My Predictions

34C
QUOTE We need a bit more wild stabbing beyond the 'car carrier' for the 'new wagons' that Pat Hammond indicated. That is the area of Hornby's range in serious need of upgrading. I would imagine these will be reasonably modern vehicles suitable for the freight diesels in their range. Where are the significant gaps in Bachmann's modern freight vehicle armoury?

I suspect there will be a strong steam bias actually - just like their coach programme. And for modern image Bachmann have got there first across most of the range. There are a couple of items that stand out because they came from the Ark: the current cattle wagon dates from 1957 and the Freightliner flat from the late 60s. As the flat is a key type, this looks like an obvious candidate. And if you are doing wagons , a proper cattle wagon would be an obvious first step. The Lima V tanks are quite basic (and the double V tank partly wrong) but the rerelease suggests they may not put a lot of effort into modern image - just as steam engines have recieved more new models than diesel locos. A horse box is another gap in Hornby's wagon range

I'm discounting Bude as recycling a previous , questionable , leak . I think we will get a T9 , but I think its presence on this "list" signals dependance on the earlier "leak" - and that "list" was circulating well before I understand Hornby's decision on 2008 range was taken. Also if this is only a part , it implies a huge programme of new releases - which I don't see

I have a hunch we will get a new B12. The logic is that the Pacifics have effectively been done (just Great Bear , the Raven Pacifics and the Thompson oddballs of A2 are outstanding) and the manufacturers are now moving into the second tier - witness all the LMS and BR standard 4-6-0s and the Arthur. The LNER is "north of the Thames " where SK said he had to look, and the LMS has been very well served on the 4-6-0 front recently.

The B12 is ancient (1962) but was brought back by popular demand a few years ago. It is one of the few LNER 4-6-0s with a wide range (Scotland and E Anglia : the B17 has just the GE and GC). Like the M7 it's "one we did before" . The LNER alternatives are B17, B1 (already in Bachmann's range) and V2 (ditto)

I also reckon Bachmann will retool either the V2 or the B1 this year. It's simply what order they retool the split-chassis locos...

While a new HST would be nice, Hornby seem to have ducked the challenge last year. Certainly the Lima moulds are shot, but Hornby have not yet displayed a 4 axle centre motor , which they would need. I suspect they will duck the challenge again. It took years to force a TGS out of them , and even then it was recycled Lima

After the last few years I can't see the programme being full of Southern or full of LMS again. Ozwarrior could be right about a Castle as the fourth loco

QUOTE While a new HST would be nice, Hornby seem to have ducked the challenge last year. Certainly the Lima moulds are shot, but Hornby have not yet displayed a 4 axle centre motor , which they would need. I suspect they will duck the challenge again. It took years to force a TGS out of them , and even then it was recycled Lima

After the last few years I can't see the programme being full of Southern or full of LMS again. Ozwarrior could be right about a Castle as the fourth loco

I find it hard to believe that the HST can be ignored for so long. Over 30 years service at least another 5 to 7 to go and numerous livery variations... I may be wrong but it does seem a long time since there was a freshly tooled Great Western design. I'd love some more LNER or LMS but the models do need to be shared around the regions?

David

QUOTE (Ravenser @ 18 Dec 2007, 18:13) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>..I suspect there will be a strong steam bias actually - just like their coach programme. And for modern image Bachmann have got there first across most of the range. There are a couple of items that stand out because they came from the Ark: the current cattle wagon dates from 1957 and the Freightliner flat from the late 60s. As the flat is a key type, this looks like an obvious candidate. And if you are doing wagons , a proper cattle wagon would be an obvious first step. The Lima V tanks are quite basic (and the double V tank partly wrong) but the rerelease suggests they may not put a lot of effort into modern image - just as steam engines have recieved more new models than diesel locos. A horse box is another gap in Hornby's wagon range ..
Ravenser,

Thanks for picking up on 'the wagons'. Fingers crossed for some long-lived common types suitable for later grouping steam, through to BR diesel era. There are plenty of candidates going begging in this category, but whether they would have the 'eye-candy' appeal that Hornby look for is another matter.

Something that has been quite amusing on Hornby's own forum is posts from what are fairly obviously teenagers, who want contemporary freight rolling stock for their Hornby 60 or 66. And of course the answers run on the lines of 'If you want those, then Bachmann...'. This then leads to the relative merits of Bach's 66 - until the moderator deletes the thread - so someone at Hornby is seeing it. That has to be a 'red flag' telling Hornby that if they offer contemporary freight power it isn't very healthy for their business if it effectively advertises a competitors range, because only they offer the suitable accompanying wagons. So I do suspect something in the contemporary freight line too.

Something that hasn't been picked up on is the apparent success of the Railroad range. I can see Hornby's programme for a few years largely consisting of moving older existing models into this range, and introducing a high spec 'Hornby' replacement. They are going to want something GW in the Railroad range soon surely? - so the Castle or King must be candidates for an upgrade. Likewise, whatever is tiredest among the LMS types. But it's the HST that strikes me as the most obvious choice: it is both ideal train set material, and the very obvious gap in current quality contemporary diesel power models.

QUOTE (34C @ 19 Dec 2007, 11:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>..it's the HST that strikes me as the most obvious choice: it is both ideal train set material, and the very obvious gap in current quality contemporary diesel power models.
I got something right in 2007.
QUOTE (ozwarrior @ 21 Dec 2007, 09:01) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I thought so too (that Hornby might do a new Castle or King). But looking at this SS I don't think so now:

http://static.hornby.com/files/hss-no-306-castle-342.pdf

Why go to the bother of putting one of their 5-pole can motors in replacing the ex-Dapol motor if it was to be upgraded?
So I think GWR fans might be a bit short again - unless you consider the HST GWR.
It can be read the other way: they have upgraded the motor and gear train (at least) to 'current standard'. That could just be a cost down move to give it a better motor that is also standard with the bulk of the range. But what else might they have been doing? Look at the A3, same loco chassis in both Railroad and Hornby ranges, old tooling bodywork in Railroad, newly tooled bodywork in Hornby. I can see them doing a lot more in this style over the next five years with all the popular express types.

If the indications in a certain magazine which has possibly jumped the gun are to be believed, we are to have a new HST, a new DMU, some engineers wagon(s) - but it seems , no retooled Freightliner flat

I don't think this leaves room in the programme for a new Castle this year. On the basis they are only likely to develop 4 new locos , - don't know if the DMU counts - this leaves 2-3 steam slots. Take out the T9 (everyone will be very surprised if it doesn't happen), and you are left with 1-2 Northern steam engines. ROD + A.N Other?. Given Simon Kohler's specific remark that Hornby need to look north of the Thames , there is little/no room for a new GW loco. There is also no scope for an unrebuilt MN

A remote possibility is that they will surprise us by waiting till 2009 to do the T9. I think an upgraded B12 is looking less likely now as we can already see one upgraded model in the new tooling , and arguably the DMU "counts" as an upgrade as well. I suspect we've seen the last of the Hornby 155.