Hornby/Arnold enter British N Gauge market

[Truffles]

I know this is already being discussed in the Brighton Belle thread but thought it was worthy of it's own thread.

For those that may have missed it:

http://www.hornby.de/ftp/Brigton_Belle_Neuheiten2013.pdf

This seems a pretty spectacular announcement and is odd that Hornby have not made a big deal of it.

Having no knowledge of Arnold what are peoples opinions of their models?

Dan

[swisstony]

Aparrently this was not supposed to be common knowledge until the end of January, someone leaked the link to the PDF so an other site suggests.  It's nice that it will be in 1:148 scale too as opposed to 1:160... All the hardwork I put into making mine up in smoke as I'll have to buy one of these just for the illuminated table lamps

[Newportnobby]

Although personally I have no interest in the BB, I hope it sells in shedloads so the venture will be considered a great success and open the gates for more 1/148 models from the same manufacturer

[AndyGif]

i hope this foray into 1:148 goes better for them than lyddle end appears to have done.

anything big left for hornby to snatch up and glare at GF and Dapol mouthing the words "this ones mine!"

[Greybeema]

Now I know I am modelling the North Kent Line in the current day and that there is a clue in the title that should preclude me from running the Brighton Belle on my layout - BUT I will have to start saving my pennies for what will be a pricey buy...

Think I am also going to claim that Rule #1 will apply...

[Karhedron]

Hornby and Arnold both seem to favour the "iconic train" concept so the Brighton Belle certainly fits there. My guess is that Hornby will use the existing range of Arnold mechanisms to keep costs down and shrink appropriate body and bogie toolings from their 00 gauge range.

This makes diesel and electric prototypes more likely than steamers IMHO (although I would love to be proved wrong). My guess is that we might see a Javelin or Pendolino if the BB sells well although I would not rule out a shrink of their pullman coaches either.

[Fratton]

I just asked the guys at gaugemaster in ford If they had the Arnold range (silly question) then told them about the Brighton belle to which After some keyboard tapping they found the release when they then told another member of staff he replie "no their flipping not" and after he looked at the computer he just said "uh so they are"

I will be buying one, with any luck this could lead to an N RTR javelin or Eurostar so long as hornby are happy to take the shink ray to some more models,,,,

[Pengi]

Eurostar will be interesting. Hornby OO are bringing out the new 'Velaro' version. Arnold produce Velaro models in 1:160 (ICE3). So it would be easiest to do it in 1:160.

If you want a Eurostar and can live with 1:160, I can recommend the Kato Eurostar, which is at very good and Kernow will order you the 8 coach version for £136 - a fantastic price.

Greybeema, the 'big' BB will hopefully be on our tracks in the next couple of years so you will be fully justified in running one as a charter train.

Karhedron, I hope you are proved right in your second paragraph! So far, us post-privatisation EMU fans only have one completely UK based train (Desiro) so it would be lovely to see the trains you mention in N.

For sparky, arcy fans this could be an exciting couple of years!

[Greybeema]

The Javelin would be dead handy to..  Need to do the North Kent link but as I am modelling Northfleet.....

Pengy "Sparky, arcy" - Where did you get that from......   

[OwL]

Thanks for the Link Truffles, however my German isnt as good as it was, so i didnt get the full detail :-(

Good news is that a new player throws their hat into the British N Gauge Ring. If this works (and i pray it does), then our two big players have some new competition. It will boil down to whom has a good range, best QC and best price for the item.

With Hornby's strong British outline range in 00 ready and waiting to be shrunk and Arnold's experience with N, then i would suggest Farish and especially Dapol start pulling up their socks now.

That piece of news has made my day!

Thanks for posting.

[Fratton]

i will say one thing, if they try their hand at the 4-vep they better sort the problems that plagued the 00 version,,,,, backward bogies and dodgy solid corridor partitions wont wash in N gauge,,,,,

[kaiwhara]

Great news, but why make the press release in German for a British Train?? 

Bit early for my proposed Model of Portsmouth, but maybe do what the Hastings people did with their 201, buy one, restore it and do charters with it! Either that, or assume the Brighton Belle people got CIG gear and give them a 20 year head start!! 

[Pengi]

Kaiwhara - the BB is being restored - so charters will be a distinct possibility on your proposed layout

http://www.brightonbelle.com/

Greybeema,  - http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=9589.msg100449#msg100449

Truffles - I have an Arnold ICE3 and it is a beautifully detailed model and runs well. The couplings are not the greatest though.

[Pete Mc]

Ooh,this is quite a development.I hope that it is the case as it conjurs up all sorts of possibilities.
I remember asking Dapol Dave and the Farish chap if they are,or are contemplating doing one of my favourite trains.Neither of them said they were but now this news comes and opens all sorts of possibilities for me.
As a child,my brother and I had a large oo gauge layout and pride of the fleet was a hornby OO gauge late livery APT-P.
I loved this train,still do in fact and having been disappointed by Dapol and Farish's response means I can at least dream of owning one or two in n gauge.
I will be keeping my eye on this subject and hoping that Hornby do produce this iconic train after they have released their Brighton Belle.
I want n gauge APT's,need n gauge APT's.
So Hornby,how about it?
Pretty please.

Pete

[4x2]

mmmmm....... APT.... 

I'll second that !