scottrains29

Nice choice of the RES and EWS class 90s. I still want to get the previous Virgin one too. Going to be another expensive year!

They are better but still not great. I have a full rake of the Virgin ones (all bought new) and a few had the yellow footboards missing. One coach also had both the black steps missing. No sign of them in the box so I can only guess the factory forgot to put them on. I sent an email to Oxford late last year but didn't hear back. The Virgin livery looks fine with the Hornby Virgin 87/DVT. I've also found the Hornby Pullman coach springs (X9097) are similar (though not the same) to the ones on the Oxford coaches. I've fixed a few Intercity ones with them. Lendons have packs of 10 for 99p.

It really is a joke that the Hornby ones are actually priced higher than the Accurascale ones, even after the retail discount. Remember that if you buy two or more packs of the Accurascale ones, you get an extra 10% off! Free postage too! The Hornby ones are def going to end up in the bargain bins soon!

I also bought one to keep 66746 company! If (when) Accurasale or Bachmann get round to tooling up the Royal Scotsman coaches these two will skyrocket in value! That's my hope anyway.

I thought it would feel strange not having Hornby present at the large Model Rail Scotland exhibition last weekend, but in reality I hardly noticed they weren't there this year. I was far more excited by the competitors products, esp Accurascale, Bachmann, Heljan and Cavalex. The Hornby 2022 range was rather unexciting with very little for those who model the popular late 90s/00s period. I was surprised not to see a single EWS (or even Transrail, Mainline, Loadhaul) loco in their entire 2022 range. The wagon range was very poor too, just loads of expensive MGRs and MHAs. Who is actually going to buy these with the far superior (and possibly cheaper) Accurascale and Cavalex ones arriving soon? I really hope someone else produces an HST class 43. The Hornby one is ridiculously expensive. Their latest model (43013) now has even less features than before (no opening cab doors), dodgy front light fittings and a shoddy paint job, especially around the cab. Until the demise of Lima we've always had a choice of HST. If Hornby think they can easily charge these inflated prices for their (now dated) HST then there is clearly room for another manufacturer to procuce one. Hornby has really got to up their game for 2023. Instead of removing features (working roof fans, opening doors etc) and producing models with rubbish cab interiors (67, 87 etc) they've got to start making significant improvements, especially if they want to charge such high prices for their models. The competitors are picking off the Hornby range one by one, producing vastly superior models at often lower prices than the current Hornby offering.

Looks like the search result is currently out of date. One you click on 66743 it says it's out of stock.

I agree, it's a shame Accurascale aren't producing the opening cab door feature. Certain loco types are often seen with a door open, and it's nice to be able to model this. When done well, like on the Bachmann 37, there is very little gap around the door. I wonder how many people don't even realise the doors open on their 37. The forthcoming Dapol 59 will also have opening doors. On the other hand, Hornby seem to be determined to make their top-range models worse despite ramping up the price. They have removed the rotating fan feature on many model types and have now started removing the opening door feature on the HST. It'll not be long before they get round to the 31. It's as if Hornby want you to go to their competitors! I was thinking about buying a Hornby Network Rail 31 but will hold off until Accurascale do it. I'd much rather have an Accurascale 31 depsite the lack of opening cab doors.

A TPEx 185 would be better as they would also appeal to us modern-Scottish modellers.

66743 now into single digits. Doubt it'll last the day.

Hmm, I'm passionate about trains but would always pay the bills (food, energy, mortgage, etc) first. Model trains are a non-essential item, therefore will get reduced first. less disposable income typically means less spenditure on model trains. Yes, some people may reduce spending on other non-essential items first and model trains could be the last non-essential item they cut, but I doubt the average modeller will actually be increasing their model train expenditure purely as a consequence of reducing disposable income.

With disposable income now severely squeezed it's now even more important that Bachmann etc can absorb as much of the cost increase as possible. Luxury goods (model trains etc) will be one of the first things people will cut back on.

Just received an email from Accurascale titled "realistic models at realistic prices". A dig at Bachmann? At £40 the Bachmann MTA is far too much for what is now quite an old model. The similar (but far more detailed) forthcoming MHA from Accurascale can be had for sixty odd pounds for a 3 pack when buying 2+ packs.

That Network Rail DBSO is sure going to be popular. Nice to see some more engineering wagons in different liveries.

Now that the class 91 will have switchable cab lighting, I really hope Hornby go back to the effort of producing a detailed cab interior to a similar standard as their 43, 60, mk3 DVT etc. Their more recent models (class 67, 87) were really poor in this area with just a plain grey moulded plastic cab interior with no details picked out, or any seperately fitted parts (seats, fire extinguisher etc).

I think it might be the "new" tooling body though, as the opening cab door feature is now missing. Looks like you're getting the worst of both (old chassis, new body). I know some aren't keen on opening doors, but I really hope Hornby don't start removing them on other diesels. Certain locos are often seen with doors open in real life, eg class 08, 56 and it's a nice feature to have if you want to use them. If fitted well you wouldn't even notice they open (eg the Bachmann 37/4). I wish Hornby had spent more time improving the body. The cab looks awful. The model still has an annoying curve above the cab front, and also that nasty mould line. On 43013 the yellow roof should go below the rainstrip above the cab doors but I think Hornby have moulded the rainstrip too low. The cab windscreen still has those unsightly locating lugs at each side of the windscreen. The front headlights also looks very poorly fit. With Hornby producing a servo powered roof fan, it is a shame they didn't include this on 43013. I now wonder if they will include it on any dummy class 43s. The price of the HST packs is now ridiculous. I really hope someone else produces a better 43. Accurascale....

No, they haven't missed a trick. They announced many HAA type wagons, singly and in packs of three last year that have yet to arrive. They should arrive this year, in time for the Accurascale and Cavalex ones. Hornby will have to slash prices for them to sell though. I am surprised by the lack of a class 56. Even last year's ones have been delayed. Hopefully they'll do and HST style upgrade. If they fix the few main issues with the model (eg include flush roof grills, motorised fans, 21pin etc) then it'll provide reasonable competition to the Cavalex model. The Hornby 56 is a good model and the cab detail is far better than newer Hornby models. Eg, their 67 and 87 models are rubbish with just a wrongly-coloured moulded plastic piece. The 56 has a fully detailed and painted cab interior with dials and levers picked out, fire extinguisher, opening doors, separate seats and detailed bulkhead as with their class 60 and other good Hornby models of that time. I'm really hoping their new class 91 is to this standard, rather than the poor class 67/87 standard.

Now that the Limby 66 is to have a 21 pin socket will the model finally come with directional lights? Also, surely it should be in the Railroad range, even Railroad plus but not main range.

I suspect they're planning an HST style upgrade (21 pin, separate motor powered fans etc) to compete with the Cavalex 56.

I may be wrong but doesn't that one allow the new 21pin decoders to connect to the older 8pin sockets? Rather than the other way around.

I'm hoping they offer the separate-motor driven HST fan unit as a spare to upgrade older models, and possibly other classes too.

Sadly no sign of the elusive Railmaster Loco Detection System (R8306). Maybe next year.... Interesting, Simon mentions in the video the 66 will also be 21 pin fitted. This model is so crude it doesn't even have working lights. I wonder if they're planning a 21 pin TTS+ decoder? It's odd they're not offering an adaptor to use their 8pin TTS decoders in their 21pin models.

I'm hoping it's just the image that's wrong. The price is still a bit steep. A 3 pack is £72.99 for the old Hornby model vs £74.95 for the latest Accurascale version (less 10% if you buy 2+).

Nice to see the Mk2 RLO. It's a shame they haven't tooled the RLO with the windows removed, but at least they've chosen examples that can use their existing SO tooling (windows painted over). Hopefully they'll get round to producing the NX Swoosh, Visit Scotland and First Group RLOs in the future. Just need them to tool a mk2 RFB and BUO now.

Looks like Hornby are using their older, taller MHA bodies with the wider footsteps.

Perhaps they are planning to finally give the Hornby Railmaster software the long overdue overhaul it is crying out for. It is currently so crude and buggy. Maybe 2022 is the year we'll finally see the R8306 Railmaster Loco Detection System brought to market.