Legend

yes it’s going to take a while to work through previous stocking and marketing decisions . It is a shame though, here we have a company that wants sales , cash flow and margin , shops that want to buy more but are being starved .

They don’t seem to learn . Maybe the tier system has ended but the affects are still there . I’m hearing that Hornbys new TTA is very good . Now this is the sort of model that could sell be the shedload (even at that price) but I’m getting told that model shops are having an allocation of ………..three !

Along with a 313. Revolution told me that’s the reason they are not upscaling their N One , but this rumour has been going about for some time now with zilch to show for it

There’s still some low hanging fruit . Now that they’ve developed an my drive for the 323 A class 185 , looks like it will remain TPE fleet for some time to come Class 116 . A spectacular miss from Bachmann when they introduced the 117 . A 116 was promised from Kernow but disappeared when Bachmann took over development . A 116 was widespread . Wales Midlands and Scotland . It would probably be less expensive than Bachmann too We are still waiting for 313/4/5 . Supposedly being developed by someone , but no sign of it for years ! A Swindon 120

I got mine direct from Key last year . I’m assuming the relationship between Key and Hornby continues . This seems to have been one of the few marketing successes of recent years . availability of catalogue in High St giving more visibility of brand Really no idea what will appear this year . I suppose we will be getting models given the marketing nod by SK , so with his big engine policy ,I wouldn’t be surprised at Great Bear , as it’s one of the few Pacific’s remaining other than a Raven one .

I think this is a valid point . KR do deliver the goods The GT3 won prizes , as others have pointed out the Leader and 4DD look good , and I’ll remind you they are at reasonable prices . I understand being critical but I think sometimes people can get carried away . From time to time you have to stand back and take stock . Could I bring these models to market (has anyone else !) . Does it look like the prototype . To me , even the Fell succeeded here , but I concede I don’t know one side from the other or what would have been right or wrong . KR do shoot themselves in the foot in communications . The introduction of the WD 2-10-0 was a disaster . More questions than answers , which is not where you should be after a launch . However I am keeping an eye both on the 40 and the 2-10-0 to see what develops . And if KR were to bring out a Glasgow Blue Train (303) I’d sign up like a shot . Cut them some slack, and yes I know I’ve joined in jokes about one side being different from another. They may only have not got it 100% right in some cases but it’s still a lot better than I could do !

That’s great Mark . Thanks for confirming

Do we know if there will be an exhibition next year? I understood that the building it was in - what I remember fondly as the old Co-Op dept store , is being redeveloped

I always thought John Knot was more culpable . He was the guy trying to sell Invincible to the Australians and had proposed selling the Endurance. Sent all the wrong signals to the Argentinians

Just too expensive . Can’t justify spending that on a unit used only occasionally . Agree it looks superb

Agree modern passenger trains are under represented . I think in most cases this is because they are multiple units and manufacturers are wary of the ultimate cost of these mus , meaning they might be unaffordable to most. This is especially true because of need to ensure DCC compatibility with electronic couplings between cars Another consideration is that Train Operating Companies quite often have bespoke equipment limiting use elsewhere . Hornby are at least looking at 755s for Anglia and their equivalent for Wales . However you can see why manufacturers would not invest in multiple units that are specific to certain routes eg class 397 ( I think these are the Trans Pennine units that do Manchester - Glasgow/Edinburgh ) . Limited market

Thanks to the organisers of Paisley Model Railway show . Spent a thoroughly enjoyable 2 and a half hours browsing layouts and trade . Some really good exhibits and friendly people running then who took the time to explain things. Shieldinch running mainly Caledonian stock was superb squeezed into a space of 6 by 4 with a central operating well . Loved the tenement backscenes . We need more Caledonian layouts ! Spent a very enjoyable discussion with the gentleman from Ceddesfeld Halt, a superb o gauge GWR layout with some really nice shunting moves . Ddualt running Narrow Gauge being operated by the Greenock Crew, friendly as ever and really nice operating . Last , but not least a good discussion with the operator of Invernevis which was based on Fort William . The Class 29s which were 3d printed were brilliant . Very enjoyable . Back enthused !

Some things never change . They still sell Tennents ! Might have a look at this one as they were based in Scotland , which I think was why we never really got 9Fs

I think there is a danger of over exposure of Pete’s layout and it has tended to dominate things . It’s been in all the mags I think, featured on his TV show and there’s even a bookazine on it . That said it is a draw into Railway modelling and so it’s got to be good for that reason . it depends how this new exhibition is marketed . Yes I know it’s already in the Hornby Mag , but if it has wider exposure to the general population it might be good for the hobby in general - both Construction Kit and Railway Modelling , to paraphrase a well known advert to reach parts other Model Railway exhibitions don’t reach ! Let’s face it as enthusiasts we all know about Warley but the general public doesn’t . looking at the comments it and the pictures , as someone that didn’t visit , it looks like Warley was a big success this year . Congratulations to all the volunteers that put it on . They don’t have to do it you know .

No actually he is right ........its just naff . The toy sector of the market isn't going to buy a £250 train . Its the enthusiast market that's wanting this model and will be driving sales . These lamps need dramatically shrunk , not perpetually display the Royal train code or just get deleted . Frankly oil lights in the steam age were not bright , so I cant see anything wrong with jeweled lamps , for those that want to use them

I think when they say not recommended for running on DC they mean using existing controllers (my original idea was to turn analogue controllers to max and use phone to control loco) but if you use their dedicated DC supply , which is shown in their catalogue , then you can run on DC . It is a minefield !

This is a complicated subject and there is no such thing as a daft question . My view as a DC analogue man is this - DCCers please correct if I'm wrong Certain DCC Sound fitted locomotives will run on DC Analogue and give off sounds . You can't control this , whistles , flange squeel etc because you are not DCC and do not have access to F5, F6 etc . But I believe the basics are there, turn the controller knob and sounds will come on , the loco may remain stationary until the knob is turned further before moving off . I believe that Bachmann and Accurascale locos will do this . I am not sure if other manufacturers will . A possibility is to use the new Hornby HM7000 system, there is a separate thread here on that . By buying a dedicated DC power source and getting one of their sound chips , you can get Sound relatively inexpensively . However you need to have a compatible phone or tablet because this becomes your controller . You cannot control your other Analogue locos using this system unless they have a decoder fitted . However the power source is relatively in expensive and you could just connect it when you want to run your sound loco and disconnect when running your normal analogue trains, making sure they are properly isolated when running the sound loco eg parked up in a siding . This way avoids you having to fit decoders in all existing analogue models I think these are the two basic ways of getting sound on an otherwise analogue layout , but as I have said I have no experience of this . I have fancied getting a sound fitted accurascale Deltic , but at £250 a go its a bit of an expense if it doesn't work or running compromised . I may try the HM7000 route instead . I have lots of analogue locos , some dating from the 60s , which I do still run which is why full DCC not an option for me Glenborrodale , I can see your problem in accessibility to model shops ! If you are in the central belt any time probably Rainbow Railways in Linlithgow would be your best bet for over the counter advice .

Yeah I think thats about right and three tiers is the way to go I think we need something better than 0-4-0 in the intro range though . We need to draw people in . An 0-4-0 and a couple of wagons going round an oval is pretty pedestrian compared to an xBox or tablet etc . I'd go for a super cheep 66 and some working tipper wagons that look like actual trains on our railways . As to the European brands I'd keep Arnold, Rivarossi,Jouef etc for the various national markets

Is traction spread across three cars in the real thing? I thought in a 3 car emu that there were 2 driving cars containing the actual motors that make the noise and the transformer/ electrical gubbins was in the center . What noises would they make ?

yeah if they can do it properly within a price point fine. . But evidence so far is they haven’t . So against holding up this loco further I still say ditch the lights . They just look silly in current form .

Ditch the lights Hornby . It’s a step too far . You’ve turned a model into a toy . And at that price enthusiasts won’t make allowances or compromises

Both I suppose to an extent it depends where the exhibition is for trade , but up in Glasgow there’s not much in the way of local Model Railway shops , so the trade part is quite important to stock up on things like ballast , scenic items , even track etc . I must admit when attending exhibitions I like to see large layouts . Generally Perth and Model Rail Scotland do that well . I sort of agree with Stivesnicks categories . I do remember a large Western Region terminal layout from 10 -15 years ago . Was it Westport, Westcliff or something like that . It certainly appeared in BRM as I remember buying a copy based on inclusion of that layout , but mainly I remember it from Perth. Just watching trains arrive , disposal of stock, engine to mpd for replacement etc . Operation of these layouts is important and is much more likely to get my attention than a large roundy roundy, although I like these too . For a while the GWR branch layout was all over the place , now I find it’s diesel traction depots . Never really understood what people get from the operation of these layouts . It seems they are just a ploy to show off stock . So for me , these are the layouts that get less attention Glad it seems everyone enjoyed Warley . Now I’m speeding to retirement I may well plan a visit next year .

Electrocution?

Looking forward to it

yes I think an odd choice of unit , unless you model the West Midlands and Manchester I suppose ! The 3x3 bit is right but I’d have happily gone for a 313 or 303! Good price though .