robmcg

11 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

"Not a bad job repairing that smoke deflector, with a bit of Sellotape hidden on the back, but if it had been 40 years from now, superglue would have been better!"

N

We have no knowledge of the alleged incident.

5 hours ago, craneman said:

My third attempt to obtain one has been successful! A beautifully packaged specimen arrived today from retailer number three, with the Hornby box swathed in bubble-wrap and cushioned in a bubble nest in a a much larger carton, all of which which has done the job perfectly. It is also interesting that this example is in the latest Hornby packaging - which is exactly the same as the original but with the addition of two medium-firm open-cell-foam blocks placed one on each side of the lower smokebox above the cylinders. Clearly the intent is that these will prevent the model moving from side-to-side in the packaging and thereby damaging the smoke deflectors.

 

I cannot say that the foam blocks actually work since the model was so well and so sensibly packed by the retailer, but I can understand the reasoning behind them.

 

I now will wait with interest to see what retailer number 2 proposes as a solution to the broken model. 

I'm very pleased that this addition to the model's packaging has been made, and I do hope the many instances of disappointment described in this thread are reduced or eliminated.

Even though my repair to the front wing was rather akin to trying to glue an old family heirloom back together, and is visible from one side, I am pleased to have been spared the broken tender connection, broken or missing steps.

Interesting that added foam to better locate the front of the engine has been added. I would have thought that the whole production and packaging run would have been done in one run, a few months ago. 

3 hours ago, Rshakes3 said:

Hi Rob - really sorry that you had some damage on this one - the Smoke deflectors on both my A2/3s were to. But I think your repair is pretty good & I`d suggest that with a bit of weathering you should be able to make it disappear - maybe using powders?. And yes - its a long way to send it back to the UK.

 

Ah! powders. of course, and they won't remove paint....  thankyou.

I did just for my own 'way' of doing things take out the cracks with editing, it took no time at all (for me) and of couse the model is still devalued... 

Looking at the other side of this model, un-edited, the cracks are all but invisible, and what an impressive engine.

Who knows what my R3841 will be like?  I currently think the above is very impressive and I'll not send it back,  but it depends on how R3841 is, to some degree.

In fact I'm moved to say, 'what a stunning model!'

1 hour ago, Legend said:

I think you have to register complaint with Hornby . Hopefully they will send you a new body . I appreciate your logistical difficulties but I would not accept a £200 loco in that state . If you do , then Hornby are getting away with it. 

I thought the responsibility in law lay with retailer if goods are faulty.

Presumably the retailer eventually achieves redress from Hornby.

Simply informing Hornby of damage to this series of models is amply provided by both this forum and shop returns. Future models will perhaps have padding around the chimney, at a guess.

1 minute ago, micklner said:

Gently rub with very fine wet and dry , you maybe lucky, the bodies plastic may also be a Grey shade.

 

As already said by others , I would not have repaired it, send it back once Hornby actually say what they are going to about all the damaged models. I suggest you also email Hornby now , to tell them you have  a damaged model as well.

Yes I think a fine abrasive of some type might improve things, cutting compound or similar.

I would return it but I am a long way and much bureaucracy away,  but I'll Email Hornby probably with photos.  I'm curious about the actual prevalence of these occurrences, and Hornby have put a lot of effort into packaging in the past.

Not sure how much such things as drop tests have been done. Nor how useful they are in relation to the modern courier effect or experience.

Here is my damaged - repaired W1    

Digital cameras are cruel, the damage isn't very obvious to my eyes unless pointed out, and then of course it's difficult to 'un-see'. Magnificent model regardless.

Oh and thanks Pete T for clarifying my confusion about steps and Tony Wright's conversation with SK.

Clearly I must be more careful.

4 minutes ago, G-BOAF said:

I would certainly not keep that model.

Best thing that can happen is you send the body shell back to your retailer, and they replace just the body. This has 2 advantages. 1 return shipping is cheaper  and 2 due to light weight, the new body is much much less likely to be damaged.

I know you photoshop your models, but with damage like that the model will be worthless should you ever want to sell it on.

You have paid for brand new, mint model; one without damage on arrival is what you should have. I doubt any repair will be hidden well on such a grey finish

Airmail to the antipodes is extremely variable in the current world. We'd be looking at 2 months minimum, return. I have a model delivered to NZ Post in the UK (partner to Royal Mail) in early December which hasn't been scanned by NZ Post in the UK yet. Things are in no way 'normal'.

If I sell it on it will be described as damaged, and I'll take loss, in preference to waiting months,  but if my R3841 is also damaged yes I will return it to my local retailer.

True,  I can photo-edit these things away, and will.

2 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

I've said nothing of the sort.

Sorry, reference removed.  Apologies.

9 hours ago, Edna Clouds said:

Well done effecting a repair. Although not in NZ, more OSA (other side of Accrington!), mine arrived with a broken smoke deflector that I decided to fix rather than return for a non existent replacement. Not 'as good as new' but well ok for my old eyes.

My old eyes too. I benefitted from a friend who had a go with polystyrene (old Tamiya 10yrss old and half-empty bottle with brush in screwtop).  She had a steadier hand than me, too.

There is a visible line but it's a strong repair.  Any suggestions for re-finishing around the crack?

Smooth runner, seems very good, usual out-of-gauge steps, but not bad to my eye.

I presume Hornby know about the housing issue, and steps?

I have also bought an R3841 from a local retailer we shall see what unfolds.

3 hours ago, melmerby said:

Sorry to hear that Rob.

That seems most unfortunate as TMC packed models seemed to have been, up to now, arriving  intact.

My photos show that it was perfectly packed with cushioning on all sides inside a larger box, it was unmarked.  No fault there at all.

Must have been (unluckily?) transported upright and downward-facing with weight/vibration/impact  as in normal transhipment from truck to pallet to aircraft etc.

At least the steps are all there.

Bad news my R3840 from TMC arrived  well packed, after just month from the UK which is quite good, unmarked inner box, no rattles, I was optimistic.

I' took photos of everything to how another successful delivery, but no, it's a lottery. Broken top front, one side loose in plastic housing, one side cracked.

Sending back from NZ to the poor retailer isn't very appealing, could take a while with current airmail times, but I'll try to think of what best to do other than bleat. 

edit, I lack dexterity but a friend glued it on with polystyrene on a brush , a one-chance cure, and there is just-visible line if you look, adjacent to chimney.  Two or more months for replacement or refund didn't appeal, and to be honest the repair is not bad

Now to find out if it runs well.   Photos to follow if requested. Or even if not requested.     

18 hours ago, mvwilson said:

Well after a 25 day wait mine has arrived in Australia. The Model Centre checked it for me before sending. Very well packed. Nothing broken runs beautifuly both ways.  All pick ups work which is surprising for any Hornby model.  Thanks again to the Model Centre.

I have one arriving soon from TMC and it has been scanned in Auckland, I'm pleased that they have paceked yours very well, I live in hope! 

Cheers

1 hour ago, craneman said:

Today I joined the ranks of frustrated purchasers of this model!

 

On 29th December Hattons told me (in reply to my enquiry) that they had cancelled my order some 8 months previously, and although they assure me that I "should" have received an email at the time (dead right, I should have been told!) I most definitely did not. As a result I will not be buying from them again. Ever.

 

As a result I had to hunt round to find someone else who still had a grey W1 in stock, and did indeed find somewhere. I ordered it on the 29th despite the now-premium price, and today it arrived - in nothing but the Hornby box with a sealed plastic posting bag round the outside. As a result of this (and Hornby's inadequate packaging design), both smoke deflectors are very comprehensively smashed. I have just emailed the supplier in the vague hope that they still have an undamaged replacement, but I don't really have high expectations.

 

Needless to say I am really not very happy!

 

Does anyone know of any suppliers who (a) still have a grey W1 (either unnamed or British Enterprise) in stock, and (b) understand the need for supplementary packing? If so I would be grateful for a heads-up.

 

 

Ebay sellers appear be achieving UKP260-300 at the moment and sometimes offer good photos of unamaged engines at time of sale, and returns and refunds are more-or-less guaranteed. Regular sellers have reputations to protect, too.

Small consolation.  I have one stuck in a NZ airport and and quite nervous. As a precaution I bought two in early Dec one hasn't been recorded as leaving Royal Mail's 'partner' yet in the UK.  We live in hope.

We are going to get a Hornby Dublo die-cast Castle too...    in my opinion.... 

maybe in 2022 too. 

Our old Bristol Castle could use a tiny bit of updating...

Ah, a note of welcome levity.

Just SO timely in view of the serious nature of the subject, the need for a re-tooled Black 5.

Ah, no, wait, Hornby already perfected that one....    I have photos which prove it.

Wouldn't it be Luverly.      All 29 variants, this year too. 

2 hours ago, No Decorum said:

It would be most agreeable to have a decent Duke of Gloucester and, for that matter, a decent Star. However, both are relatively recent models and there isn’t much sign of Hornby finding a pot of decent paint yet. The Saint is older and so I’d guess that it would be more likely. As for the A1s, I’m happy with my Bachmanns.

I personally think the Duke and Star are lovely as they are, but then I mess around with photos in lieu of super-detailing them myself.

I'm very curious about the new 9F and can't wait to see running samples, I'm expecting something spectacularly good but with finer detail than the Bachmann and thus a greater likelihood of assembly errors and bits falling off, either way I expect to be impressed. Something of A2 quality and of course the green for 92220,  There will have to be a lot of variations to match Bachmann, Hornby say they are doing five tenders.... A factory-weathered version is my impossible dream, but there's always my paintbrush, or any of several excellent aftermarket weathering people, take a bow toboldlygo, TMC and others.

Here is a photo of how a super-detailed Duke could look. It is based on a TMC-weathered Hornby version, with liberal use of PSP6 computer 'art'. The model looks very good to my eye though, even without my additions.

If Hornby were to do a B16 I can hear the cries already, 'not the version I need'.

Happy New Year all from NZ.

The other side of A2/3 LNER 514 'Chamossaire'. Slightly edited. Well-pleased with depth-of-field in this desktop shot. Impressive model!

4 minutes ago, toboldlygo said:

Happy Christmas Rob!!

Thanks, I hear you've had some pretty awful trials with a serious stroke and I'm glad you are still with us.

In view of having not yet received a Hush Hush I exhumed an example of what I consider to be one of the most outstanding RTR OO models ever, the Hornby Thompson A2/2 and A2/3.

In fact it might have some things in common with the W1 hush hush, sometimes poor assembly and/or damage in transit, but I have all 6 A2s and all were undamaged except for minor, fixable things, I'm hoping for the same with W1 R3840!

I was experimenting with my other favourite toys, cameras, and took this below of A2/3 LNER 514 'Chamossaire', which I think is lovely.

All in the quest for more depth of field in photos of models, for those who are interested,

Canon M6 MkII 31MP 'half-frame' camera. standard 15-45mm zoom. 

ISO 100, Aperture priority, delayed release, camera on table, 25 secs at F36 , focal length 41mm. Reading lamp and window light.  No particular editing. Sharpened a tad.

Happy festive season all.  

Then, because I was trying to do a 'scientific' comparison between the above M6 camera and the much cheaper 24MP M200 camera, I did this, below, with almost identical settings, but somewhat later, with the relationship brween engine and camera slightly different...

Canon M200  on aperture priority, delayed release, 25 secs at F36  ISO100..

Nothing like a bit of science eh?   I'd love to see a Gresley V2 to compare! 

49 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

I hope to have the opportunity of reviewing Hornby's latest W1 in BRM. 

 

A friend brought one over today which he's just bought.

 

 

It's an astonishing model.

 

However, though I'd hoped to have given this a full blast on Little Bytham, its steps adjacent to the motion fouled the station's platform edges. These steps are way out of gauge with regard to width. Bytham's platforms were plotted from the prototype drawings we have, and everything else just sails through.

 

Has anyone else come across this clearance problem, please?   

What an astonishingly fine photograph Tony.

'Out-of-gauge' footrests notwithstanding the composition and lighting really are top-notch.  The colours, lining and detail, all as near perfect as one could wish, and as a fellow photographer with far less experience and 'nous' than you I know just how hard it is to acheive that balance between what the eye sees and the camera lens 'sees'. You get so much out of that full frame Nikon and lenses!

Thankyou. (I have two W1s on the way from the UK...  if one is damaged I can assess the situation and go from there).

9 hours ago, micklner said:

There are at least three on ebay £270 ish no bids so far on any.

Interesting that the models which have been removed from packaging and photographed and are demonstrably undamaged get better prices than the unopened ones. The reverse is often the case on Ebay.

Ii think you might fluke a purchase by bidding on a low reserve version, but all the 'buy now' offers are over UKP299, at a quick look just now,.   

Well the going rate for a R3840 W1 Hush Hush on Ebay appears to be somewhere around UKP290-300.

There was one from a well-known good retailer at UKP249 free postage just an hour ago but when I refreshed the page it had gone.

You've got to be quick!

1 hour ago, melmerby said:

Has anyone measured one of these?

I noticed the front steps were hitting a platform edge, which was sized to clear GWR outside cylinders (Hall, Grange etc.)

I measured across the front steps = 44mm, that's a whopping 11ft! The cylinders were 39mm, which is 9' 9", the cab end is much nearer reality.

 

 

I know UK 4mm models tend to be wide to get the valve gear in etc. but 44mm?

One of the R3840s on offer on Ebay , one of the few which has been taken out of its box for photos, has a shot of the engine on its side and one footrest looks particulary 'splayed out'...  so whether this a typical assembly issue or design issue I would not know. It would be vulnerable to hurried packing damage, or subsequent shocks and vibration, and given that in most cases where the step is missing it is not in the packaging one can only blame the factory, alas.