement.

It was the breathless e-mail "Big announcement" that really stuck in my craw. Just be truthful "Hornby releases niche model that will appeal to enough people they'll make good margin, but is the epitome of tackiness". I'd be tempted to stomp on every one I see, except that would possibly make the remainder worth more... As a Brit, but at a distance, the coronation stuff is extremely distasteful.

But you're right - that's a Studiocanal license - so might be wrapped up by them for the film "franchise" if there is one? You can see the logo on the back. I guess we'll find out in time!

Really? Bachmann did the most recent one set. (lovely one too)

Oh I'm an idiot... Railway Children is Studio Canal. L&YR Class 25 would be fantastic - stands up in its own right as well as the film link. And to fit with the cute industrials a Hudswell Clarke 1369 long tank (MSC 067 for railway children). If Rapido do one or both I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

They could really piss Hornby off and do the James Bond Goldeneye Train that was a class 20 - I thought that'd be an ideal project for Hornby and their Limby 20. I also suggested once that Hornby could also run a Brief Encounter special of their Stanier 4P 2-6-4T. And Bachmann doing a Paddington 2 LMS Crab and A1 Tornado. One for EFE could be the Austerity from Chitty Bang Bang in blue. Fairburn tank from Swallows and Amazons? I should probably think of some Rapido appropriate examples rather than ones for other manufacturers... but drawing a blank. Oooooh, City of Truro from Howard's end could be good - would love a brilliant quality city class...

That's a very pretty little loco