Adam-1306585

I did try downloading the Class 73 onto 3 different decoders a couple months back and it kept saying there were issues with missing sound files, which is why I’ve settled with Class 43 profiles for now. Might try the ‘73 again and see if it’s been fixed. I apologise for missing them two points off…they are cheap as chips, but that’s also because they are cheap as chips. And there’s no reason why Hornby couldn’t have created an approved 3rd party ‘Content Store’ to allow other companies to sell their profiles, and keep the Hornby profiles free….similar to how in TSW4, they’ve built in the facility for people to make up their own liveries and to then share them so other people can easily download them and try them out.

I honestly do believe people would be willing to pay a licence fee to have approved 3rd party profiles, because before HM7000, that’s what they were doing anyway. The only reason people are using the HM7000 is because control is easier via Bluetooth and quicker to edit CV’s. The only reason I got into the HM7000 system was because of my daughters, who can’t operate sounds competently using controllers, but can use an app rather fluently. My eldest has a Pendolino…she loves it, and she loves using her phone to control it, but she hates that the closest profile is a ‘dirty diesel’ (class 43) as she knows that’s not how they sound in real life. Hornby have proven that they can successfully collaborate with other manufacturers, as they love to claim with TT:120. And as I’ve mentioned, I’m far from the only person who’s suggested this.

Of course it’s not directly comparable, but the point still stands. By saying aviation manufacturers, I’m not talking about the likes of Boeing and Airbus, and for you to think I was is being disingenuous on your part. Like any industry, there are many small manufacturers too. i did suggest a ‘Content Store’, meaning you’d have to pay to download the profiles. That way, the other manufacturer would still be making income. The file formats could also be changed and/or re-recorded as well. All I’m saying is they’ve missed a trick with these decoders, especially when it comes to getting younger people into the hobby, such as my 9 year old daughter, who LOVES the Bluetooth control and sounds, but hates that there isn’t anything close to a Pendolino available on the decoder.

1) Sorry, by test team, I didn’t mean beta testers such as yourself. I meant the Hornby build/test team. I apologise for not being more clear. 2) Yes…in aviation, it’s quite common for manufacturers to put out regular updates on products they’re working on. With how active Hornby is on social media, there’s no reason why they can’t release a small update newsletter every week or two. The fact people are making threads about it and people are commenting about it on their social media posts shows ‘why’. We’re now half way through Q2 and there’s no official update on the 423-VEP or the Class 800. 3) Hornby could have had talks with other sound profile creators and came up with an approved third party ‘Content Store’ so people could download sound profiles that already exist, such as the Class 800 from digitalis or whatever they’re called. Another example of this is that Hornby don’t do a Class 158/9…Bachman do, but it would be great to put a HM7000 decoder into it, but there’s no sound profile. So I’d either be forced to use a Class 43 profile, or fit it with a LokSound decoder and profile instead. Hornby really missed a trick with here and it’s something that’s being mentioned over and over again as a feature that people really really want.

I think the problem is there’s no update whatsoever from the team who tests it. As consumers, we’re completely left in the dark. If there was some sort of official weekly news release that gave us updates, then I think that would satisfy most people. whilst the HM7000 is a step in the right direction, it’s missed a few tricks, one of which could be solved simply by software. I’m also waiting for Hornby to release the Class 800 profile (listed for Q1), but I literally have no idea when its coming, and that frustrates me, as it does with a lot of people.

One livery that I’d like to see and I’ve seen a lot of other people ask for is the new tooled HST/Class 43 in the Swallow livery, but also with the option to have the ‘swallow’ on the side supplied as a ‘3D’ element in the detail pack, similar to how in real life, they were separately fitted metal plates rather than just painted on. Also, to have the 423 VEP available in the NSE and Connex liveries would be good. Another welcome addition would be a Class 442 Wessex/plastic pig units….a lot of people in the south loved these units for how comfortable they were. Would be good if they were offered in a few different liveries.

Does anyone have any reliable information as to when the remaining Q1 2024 sound profiles will be released? I have a Class 800 and a 423-VEP waiting and quite frankly, the ‘long Easter weekend’ excuse is no longer acceptable considering we’re more than half way through April now.