Alessio

My cousin is collecting the PlayTrains sets and is hoping to complete the full set of tokens by the end of the year to earn the ‘prize’. He has every set except the additional coaches for the express train which they’ve ordered thru their local model shop - but it sounds like it won’t arrive in time. This obviously isn’t their fault - anyone know the best way to speak to Hornby to see if there’s anything they can do?

My thoughts: First and foremost, they need to find someone new to lead these videos. Simon is so boring to listen to, waffles a lot and half the time he sounds like he hasn't a clue what he's talking about. Montana's better but little things like referring to livery as 'large arrow' doesnt' bode well for a company who are trying to justify their insane price rises with the excuse of accuracy.Found it really ironic that Simon spent ages reminding us how train sets used to be every child's dream for christmas... when Hornby's prices are beyond the means of the average family.Train sets... Suprise, it's Mallard and Flying Scotsman again. Oh, and a GWR HST that features one coach?! What's going on? The 67 set is a nice touch, but more of that out-of-the-box thinking is needed. I personally cannot get my head around the Coca Cola stuff but clearly it's selling.Railroad - the 110 is a nice touch as is more HST liveries but the rest is underwhelming. Are you seriously telling me they can't create a couple of new liveries for the Austerity tank and sell it at under £60?Steam - totally underwhelming. Just more A4s, Coronations, Princesses and MNs, plus a few more terrier liveries and an M7. Aside from the M7, they're all classes I'd love to have on my layout... but also aside from the MN, they're models that have been in the Hornby range for years, so it's nothing to get excited about. No other smaller or freight locos aside from a limited-edition run of the Fowler 4F and nothing for the industrial modellers. The retooled Black 5 will be an asset, though no doubt at an intergalactic price. Good to see the bravery with the Turbomotive - more of that please!Diesel - not my area but it doesn't look like much is newMUs - Clearly the 455 is a big innovation, well done to them. I hope it does well so they continue to innovate. Return of the 423 is welcome as well.800s - Simon stating that the TPE one is simply known as a 'Nova' when there are 3 different fleets under the Nova banner isn't great. The extra coach packs for the 800s will be welcome though.Coaches - the LNER Coronation is a great innovation, well done. Love the SR restaurant car though no doubt it'll cost about £80. The BR departmental 6-wheel coaches are interesting too.PlayTrains - Good work!Beatles - I am so confused but if it gets people into the hobby, so be it. Overall, I am massively overwhelmed. It's so heavily express passenger-focused. As someone with a bias towards steam, I am pleased that modern image modellers are finally getting more variety but I am disappointed.

I’m hoping for another Industrial that isn’t a Peckett but I’ve got little faith that we’ll see much brand new stuff actually delivered. The SECR E2 re-issue, which was meant to be out in Q3 this year, should have been a simple and relatively achievable release but even that is nowhere to be seen as far as I can tell.

Sorry if this has already been asked! Has the date been set for Hornby’s 2022 Range Announcement? It’s usually around 6th Jan isn’t it?

Thanks so much, this is really helpful!

Hi, Does anyone know where I can get the full size version of this again? I've checked google and they're all tiny ones where you can't read the catalogue numbers Thanks!

It's probably important to note too that the MK3 DVTs would only run with MK3 loco-hauled coaching stock (from the outside, basically the MK3 coaches which have buffers, such as those that work for Greater Anglia or the former Virgin Pretendolino set), not with HST trailers. I'm sure the Class 91s can work with the LH Mk3s (they have worked with MK1 stock in the past and were intended to haul overnight freight) but in the instance referred to above, they actually hauled MK3 HST sets, replacing one of the class 43 power cars with the other remaining on the rear converted to work as a DVT, or so I understand. That's why a small number of class 43s, including 43013 and 43014 from Network Rail's High Speed Test Train, have buffers.

@Chrissaf - thanks, I'll have a look. @Going Spare - They would work but I already have a pack of 10 of the couplings without pockets - for some reason Hornby sold them without a few years ago - so was hoping to use some of them up!

Assuming that neither of them are DCC fitted (i.e. both analogue motors) then you should have no issues. It's no different to double-heading two locos. You won't need to change the wiring. Not sure about directional lighting.

Hi, I'm building an older Parkside kit that didn't come with couplings or NEM sockets. I've got some Hornby NEM couplings but can't find any pockets that they'd fit into for less than £30 a packet. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Some of the traders may have simply looked at the list and decided they couldn't make sufficient profit, perhaps? Regardless, I find it odd that they didn't respond. I am not surprised that your highest offer was 50% higher than the box shifters. The two biggest (as far as I'm aware) - the one in Liverpool and the one in a large city in South Yorkshire - seem to pay tiny amounts for second-hand stock yet price them absurdly high. It's becoming a bit of a joke. A little while ago one of them posted that they'd added more pre-owned stock to their website listings, which was met with a barrage of comments and mock adverts such as 'Hornby Smokey Joe 0-4-0. Missing funnel and 2 buffers. Poor runner. £45' and 'Hornby Class 47. Non runner, no couplings, one bogie missing. £60' For new stuff they're often the best price, so I'll use them. But for second hand, local model shops are so much better.

Whilst I understand why some people just box and display their trains, ultimately they're designed to run... no point in spending all that money if you're not going to use it! :D

I think a new four-wheel coach is most definitely needed. The current model is too tall (similar height to a mk1) and short to my eye but I'm no expert.

I have, but they only do click & collect. Once you select your local store, it tells you whether it's actually available locally to you. I've spoken to Halfords and they said that the supplier in my region is closed so they can't get any.

Hi, As part of my ongoing kit build I was hoping to use Halfords' Rover Damask Red to replicate a similar shade of BR red to the coaches operated on the Tanfield and Middleton railways. However, due to the current situation, this colour isn't available at any Halfords in my area. Are there any other colours or brands that would work? I don't have an airbrush so a spray can would be better. Thanks!

LC&DR is right but it's my fault for not specifying; I am nonetheless grateful to everyone else for taking the time to explain - it was definitely interesting and has helped me understand better the timeline. Thanks all.

Is there a list anywhere of which Hornby models have been produced using some die-cast metal as part of their construction? I know the Drummond 700 and J15 did. Just interested to know which others - were they the first?

I have three tender-drive steam locos, all from the 80s I think, which are all powered by a ringfield 3-pole motor: a Duchess, a Black 5 and an 8F. I'd always assumed that as they were driven by identical motors, and all have 2 axles putting power to the tail, they'd all run at the same speed. However, after testing this theory this afternoon, the Duchess is clearly the fastest, followed by the 5MT, then the 8F - exactly as it is in real life. Is this ourely coincidence or have the locos been set up like this? If so, how does this work? Thanks!

Thanks all... ridiculously it would seem that despite having owned this model for over 15 years I'd failed to check the connection between loco and tender. It now runs like a dream. I've just had it run with 11 coaches on and it was fine. Win!

Perfect, thank you!

Thanks, I'll take all these and have a look, see if I can work out what it is. All I can say is that other engines (aside from one) run fine around that loop so it must be the loco!

Hello all, Ive got a Hornby R4242 BR (ex-GWR) Composite coach in BR blood and custard livery. I'm looking to sell it as it doesn't fit in with the rest of my collection, so just wanted to understand a bit more about its GWR origins. Can anyone tell me a bit more about it - who designed it, when and which services it would have been used on both in GWR days and under BR? thanks!

I've got an early 80s R.305 Duchess of Abercorn which was given to me as a gift. Recently I got it out to run for the first time in probably 18 months, and it went about 4 inches and stopped. I gave it a nudge and the same again happened. Given how long since it had last run, I decided to service it. I stripped down the motor following the instructions of a YT video, cleaned everything with dry cotton buds, cleaned the brass coil thing with a few drops of lighter fluid, fitted new springs (carbon brushes looked ok and I only had one spare left) and then rebuild, oiling everywhere that I was instructed by the video. Now, the engine runs slightly better, but every 8 inches or so, it stutters slightly and then carries on the same again. At least it can make it round a full circuit now and at full speed seems to run almost normally but at anything up to 75% it stutters at regular intervals. It's almost as if there's some point of the motor's cycle where it isn't making proper contact but having rebuilt it I can't work out what's up. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Hi, I know Hornby make curved points that will allow a train to cross between 2nd - 3rd radius loops within a curve, but I was wondering if they also make them to go from a 3rd radius -4th (or track running outside that 3rd rad loop)? If so, what Catalogue number would that be? I've just acquired a 6x4 board with two loops of track (2nd & 3rd) and want to run a short branch outside them. cheers!

The reference to KWVR's prototype D0226 diesel shunter, with accompanying photo, wasn't particularly subtly worked in. It would be a seriously niche choice but given that it's worn nearly as many liveries in its preserved life as Hornby's caley pug, it could be an attractive choice for a railroad model based on the 08?