[Gary]

Model Rail Forum has now published the first on-line review of the new Hornby Class 09 diesel loco "Dick Hardy", complete with a comparison of the Bachmann Class 08:-

Hornby Class 09 Dick Hardy loco review

Click here to comment on the review.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

QUOTE Surprised you gave it 10/10 considering it displays the same major cosmetic fault as Bachmann's offering, namely that the thickness of the springs on the chassis is so meagre. Not much excuse for that sort of thing in 00. I was hoping that Hornby could improve on Bachmann!

How could the springs be any wider?

They are in the right position relative to the axle box so is the axle box in the wrong position? No doubt the best compromise was reached by both Hornby and Bachmann in this area to ensure a sturdy chassis design and therefore 10/10 stands as an overall score. Relatively speaking the Bachmann might score 8.5/10 and this is probably fair as Hornby have gone the extra mile with certain areas of detail. They are both very good models so its all relative. As a ready to run model it possibly beats anything that a scratch builder could put together. There are areas where Hornby deserve 12/10!

QUOTE And at least Bachmann's middle axle is sprung - presumably Hornby expect everyone's track to be perfectly flat?

There is sufficient movement/play in each of the three Hornby axles to permit reasonable running on uneven track. They are not sprung admitedly. I personally prefer a solution without the use of springs as sprung axles can be detrimental to running on complex track configurations with Peco track (my experiance) as it increases lateral stiffness within axles which then causes the axle to hit the point frog on small radius set track points. This is not the case with the Bachmann 08 but does seem to have affected my 4MT as an example as the sprung bogie at the front has a tendency to derail. Hornby have never used springs in any of their axles or bogies so why fix it if it ain't broken?

QUOTE Very interesting to read your comments re performance on your H&M Duette though, and I look forward to the DCC review.

I also look forward to the DCC review!

We are going to work on it this weekend and do a slow running comparison between DC and DCC.

Which system would you put your money on?

I know where I am putting mine!

DCC has a lot of benefits its just that I feel slow running is not one of them. Doug (the Model Rail Forum DCC expert) may find out for himself this weekend.

Given that in big world one eats a hat, what does a railway modeller eat?

Doug no doubt will have something appropriate on the menu!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

QUOTE I said thickness, i.e. the lateral dimension. Look at any proto 08 pic to see. Stands out a mile to me, but I guess we all see different things.

If you mean depth I agree that the prototype spring is deeper. The Hornby spring is marginally deeper than the Bachmann spring so clearly Hornby have thought about this. How could Hornby have made it any deeper without compromising the strength and increasing the complexity of the chassis?

To use metal in this area would have increased costs. One day we will get a model with working springs but not today.

QUOTE If you are basing the review on trying to guess the 'best compromise' reached by the designers, on what basis was the comparison and attention to detail between the Bachmann and Hornby derived in your review? Sounds to me more like a typical disengaged brain model railway review when it comes to matters below the footplate.

There is an image comparing the chassis of the two. The images highlight the differences. This seemed to be the fairest way to enable visitors to make up their own mind.

QUOTE Reckon you must be living on another planet. There is no vertical movement allowed in the Hornby 08 axles.

We will agree to disagree on what constitutes vertical movement. Ask yourself why the rods are jointed in the middle? However you have made a good point and this is an area overlooked by reviewers.

QUOTE Well that puts your 10/10 into a better perspective. At least we know for future reference.

I am not one who believes in never scoring 10/10 and our continental cousins must be crying in their beer (lager/wine?) when they see what Hornby are offering for the money being asked.

Ratings are always subjective and it is something I believe in offering. I start at 10 and work down rather than start at 0 and work up. There is not really anything seriously wrong about the Hornby Class 08 to take the score below 9.5 and a lot that is right so it gets rounded up to 10.

How about doing a review for us Flangeway of one of your favourite locos?

I suspect it would be a good read!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

The Model Rail Forum review has been updated to include a decoder chip installation.

Well worth a read for DCC converts and wanabees:-

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...page&pg=H-R2419

Its worth reminding new members and visitors that nearly all Model Rail Forum loco reviews cover DCC decoder chip installation in some detail.

Happy modelling
Gary