HornbyKiwi

I'm waiting on one of these to arrive at the moment via a box shifter near Liverpool. It's a generic sized box for Hornby and could be purposed for any number of different wagons no doubt. As Rob has noted perhaps the labeling machine was having a bad day, or perhaps the packaging dept labeled up too many boxes for the wagon immediately preceding the Christmas one and didn't want to waste those. Hardly the end of the world I would have thought. HK.

I'm old enough to remember the days of steel track, and steel track from Triang-Hornby with "Made In NZ" stamped on the underside no less. The current Hornby offering compared to when I first entered the hobby is night and day better, I think I've even commented on this previously. My main interaction has been via the occasional train set purchase, but I can't fault it in those terms. As set-track goes, it's as good as anything out there, it's only the range of pieces that holds it back. I've often wondered why it hasn't diversified the range further, you'd think they would have a decent chance of gaining some market share if they did.

Arrived in the post today, 11 pounds & change for the stamps and a couple of pounds to send my way. A nice memento of the Centenary and of Her Majesty as well.

@ Going Spare It is flat rather than tubular so I believe ntpntpntp has correctly identified it at this stage. I need to look at some photos of other people's models to be absolutely sure. HK

@ntpntpntp Thank you, I believe you're right. I've really only had a cursory look at the set so far, I will be leaving it until the weekend to properly unbox everything and get it ready for its first run. I'll assume it is a separately fitted part and hasn't snapped off the model. Should both be easy fixes with a dab of liquid cement I expect (poor eyesight willing). HK

Thank you to von Klinkerhoffe for identification of this part, which was also loose in my set. I also have a second piece which I've not worked out yet, I'll attach a photo including the two errant pieces. Any thoughts appreciated. HK

Well, my set has just been delivered by the local DHL courier. The carton has been opened at one end, but no sticker to indicate it has been opened/inspected by NZ Customs, so not sure what to make of that at this stage. I'm working from home today and have a Teams meeting in about 10 minutes, so a proper unboxing will have to wait until this evening. I will report back on what I find, though the outer shipping carton looks in good condition considering the journey length to get here. HK

Thanks Gents, hopefully we will have a good result this time around. The tracking informs me it left Heathrow last night and that it has already been cleared through NZ Customs while en route. So, unless they have a spot inspection of the carton when it arrives into Auckland, it should travel through to me without being further delayed. The 7th March does seem like quite a conservative estimate of delivery to me, but perhaps this is taking into account the transport issues surrounding Cyclone Gabrielle. HK

Great to hear you've received your set, Fishy. After contacting Hornby customer services last week and being told they would look into it, then suffering through Cyclone Gabrielle and 7 days & 8 hours of no electricity, internet or reliable cellphone connectivity, I've received a couple of emails overnight from CCL and DHL suggesting another train set has been dispatched my way. This one doesn't appear to be vapourware, went through Maidstone in less than two hours, before finding its way to Heathrow. I'm informed by DHL that I can expect delivery by the close of business on 7th March. Let's see how they do. The main highway between Napier where I live and Auckland, where the package will presumably be landed in NZ, is currently closed due to the cyclone and is not expected to opened again for some weeks while they rebuild road and bridges. If DHL do meet their estimate the set will have to be detoured via Palmerston North or Wellington and approach from the south. HK

So, as there's still been no movement on the DHL website as of midday Monday here in NZ, I decided to phone DHL NZ armed with my waybill number and enquire where my trainset might actually be. According to the CSR I spoke to, DHL have not received the package from the supplier. I said to the CSR, "But I have a ten day old email from CCL Logistics on behalf of Hornby Hobbies informing me that they have dispatched a package to my address and providing the DHL link you have just checked." "Sorry, my screen tells me the package is not yet in our system." Of course, the CSR here in NZ could be mistaken as to what might or might not be in DHL UK's possession in Maidstone, however I'm inclined to think she probably has it bang on. After all, if DHL actually had a package for me in Maidstone, they probably would have transported it somewhere ...... anywhere other than Maidstone after ten days. Quite disappointed obviously and I will be contacting Hornby this evening to see what they have to say. HK

@Fishy It was discussed in the thread "Automated Checkout", which is currently on page 7 of this TT sub-forum. Roger brings the free shipping offer to our attention on the 28th October. I provide the requested feedback by way of screenshots indicating that shipping was indeed free for me on my Easterner set pre-order. In the thread "Ordering/Shipping" on the same page of the sub-forum I indicate on the 20th December that shipping charges were back in place for orders at that time. I'm not exactly sure when they were reintroduced, as I don't believe it was highlighted by anyone prior to my mentioning it. That gives you an approximate window when it was in effect. I can confirm that the price indicated in the screenshots was the price I was charged (so freight-free) on my credit card on the 3rd February. If you have been following the "Easterner ETA" thread, you will also know my set appears to be stuck in transit. I have wondered privately if the two things are not unrelated. HK

@Bengal9 Thank you for the update. The fact you got regular tracking updates on your package does not sound promising for mine. If it doesn't arrive tomorrow, and there's still no movement on the DHL website, I think I will get in touch with Hornby and/or DHL on Monday evening our time to enquire. A little disappointing if it has been sitting in the Maidstone depot for the past nine days, hard to understand how it's managed to be ignored for so long when you'd think moving packages through their building is the core task of their business. In spite of all the identified issues, I am looking forward to seeing the product when it finally shows up. It's always hard to fully appreciate the size until you've seen it and held it in your hands. I'm sure I will still be amazed by this despite knowing what to expect in my mind. HK

Nice one Bengal! Still no update on the DHL website indicating any movement of mine from Maidstone. I got my shipping notification last Saturday as well, so I'd like to think my set has been on the same DHL lorries and aircraft as yours headed this way. Perhaps it will show up here on Monday, Cyclone Gabrielle permitting. I'm in Napier, where are you based? HK

Have any of the international purchasers of this set had any update from DHL with respect to shipping to your location? Mine is still showing as sitting in Maidstone some six days after scanning there. I'm hoping this is just an anomaly in their tracking system and the package has been on the move my way for the past week. However, just curious to know what others have experienced with their checks on shipping progress. HK

I don't recall having heard that points will be retrospectively added to orders which predate the introduction of Hornby Rewards. Would obviously be a nice bonus if Hornby were to do so. I had a TT set on pre-order and that was placed prior to Hornby Rewards coming in. Admittedly it's early days yet but the pre-order was released on Friday 3rd and there's been no points, pending or otherwise, for it. My only current club membership is the TT one. HK

Thanks Matt, I'm sure it will be just fine. I've had the occasional dud product over the years but, to be fair, everything I've ever bought directly from Hornby has been nothing less than perfect. I'm expecting this streak to continue with the Easterner set. The good thing about these sets is that the boxes appear to be quite chunky in dimensions which is helpful for shipping I think. I know I had a few anxious moments waiting on my Sir Nige set from the 100th anniversary to arrive. With train sets tending to be long and skinny I always have this irrational image in my mind of it being snapped in half like a piece of kindling over someone's knee! HK

My first train set bought with my own pocket money contained a blue Hymek, it was the first diesel loco I owned. Very possibly from the same run of train sets I'd imagine. I worked at a local butchery during one of school holidays, hosing down and washing metal dixies, and received the princely sum of 21 NZ dollars for my three weeks work. Took the money straight to the local stationary store where I had the set on layby and that money was enough to get me across the line. I think it cost 50-60 NZ dollars in total. I still have the set to this day, not that it sees any running as the motor is faulty. It would run quite happily around the loop then, once stopped at a station, not restart and have to be taken off the track and armature be manually turned slightly to get it going again. It was beyond my early teenage abilities to successfully diagnose or repair so it's been in storage for a large part of my life. Coincidentally I had the set out of a cupboard 2-3 weeks ago as I was doing some tidying. I've been meaning to buy a new motor for it for years and finally solve the problem. Will never part with it due to sentimentality reasons, it's a part of my childhood and got me started on this journey. Always loved the look of the Hymek, it was always the train set to buy for me when the store had the choice of two or three different ones including Scotsman. Belated Happy Birthday. HK

I've had an email about an hour ago to say my order is with DHL International UK and on it's way to me. Was at DHL's depot in Maidstone at 1pm. I reckon about a week and a half to get to me but we will see. Always start to get concerned about now that the product is all present and correct and in perfect working order out of the box. The distance is not my friend when it comes to getting something repaired or replaced due to being faulty. Anyhow, positive mindset and lets see what Hornby has for me when the set arrives. Looking forward to seeing some photos and videos of your ones when they arrive in the next day or two. HK

@Fishy Yeah, I was fortunate to order when the amnesty on freight was in effect so got an unbeatable price at the time. With respect to GST, I think it varies depending on government policy. Here in NZ the GST legislation has it that overseas companies must collect NZ GST @ 15% IF the company concerned is selling "x" amount of dollars of product into NZ-based customers. Therefore, companies like Amazon and Aliexpress do collect GST on my purchases from them presumably because they are selling a boat-load of product to people here. I've not had that issue for Hornby thus far, presumably because they don't meet the threshold that makes the NZ Govt hold their hand out and request their piece of the action. Hattons is another one who doesn't collect GST from me for the same reason I guess. There's always the chance items will be stopped by NZ Customs when they reach the border here but I've never had that happen with any purchases to date (touches wood). HK.

Your plan looks quite "busy" at an initial glance, and I'd echo the sentiments of those who suggest starting small and working your way forward from there. Get your two main running lines down first perhaps, and see what that inspires in you once you've played with it for a while? Although I try not to be, I always end up filling every available inch with track which I inevitably live to regret. I would recommend having a look at YouTuber "Mouldy Raspberry" with his single line OO gauge layout. It's absolutely beautiful IMHO and I love the way the railway complements the scenery rather than overpowers it with lines everywhere. Similarly, another favourite is the N gauge layout "Vale Of Oxbury". YouTuber "BlackAndDeckerBoy" has a video of this which I find myself returning to time and again, even though the video is 8-9 years old now. It's inspiring to watch the trains travelling through the scenery in a sympathetic way, and operationally there's plenty to do. But, as was said, it's your layout at the end of the day. You've got to find what gives you the most enjoyment and pleasure. That is one of the advantages of TT, you can get quite a lot into a smaller space or, conversely, it allows you to spread out in a more prototypical fashion in the same space. HK.

Also very pleased to say I received an email at 5:30am local time (4:30pm UK time) asking me to update my expired credit card so they can release my pre-order for the Easterner set. Did that just now, got confirmation my set was released, my online banking confirms my card has been charged 138 of your British Pounds, and I've downloaded an invoice for the same from my account. Lovely, can't wait! HK.

Wow Lee, I hope you weren't charged for each carton or were at least able to get individual freight charges refunded? In this day and age surely Hornby can find a better organisation to handle their retail shipping. It almost beggars belief that any current-day distribution company is running software so archaic that it doesn't automatically identify the common delivery address and combine the items to one or two boxes. HK.

Interesting. I guess I'm wondering if anybody has taken delivery of items who had free shipping applied when they pre-ordered. The Scotsman set delivered to a distant overseas location would probably be the one I'm most curious to hear about. I think all of the forum members who have mentioned receiving the set are UK-based and would meet the threshold for free delivery to their location anyway. We need a Brit with a pre-ordered item over 20 quid in value but under 50. Or a North American or Kiwi who pre-ordered the Scotsman set. HK

I thought this was the purpose of the temporary free shipping on orders, and that Hornby were working on their software to prevent a situation as you describe from happening? Perhaps the mods can shed some light on where Hornby are at with that? I believe shipping is now being added to newly-placed orders again, so a solution may have been arrived at to prevent needless multiple shipping charges for items that could be collated into a single package. HK

Actually sent them an email last night my time and had a reply back from Customer Care in a little over an hour so very pleased with the response time. They've admitted the website isn't set up correctly to amend card details at the moment. It's been suggested that they will attempt to take the payment from my card, which will decline due to the expiry having changed. I should then receive an email from Hornby saying this has occurred and containing a secure link to allow me to update my card details and complete the purchase. The Easterner set is still a while away yet so we will see what happens once they arrive and forum members start reporting payment has been taken. Of course, if they intend dispatching direct from China, I may hear from Hornby earlier than UK-based members. HK.