Hornby looking for ideas for more British N

Karhedron · February 27, 2015, 02:52:23 PM

Given the problems they have been having with manufacturing lately, I doubt Hornby will be any faster to the shelves than Dapol or Bachmann. All the big manufacturers have the same problem in the outsourced manufacture is inherently more prone to delay as the factories do not wait for them. They may book a production slot but if they miss their slot whilst perfecting the CADs or tooling, they have to go to the back of the queue again. If an error is found, it might only take a month to correct but if the model misses its slot, it can end up being set back a year.

On the other hand, we sometimes have models arriving almost out of the blue. I am not certain but it would not surprise me if this happens because a company jumps in to take a production slot that has been vacated at the last minute.

acko22 · February 27, 2015, 03:15:47 PM

If you look at the issues dapol and grefar suffer in the manufacturing phase sadly this is going to hit everyone at some stage.

My hopes are purely that If hornby are really having a go at N gauge again then with them and DJM in the market for sure (when we see a djm model) and hopefully Rapido post Pendolino we may see the range available in N gauge really grow.

A lot of its and maybe but hey as N gauge modellers we are used to waiting

mark100 · February 27, 2015, 03:30:22 PM

A lot of its and maybe but hey as N gauge modellers we are used to waiting

[/quote]What did everyone do before the days of Internet? we brought a monthly subscription for Railway Modeler or Rail Enthusiast and each month there would may be a huge 1 page advert from Lima, Hornby, Mainline and Graham Farish, stating coming soon or available now with no prior announcement.

Now there is the internet with all these websites, forums, and people get upset when a model is not out when they expect it to be or take it to heart and get upset when something they want is not being announced as a new product. I actually miss the good old days of not knowing until I saw it on a shelf

Mark

acko22 · February 27, 2015, 03:40:26 PM

Mark while I know where you are coming from but the digital age is here to stay love it or hate it.

But on the flip side in the old days they never announced it unless they knew when it was coming, these days its all about marking their territory and The only way to do it is announce it before the other guy does and we just have to wait and hope

mark100 · February 27, 2015, 04:48:46 PM

Quote from: acko22 on February 27, 2015, 03:40:26 PM
Mark while I know where you are coming from but the digital age is here to stay love it or hate it.

But on the flip side in the old days they never announced it unless they knew when it was coming, these days its all about marking their territory and The only way to do it is announce it before the other guy does and we just have to wait and hope

I agree, but !!!some items have been duplicated and both seem to be selling well N Gauge Voyagers and class 66 locomotives, I'm not to clued up with steam locos but have seen various A4 and Britannia Class locomotives being offered. Maybe some locomotive class's are more popular than others which is why more than 1 manufacturer takes the plunge to offer them.

Mark

acko22 · February 27, 2015, 05:04:26 PM

Fair point with the duplications. With the steamers like you I am not to clued up but duplication with them doesn't surprise me as they are the big sellers.

I wasn't aware both had done the voyagers thought it was only dapol and they didnt sell as well as hoped.
The likes of the 66s honestly they can sell lots of them so again I am not to suprised they are the modern 37 / 47 etc.
As modern isnt the biggest N gauge area of interest so they are staking their claims as there is only room for one maker per modern class.

dodger · February 27, 2015, 05:21:26 PM

Quote from: ScottyStitch on February 27, 2015, 08:34:01 AM
Getting back to the Hornby plans, I wonder if it would perhaps serve them well to continue with their Southern theme? If they were to shrink their "-HAL, 2-BIL, 4-VEP perhaps they would make that region more model-able? Especially if they realeased them all or at least a couple of them at the same time.

Scotty

Now that is a very good idea. I would definitely buy a BIL & HAL.

But I expect the bank balance will not be affected as at present their is nothing listed by any manufacturer that will enhance my layout.

Dodger

Dodger

gc4946 · February 27, 2015, 06:37:43 PM

I'd go for a model of a steam loco that's currently (or has been) seen quite widely across the network on specials.

My choice would be either a rebuilt Merchant Navy or Duke of Gloucester.

A model of 35028 Clan Line in green,
or 35005 Canadian Pacific preserved in its early BR blue livery
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sparrowhawk7/7071743729/
will do nicely for me.

Hornby could complement the above by bringing out its Pullman carriages in the smaller scale, complete with lighting.

Ben A · February 27, 2015, 08:48:57 PM

Hi Trillikman,

I've not been able to find out a huge amount about the Hornby operation but what I do know is that current Hornby Arnold models are being designed in Spain, possibly by former Electrotren people. This may explain why there are several new Spanish models in the latest announcements.

I don't think any N Gauge stuff is being designed in the UK - it's very much the Arnold, rather than Hornby, name which is to the fore in N

Cheers

Ben A.

steve836 · March 03, 2015, 12:51:54 PM

Having just come to this thread and read it through it would appear to me that Hornby would be well advised to go for an iconic steam loco that is not covered by other manufacturers. I, personally, would like a Garrett, which would fit and also fill a need for large freight engines.
Alternatively they could continue with E.M.U's possibly something to fit the green diesel era such as a Clacton set.
The problem for modelers is that all the major players go for , in steam, big express engines while ignoring the workhorses.
I do feel, however that they should try as far as possible to concentrate on models that are not covered by anyone else.

Dorsetmike · March 17, 2015, 01:17:23 PM

I like the most recent post on the wish list thread on the Hornby forum towards the bottom of page 14

http://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/post/view/topic_id/8787/?p=14

I think it could apply to Dapol and Bach/Farish just as well!

njee20 · March 17, 2015, 04:20:15 PM

Which one? Assume you don't mean about the Rocket, which is now the most recent post...

acko22 · March 17, 2015, 04:35:51 PM

Looking at their post they are been rather reserved about things, which is annoying as we are an impatient bunch I do find refreshing.

They are taking their time and not coming out all guns blaming until they are happy and firm in their next model which hopefully will mean it doesn't suffer delays greater than the offer of 140mph trains on the West coast (only been waiting since Virgin took over in 1997)

jivebunny · March 17, 2015, 04:43:22 PM

Quote from: acko22 on March 17, 2015, 04:35:51 PM
which hopefully will mean it doesn't suffer delays greater than the offer of 140mph trains on the West coast

A politician would argue that we do technically have 140mph trains on the WCML

simonprelude · March 17, 2015, 06:34:19 PM

What would be good after one of these many polls / wishlists is done is for someone to come back and say this is what we're doing, this is what we might do and this is what we're never likely to do.

Personally I want a 141, 142 (supposed to be coming from Dapol but wrong model / livery) and most importantly a 144.
I bet you can't guess where I'm modelling.

I'm tempted to try and do the 144 myself but lack of time would make me pay someone else instead.