Wobblinwheel Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I have just ordered a Hornby R3320" Golden Eagle " A4 loco and a R8245 "Sapphire" decoder. I paid 81.67 for the loco at a "bargain". Is that a good price for this locomotive? Is the Sapphire a good decoder for tha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 £124.00 DCC fitted, at hattons £98.00 for loco. Your loco was cheap.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 The lowest price I can find is £98.00 without a decoder. £124.00 with decoder.That Sapphire can do things the R.8249 can only dream of. You can alter CVs 2,6 and 5 with it for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Hattons it is, but I don't pay VAT. Have you noticed their prices on some Hornby coaches?? Had to get some 'o them too...... Just read about the Sapphire. What is this "pre-programmed" running feature (or something like that)? Y'all ever use it?..........I don't have the "loose change" for this stuff, but I did it anyway. By the way, I'm typing on my new Android tablet... It's about to whup my you- know-what, with this "touch-pad" business...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjb1961 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Hattons it is, but I don't pay VAT. Have you noticed their prices on some Hornby coaches?? Had to get some 'o them too...... Just read about the Sapphire. What is this "pre-programmed" running feature (or something like that)? Y'all ever use it?..........I don't have the "loose change" for this stuff, but I did it anyway. By the way, I'm typing on my new Android tablet... It's about to whup my you- know-what, with this "touch-pad" business...... Hi ,the sapphire is supposed to be really good ,it has a feature that I can't recall the technical term used to describe it but you can program the decoder for auto running ,I e,a dmu can be programmed to stop at a station ,after a set wait time it will move onto the next station and can be programmed to go backwards and do it all over again ,that is just one of the specialities ,,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Then after it has gone backwards and forwards a few times, the driver and guard get out and cook your dinner for you too, choice of menus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted April 30, 2016 Author Share Posted April 30, 2016 That is what I was led to believe, and I am HUNGRY... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 I'd being going for diamond service, not sapphire, for my meals Wobbly. Back to the original question, while the Sapphire is clearly far more capable than an 8249 for instance, and handles more power, the power isn't needed for modern Hornby locos and the capability is also overkill for many of them because they can't use it. I would be looking at just what capabilities you want for the loco then checking out and buying one that does it. That probably means your using the brand of decoders you already have and are familiar with, rather than buying a Hornby one just because it is a Hornby loco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 I am really interested in seeing the amount of detail on a Hornby "premium" A4. Both of mine were Railroad models that I "spruced-up" with added-on and fabricated details. I want to see if they are worth the extra money. (?) I think the Sapphire decoder might be fun, with it's "auto-running" and "fuel consumption" gizmos. Something more to fiddle with... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 The problem with auto running without something like say, a hall sensor, is that it drifts. It could be that everything stops and starts where it should on the first run, but by the tenth run it's nowhere near. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Spot on polis.the problem with Hornby Sapphire automatic ops and adcc driven stops and RM at present without LD is all these things are time based, unlike Lenz equivalent 'clever' decoders which when used with adcc are distance based. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carltonf Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 So what do people think about the Hornby Bargains at Hattons overall? There are some excellent bargains, and I've got an order for B1 and some Mk1 coaches mysellf. If I had the funds, there are quite a few more things I'd be having!But given the huge amount of stocks they have for sale, surely that must be quite good for Hornby - all but one of the 203 items in the "sale" are more than 10 in stock. If Hattons have committed to this kind of spend with Hornby, that's quite a bit of funds coming in, whcih should hopefully help cash flow. OR am I being naive and is it not so good that the major stockist is having to heavily discount so much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I wouldn't have thought it would affect Hornby. Surely Hattons have already paid for them. Whether they sell them or not and for how much makes no difference. Hornby have already had their money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 You can be sure that Hattons are still making a profit even at the discount prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 You bet poliss. Profit margins can be huge in retail. The other day I went to a plumbers merchant to buy something that cost about £100. I mentioned to the guy that he knew my son and he knocked off 70%. I thought I might get 10%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjb1961 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I have learnt recently from making a preorder that the retailer is willing to knock up to 15% off the rrp ,,.,,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carltonf Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I was sort of thinking that maybe Hattons had bought up a surplus of Hornby stock - I wasn't really thinking that they already had the stocks lying around. Don't know why I thought that on reflection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I'm not sure Hornby has any surplus stock. Lots of things are out of stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_ Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Perhaps everything is out of stock because they're sold it all to Hattons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 You're probably right Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 With me not having to pay VAT, I ordered two Mk 1 coaches for 13 pounds each. Not bad, I think. The decoder was a "bonus". There's some logic in there somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 I just found out the coaches I ordered are both sold-out at Hornby. That's interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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