Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Discuss Hornby Model Railway products and related topics here. This includes (Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren and Oxford Rail).
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Bigmet »

And back to selling you a pacific or three, Hattons sent me a little billet-doux inviting orders for the 'Hornby-Dublo' styled metal bodied pacifics announced this year. Change to Hornby's marketing then, as until now these have been direct sales from Hornby only, TTBOMK. This might just lead to price reductions if they don't shift...
Richard08
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Richard08 »

Bigmet wrote:And back to selling you a pacific or three, Hattons sent me a little billet-doux inviting orders for the 'Hornby-Dublo' styled metal bodied pacifics announced this year. Change to Hornby's marketing then, as until now these have been direct sales from Hornby only, TTBOMK. This might just lead to price reductions if they don't shift...
The cynic in me suggests their going back, I'm tempted to write crawling back, to the dealers implies Plan A isn't going well - i.e. 'disappointing' (pre) sales.
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Bigmet »

Richard08 wrote:The cynic in me suggests their going back, I'm tempted to write crawling back, to the dealers ...
I don't feel that's remotely cynical! By coincidence was in my local model railway store this morning, and one of the staff told me they have had steady input from regular customers to the effect 'sell the full range via established retailers, or that's the last you see of my money'. I don't think Hornby quite grasp the social side of the hobby, which includes the bricks and mortar retail experience for many. (Now whether that 'many' is sufficiently free-spending to make a significant difference to Hornby's bottom line is another matter.)

More significant I feel, is that this shop just a few years ago had a solid wall of red Hornby boxes. It's half a wall now, but the shop is still rammed with stock, and where then 'the prominent others' were essentially Bachmann, Heljan, Peco, while those three were still much the same on view, there's Accurascale, Dapol, EFE, Oxford Rail, Rapido, occupying the formerly all-red wall...
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Bigmet »

And so it continues in the local model shop, and this time they had a Hornby metal bodied A4 in late crest available, and I took the bait. Along with a few wagons I managed to spend a tenth of my 'allocated' model railway cash, that's how slow the supply has been these last eight or so years.... No sign yet of Bachmann and Hornby's carriages (more BR mk1 species and Coronation set respectively) or Heljan's GNR styled O2 2-8-0.

The A4 is yet better than all Hornby's previous metal bodied steamers of which I have a few - well it's an A4 first and foremost, runs beautifully and it's an A4, will pull well thanks to the weight, might even manage 25 carriages which an A4 managed out of KX unassisted, and it looks like an A4, and that's all that is required to inspire joy.
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Mountain
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Mountain »

Now that DOES sound a good "Proper" model which may justify its price? Something solid that pulls! WELL DONE HORNBY! (What price band is it in?)
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

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Mountain wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:05 pm... (What price band is it in?)
Don't know the RRP, it was just shy of £300
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Mountain
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Mountain »

Considering the last of the Wrenn products were around £125-£170 for a 4-6-0 and 4-6-2 type locos back in the early 1990's as I recall (Remember Clun castle being £125 as I wanted one which was way beyond my price range back then (When news was that Wrenn ceased production the prices went stupid on the last few!)
And really this reminds me of them but a new improved version... I reacon that is a reasonable price. Yes, Hornby can offer good value if one knows what to look for and knows where to look! (Though I assume it is a discount price).
[But if it was £450-£500 I would say "How much?!!!" and make my face go like this. .. :shock: ] :D

Haha! But yes. That does seem a great price and a very nice loco! Any pictures? :D

(I am staying with 0-16.5 so though tempting, I am not buying one.... (Erm! Don't think I have a spare £300! :D ).

But seriously. Sounds a good buy as sounds like a loco that will last?
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Bigmet »

Mountain wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2024 6:18 pm Any pictures?
No mobile phone or digtal camera - that's one way I economise for the things I want to purchase.

Itlooks the same as this one:
https://www.newmodellersshop.co.uk/stea ... Q4QAvD_BwE
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Mountain
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Mountain »

Very nice!
Bigmet
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Re: Hornby's 2023 OO range announcements

Post by Bigmet »

And more good news, I have now got around to the minimal modifications required to get the A4 to go round a 36" radius curve having fitted the optional flanged Cartazzi truck wheelset in the detail pack. The mechanism construction is that little bit superior over the plastic bodied A4s, and as a result there was less to do. All the work is out of sight inside the Cartazzi frame moulding, so no remedial work required: no future collector will ever know that he has corrupted his principles by purchase of a 'not original condition' specimen. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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