New Hornby 9Fs

[TVR1707822112]

Hi all, just recieved this email from my local model shop. States new tooled Hornby 9Fs are in stock - however I haven't seen this anywhere else. Are they in stock everywhere now? If they are, does anyone have one? Would you recommend it? And, are they worth the ridiculous RRP?

Best wishes

[Going Spare]

According to posts on RMweb, these loco's have been shipped to retailers and direct to Hornby's own customers - the reviews seem to be as mixed as ever on that forum, depending on how ultra fussy you are.

[ColinB]

Mine is in the post. Yes, I was horrified at the price, I preordered it from a retailer not Hornby. I am sure it was much less when I ordered it. I was quite surprised to get the Email to say it had been Shipped. Let's hope it is worth all that money. I must admit the only locos I now preorder are the ones from Rails. Generally they are specials and sell out quickly.

[Bulleidboy]

I pre-ordered it from Hornby on announcement, and also being a Collector Club member I received the Club discount. So I saved over forty pounds on the current RRP. The Evening Star is a superb model and the packaging was second to none. So no complaints from me whatsoever.

People, even on this forum, complain about the cost of the Club membership, but there are serious savings to be made. I recently bought the air-brush compressor, exactly the same model elsewhere was £230 - through the Club I paid £98 - with free postage - so that's my Club membership fee saved - for several years.

[The son of Triangman]

The new models have a few defects. Moulding lines and rings are visible inside the smoke deflectors for a start.

[ellocoloco]

I don't have one of the new 9Fs nor have one on order but looking at most of the feedback I have seen online, it is a fantastic model. A few always complain about one thing or the other, and they'll always find something to moan about but they appear in be in the minority.

I believe my 9F got great reviews when it was released but I'd bet there were plenty of moaners than also. Its pretty unrealistic, has a copied Fleischmann motor, no separate handrails and paper nameplates but plenty seem to love it.

[ColinB]

I received mine this morning. I have to admit Hornby have done a really good job. My only complaint is the DCC fitting. I assume the box at the back is a sound box, to which you add a sugar cube speaker. I spent ages trying to work out if I could remove it to make room to fit a thin bass enhanced one, only to find out it is fixed on with double sided tape. I am still trying to figure out whether that enclosure will give better sound that a thin Bass Enhanced one from Road and Rails.

[VESPA]

It looks to be a great model but at £200+ my wallet stays shut, sadly.

[DarkRedCape]

Got mine a week or so ago, it’s absolutely stunning and I’m very impressed. I think these are one of the best looking British steam trains of all time.

Is it worth nearly £250 direct from Hornby? Probably not, but the discussion about price on Hornby products is one I’ve seen get heated from both sides. When it comes to peoples money, I’m always on the side of, they earned it, they can spend it on whatever they like.

I’m just trying very hard not to buy the other two new 9Fs so I can have all three of the new ones. sweat

[ColinB]

When I pre ordered it, it was £184. Unfortunately, it took so long to come it has been through two price rises. It is probably one of the last I buy off Hornby.

[DarkRedCape]

Even with my collectors club discount, it was still £242 when I pre-ordered mine. Think they are close to £300 direct from Hornby now.

[Bulleidboy]

That's the advantage of pre-ordering from Hornby as soon as its announced - you can always cancel later, and you know you will get it. I'm all for supporting your local model shop, but few will honour the original price, and as you said Colin, there have been two price increases and along with a long delay in delivery, the overall increase can be substantial, which makes the original pre-order price even more attractive.

[Going Spare]

That is where Hornby score over retailers because the latter have to pay the price ruling at the time of delivery, not the time their order was placed with Hornby.

[ColinB]

Yes, I learnt the hard way although most of my other orders were with Hornby, so I got my Hush Hush at the original advertised price. I did like to spread the pre orders around to keep retailers in business. I still have orders with Hornby for the P2 and the Flying Scotsman with steam generator, so hopefully I will get those at the original price. I must admit £200 is normally my limit for a loco, it was only that I had pre ordered it that I paid the £224. I am not sure whether these will sell out, they are nice locos, vast improvement on the old Railroad version (which you would expect). Mind you, a friend of mine's daughter paid £600 for a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes (a very special purchase for her 40th), so my loco looks really cheap compared to those.

[DarkRedCape]

The reason I ordered my most recent locos on pre-order direct from Hornby was because of their supply issues of late. Plus there is that business of Hornby not treating some of their long time retailers very well and at least one shop (I forget the name) said they won’t be stocking Hornby pre-orders.

I really wanted these locos, so I went where I knew I’d almost definitely get one. Just how it is sometimes.

[Brew Man]

@ColinB

You wouldn't want to walk on a 9F though joy

But on the subject of honouring pre-order prices, I have a set of Genesis coaches on order from Hatton's which I placed about a year ago any they are honouring the price that it was when I placed the order, although they have just raised the price for new orders by £10.

[ColinB]

Generally most business do honor the pre order price. Hornby seem to have a very weird relationship with their Retailers, that is how the motor industry worked in the 70's. It will be interesting to see if there are anymore price rises this year.

[DarkRedCape]

I’d say about 95% of what I’ve bought so far has come from Hattons, and they’ve honoured every pre-order price I’ve had with them.

[96RAF]

And according to Roads and Rails fitting sound with a 15x11mm speaker is a doddle - their image.

[ColinB]

If you want to do it properly there are two pads on the DCC socket board marked S1 and S2. This way the speaker is independent of the decoder board.

[HornbyinNC]

Absolutely best 9F, yet. I have many 9F's, going back to Tri-ang / Hornby vintage "Evening Star" and including modern Hornby as well as Bachmann, variants.

The two latest variants received are by far the best to date.

[The son of Triangman]

One known issue with the new 9F is the piston rods tend to come out during running, it's been on a lot of the Facebook forums lately.

[TVR1707822112]

I've seen Sam'sTrains review of it, but are the torque issues he had widespread?

Best wishes

[ColinB]

I ran mine for the statuary 30 minutes for running in, no issues. I only run 4 carriages with long sweeping bends so I wouldn't notice any real torque issues. Mind you he highlighted the Bachmann 9F for the same fault and I never noticed any real issues. I like Sam's reviews but sometimes you have to look at your own use and see if it is an issue. I am surprised Hornby used that motor rather than their normal one, but they obviously have their reasons, perhaps the low speed running is better. The front bogie derails if I go at maximum speed over my double slip, but I think that is more to do with my track. When I was fitting DCC one of the connectors on the 4 pin plug was on its way out, so I had to push it back in.