Hornby Playtrains.

[Mountain]

Here is a review by Sams Trains, and it is of the simpler on-off Christmas set version. It is actually good, and better than expected. Sure it is not going to be an exact scale model, as it was never made as such, but to help kiddies come into the hobby and also for anyone else wanting a novel Christmas tree item, it is great! Radio control versions next!

https://youtu.be/ctmvszC7tkY?si=xG7e5X8dbjRfjcwx

I'm hoping this does really well for Hornby

I can see a few very simple and inexpensive upgrades.

- press the button and hold to change direction
- add a sound sensor, remember the crappy 'remote control' cars with the clicker? that, clap and the train reverses direction, or sounds its whistle etc
- simple infra red remote maybe?

I think they have a winner with the couplings too, simple but effective, and the utter killer is it will run on normal track and manages points. and the fact the sound isn't "talking Christmas card" grade is excellent

yes its all very simple, some thought has gone into "how do we make this very cheap to assemble?", but its not trying to be anything more than it is.

This is the simple version with the on-off switch on the loco, as this is the budget Christmas set. The other sets will cost more but get radio control... The radio controlled version will come out next. (If buying just the radio controlled version of the loco, the radio controlled hand controller is bought separately, but if buying the set, all will be included). What I am thinking is, that these will make ideal 7mmNG loco conversions to run trains in the garden using the cheaper plastic track or even making ones own budget track?

[aleopardstail]

Here is a review by Sams Trains, and it is of the simpler on-off Christmas set version. It is actually good, and better than expected. Sure it is not going to be an exact scale model, as it was never made as such, but to help kiddies come into the hobby and also for anyone else wanting a novel Christmas tree item, it is great! Radio control versions next!

https://youtu.be/ctmvszC7tkY?si=xG7e5X8dbjRfjcwx

I'm hoping this does really well for Hornby

I can see a few very simple and inexpensive upgrades.

- press the button and hold to change direction
- add a sound sensor, remember the crappy 'remote control' cars with the clicker? that, clap and the train reverses direction, or sounds its whistle etc
- simple infra red remote maybe?

I think they have a winner with the couplings too, simple but effective, and the utter killer is it will run on normal track and manages points. and the fact the sound isn't "talking Christmas card" grade is excellent

yes its all very simple, some thought has gone into "how do we make this very cheap to assemble?", but its not trying to be anything more than it is.

This is the simple version with the on-off switch on the loco, as this is the budget Christmas set. The other sets will cost more but get radio control... The radio controlled version will come out next. (If buying just the radio controlled version of the loco, the radio controlled hand controller is bought separately, but if buying the set, all will be included). What I am thinking is, that these will make ideal 7mmNG loco conversions to run trains in the garden using the cheaper plastic track or even making ones own budget track?

plastic track or more probably 3d printed track, PLA stuff or ABS is better for outdoors

[Phred]

Mountain wrote:
Here is a review by Sams Trains, and it is of the simpler on-off Christmas set version.

I really like that.
Rechargeable is great and it's brilliant that it runs on OO gauge track so the grandkids can bring it over and run it on Granpop's layout!