scottrains29

The recent video shows some writing on the whiteboard behind Simon. At times it looks like LD47 (possible some new loco detection system reference to do with R8306-R8309), though at other times it looks more like ED?7. Could be nothing to do with the new range, but why not clean the board before you are about to release a video on RMWeb days before the announcement?

The 87 does have a round space for a speaker, presumably the round tts type speaker. I've got a sugarcube speaker installed in mine with a Zimo decoder. Sounds fantastic and really brings the model to life.

I think 2020 has been a very good year for Hornby. With more time at home and more disposable income (due to lack of foreign holidays, commuting etc) I have certainly spent more on the hobby this year than I ever have in previous years. I think many will be in similar situations and I think this will continue well into 2021. Some have suggested Hornby should scale back in 2021 due to Brexit/Virus uncertainties but I disagree. I think the Hornby 2021 range should be very ambitious as they try to capatalise on this great opportunity for them. Demand (willingness and ability to pay) is currently very healthy. Simon Kohler also talks about people coming back to the hobby, and people finding the hobby for the first time. I therefore think it would be very wise for Hornby to produce complementary items to allow people to further expand their sets. There is nothing worse than trying to recreate a complete train only to find that one or two coaches are either impossible to obtain or have never been produced. A few examples I would therefore like to see Hornby produce next year: Norther Belle Mk3 Sleeper, Mk1 Kitchen and Mk1 BG coaches. (Hornby now have all the tooling) SRPS coaches to expand the Aberdonian Tornado train pack. Virgin/Intercity Mk2f Restaurant First Buffet. L&MR 1st 2nd 3rd class coaches (various designs yet to be modelled). Affordable modern freight wagons suitable for the numerous class 66 locos Hornby released this year. Many people new/back into the hobby may now be looking at DCC and wanting to upgrade their models to include sound etc. I would like to see Hornby increase the availability of the popular TTS decoders (some types are getting hard to find). There are also plenty of Hornby locos that are still to benefit from TTS eg.33,56,101,121,153,156, and electric locos. The Railmaster software could also do with a major upgrade with the roll out of the much anticipated loco detection system announced previously.

The most visual difference is that the HST coaches all had silver window frames, the loco ones were just body coloured. It's quite a noticeable feature when you compare them side by side, especially in model form! Hornby have produced the Virgin HST (silver window frame) coaches in train packs and separately in standard, first and buffet form. That's why it's so frustrating when they then produced the missing TGS in loco hauled colours rather than HST colours. I think it not only didn't have silver window but actually had smaller stripes and Virgin logos compared to their other Virgin HST coaches. These errors should have been avoided had Hornby bothered to compare the coaches with their previous examples.

Lima used to include the front cab handrails on a sprue to fit yourself. I think the Hornby ones now come with them pre-fitted. You could try hunting down the Lima ones, or ask Hornby. Alternatively, before sending it back you could try bending some suitable wire using pliers. Fairly easy for the side handrails, but a bit more tricky for the front ones.

My issue is the lack of knowledge about 'modern' stock. Take the popular Virgin HST. Every set needs a mk3 TGS coach yet Hornby still haven't produced one in Virgin HST livery (now 21 years since Hornby released the full length Virgin HST coaches). The TGS they did produce was in loco hauled livery which obviously didn't even exist in real life and looks odd when placed next to HST stock. Over the years Hornby have also produced Virgin HST packs with both loco hauled and HST livered coaches. I don't think they understand the difference. The Hornby Virgin mk2e was another annoyance. Producing the SO and BSO but no RFB to complete the set. This year they produced the Virgin mk2f BSO and FO yet these coaches never actually ran together! Bachmann, on the other hand announced a full set of Virgin mk2f coaches to allow the modeller to recreate an accurate rake. I feel like Hornby have a 'that'll do' attitude to modern image. Another annoyance was the Northern Belle coach pack with new tooling mk2e yet the train pack came with old Airfix mk2d coaches. Some of the train pack coaches are actually meant to be mk2e! As the mk2d/e FO visually look the same there was no reason for Hornby to use the crude Airfix tooling, esp as the mk2e is in the Railroad range so probably doesn't cost any more to produce yet looks far superior and would have matched the coach pack. It would have created a lot more sales. Hopefully the 2021 range will be a bit more joined up.

I agree. They should also produced another run of the Northern Belle sleeper coaches, they're very hard to get now. Hopefully they'll produce some more Northern Belle mk2 coaches using the mk2e tooling and not the ancient Airfix mk2d tooling. The mk2d/e FO coaches look essentially the same.

A few years ago (before Accurascale), in a similar thread on RMWeb I suggested Hornby should do the PFA wagon and a class 37 retool. I have also emailed Hornby over the years to do the PFA. If Hornby don't want to cater for modern image then others will. Looking how well the PFA has sold there is clearly money to be made. When others are pushing the boundaries, I find Hornby are actually going backwards with new modern locos. The 08,56,60 etc were all great (very detailed cab interior, opening doors, rotating fans etc) yet their new models (67,87 etc) don't have these features. The cab interiors are just grey plastic mouldings and don't look very good at all. Even the rotating fans on the 56 have now been discontinued rather than finding a better solution eg micro motor. With Accurascale producing highly detailed and illuminated cab controls, Hattons producing rotating axleboxes, Dapol developing diesel smoke etc Hornby need to step up to the challenge and try to raise the bar themselves. If they don't they'll get left behind.

TMC still have some Black Friday deals running. Use Code MORE to get extra 5% off. Some examples: Hornby R3406 J50 £53.44 delivered. https://www.themodelcentre.com/r3406-Hornby-oo-gauge-br-0-6-0t-departmental-no-14-j50-class-late-br Bachmann 38-105 PNA tripple pack £37.03 https://www.themodelcentre.com/38-105-Bachmann-oo-gauge-triple-pk-34-tonne-pna-ballast-spoil-wagons-railtrack-5-rib-weathered

The same is true of the recent Aberdonian train pack with SRPS coaches. They have never produced SRPS coaches before making it difficult to build up a rake. I'm sure producing the coaches on their own would be very popular as the real ones are hauled by both steam and modern diesels.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hornby bring out a 153 in Spotrail livery now they are using them for bikes/luggage/skis. All Scottish models sell well.

A loco detection system would let Railmaster know exactly where that 9F is...

Here's my predictions/wishlist: RailMaster LOCO DETECTION. We have been waiting sooo long for this it is about time it was finally brought to market. It is the missing link in the RailMaster software. Currently, the RailMaster programming functions are useless without loco detection as the trains never seem to stop in the desired location. It could be used with a new interconnected signalling system. I'd also like to see the Railmaster software significantly upgraded. TTS for class 56, 101, 153, 156, 87, 90, 91. I'd also like them to improve the quality of TTS, eg better speakers, sound files, functionality etc whilst keeping them affordable. Also move towards 21pin chips and loco sockets. I'd like to see Hornby purchase the class 37 and 47 tooling from Vitrains. Vitrains haven't produced them for some time and it doesn't really fit with their other European products. Hornby, on the other hand, don't have these two bread 'n' butter locos in their range other than the crude ex-lima Railroad models. Hornby could price them to significantly undercut the competition (Bachmann, Accurascale, Heljan) perhaps around the £100 mark. With better glazing, the models are actually quite good. Plasser & Theurer 07-16/08-16 Tampers. These single car units can be seen all over the network. Any size of modern layout could justify having one (or two). PEP type EMUs (313-315, 507/508). I've just started building a 314 kit so it is almost guaranteed Hornby will produce this now! More early (Rocket type) locomotives and rolling stock. HST class 43 Valenta type (main range and/or ex lima Railroad) in GNER livery, with full rake of Mk3s. HST class 43 with buffers in Virgin livery Class 56 (with rotating fans controlled by mico motor on DCC) Transrail and EWS liveries. Mk4. Retooled coach range and Mk4 DVT. Ideally GNER livery to start with. Mk2f RFB. The missing coach from the Mk2 range. Intercity and Virgin liveries. Also the similar RLO lounge car for the Caledonian sleeper. Mk2d/e The rest of the Northern Belle coaches produced using the better mk2e tooling (not the awful Airfix mk2d) to match the previous mk2e coach pack. Mk3 sleeper. Northern Belle, Royal, Caledonian sleeper liveries. All these models currently go for silly prices on Ebay. Royal kitchen car too. Mk3 TGS in Virgin Trains livery with the correct silver window frames! This hasn't been produced yet by Hornby. Mk1 BG Northern Belle. Would complement the previous coach packs. MGR weathered wagon packs (newest tooling) at a reduced RRP to compete with the new competition. PCA weathered wagon packs. Not been produced for a while.

Looks like 66005 EWS is now sold out. At these prices I suspect the rest will go fast. My first Hattons 66 is in the post. If I'm happy with it I may well buy a few more!

Annoyingly the weathered RHTT set only has £7 off yet the pristine ones have £19 off. Might try and weather one myself. The weathered wagon pair are now the same price as a new class 66 loco!

Shifting stock in preparation for a new, wobble free, batch?

Does anyone know if ModelRail are going ahead with a limited edition EWS 47? They were seeking expressions of interest a few months ago. I would have thought the popular EWS livery would be better suited in the main range. Bachmann's only EWS example was also a (now hard to find) limited edition.

OxfordRail have yet to produce HST mk3s though I believe they intend to in the future. They have also not produced anything suitable that could haul mk3s, yet.... Hornby are the only ones producing the HST power cars in oo. They have them in both their expensive high detail and cheaper Railroad ranges. Both versions can easily haul prototypical length trains at high speed.

I like the shorter announcement time. It creates excitement that will help sales. I'm also for the odd duplication. It helps drive innovation, gives customers more choice, and helps to keep the cost of the models competitive.

Excellent news! The weathered, un-named Dutch 33025 with modern warning flashes will go perfectly with the very popular EWS 33030. Both of these locos were based in Aberdeen together at the turn of the century. Pleasantly surprised by this one considering how many versions of 33025 in various liveries have been produced recently. I'll get my order in quick, looking at how fast the EWS one sold. Just hope the weathering has improved since the last batch. Also tempted by the DRS version and the West Coast Railways one (another 33025). Decisions, decisions!!

Does the Rail Grinder use diamond grinding disks?

Perhaps they'll produce weathered wagons, complete with bent hoods. Hornby's weathered three packs always sold well.

To be fair you seem to be talking about the old, now Railroad, version. The (2003?) Hornby retooled sprung buffer version fixed most of your points above, though annoyingly your point 2 still remained. I don't think the 'new' Hornby version is that bad, but the cradle misalignment really stands out making the model look wrong. Looking forward to getting a fair few of these new accurate HAAs.

I recently purchased the R6960 MGR wagon and noticed a few differences to my other wagons and wondered if anyone knows if it is accurate for this particular wagon. Firstly, it has a TOPS code HAA but has a canopy/hood. Is this correct? I would have thought it should be HBA, HFA, HMA, etc. Secondly, the airbrake gear (I think that's what it is) fitted on one end above the chassis is different to that fitted to other Hornby HBA's. It looks like the type fitted to the CDA china clay wagon. Is this correct or has Hornby made a mistake? The model has the newer style overhead warning flashes so I presume it's based on a more recent example. The pre-production image on the Hornby website for R6960 actually shows an HBA with the standard HBA brake gear. I wonder if the factory has made a mistake.

I think Surfsup was referring to the HAA based HBA (mgr with hood) rather than the HEA based HBA. It's confusing that two completely different wagon types had the same TOPS code.