The son of Triangman

The U designation in R.408U is for "Universal track". Universal track being code 100 track made by Tri-ang-Hornby, Hornby (new 1973) company, Peco, Lima, Joeuf to mention a few.

Going back to original post. New products take a lot of development, which can take years, plus items have to meet safety regulations and go through various approvals by a multitude of bodies. A steam generator even in model form will have to meet stringent British Standards and around the World. These things take years. Manufacturers sometimes announce products early in order to get ahead of rivals that might be working on the same idea. I am sure Hornby will have it in the shops as soon as it is fully tested, meets the necessary standards and are in stock ready.

I liked the old Tri-ang-Hornby 5700 class moulding which came out in 1972 and ended up as Duck in the Thomas range. However the 1978 issue with the incorrect bright Red LT livery on it grated a bit, but it is now a highly collectable model. The moulding was first issued in 1972 with synchrosmoke and X.04 powered jinty chassis with plated chrome wheels in GWR plain livery and was a great seller. A new Hornby 5700 is overdue for super detail (super fragile) fans or a relaunch of the old model in correct LT livery as a heritage model.

Javis still sell a Spring Green flock material and grass mat as well.

Tri-ang used to sell flock in bags. There was a colour called Spring Green which matched the sections colour. A RAL colour chart should reveal a match or close match shade.

How about a reward points card, with extra points if you shop at a bricks and mortar shop. Extra points when you buy a travel ticket on a preserved railway. Extra reward points when you visit a toy and train fair and exhibitions if you buy a brand new Hornby product off a trader. Proof of show/event entry code on your ticket, reward card id and barcode of product need entering into software on this website (product would have to have been produced and supplied in the current year of manufacture.) VIP tour of old factory and Hornby itself at Margate as a reward for collecting a certain amount of points. Visit will be at a time and date of Hornby's choosing. A limited edition wagon and welcome pack that is only available for these VIP visits is given to you when you arrive. A tie up with other visitor attractions such as theme parks etc., so you can spend Hornby reward points with them.

Very tempted, but don't have the money to move.

It's unusual for POR to fail, however it's in a very difficult area and judging amount of glue is never easy with POR. However a superglue with an activator spray will probably do the job.

Tins of factory paints as spare parts is a good idea. I've been asking for this one since Tri-ang days.

How about a model of a North British Atlantic, Hornby? The last loco "Midlothian" was set aside for preservation, but the compulsory scrap drive for the war effort in 1939 sadly saw it cut up for scrap.

How about a working swing bridge? My personal choices are the lovely victorian M&GNJR swing bridge at Sutton Bridge lincolnshire, Breydon Water Viaduct or the Severn Rail bridge.

Hornby how about a few new single wheelers? GER single wheelers, Midland Johnson Single, new Lord of The Isles, New Caledonian Single?

How about Hornby making a Marsh Atlantic now that the replica Beachy Head is almost complete?

Whilst colour specifications were laid down, it was not unknown for staff at sheds and works to use up old paint to mix shades. Paint fades over time when exposed to the elements. As for Hornby colours, if you can visit the visitor centre there is a paint mixer display in the visitor centre museum complete with British standard and RAL colour charts, you could ask if you can see the charts to get a match. Revell enamels are useful as you can usually get a colour match by mixing Revell colours or direct from the tin. I believe from memory Revell supplied some of the paint Tri-ang used at one time. A good investment is a RAL colour chart as most manufacturers use them.

Super 4 was revolutionary in it's day, it's a shame Tri-ang went with compatibility with Tri-ang Series 3, as Super 4 had scale sleepering and spacing and there was a wide range of accessories and minic motorways as well. Tri-ang System Six which Hornby still use today, has HO scale sleepering. OO is very much a compromise scale.

As has been touched on, is the issue with OO. If you scaled up OO track, it would scale up as narrow gauge track, i.e. less than 4ft 8 1/2 inches standard gauge. The old Frank Hornby company decided on OO as it allowed for the smallest scale at the time, that a commercially viable motor could be made to fit their then new Hornby-Dublo range. For true scale in 4mm then P4 is the way to go with a track gauge of 18.83mm. OO is known in the trade as the "toy scale" due to it's track gauge error, but today's models are far from being toys.

It's Frank Hornby's Birthday today. 15th May 1863! Nothing on the Hornby Facebook page about It's founder.

If you are looking for an investment then the Hornby main range model will probably be best. Real Hornby-Dublo was made in the UK and died in 1964. The Hornby-Dublo models made today are made in China and bear little if any resemblance to the proper UK made Hornby-Dublo other than the box, and even the box colour is wrong, they are Hornby-Chinalo models.

The standard crew in their Tri-ang days, factory painted.

The standard crew in their Tri-ang days, factory painted.

You used to be able to obtain the standard loco crew Hornby use, the moulding dates from Tri-ang days and originally came factory painted. Catalouge number originally was R.413, as a spare part the crew came with a pair of vacumm brake pipes as part X.1400

I've been waiting for the news to hit the web before I posted this. I wish Simon a long and happy retirement, had many chats over the years with Simon, and a last VIP visit to the factory in 2018. As most here will know I am not far behind with full retirement looming in the next 5 to 7 years. Sadly as humans we cannot carry the baton forever, it's up to younger people to keep our hobby moving on. The person who is going to take over Simon's role has big shoes to fill.

LED wiring

The colour codes for Tri-ang (not Hornby as we know it until 1972) date from the early 1950's and earlier house wiring colours with green being earth. The 1974 to current colour light signal wiring was a pain, when I was making my LED pcb's for upgrading the signal from bulbs to LED. Logic decrees the green return wire should be earth or negative on the colour light signal, but on the LED version Hornby now make green is positive.