Andy-662041 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I've been looking for a supplementary Playtrains R7330 controller but to no avail - out of stock everywhere I've Googled... I even came across a posting purporting to say that the controller has been discontinued(!) As supplemental train packs (eg Bolt and Thunder) require the separate purchase of a controller (to avoid sibling squabbles and potentially WW3) does anyone know what the future holds for the Playtrains controller as a separate purchase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellocoloco Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 You might be out of luck Andy. It was reported at the start of the year that Playtrains was being discontinued, though something else may well replace it. I have attached a link that was on RMWeb. https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/News/hornby-announces-the-end-of-playtrains?utm_campaign=1006770_WoR Hornby Announcement 9th Jan 24&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=73DL,LKTU,2ELF6P,2T239,1 If you keep an eye on Ebay you may find one, but it might be quicker to pick up another starter if you see one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Hi Andy I’d agree with @ellocoloco - second hand or new starter set might be an easier option. I would though call or email Customer Services at Hornby and ask if they have any ideas. If you use the same humour with them as you did in your post, they might just take pity on you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbo2 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Soon gone, like some of the key staff behind it! Shame really, we bought one for our Grand daughter at Christmas and its actually quite good for what it is was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Try your Local Model shop perhaps??? 🤔🚂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-662041 Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 (edited) "Try your Local Model shop perhaps??? 🤔🚂" I did - but the Model Shop (which does stock Hornby 00 items) said thy'd never heard of Playtrains.... Edited February 21 by Andy-662041 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Google the R number and see who has stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) No-one does, I've looked too - those results that appear always come up as out of stock. I also found an article sating that Playtrains are being discontinued, so getting an additional set and hiding the rest of it might be a good option to avoid tears if anything in the existing set breaks. Still worth a call to Customer Services though - there might be an unsellable set lying around somewhere in Margate that they could raid a remote from! Oops I might be wrong , try R7330 Hornby Playtrains Remote Control (osbornsmodels.com) or Playtrains - Solo Controller (chasewaterrailway.co.uk) Edited February 22 by Moccasin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-662041 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 14 hours ago, Moccasin said: Oops I might be wrong , try R7330 Hornby Playtrains Remote Control (osbornsmodels.com) or Playtrains - Solo Controller (chasewaterrailway.co.uk) Good call! - Thanks!! Purchase made!!! Order about to be restored and World Peace possible... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-662041 Posted February 23 Author Share Posted February 23 14 hours ago, Andy-662041 said: Good call! - Thanks!! Purchase made!!! Order about to be restored and World Peace possible... Ach - not so good after all - just had an email from the supplier: "Refund for R7330 + p&p from order 220224/24, unfortunately these are currently unavailable" Curses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Ugh. I did wonder. Did you try both places? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What About The Bee Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 (edited) https://www.hornbyhobbies.com/products/playtrains-solo-controller-r7330 It is the Hornby US Outlet. Claims to have them in stock. Have them ship to you in the UK. Bee Edit: also a bunch of other playtrains stuff there, to expand the layout. May make the shipping more palatable Edited February 23 by What About The Bee Additional info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellocoloco Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Andy, One other suggestion would be to look at Hornby stockists near you - not all will trade online - and give them a call. From my experience not all will stock Hornby trains, some might just be Airfix or Humbrol, but you might find a controller in a more general toy shop. https://uk.hornby.com/community/stockists There must be one out there with your name on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 It’s unlikely that the tech inside is unique to Hornby Playtrains, this might need a bit of detective work but there could well be a similar application using the same type of controller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 I thought the same but, in the interests of World Peace, I wondered if they'd need to be identical! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 1 minute ago, Moccasin said: I thought the same but, in the interests of World Peace, I wondered if they'd need to be identical! At which point you buy 2! 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge1965 Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Hornby just sent out an email for Playtrians... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Was also going to post about this. Sadly it’s not available until Autumn. Argos ARE doing Flash at £50 but that seems steep just for a controller! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge1965 Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 7 minutes ago, Moccasin said: Was also going to post about this. Sadly it’s not available until Autumn. Argos ARE doing Flash at £50 but that seems steep just for a controller! I saw that, but is there are no controllers around at all, i would wait and buy it, if it was me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-662041 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 (edited) On 23/02/2024 at 21:06, ellocoloco said: Andy, ... There must be one out there with your name on it! @Moccasin Happily, the Chasewater Railway shop has come to the rescue! Also managed to procure all the track extension packs. Just now need a 'Bolt' to complete the set 🙂 Edited March 1 by Andy-662041 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-662041 Posted March 1 Author Share Posted March 1 On 29/02/2024 at 09:49, Dodge1965 said: Hornby just sent out an email for Playtrians... Ooh - a smart-looking beastie 🙂 Is this a different-coloured track system? Looks grey from the pix - all the track I have so far is red... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moccasin Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 10 minutes ago, Andy-662041 said: @Moccasin Happily, the Chasewater Railway shop has come to the rescue! Also managed to procure all the track extension packs. Just now need a 'Bolt' to complete the set 🙂 great stuff - am glad that peace can be restored and you can support a heritage line at the same time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Yes, the newly announced set will have dark grey track and Hornby confirm that although the connectors are a slightly different design, red and grey tracks will link together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Hornby is aware of the extra controller availability 'error'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Kernow have just 1 x R9312 'Bolt' at what looks to be a decent price, also The Entertainer via Amazon but more expensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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