cleggy1981

Totally agreed the aftercare is spot on. Received the 91110 Battle of Britain which ran perfectly and after putting up with the initial Class 91 releases being clunky over pointwork plus derailing, they accepted the original 4 back for modification. They now run very well and arrived back being well looked after. Looking forward to the HM7000 sound profile for them and also future releases of the Class 91!

Looking forward to it as usual, but 2023 range seemed to be missed opportunities even in a consolidation year. I would love to see a Class 185 personally with no other manufacturer doing it so zero duplication... would work well OO and TT and suits the TXS sound opportunity as they sound great in real life. The Class 91/MK4 rake with the latest LNER scheme an obvious one to do. GNER Class 43 pair with rake of MK3 (Mallard refurbished red door style) would be very welcome (would probably have sold better than the East Coast ones) as would a Class 43 pair in Swallow (not the railroad variety). Other obvious Class 43 pair opportunities were LNER examples that transitioned to EMR/Network Rail/Colas that could have been easily modded, 2023 range seemed to be missed opportunity in that regard. Absolutely love the HM7000 solution also which they need to focus on, ensure stock of but they need something for the Rocket/Peckett size 4 pin nano style to me is a gap in the range. Overall focus on delivering a level of quality, I don't want fragile models that pieces fall off from plus avoid duplication with others

Choice of three HST packs would go with the Mk3 coaches, however previous years releases and a little scarce R3802 LNER HST R3502 NRM40 VTEC HST R3390TTS VTEC HST (DCC Sound - MTU)

LNER just took on the VTEC scheme and put a sticker effectively on the locomotive/DVT so interchangable. The Battle of Britain 91110 locomotive is still in its current state with LNER, same with For the Fallen 91111. Hornby picked three key liveries really to start with Swallow, GNER and VTEC/LNER but I do hope they cover off the gaps like you say in the next few years. Between 2021/22 ranges its enough to destroy the wallet

TSOE is the coach next to the class 91 and it is blanked off, no corridor through. FOD is the first open disabled, where there is a suitable accessible toilet installed. This shows some nice photos in current LNER to illustrate the TSOE in particular https://coaches-library.weebly.com/mk4.html Also from the Mallard conversion the buffet car was swapped round and converted from first class to standard class seating. Always enjoyed my journeys to London from Leeds/Wakefield primarily, missing them currently in lockdown. For me the Mk3 and Mk4 comfort was there. The Azuma is not actually too bad, but I hope when they eventually refurbish they invest in comfort similar to what Transpennine have done on the 185s. I'm really looking forward to the new Hornby Class 91s and hopeful the full Mk4 LNERs and DVT are also released in due course. The older Hornby Class 91s I've stuck with 4/5 coaches plus the DVT as any more and they struggle. Never got the East Coast versions although the 91110 in its current livery would be awesome to the new standard. 91111 is on pre order :)

For the Mk3 side the current formation is/was from a similar period Mallard project onwards Class 43 (facing north) - B - C - D - E - F - G - J - L - M - Class 43 (London end) Class 43 (facing north) - TGS - TSO - TSO - TSO - TSD - TSO - TRFB - TFO - TFO - Class 43 (London end) The Mk3 on the east coast would not have buffers. Buffers on the Mk3 would be more for the west coast loco hauled

Both R2427A with 91110 David Livingstone and R2427 with 91129 Queen Elizabeth II had working pantographs. C and D TSO are included in either train pack. There are then only three extra carriages that match nicely R4286 FO "L", R4287 TSO "B", R4288 RSB "J". The problem is Hornby never made a TSOE or the full set of carriages. So its a project to modify unfortunately. I'm not sure of the correct GNER coach letters but formation from Mallard project onwards. I seem to remember sometimes we had only 8 carriages total instead of 9 sometimes but I can't place the years/livery Class 91 (facing north) - TSOE-TSO-TSO-TSO-TOD-RSB-FO-FOD-FO-DVT (London end) Class 91 - B - C - D - E - F - H - K - L - M

The packaging makes it really difficult to get the model out and every part seems to be covered in something delicate. However very pleased with my rocket and it runs well. Whilst tempting to keep in its box it deserves to be run

ECML is one of my favourites due to work so I'm very glad of the Class 91 and I'd guess they may do the Mk4s/DVTs in the 2021 range. With the Mk3 DVT in the range that at least is a start. I always compared my Swallow HST set which had lights and hoped one day there would be similar on the Class 91. Thinking LNER Mk4/DVT would be probably their best start point as they would be "new" having released most of the other liveries previously. Will be interesting to see how close the colour match is to the older Mk4s

Quick review of the new range and very pleased indeed. Rocket and the Class 91s on the shopping list now, 91111 in particular. LNER Mk4s in 2021 range on the wish list then but can't complain as budget for 2020 would be blown otherwise

Definately over simplifying the problem on my side. I guess the risk of DCC with a DC loco would probably cause a lot of problems. Love my HM2000 - I've had it since 1996 and its still going strong. Just at that tipping point where when I clear the dinning room out and fill it with track ending up with 3 loops and need to consider my next step. I'd love a fixed board but its just not practical yet (give it another 10-15 years)... DCC for me is too far and looking how to get started just looks a minefield. I've not ventured far from Hornby to be fair

I've been very pleased with the 2019 range and have two items on my wish list really for at some point in the future 1. I spend most of my business train travel ECML (Newcastle to London) and transpennine routes (Liverpool/Manchester to York/Newcastle) so the class 185 in TransPennine Express current livery would be number 1 on my list. There is no cross over with any current manufacturer. Feel Hornby have to start thinking about models that are in current service like they have with the class 800 and 156. 2. Closely followed is the class 91 in current LNER livery to go with my (many) HSTs and hopefully the Azuma when its released later this year. Swallow livery would also probably make me crack in getting both. I do have a number of older class 91s and the detail level is too basic and considering my R336 HST from 1990 has directional lights. Engine/DVT first and coaches to follow would be great to spread the pain on the wallet. I think Hornby have missed a trick with the new basic single controller, know they have a lot of areas to cover. Options of single controller or HM2000 for DC pretty limited. I've looked in to DCC and its something that may suit later, but for now for me its DC. The single controller could have been designed to fit in to a base of some kind that would take up to four of them, consolidate the input power a bit like the HM2000. That way people can start small, then build over time to four with consistency. You then have one controller model to worry about rather than two for DC. Two controllers probably good enough for a lot of layouts but the facility to get up to four would cover all bases. Extending that idea then there should be some way of adding the DCC feature to the base. Again same justification one controller instead of four types basic, HM2000, select and elite. Shouldn't need to sell anything to get to the DCC end state from DC. Look to standardise and reuse as much as possible basically