2006 New models

I am not too sure that we did get snippets of information in the past. Hornby have traditionally released their news on 1st January and this goes back a long way. Bachmann have less of a tradition but they do get the news out in time for the magazine deadlines in January.

Hornby have said that they will be launching their own digital command control system in 2006 and this has been flagged up.

Maybe Bachmann are beginning to realise that it does not do them any favours to provide news of new models well in advance of production and Hornby have always released news at the beginning of January. The only time in the last 5 or 6 years that I can remember Hornby releasing news about a new model in the middle of the year was when they announced the Merchant Navy. And as this was to be the first of a new breed of Hornby model then it was big news at the time.

Similarly Live Steam was big news and that was announced in the month of September.

Anything else that you hear is entirely rumour and gossip until the manufacturers confirm the rumour and gossip.

In terms of Bachmann though think about this...

They seem to produce prototype models and exhibit these a year or more before production. Generally the prototypes are a bit sloppy and not that well put together with boiler doors that are lopsided and handrails that are twisted and so on and so forth.

I do wonder if this is a strategy so that they can get feedback from the rivet counters which then helps Bachmann go on to produce a better model!

A very cost effective way of producing great looking models!

Happy modelling
Gary

Hornby probably have plenty of projects in hand over the next year or two that they consider to have better commercial potential. Note that the language used is postponed not abandoned.

As an example Blue Pullman or SR EMU?

If you were Hornby which new tooling would you invest in given the current concensus in magazines and on the internet?

This has to influence thinking.

Now I don't have any insight whatsoever into what Hornby are planning but it is always interesting to read the rumour and gossip from those who claim to have!

Happy modelling
Gary

Noting the Heritage Railway magazine story:-

QUOTE POP mogul Pete Waterman has held talks with multi-millionaire steam locomotive owner Jeremy Hosking about the sale of BR Britannia Pacific No 70000 Britannia.

QUOTE The popularity of the class is such that model maker Hornby is to release an all-new high-detailed version of it in 2006 - with Britannia, Oliver Cromwell, William Wordsworth and Firth of Tay the first off the production line!

I believe Jeremy Hosking is the largest private shareholder in Hornby. The Times last summer had this to say about the Marathon three of which Mr Hosking is one:-

QUOTE While it is owned by a Jersey trust, we assume that the three directors own a third each. Hosking, a railway buff, also has a £3.4m stake in Hornby, the quoted model railway group. We value the stakes of the Marathon three at £73m apiece, adding £20m to each of them for past salaries.

I wonder if Mr Hosking buys a preserved version of every new model hornby produce!

Happy modelling
Gary

Pat Hammond's MRE is certainly a marathon read today!

I have noted this comment made by the editor:-

QUOTE Judging by what Hornby were showing to the model railway press this week, they will not be pulling in their horns next year and Lima is certainly not dead. More on January 1st - Ed.

Interesting.

Happy modelling
Gary

MRE can be visited by clicking the link below:-

http://www.mremag.demon.co.uk/hpsite/index.htm

Hornby have provided Model Rail Forum with stunning material that has not been made available to the Hornby Collectors Club magazine or any other magazine!

Model Rail Forum are developing relationships with a number of manufacturers and this is based on trust.

What would you do folks in these circumstances?

Have us break that trust that has built up?

We would like to think that Model Rail Forum members and visitors respect our reasons for this. We are thinking of you after all!

Why not turn up at Model Rail Forum just after midnight on New Years day and see the stunning material for yourself!

And invite all you mates over and join the party. They will thank you for the invite! Trust us on this!

At the end of the day its a bit of fun for everybody concerned, there is a lot of tradition behind this, and I do believe that there are some folk who, even in this day and age, get slightly excited at the prospect of seeing the new Hornby range officially unveiled at one minute past midnight on News Years Day!

Its a tradition that I personally like!

Happy modelling
Gary

Two hours until we find out!

Happy modelling
Gary