What should Hornby produce next?

In terms of what Hornby should be producing the prototypes they are producing are mainly ok.. I would like to see an A4 in BR blue though. The problem is the quality.
I would like to see them produce models in metal which were robust enough to last. Additionally, they are so far behind in the DCC market, which lets face it is the only way to go now, I had expected them to make a quantum leap to catch up which they failed to do. I had hoped they would provide models with lights and sound and all they have come up with is three starter sets with decoder installed locos which these days is standard.
For those of you out there who have locos made by Marklin or Roco, when you compare their product with Hornbys offering it seems incredible that Hornby get away with offering such poor product. The last Hornby loco I bought was their GNER Hst which was too weak to pull six coaches, had painted on lights and the only sound it made was the motor grinding as it struggled to move. Compare this with the Trix ICE3 which has several sound features, all coach lighting, changing headlights with direction and powerful enough to have six or seven coaches without sounding like it's going to die. This is the benchmark Hornby needs to reach before it can really be a quality manufacturer.

In terms of what Hornby should be producing the prototypes they are producing are mainly ok.. I would like to see an A4 in BR blue though. The problem is the quality.
I would like to see them produce models in metal which were robust enough to last. Additionally, they are so far behind in the DCC market, which lets face it is the only way to go now, I had expected them to make a quantum leap to catch up which they failed to do. I had hoped they would provide models with lights and sound and all they have come up with is three starter sets with decoder installed locos which these days is standard.
For those of you out there who have locos made by Marklin or Roco, when you compare their product with Hornbys offering it seems incredible that Hornby get away with offering such poor product. The last Hornby loco I bought was their GNER Hst which was too weak to pull six coaches, had painted on lights and the only sound it made was the motor grinding as it struggled to move. Compare this with the Trix ICE3 which has several sound features, all coach lighting, changing headlights with direction and powerful enough to have six or seven coaches without sounding like it's going to die. This is the benchmark Hornby needs to reach before it can really be a quality manufacturer.

QUOTE Hornby has gone away from providing model trains for kids and are soley basing their market on the (rich) adult modeller

Not entirely. There is an extensive Thomas the Tank engine range which would be specifically for kids.

QUOTE I too agree that hornby ,etc,have gone stupid with the small plastic detailing,everytime I get a derailment (often)there is always a trail of annoying small plastic parts that have broken off,given gluing them back on now,with new models that I have bought recently.

I agree with this completely. The detail parts really need to be factory fitted and securely. Some of the current hornby steam locos are as fragile as Airfix plastic models and cannot withstand derailment or impacts. It's fine having super detail but at the end of the day these models are supposed to be working models. I didn't spend my money to have them sitting on a shelf.

QUOTE the proof that you can have too much detail is the fact that I don't know how long the sandpipes have been missing

I recently lifted my track and relaid it to give my locos a smoother run and I found loads of small "add on detail parts". I am coming round to thinking that if they are not going to stay on then just leave them in the box.

After I wrote yesterdays not I ran my Hornby White knight an noticed the speedometer thing had become unattached from the loco body and had to re-attach that. At the end of the day I want to spend my time modeling and running trains not repairing them. While I don't mind doing this when neccessary I could do without it when they haven't ben built well enough.

Thats incredible. I'm well impressed.

By contrast I emailed Marklin about some thing last year and it took them two months to get back to me.