Allegheny1600

54 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

But if you are going to sell online you need to create brand and product awareness in a big way, and for trainsets that needs penetration to a wide market area that in turn means big bucks.  The Hornby Show on tv will help - if it is aired at the right time but that apart it's either press and/or tv advertising which will have to be very carefully targetted.  And obviously it needs a sales and product support organisation which should at least be open on Boxing Day and following days (Hornby normally seem to shut down over the Christmas-New Year period).  It'll be interesting to see how they manage.

Well, according to Mr SK - that’s exactly what they are planning on doing! He and I think, Montana, said so during the introduction video.

 I don’t think Hornby are having a “sulk” as it’s been put, I think they are being bold with a “modern” business plan.

More to the point, everyone is clamouring about the online only plan, afaik this is purely for the TT range - for the present time! I got the impression that, should the TT range be successful, then Hornby will send it out to retailers.

3 hours ago, ikks said:

I believe all of the wheelsets on a 9F are flanged, the flanges on the middle set have a more shallow profile.

Mike

This picture from Flickr would seem to agree with you;

However, this one appears to contradict you!

Plus, I remember having a really good look at the wheels on a 9F one time at the East Lancs Railway and running my hand partway around the centre driver and noticing that not only was it flange less, it wasn’t tapered , actually flat in profile, unlike the reminder of the drivers.

It certainly struck me!

That’s not to say that all 9Fs were one or the other - as the above pictures show, they can be either/or.

Sorry for the thread diversion.

By the way, I have numerous ten coupled locos in H0 and they are usually fine with second radius curves, they achieve this in several ways, excessive slop, articulation, flange less and/or fine flanged drivers. The worse offenders tend to be American prototypes rather than European, mainly due to excessive overall length.

What have I done? The wife will kill me!

Extravagantly ordered three diesels, a load of Mk2s and a handful of wagons for that adorable 08 to shunt.

Aaargh, no buyers remorse here.

John

I’d really better get that Peco signal box built soon. I handled some of the Peco track on my last visit to my LHS - it’s really nice.

2 minutes ago, SteamingWales said:

 

This is basically me!!!!

 

Off the top of my head I have 14 locos (either own or on pre-order if that counts) with the main theme being the Cambrian network. Of these only 4 (2x4MT, 1x 6MT, 1x 2MT) are made by Hornby so as a proportion they don't dominate

 

I was born in 1997 so am I a millennial? Can never remember what label I'm given!  I don't partake in Snapchat, Tiktok, Instagram etc. I don't have time to sit scrolling when I have modelling to do 😂

 

I rent a 2 bed flat, though its more like a squashed terrace house than a s#@?ty bed sit type thing

 

I don't have the space for a full size roundy roundy type thing but have settled for a shed scene ~2mx0.6m and can't go any bigger but obviously can't run any trains. It more of a glorified display cabinet 😅

 

Yes. I would like a roundy roundy just to watch trains run around

 

DOES THIS MAKE ME THE TARGET AUDIENCE???????

Probably!

 I **think** the term “millennial” means someone who came of age during the 2000’s but I haven’t checked, I probably should really!

By the way, I’m certainly not meaning any disrespect by my use of the term, as I wouldn’t take any offence if you or anyone else called me a “baby boomer”!

It’s just a way of saying “not a pensioner” - which is where a substantial number of model railway customers come from.

Cheers.

22 minutes ago, estarriol said:

The Hornby stuff looks, odd. Doing 2 LNER engines but no matching carriages, and otyer than an 08, no small engines.

Phase 4: J94 0-6-0T and 57XX 0-6-0PT

Future: “several small tank locomotives”

See: https://uk.Hornby.com/hornbytt120/future

7 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Small scenic GWR branch line (not BLT) using the PECO buildings. Maybe some GWR stock in the next year or so.

 

However I could do that just as easy in N or 00. That's part of my wondering, what does TT offer that the other gauges doesn't?

 

I've not seen any answers apart from saying it's smaller than 00. So is N and there is already a reasonable amount available in N.

 

I want Hornby (and other manufacturers) to persuade me.

 

 

Jason

For me, one of the biggest selling points is that the scale to gauge ratio is correct.

That and the fact that I could get a quart into a pint pot without having to wear magnifying glasses is a help.

However, I think that Hornby aren’t really trying to sell to you!

They’re after people who aren’t already established in the hobby, with large collections in different scales, well okay - a bit but not as their core market.

Maybe they’re after the “millennials” who have made onto the housing ladder but only just, or even still renting a flat or living with parents. What I’m trying to say is those people who don’t have a lot of space but still want to build a layout of their own.

My apologies if this is you, Jason!

Well, I joined the Hornby TT1:120 club whilst watching (listening!) the video.

It’s certainly worth the joining fee!

I haven’t ordered anything yet as I’d better sell some stuff first but I will.

Cheers,

 John 

10 minutes ago, jonnyuk said:

i've not looked on the AS product section but last week they did a screen shot of a new product (was it a class 31 EP), in the background was a box with TT, 1:120. Now i'm not wanting to start rumours but did AS get wind about this or have AS got some TT stuff up their sleeves and Hornby have brought forward their product launch?

 

either way i agree with others, this is really exciting, far more of a buzz than just a new loco. Big gamble and i really hope to pays off for Hornby. in the next 2 months i'm setting up an office, this would be perfect (i had N some time ago but i could not get on with how fiddly it is, drove me crazy).

I’m fairly sure during the course of the “Peco introduce British TT” thread, that one of the main guys from Accurascale scotched that rumour then!

However, if that was just a delaying tactic and they are joining in the 1:120 scale race, please do, the more, the merrier.

I’m thrilled whatever.

Well, that’s certainly a huge and welcome surprise!

 I well remember a few years ago when SK mentioned about TT 1:120 and how if it ever came back to the UK, it ought to be this international scale rather than the UK only 3mm/ft - who would ever have guessed, even after the Peco announcement, that Hornby had been secretly working on this for the past few years? I had hoped but never really dared dream that this might happen.

I’m very impressed that they are doing so many steam locos too, including a forthcoming 9F, surely that will be a challenge?

Bravo, Hornby!

Hooray!

43 minutes ago, Pre Grouping fan said:

 

Did Bertha change at all throughout its life? If not then its a simpler prototype compared to the Fell or simpler to produce compared to bellerophon which has complex valve gear. 

The tender was cut down from its original form but I don’t know when, likely early on as it was to facilitate easier coaling.

8 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

I dread to think what he called the Worsborough Banker when that turned up!

 

 

 

Jason

Yeah, it seems that it was not that popular!

Apparently, in August 1955, 69999 was trialled as an oil burner but again, not successfully.

The “Big-un” was much more appreciated.

From “Life on the Lickey 1943 - 1986” by Patrick ‘Pat’ Wallace,  Brewin books.

Not a particularly easy read imho but fascinating nevertheless. This book has given me many ideas and a lot of interest in this line, of which 2290/58100 is a principle component but never did I think she might be modelled RTR.

Big Bertha is how I’ve always thought of this engine and being a Derby lad, I’d probably want a model anyway. I just hope it’s a worthy one.

John

I’m just reading a book by a former driver on the Lickey and he doesn’t refer to Big Emma at all, he just calls it “the big un”

Many of the early Bavarian locos were named, see this list;

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_bayerischen_Lokomotiven_und_Triebwagen

This reminds me of a few people!

Hello Bob,

Wow, wow and thrice wow! 
Your work on this gorgeous little shunter is quite amazing really but now when it comes to the fitting of these electronic gubbins, I am in awe.

 I feel your pain in part as I have struggled with a small H0 steam loco but compared, I have masses of room and nothing to complain about. I have also invested in a CT decoder and know they are exquisite - and expensive so it was very fortunate you didn’t release the magic smoke!

Keep up the good work,

John

Of no great interest to anyone else on here but that’s the year my parents got married!

Mum was 21, Dad was 22 - Mum always carried a bit of a grudge (for whom?) that because their wedding was relatively close to her birthday, she never received any birthday gifts, everything was a wedding gift!

They made it through though, until Mum passed away in 2005 and Dad following in 2010.

Hi Peter,

An Aunt & Uncle of mine used to live in a large house by the canal in Shardlow so I’m intrigued by this!

Good luck,

 John 

18 minutes ago, MP40058 said:

Inverness Type 2 at rest on the freshly laid track and ballast of my current project! Very much a work in progress...

Subtle, well observed - that’s extremely good!

Whilst I’m not an expert, may I hazard a guess?

1. multiple loco control.

2. coach power supplies.

3. transducer connections - these tell “base” where each individual vehicle is on the network and if connected, can all say the same thing!

4. engine management controls - “talking” to each other. Different to 1. in that each locos engine may perform differently during the run. ?

What I do know is that modern US locos are very sophisticated, have a lot of engine management systems and communications systems. Wherever Amtraks base is, will know all about each locos performance and whether anything needs changing en route. Plus the same again for each coach!

All that needs a lot of cables.

Happy for any further input or corrections though.

5 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

I love those older electric locomotives, so characterful

Me too!

I only had a very brief visit to Bavaria in 1977 (which I remember little about really) but subsequent reading and videos have taught me that this was a last bastion of the early electric locomotives. This has led me to build a collection of models from ancient 191s to modern 120s, all era IV for my “one day” layout.

Thanks to all for the great pictures,

John

8 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

For me, there's no point having a superb model with everything to suit those who inspect their models with electron microscopes if the thing won't work, won't take DCC sound without major surgery or throws a hissy fit after a week.

That’s the point!

 I took years to see the “faults” with the Bachmann class 25, in fact I still struggle but even I can easily see the faults with the Heljan class 45.

No need for an “electron microscope” but hey, if you are satisfied with those windscreens and other problems - who am I to call you?

My heart is breaking for you all, Jim.

God bless, little one.

While I wholeheartedly agree that the rail scene across Europe (including the UK!) in this era was brilliant and I consider myself very lucky to have experienced a fair bit of it (sadly, not enough in Germany!) - I still say that the current scene in Germany at least and certainly in Eastern Europe, is still well worth watching!

Yes, many iconic classes are gone from the big railways but for example, 120s are still working in private hands albeit in reduced numbers, 151s and 140s, even 143s the same. I’ve also seen plenty of classic DB diesels still working privately as well.

Units abound on the big railway but there’s still an enormous amount of freight and very mixed freight at that!

I know, it pales if one compares seeing a wonderful 118 electric on a passenger train but it’s still good.

Whereas in the UK it’s almost nothing but units or 66s, very sad!