Hornby 2007 New Releases

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QUOTE (Doug @ 1 Jan 2007, 00:00) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Check out the updated topic

At least you have beaten Hornby to it Doug.

Don't get into trouble!!

Darren

There's quite a few nice items in there. Interesting to see they are doing an even more budget range along the lines of Roco's playtime range. I really hope their new GNER 225 is an improvement on the previous. If so it might be easier for me to buy a new one instead of having to convert my old one. Shame there is no A4 in BR blue.

The Skaledale range seems to get better and better, probably Hornby's best product.

Plenty of goodies there to help drain my wallet, i do like the R258 N15 "KIND ARTHUR" or should that be king arthur ?

>I can't wait for the Royal Scot!
There is no detail on what decoder is being fitted. The RR prices published by Hattons for the "DCC Fitted" Britannia class locomotives indicate a price premium of £15. Given that Hornby sell the standalone decoder for £10, one would hope that there will be advanced functions in the onboard decoder, so that those of us who use high function decoders are not faced with not only buying a decoder we don't want but also facing a tricky replacement installation because "Hornby know best" and have used a hardwired non-standard fitment. One might also hope that since the price premium for digital Scalextric cars is less than the cost of a decoder that the "DCC fitted" decoders are indeed better than the after market conversions.

For those that have no intention of going DCC, and they are going to be upset to excluded from two LMS classes which were a common sight in the post war period.

The Bachmann DCC premium is considerably less than Hornby's.

So, whilst I am not very happy about the Scot / Patriot / Stanier Tank situation at present, I am not going to rant until I have some hard facts on Hornby's intentions. I suspect the best way to get those is to corner some one from Hornby at an exhibition.

For the present - "I've got a bad feeling about this"

David

QUOTE (dwb @ 1 Jan 2007, 11:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>>I can't wait for the Royal Scot!
There is no detail on what decoder is being fitted. The RR prices published by Hattons for the "DCC Fitted" Britannia class locomotives indicate a price premium of £15. Given that Hornby sell the standalone decoder for £10, one would hope that there will be advanced functions in the onboard decoder, so that those of us who use high function decoders are not faced with not only buying a decoder we don't want but also facing a tricky replacement installation because "Hornby know best" and have used a hardwired non-standard fitment. One might also hope that since the price premium for digital Scalextric cars is less than the cost of a decoder that the "DCC fitted" decoders are indeed better than the after market conversions.

For those that have no intention of going DCC, and they are going to be upset to excluded from two LMS classes which were a common sight in the post war period.

The Bachmann DCC premium is considerably less than Hornby's.

So, whilst I am not very happy about the Scot / Patriot / Stanier Tank situation at present, I am not going to rant until I have some hard facts on Hornby's intentions. I suspect the best way to get those is to corner some one from Hornby at an exhibition.

For the present - "I've got a bad feeling about this"

David

Same here David,

I really do hope they don't cock up the sales of the 56 by fitting a limited chip/hardwired one.

Maybe Bachmann will keep their new releases a bit closer to home reference the Jubilee's and Scotts.

I do feel that it will hurt both company sales having almost similar LMS 4-6-0 releases as each other, maybe they may get away with them all being different liveries but I hope this isn't a trend between the 2 and Bachmann do a 56 next year!!

The Skaledale range is looking very good again, problem being you need a full sized railway to fit it all on!

Nice to see the Duchess return in a pack but then include Toy building's. Putting a Skaledale station in would be more appropiate i think due to the cost of the set.

Darren

Has anyone noticed that the box illustration for the R1092 City Freight set shows a BR Green Deltic complete with WIPAC light clusters!! Nice

I think this has probably come from the modified tooling used by Lima to produce the Portabrook Purple 'Gordon Highlander' a few years back. Lets hope it's corrected before production begins.

Like previous correspondants also worried about Hornbys DCC stance.

Incidentally the quote is that 2007 25% are expected to be DCC users not that there already are 25%.

I am a DC'er (can see advantages of DCC but would have huge collection to chip). I wonder at how well these pre chipped locos will go on DC. I know Hornby say they will but given some of the issues over their low cost Select unit I do wonder.

The thing is , if they get it wrong and their DCC Imposed locos overheat on DC or are irratic , or don't run on feedback contollers, or dont run with relcos etc etc,by their own definition they have excluded 75% of the market. Further a proportion of the other 25% may well have wished to have chosen their own chip.

The sensible move would have to made everything DCC ready with locos and where this is not possible , due to tight spaces, eg the M7 ,supplied in chipped and non chipped form.

I sense that Hornby are seeing an opportunity for a price hike here by claiming it costs an extra £15 to instal a chip. I also have this horrible feeling the DCC part will be hard wired so that those DCCers who want to replace the chip and DC'ers who just want to get rid of it will find it hard to do. There is a sense of "Hornby knows best" in Margate which is worrying.

Could we get Hornby to make a statement on what they exactly mean by DCC Installed? It might save a lot of angst and debate on these forums if they made a statement now.

On the Royal Scot and Patriot, Bachmann could yet seize the initiative by making the locos DCC ready enabling us all to have a choice!

Russell

There is one defence for Hornby on the new DCC only loco introductions - It gives all those DCC set buyers some ready to run locos to look forward to during the year; since Hornby have a track record of introducing multiple liveries/numbering on subsequent runs, there is reason to hope that there will be "DCC Ready" Scots, Patriots and Stanier tanks in the future.

No early fifties black 13xxx diesel shunter yet though

David

The launch of a new budget range is very welcome as is the clear distinction it will make between the super detailed models and the family friendly models. The suggestion that all budget models will run on radius 1 curves is also welcome. This is probably going to be the home of much of the Hornby Lima range and it might mean that we get the old Lima British outline steam locos back in production at some point.

Interesting that its the overseas division of Hornby that requested the surface mounted electrical point and uncoupler ramp accesories. It does seem that table top operation is very popular abroad and clearly table top electrical accesories are required. It would not do for young Hans to start cutting holes in his mothers best black forest dining room table!

Hornby have gone for "DCC Fitted". Seems much clearer to me that "DCC Onboard". No use of the Bachmann Epoch system. Don't forget "DCC Fitted" locos will run with analogue DC control so sales will not be restricted to the anticipated 25% of those who go for DCC in 2007.

Happy modelling
Gary

It is really good to see their bringing out 73235 in the SWT colour scheme

QUOTE I agree with Neil, its a shame there's no BR blue on the A4's - I'd buy another just for that livery, and I already have 2 of them.
Me too but I want one in every livery available.

QUOTE For the present - "I've got a bad feeling about this"

Yep, I know where you're coming from.

QUOTE The sensible move would have to made everything DCC ready with locos

Agreed

QUOTE There is a sense of "Hornby knows best" in Margate which is worrying.

I suspect they are trying to lock customers in to their product. The problem is that their are only two big producers of UK outline and whether you like Hornbys product or not you're stuck with it. There isn't anywhere else to go other than Bachmann and unfortunately they don't do models of everything.