[rb277170]

Edit: Official Hornby press release below


Model Rail are reporting that Hornby have done a U turn and that 2007 models will be DCC Fitted and DCC Ready. However it does say "certain" locos . Hopefully the "certain" part relates to DCC Fitted and not DCC Ready which should be universal.

While congratulating Hornby on the change of heart, I have to say I believe they hopelessly misread the model railway market. I do believe that they thought DCC fitted locos would run normally on DC , but did not take into account , or were not aware of ,the issues surrounding DC frequencies, track cleaners, warranties etc etc.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Pendolino, as it is due in March DCC Fitted. Will they have time to change to DCC ready prior to shipment or are they already in a container on the high seas?

What a shambles

Russell

 

[Doug]

QUOTE ...2007 models will be DCC Fitted and DCC Ready...

What did they say before?

 

[disco-dave]

Does this mean then, when you purchase a Hornby model you will need to specify whether you want a DCC ready or a DCC on board version of the model?

 

[rb277170]

Sorry can only refer you to Model Rail website.

I took it that locos will now be available DCC ready with some DCC fitted, perhaps a suffix in the R number?

Russell

 

[alibuchan]

so everyone that complained to Hornby have done a good job then.

Alistair

 

[dwb]

Reading Model Rail's 100th edition, I found I could read the announcement of Hornby's new locos as either only available with a decoder or as an either / or.

The only way to be certain is to do a Jeremy Paxman or Eddie Meyer on Simon Kohler at the London Toy Fair next week and ask him "Will the new LMS locomotives be available 'decoder free' or not - a simple yes or no?"

I'm sure that's near the top of Doug's list.

David
PS. I do hope someone from Hornby marketing reads these threads - sometimes............

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (Model Rail Magazine)Having announced that new models scheduled for production in 2007 will include factory-fitted DCC decoders, Hornby has now announced that models such as the new Class 56 and LMS 'Royal Scot/Patriot' 4-6-0s will also be made available without on-board DCC. In response to feedback from customers, certain models will be offered both as 'DCC Fitted' and 'DCC Ready' to cater for those modellers not wanting to pay the extra few pounds for a factory-fitted decoder.

I get the impression that somebody thought that ALL the locos for 2007 were DCC fitted.

Most are DCC ready anyway, but I suppose some nice new ones were only listed as DCC Fitted.

In light of the public tests of the Hornby decoder, I'm not surprised that Hornby are giving modellers the choice of fitting their own choice of decoder to the locos. At least now I'll get a few.

 

[Doug]

Hornby have sent through this press release:

Hornby Digital Update

New Years Day saw the official launch of the New Hornby Product listings for 2007 and amongst these items we new locomotives with the Hornby Decoder already fitted. The inclusion of the decoder was a positive reaction to the concerns that had been voiced by modellers over the problems that they had encountered when fitting a decoder themselves to today's highly detailed Hornby locomotives.

Hornby are dedicated to the continued development and introduction of Digital control for model railways, however Hornby are not averse to listening to enthusiasts who may have opinions which may differ from Hornby's objective. There has been some concern raised over the fact that several new locomotives scheduled for 2007 will only be available with a decoder fitted. Hornby have listened to these concerns and although Hornby believes that there will be a time sooner rather than later when all locomotives will be equipped with decoders, they have decided to offer those locomotives that were going to be available as DCC Fitted only, as both Fitted and DCC Ready.

Taking this action Hornby are pleased to demonstrate their willingness not only to listen to the enthusiasts but also to react in a sound and positive way.

 

[Sidney Sidings]

Well at least this gives customers like me the option to fit our own decoders, but reading this last statement it seems that they are doing nothing about the specification of their chips and the wild output levels from its control units.

 

[Bilbo]

If they fit the new sapphire chip then perhaps we will have nothing to complain about - no on second thoughts there will be someone !!!!!

 

[Ravenser]

Excellent news.

Common sense triumphs

 

[rb277170]

The introduction of the Sapphire just shows the confusion within Hornby. They announce prefitted DCC locos with £15 increase which avoids people having to install their own chips (ie Lenz etc) then announce a new "super chip" which presumably would have replaced the ones in DCC Fitted locos.

Bizarre!

Russell

 

[dwilson9]

Just shows what a confusing business DCC can be! On their own figures, 85% plus of potential customers would not want the fitted basic chip, either the 75% who are DC only and many DCC folk who would want a better chip. I suspect it hit them between the eyes that many of us would simply wait for the Bachmann Scot/Patriot without a chip than buy Hornby's and risk poor performance and/or loco failure.

Hornby would be better off putting effort into making the fit/removal of chips straightforward in all their models.

 

[Jennings]

To be honest for people like me who don't want to dissassemble your prized model railway locos to fit a DCC chip, then i welcome Hornby and Bachmann both doing DCC fitted on certain locos.

It might not be the best decoder around, but then again as long as it works then i don't care what the chip actually is.

Even though Hornby have now said they are doing the DCC fitted release as DCC ready as well, i'm still going to buy the DCC fitted ones (Even though i will pay more for them).

 

[Gary]

I am also more inclined to buy the locos with DCC decoders fitted. The thought of some DIYer taking a body off and fitting their own decoder in my mind makes the loco less collectable as you are always going to know that the bodywork has been tampered with and you will be looking for damage to detail. Thats me and how I am and I accept that we all have different views on this.

Hornby do supply to a large collector market and collectors may well share my view. This will keep Hornby collectors happy,

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[darobi]

I don't think it's really an issue about fitted or ready but about the standard of the decoder fitted. I would also get the fitted version IF I knew the decoder was able to do the things I want and with the controller I want.

Bachmann seem to have done ok with the 66 with sound.

Hornby need to do a reality check and listen to what is being said. They have rightly now offered "ready" and "fitted" versions, the next step is to sort out the select and decoder issues that they seem to be ignoring.

Darren

 

[Gwent rail]

I know that I've made a simular comment before, but I still don't see why a modeller who works in DC should have to pay extra for a loco to be "DCC ready".
Is there any cost comparison between standard DC and DCC ready versions, from which we can gauge how much extra is being charged for DCC ready? Even if it's only £5.00 it's too much for someone with no desire to ever go DCC.

 

[Makemineadouble]

QUOTE I am also more inclined to buy the locos with DCC decoders fitted. The thought of some DIYer taking a body off and fitting their own decoder in my mind makes the loco less collectable as you are always going to know that the bodywork has been tampered with and you will be looking for damage to detail. Thats me and how I am and I accept that we all have different views on this.

Hornby do supply to a large collector market and collectors may well share my view. This will keep Hornby collectors happy,

While I respect your views on the above, I totally disagree. When I buy a loco to run I want the best performance I can achieve, this normally means fitting a decoder of my choice, by which every method is appropriate. If it's for running on my layout it will definitely get a loco crew, probably get lights and real coal, as we don't do D&E in our house. The value is in it's use, and the enjoyment that that brings. I've been through this syndrome of collecting for the display cabinets. It's not really part of our hobby, although I accept it's part of Hornby's and Bachmanns market.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Makemineadouble @ 18 Jan 2007, 17:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>While I respect your views on the above, I totally disagree. When I buy a loco to run I want the best performance I can achieve, this normally means fitting a decoder of my choice, by which every method is appropriate. If it's for running on my layout it will definitely get a loco crew, probably get lights and real coal, as we don't do D&E in our house. The value is in it's use, and the enjoyment that that brings. I've been through this syndrome of collecting for the display cabinets. It's not really part of our hobby, although I accept it's part of Hornby's and Bachmanns market.

I'm inclined to agree - in any case the real collector (as seen recently in a programe called "James' Mays' Toys or something) only buys if he can assertain that it's never even been out of the box from the factory. It takes all sorts but I don't honestly think there are many, if any on this forum.

I used to have some "showcase specials" but now all gone - every one in the showcase is a good runner & they are rotated with the layout and storage.

I run my models a lot & yes - I do "play" ! - that's where the value is to me.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE I'm inclined to agree - in any case the real collector (as seen recently in a programe called "James' Mays' Toys or something) only buys if he can assertain that it's never even been out of the box from the factory. It takes all sorts but I don't honestly think there are many, if any on this forum. I'd agree too. Most of the people on this forum are modellers as opposed to collecters. Like has been said if a model has been out the box it's no good to a collecter