mckinneyc

Oooo Hornby give us modern Peppercorn Pacifics! Then you'll have almost a full roster of LNER pacifics under your belt. Would love to see a B17/5 as well. Maybe a newly tooled D49

I would love LNER streamlined stock or an expansion of the Gresley teak stock, like a brake third, brake first, composite or some restaurant vehicles so we can make realistic trains for our Hornby LNER locomotives to haul

I'm sorry Hornby, I really really wanted one of these and was even prepared to pay the new prices. However having to send 3 models back, one twice in the last couple of years, and the condition many have arrived in I don't think I'll be purchasing a W1, rebuilt W1 or a P2. Even thought of selling my Hornby A2s second hand because every time I look at my collection I am immediately drawn to the poor construction quality of the first of the A2s which jars in comparison to other Hornby models like the exquisite J36 and B12 I have

They do look good

So happy! I've something now to go behind my NIR blue 201. Always thought the later NIR livery looked amazingly smart on the Mk2s, 80s and 450s.

After cancelling all my Hornby preorders I decided that the A5 was worthy of a preorder. Went for the LNER lined black version

I miss the NIR class 80 so much. Used to love trips to Belfast on them as a child, even a trip to Portrush and back with the school. I got to shadow a guard on one during school work experience and then commuted during the transition to the CAF units. If I could own just one multiple unit in RTR I would love it to be a class 80

I really hope those photos are fed back to Hornby! Amazing work Tim!

Oh as railway modellers/enthusiasts we'll always find something to grump about!

Is it too much to ask for manufacturers to produce products with no errors at a reasonable price? We shouldn't have to spend more money after buying a model correcting errors. Imagine if the car industry worked that way?! Anyhow I'm going to wait for the models to arrive before deciding to get one

I haven't pre-ordered one, impressive as the renders look. I'm going to wait to see the finished product and if it means missing out I can wait for future releases. The A2 fiasco has damaged my confidence

Good that Bachmann have listened to feedback and are intent on correcting any errors

Rob, I have two Hornby B12s and think they are probably the best steam model they have ever made, closely followed by the J36. I'd get another B12 but have no more room to display my models!

I received Sun Castle back this afternoon. No notes from Hornby to say what they had done but they fixed the valve gear and looks like a new PCB and wiring. Also had a tiny "careful fragile" sticker on the box this time and it was well packed inside using bubble wrap and cardboard off cuts. Had her running briefly, lovely and smooth and quiet. One thing I did see was a spark off the rear right hand side driving wheel. No idea what would cause that, maybe the pick up strip behind the wheel? Didn't see it happen again running backwards.

They look absolutely stunning in LNER green! A livery Hornby always seems to excell at

I recently returned my A2/3 back to Hornby. Bought it directly from them and was alarmed at the packaging. The model was in a tight fitting box which was placed inside a much larger box, there was nothing in that larger box to prevent movement or absorb the shocks that would be encountered. There was no fragile notices anywhere on the box. When Hornby contacted me they asked for delivery details etc which they haven't done in the past. I sent the model back in all the original packaging with delivery labels still on it. I however wrapped the model in bubble wrap to prevent any more transit damage.

That does look stunning!

Sun Castle arrived today, after the courier losing it. Looked great, only piece came off was a small step located next to the smoke deflectors. Tried gluing it back on but next to impossible as it is so tiny but thought I could live with it. Got her chipped and down onto the track. Buzz and a stutter followed by a short. Swapped tenders with ToF and Sun Castle moved away lovely and smooth, only to come back around with the right hand side linkages and connecting rods hanging down. Luckily the screw was next to the track which I managed to retain until getting Sun Castle all boxed up, gods only know where the screw has flown off to. Email sent to Hornby. I feel I need to get something upsetting off of my chest. I have been a life long collector of Hornby products since my first clockwork Thomas The Tank Engine set as a toddler. I'd say 80% - 85% of my collection is Hornby. I never had any issues until these last 12 months all starting with The Rocket's poorly designed tender wiring, then my B12's circuit board gave up the ghost. Can't fault Hornby as they repaired both items free of charge despite my B12 being one of the very first batches. I held my breath waiting for ToF seeing some of the issues people had with their A2/2s and I got lucky. Thought that my luck had held with Sun Castle as it is a beautiful model. I accept that QC at factories and with manufacturers is a random process, they don't test every single one once assembled however I feel that Hornby is letting things slide and go by the wayside in order to get their products to market as quickly as they can. We have all watched the rise and fall then rise again of Hornby these last 20 years and it is upsetting to see that it looks like they may be on a downward spiral, risking all the dedication and hard work everyone at Hornby has put into making them a brand leader again while risking shedding a very loyal customer base. And every year it seems we have a new company showing the modelling community how it can be done in terms of model spec, quality control, decoration and value for money. Never in my wildest dreams would I thought I would be able to add ready to run models of The Rocket, the Thompson Pacifics and Gresley's amazing P2s and W1 to my collection and that all of those models would come from Hornby. As modellers we have never had it so good but that shouldn't be taken for granted by modellers or manufacturers.

This is shaping up to be one of the best if not the best ready to run model ever. Congratulations to the Accurascale team for having a vision, seeing it through and keeping the product competitively priced and making it accessible to all modellers. Really can't wait for this beast!

Regarding the water scoop, at least it has one! Turned over my A4s and A1 they unfortunately can't take on water in any direction!

I had my ToF running in yesterday and got her chipped. There was an clicking noise coming from her but after running in it has vanished. Very quiet and very smooth. Had her running with 12 Hornby and Bachmann carriages and if the curves had allowed I'm sure I could have added more. I loved watching her running light engine. The motion makes it look like she's hurriedly shuffling along rather than looking like she's gracefully galloping like an A3. The green is growing on me and I'll live with the sloppy boiler bands. I feel that Hornby really need to up their game on quality control and livery application especially as £200+ for these models is now becoming the norm. But would I buy another, yes I probably would and I wish I'd pre-ordered an A2/3. I'm eagerly waiting the rebuilt W1 in BR green now!

I received my Thane of Fife after swearing I wasn't going to order one of these! I noticed a lot of damage to the clam shell plastic packaging probably from transport. The middle lamp iron had come lose in the box but was a quick fix with tweezers and a dab of glue. Haven't noticed any cab droop or deviated running plate which I was worried about. In certain lights and distances the paint finish looks ok, even in Sam's own video when not viewed under a harsh white light and from further away the green looked ok. I compared Thane of Fife to the Hornby B17 Barnsley as it is the only other loco I have in BR green and there is a noticeable difference in shade, glossiness and quality between the two with the naked eye. The B17 has a much more matt finish and is slightly darker plus the boiler banding is exquisite! Haven't had Thane of Fife running yet (may not until I have a day off next week) so can't report on that. Overall I am impressed. They are certainly ugly from some quarters but look great from others. I never would have believed I would have a RTR model of one in my collection, with a W1, rebuilt W1 and a P2 joining it too! Hornby are to be commended for adding missing links in the LNER Pacifics to their roster. One may not have to dream too much for the A1/1 eventually or the Raven A2s

Absolutely stunning! Do I get one to keep my Stirling Single company?!

I've pre-ordered the grey one as in service with the LNER. I really had mulled over a green one

I have ordered the LNER version, looking forward to it!