Fazy

did you watch the program yesterday? The designer mentioned the coupling, my guess on the back coupling is the black bit is fitted to the coupling NEM pocket and will probably pull off so a coupling will fit. We didn’t hear his solution so no one knows for sure but that’s how I would have designed it. You could send a email to ask Hornby might give you the answer. the Main couplings where shown the ones between the coach sets which was interesting if can watch the episode it might answer your question

I have to admit I fitted a few new Valve gears but I’ve never repaired a Hornby model cross head, probably a bit too lazy. I have built several valve gears for kits of the royals and a a Garratt which is more then enough to appreciate the problems that can arise.

The cross head is repairable if you have the skills and tools, but it’s tricky and might still fail even if you do everything right. The cross head is a hard cast metal. You need to get the drill in level on two axes. And the replacement piston rod (atom 3624 I couldn’t remember the name for the life me last night!) need to be strong enough not to bend. The break needs to be made square before drilling. You’ll need. needle files mini drill, drill bits and a rod the same diameter not to mention either glue or better still solder (low melt would be better in case the cross head melts) and a solder iron a Axle nut driver is also a good idea. I suggest you buy one of these if you don’t have one. you’re going to want to remove the valve gear anyway whatever you decide to do. They come in handy if you get into the hobby for repairs and restoration of cheap models bought of eBay. I have two simply because I tend to put one down and then can’t find it. I’ll post a picture of how to fit the valve gear in a little while to help you put it back together when you’re ready.

The piston is bust, the cross head “the bit that slides back and forth between the two cylinder slide bars” there should be about 1/2 to 3/4 of a bar sticking forwarded. This bit slides partially in and out of the cylinder with some always staying inside the cylinder once this bit is damaged the cross bar will not stay on the slide bars and will keep coming off. On yours there’s only a couple of mm left. The whole right side valve gear assembly needs replacing. try eBay and pettersspares both the eBay shop and their own as the sites don’t always show everything. You might be able to buy one side but normally sold as a pair. the part you want I believe is X8992 / X9120 Valve Gear Set With Coupling Rods. You might want to double check part number if you have the paperwork. cost £25~ eBay

Some models have done in gloss but they tend not to sell well. Heljan did some years ago. gloss on high detail models tend to hide all the detail you’re paying for. The modern models can be weathered using T, cut and or gloss coat which will give that deep lustre and weathering paints and powderers to low light the detail. But it takes a lot of time and even more skill to make it look real especially if you want a clean look.

From an engineering standpoint I can understand your question, but with model trains I wouldn’t worry too much as the amount of oil used is such a tiny amount it’s not going to go anywhere. The old saying about oiling a model still holds true if you can see it you’ve over oiled it. it’s not like you’re laying down a motorcycle where the oil in the sump could go places you don’t want it. has long as the model is in a save place ( it’s own box is best) they can be stored quite happily up down or sideways. Only if the model has been stored for longer periods years you might need to carry out some checks and a service. A full clean and oil normal gets a model running like new in very little time.

Try looking on EBay for books on the subject, I did plenty out there

Well the pick ups aren’t a hard fix. It’s hand assembled so a little more or less pressure by the person assembling the model is going to course some issues. But flick the model over a little push with a screwdriver and problem solved. It’s not hard to fix unless people just want to moan because they might have to do a little tinkering. if you can oil a model add a chip or detail a model a dragging pick up is a walk in the park. £55 is cheap! Try building one, a kit £50 then it’s got to be built. Buy all the Tools and DIY or professional. Out of £5.

Well the pick ups aren’t a hard fix. It’s hand assembled so a little more or less pressure by the person assembling the model is going to course some issues. But flick the model over a little push with a screwdriver and problem solved. It’s not hard to fix unless people just want to moan because they might have to do a little tinkering. if you can oil a model add a chip or detail a model a dragging pick up is a walk in the park. £55 is cheap! Try building one, a kit £50 then it’s got to be built. Buy all the Tools and DIY or professional. Out of £5.

well we’re still one phase 1 now it was announced in 22 it’s now 2023 and models are just starting to come out. So we can say phase one is more 2023/24. Which hopefully phase 2 will be late 2024/5 with a little over lap. release dates are very much a pick any date and hope. It’s not just Hornby that suffer from this. Bachmann also do, that’s why Bachmann now only release dates of products that are on there way or in production and will be here in 3 months. (Including new models) Bachmann had backlogs of some models going back 5+ years since Bachmann changed their release system they have slowly been catching up over 3/4 way though now. But you don’t get a yearly announcement like you use to. So no one knows when something will get here not even Hornby until it’s on the boat.

Well I can’t say for sure about the real things would need either drawings or a real one in front of me. They would be some differences how much is a separate thing. However the pullmans railroad are very old toolings from the 1970s and are more toys then scale models so I wouldn’t say they are a exact replica. They where built to run on 1st radius track. if you look at some of the high spec models vs railroad of the same prototype you soon realise there’s more differences then similarities. if you like your pullmans then just run them and except your have models from different times. There’s nothing wrong with the Pullman as a model if you just want the feel of the original. However if you want a Exact model then the railroad Pullman is not the model to buy.

Well as you have them are you asking about the real thing

Cheers for the information GS,

When where the Gresley A1 reclassified as A10s was this at roughly the same time or later?

What is going is Hornby is starting from scratch. They are not just releasing a few wagons and locomotives. There’s track buildings cars people etc everything needed to build a TT scale layout, So Hornby have relished a List of their intended releases for the next few years. To show everyone they mean business, it is going take some time. But you don’t have to wonder if they are going to do a princess Coronation you know they are. Just let the TT system get up and running first. it also kills dead people saying Oh Hornby is being unfair to another company if they where to suddenly decide to release a princess Coronation.

Well it’s a Gresley A1, going by the image I’ve found on the net. when talking about the A1s it would be best if people would add the designers name to distinguish the two A1 classes from each other.

Compensation is suspension. It’s normally used on kits especially in EM gauge more so in P4, but may used in oo gauge. It’s used to keep all wheels in contact with the rail and to iron out the dropping of a model over uneven track. If you imagine a 0-8-0 locomotive running over a point where there is a slight hight difference at some point only the front and back axles wheels my be touching the track with the middle to floating in midair. The inner set at this point are not collating any power or providing any adhesion to the model. Compensation will push the centre wheels downward onto the track. there are two main ways to compensate, individuals spring wheels axles tiny little springs Working in axle boxes. Or a rocking system with a double bar inside the main frame which has a central pivot point attached to the chassis frame and moves like a sea saw with the wheels axle running through the the double bar ends. The main frame has one or more wire springs attached to it which centralise the rocking arms to keep it level but allows them to swing up and down when the model runs over uneven track. There’s also need to fix pickups into this system. This system best works with an odd number of axles 3 or five. ( 5 two sea saw systems fitted) The 3rd or fifth axle are normally rigid axles (and normally has the gearbox and motor on this axle). A0-4-0 chassis would be very hard to do with this method has you are trying to fit a loco body on a see saw. One end will be heavier. there are other methods which can be used. Depending on room inside of the chassis and skill of the modeller. Bachmann and I think Hornby have been known to use compensation on some of their models to.

There was someone one eBay who use to sell printed covers for coaches and DMUs on eBay. You just cut them out and use some PVA to stick them in. To be honest they didn’t look to bad. most people just paint them the base colour, but I suppose you could always draw up a close approximation on a laptop and print your own of just need a image of the original prototype if you’re interested in being prototypical.

W😮W - have times changed - imagine standing at the Platform now & a loco Pulls up pulling the above Carriages - you would be like 'What the??? - Is this for real???' 😄 JJ I think it would have been super 200 years ago standing on a platform seeing this giant come rumble down the track to take you to another city. before that you had to take a coach and you would have been exhausted from that. You would have gotten out black and blue. With the road’s little more the dirt tracks full of rocks holes and next to no comfort. The Horse drawn coach was slow and needed the team changed ever 20~ miles. So you might be able two get from Liverpool to Manchester in a full day if the coach company had a spare team kept at a inn, if not you had a two day journey which would likely have killed the weak and Ill! Suddenly 2 hours in an open wagon would have been luxury even in 3rd class.

It really doesn’t matter what I or your good self think, Hornby knows it’s costings and overheads and will price accordingly. I came back into the hobby 20 ish years ago a Bachmann Bo-Bo would cost £50 a few years later they doubled. People where up in arms, things were said like “that’s the end of the hobby” “the company will be bust in a year,” “that’s it I’m out of the hobby” blah blah blah, well the companies didn’t go bust people are still buying things and the prices aren’t £50 not even £100. More like £200-£300, for a Bo-Bo diesel and multiple Units in the realms £400-£850 depending on the model. yet the companies are still going and people are still demanding bigger and better. who’s wrong? It’s not the companies someone is buying the models. Someone has the money to buy the things. I wish it was me but I bought 3 princess royals from Hornby over the last two years.

if ford produce a new model the old model is then discontinued and only what’s already made will be sold. Unlike Hornby which has to produce a new batch so new costs need to be added. The Royal Scot has close to 150 parts on the body alone! When you start pull the things apart very labour intensive.

TT, N, Z gauges or even T gauge scale will do that, mind T scale a little small for most has a complete HST is about the size of a normal pencil.

The poor year financially? The years not over till April I believe. Anyway Hornby has invested a large sum into the TT120 which is going to have a negative effect on books until the revenue starts rolling in hopefully soon as the stock is due over the coming year. price rises well it’s not just Hornby is it. Everything is going mad, milk bread gas petroleum etc. now we’re out of the EU the pound has been struggling , but even before that toy trains are bought in US dollars, so the 20% fall off the Uk pound towards the dollar has added 20% on model railway goods over the last few years.

Well a light year for the LMS, not a bad thing really waiting for a Princess from last year. Still undecided on a Black 5. Was not expecting them to churn out the 8f’s it’s a bit old now not a bad model but it would be hard for Hornby to announce a re-tool now if another player comes out with a all singing and dancing model later in the year. which is growing more and more likely to be honest.

yes the named trains tended to be fixed, and if modelled at any given point would pretty much stay the same. the Hornby fixation with Pullmans as always puzzled me. Yes they were used but the Greslys were the back bone. I suppose it’s down to the sale value the Pullmans are known to many as luxury ( though LMS coaches could be said to be equal in riding quality after the LMS bought some Pullman coaches and learnt the secrets) Pullmans do stand out. However the Greslay teak look better in my opinion.