BJT91

Yesterday channel have great TV programmes on trains like train truckers, The Architecture The Railways Built, Hornby A Model World, Steam Train Britian, secerets of the London Underground and they show some of the BBC Great British Railway Journeys with Micheal Portilo on there. Also check out Walking Britain's Lost Railways, Extreme Railways with Chris Tarrent on Channel 5. Channel 5's catch up might also have The Great Model Railway Challenge series. If available DVD a great watch is a 1960's tv series called railway roundabout. These might also be on Youtube.

That's interesting to know. I knew something was happening as Train-Tech were providing items to Gaugemaster to sell under their brand for the last few years. To be honest Gaugemaster tend to be a great company to deal with and they do have a large selection of items for all hobbies.

@atom3624 Cheers for re assuring me. I do have a steady hand and pretty good eye sight, but will most likely get some fine tweezers to assist with painting and fitting.

I need advice on finding a replacement smoke box dart on the latest version of the Hornby black 5 as I was given one second hand one as a present but noticed that the dart was missing but Hornby don't sell the detail parts seperately. I have looked on Peters spares and did find Comet Models LS71 LMS flanged plain smoke box dart handles. Just wondering if anyone knows if these are correct for the black 5 or advise what the correct ones are for this locomotive?

Chrissaf is correct, as long as the loco's are 00 scale or H0 scale and designed for two rail and not AC powered you should be fine. Most loco's from other well known manufacturers run pretty well on hornby track, as long as its laid out correctly and check what radius curves the loco's can take, as some of the larger locomotives will only like second or third radius curves and sometimes express points. The smaller 0-4-0 loco's don't mind the tighter radius curves or the standard Hornby points.

Older carriages did also get used as breakdown or track maintenance storage vans in the British Rail era. Depending on the condition they could be repainted in the colours used by BR which was usually a matt green a bit like the army green.

I have managed to pre order one of the models that got cancelled with Hattons from another model shop which is actually quite local to where I live in travelling terms. I will be pre ordering items from them from now on as they actually show the items as sold out when their pre order allocations are full filled on their website. Issue is all suppliers of Hornby products should add their allocation amounts for each model so customer have a idea on how many are actually available to order.

I have had three of my Pre orders cancelled at Hatton's as well today (19/05/2021). They apparently aren't the only other retailers having issues as others have had orders cancelled from other retailers. I wouldn't mind but Hornby should give all the retailers the production run and allocation amounts before people decide to pre order. Issue is now other retailers are either showing out of stock on pre order or they haven't got a direct answer on their website to the models I am after being available to pre order or not. Maybe its Hornby's plan to phase out dealers and only allow buy direct from Hornby at full retail.

Hornby did have to move from one of their supplying factories which was in the late 2000's or 2010's as one of the parent toy and model companies who owned one of Hornby's rivals in the model train world (the one beginning with B) and it did effect the build quality of some models. The quality of the models has approved slightly since the move to the new factory but there are still some quality issues, like you said the colours on some models aren't 100% and I always find the gold paint they use on name plates and number plates on the steam loco's always seems to be too glittery.

Currently all of my rolling stock is stored in large boxes in their original boxes and some are out of the boxes in draws in the garage. I am hoping to sort out the layout room and where locomotives are to be stored safely and neatly.

I think there are people still waiting for the new Hornby Class 800/1 Azuma train pack that was announce around 2 years ago. I know a lot of other manufacturers do alert or give monthly updates of models and production dates to magazines and other model railway news outlets. Hornby need to keep everyone more informed on delays and pre warn people about production shortages as this has been upsetting quiet a few customers when their chosen supplier can't obtain the models and then realise they are available for full RRP on Hornby's website.

I can't help much with the old layout designs Hornby did but I do know that some of the recent layouts they use for display purposes in their museum and at shows are created by a company called Corporate layouts. Its worth having a look at their layout images as they are pretty good.

There is currently only one track mat available from Hornby but their have been other past designs of track mat that were provided with older trainsets. The current track mat Hornby supply will have the relevant track mat extension packs available to buy. One good idea would be to also buy the Hornby Track Plans book as this has interesting idea's to extend the fully constructed track mat further or if you feel adventurous you could create one of the other layout plans in the book. The track plans book is pretty helpful as it gives you the Hornby track section codes and shows you where items like track risers to create a sloping section of track need to be placed, it also gives hints and tips on laying the track.

I have purchased a few Hornby items via Amazon through Jadlam Toys and Models although I know Gaugemaster also have a Amazon store. Unfortunately I don't do Prime but the items I have purchase of Amazon have come well packaged and undamaged.

Issue is this is upsetting customers who want to buy from their chosen retailers who they have a great relationship with. If this keeps happening Hornby could loose some more of their retailers like they did with Rails of Sheffield. Please Hornby could you give your retailers more notification on pre order amounts before people decide to buy off their chosen retailers as I have heard other models have recently had order amounts scaled back, one of the models in question was the Hush Hush un rebuilt and rebuilt models and a Southern Railway luggage van. I have heard of non of these supply and demand issues with other model railway manufacturers as people have managed to obtain their pre ordered models with no issues even if they are late to arrive due to covid issues.

Don't panic there are plenty of things to do before you do a layout. I would first get the Hornby track plans book and other track plans books and have a look at layout designs as they range from simple layout designs to complex layout designs they also help by giving the track code numbers you require. Also if you are struggling seek advice either through forums like this one or watch some of the model railway related YouTube channels like Jennifer E. Kirk, Wardle Road, Sams Trains and others as they show how to videos on layout building and loco/track maintenance and have great live streaming sessions where other railway modellers both experienced and semi experienced can offer assistance through the chat. Visiting Model railway shows is also a good idea as you can speak to layout owners regarding techniques and see live demonstrations of everything from track planning to kit building and get inspiration from the various layouts on show. I am still learning and have expanded from a simple oval layout to a more complex layout which is still being constructed and I still ask for help off others and learn new things off others everyday.

This law may expand further to other industries yet. Currently it is concentrating on white goods items as there are many manufacturers who make their machines too cheap to repair and have hardly any parts or maintenance after support (you know the ones where their only advise is send it back in the original box and we will send you a new machine). Next sector to be looked into will be the industry I work in which is garden machinery as there are companies from China selling very cheap machinery to supermarkets and large DIY and garden centre chains with little or no parts back up or support for maintenance or repair because they know that if they break any repair labour cost would render them scrap so the customer wouldn't bother to repair but throw away and replace. Model railways are really classed as toys so they would be last on the list but I think Hornby should look into providing a wider range of spare parts for the latest models and previous models. The one thing I struggle to find spares wise with Hornby are detailing items like smoke box darts or handrails and have to look for these through companies who make the brass detailing parts. I know other manufacturers do have these detailing items listed in their parts lists as parts.

Talking of Gresley and the LNER. I am assuming Hornby have been measuring up the recently restored Beavertail observation carriage to recreate the LNER Coronation high speed carriages in 00 gauge?

Exciting news can't wait to see it.

Just acquired R3695 NCB Peckett B2 Ryhope Colliery from Hereford Models as they have a few new old stock models still in stock. I was surprised to find they had a few left as they were very popular when originally launched and I can see why its a lovely looking model in the NCB lined blue.

To bring more play value to the Hobby would it be a good idea to re-launch the Hornby Action Accessories like the Ore wagon tipper, working conveyor belt and possibly the timber yard and timber depot but updated so they could be DCC ready with sound. Possibly adding a working tower crane would be a good accessory as well as it would be useful for layouts with a large goods yard and dock yards. I know another manufacturer recently launched a operating water tower with sound and moving spout and it brought a lot of interest due to it being a item that brought a bit of realism and fun to the layout.

The website still isn't 100% after 2021 release day as the it keeps cutting out. Plus ordering something doesn't work well either. Hornby and the other Hornby owned brands could do with having a improved websites with more speed and capacity to cope with this.

Try smaller sellers in the second hand model train trade as they will probably give you a decent return. One I know of is Elaines trains and she only tends to deal in used models her email is elaine@elaines-trains.co.uk. I would also see if any of the preserved railways have a suitable shop that sell old models. I know the Erlstoke Manor trust at the Severn Valley Railway have a popular second hand model railway shop and they are sometimes after new second hand stock to sell, always worth finding out if you have a similar shop on a nearby preserved railway to you.