New photos of the Composite and Brake Caledonian coaches

The Hornby loco photo is not in the correct proportion so the model loco looks taller than it really is which does not help when looking at images of the original where it looks as if the photo might be in proportion.

Notwithstanding this lets remind everybody that this model is based on the original Triang mould so its a bit pointless criticising the model as a model as Hornby are not going to do anything about it and the collector set will very quickly sell out regardless of what the rivet counters think!

Let us just be greatful that Hornby are even considering subjects like this with their vintage moulds.

If we start knit picking then Hornby will begin to wonder if it is worth it!

What chance an EM2 or even a Transcontinntal double ended diesel complete with whiskers and all with modern type motors and paint finish.

A retro range would sell very well IMHO!

Happy modelling
Gary

QUOTE (Gary @ 3 Oct 2007, 17:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The Hornby loco photo is not in the correct proportion so the model loco looks taller than it really is which does not help when looking at images of the original where it looks as if the photo might be in proportion.

Notwithstanding this lets remind everybody that this model is based on the original Triang mould so its a bit pointless criticising the model as a model as Hornby are not going to do anything about it and the collector set will very quickly sell out regardless of what the rivet counters think!

Let us just be greatful that Hornby are even considering subjects like this with their vintage moulds.

If we start knit picking then Hornby will begin to wonder if it is worth it!

What chance an EM2 or even a Transcontinntal double ended diesel complete with whiskers and all with modern type motors and paint finish.

A retro range would sell very well IMHO!

Happy modelling
Gary

Predictibly, as night follows day up gallops Gary on his white stallion to rescue the princess Hornby from the big bad forum members who dare criticise.

All you need to do is to look at the axel centre to running plate distances - angles of photo ect are irrelevant.

You know it's based on an original Triang mould, I know (as do most others here) it's based on an original Triang, but what about newcomers ?

Since when did Hornby take any notice of knit pickers ?

A "retro" range probably would sell well - this locomotive should have been marketed as such.

QUOTE "retro" range probably would sell well - this locomotive should have been marketed as such.

I thought sale as a boxed set pretty much did that?

I had one of these back in the late 60's...including the coaches.

Lord o' t'isles had been around ''for some time'' previously...I do recall many, many articles on GWR conversions using these, and the Kitmaster truro........but when I bought the Caley, it was fresh off the press....glided around my wall-hugger oval quite nicely, ta.

will the new item have the same old [effective] motor design?

Good for Hornby, re-producing this item.

And to reply to the critics, and those who find posts that support Hornby as 'offensive.....go build an etched kit if the ready-to-run aint ''good enough??''

QUOTE Predictibly, as night follows day up gallops Gary on his white stallion to rescue the princess Hornby from the big bad forum members who dare criticise.

All you need to do is to look at the axel centre to running plate distances - angles of photo ect are irrelevant.

The fact is Hornby have no choice in the matter as to lower the body thus raising the centres would mean the motor would not fit in the body. And as the first DCC ready model of its type it is useful to have some space under the boiler for a Hornby decoder as there is little else that will fit! And in any case any alterations to existing moulds and chassis would increase the costs considerably which for a limited edition run of 2000 (or whatever) would make such a model totally unviable.

One really big issue with pre-grouping stuff is the very tiny boilers and the shape of the boilers that locos had and the nature of the tender designs for this period makes tender drive a big no no. Thats what Simon Kohler said anyway and he should know!

There is no point in mentioning The Rocket as the small motor used would be unreliable when used in a "normal" pre grouping loco with a normal rake of coaches.

As for big bad forum members and Gary riding to the rescue I am simply providing some balance. Those big bad forum members, whether out of choice or ignorance, don't appear to!

The one thing that might concern new modellers is the likely limited pulling power (3 to 4 coaches max on the flat) and this is a practical fact that the big bad forum members would be better highlighting if they are genuinely concerned for new modellers.

QUOTE Hornby RTR is not good enough for me - that's why I model things from across the water.

AFAIK Hornby are big boys & should be able to take reasonable critisism without having to be defended.

Is the criticism reasonable?

Probably yes however now that we are aware of the facts it helps us to understand the issues a little better.

Happy modelling
Gary

QUOTE (Thomas @ 3 Oct 2007, 22:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 305mm - Are these coaches really longer than the MK1s?

Thomas
The Caledonian coaches that I am aware of were 57 and 65 feet long. These shoul both be well under a foot in 1/76 scale. My guess is that these are Grampian coaches which are 65 feet but have incorrect bogies (should be 12 rather than 8 wheels) and the huge couplers extend the length by an inch to take it to the 305mm length.

QUOTE One really big issue with pre-grouping stuff is the very tiny boilers and the shape of the boilers that locos had and the nature of the tender designs for this period makes tender drive a big no no. Trix/Maerklin have got around this problem with the softdrive motor which takes up far less space.

QUOTE And to reply to the critics, and those who find posts that support Hornby as 'offensive.....go build an etched kit if the ready-to-run aint ''good enough??''
What a ridiculous comment. Some of us prefer to buy ready to run which is made to a decent standard. Many of us don't have the time or desire to build brass kits. If the quality of a model is poor then the company need feedback to raise their game. If this does not happen then you would have the poor quality models of a decade or so ago as the manufacturer would think you were quite happy to accept Railroad range standard models. The reason that the models are getting better is through feedback.

In this case Hornby seem to have done a pretty good job on the coaches yet the loco shown is poor. What I have noticed is that the flyer states that the coaches are as shown. It does not say this about the loco. Previously on the Hornby site the pictures of the coaches shown were of poor bright red plastic ones which have now been superseded by these good ones. I am hoping that this means that there will be improvements on the loco yet to come.

QUOTE The one thing that might concern new modellers is the likely limited pulling power (3 to 4 coaches max on the flat) and this is a practical fact that the big bad forum members would be better highlighting if they are genuinely concerned for new modellers.
We did actually discuss this on a previous thread in regard to this loco. The concensus was it would struggle.

As a footnote for the defensive Hornbyists, I have actually already ordered this, purely on the basis of the coaches. They look very good and they are worth the price alone. If they improve the loco then it's a bonus.