Hi Guys New to this forum but felt, through frustration, more than anything else, That I needed to say my piece re Hornby spare parts. The Mallard, loved & owned by many & a status symbol of masterful engineering of its day. Why is it so hard to get replacement parts for the (00) model, which is still one of the top sellers today? I’ve read & understand peoples arguments regarding various reasons for this but in todays market & the cost of NEW Hornby models, surely model railway enthusiasts will want to preserve their collection for as long as possible by replacing worn parts. Time over use is normally the culprit with model rail, as parts become brittle and naturally worn etc. There are loads of locos out there up to & even over 40 years old for sale, that have ‘ stood the test of time’ as well as a countless number fondly owned by enthusiasts who, as the hobby dictates, want to not only keep their stock in good running order, but also carry out necessary repairs & replace worn parts when required. Many of Hornby’s parts are also interchangeable with other models that they produce. A good business strategy, but which surely puts a greater demand on the need for more of the same part to be made available. However Hornby, by so called ‘improving’ or ‘changing’ production details, are creating the need for more replacement parts to be made available I have been given a Mallard which is approximately 35 to 40 years old which needs replacement parts & it seems that whilst the components are supposedly available, all suppliers are out of stock! Will my Mallard ever run on the rails again I wonder? Oh & this 1 model alone has many build variations. So Hornby, please give your customers better opportunities to access spare parts to keep enthusiasts happy, or they may decide to buy from your competitors who, may be dearer but will know that they are able to get the replacement parts they need when they need them. Food for thought?
