Hornby's hot' announcement So it's TT 120!

[Richard08]

Hornby announcement video. I lost the will to live after about 50 seconds (corporate videos..) but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biiFX3KS6GM

[Mountain]

Though a risk, I can fully understand the concept of why Hornby along with others are going for the new TT.

Will fit in a smaller space. Is not as minute as N. Correct scale to gauge and one can also from the start bring in a decent coupling as standard. And also can start again with finding new prototypes to model as to them is a fresh new scale to start in that though has been done before, not to the same scale so it does make sense.

[ChrisGreaves]

... a wide range needs to be available before you will get enthusiasts changing scales....

Hi Bufferstop.
Hornby may not be looking at enthusiasts changing scales. They may be looking at new or returning modelers.
I fall into that category, as does a gent I knew back in 1978 when we were both in our early thirties.
Baby-boomers (born 1945 and onwards) are a wave of (generally) guys who contemplate taking up the screwdrivers, paintbrushes and glue pots again, and with smaller rooms, scales alternate to OO-would be appealing.
Most of us have lost or jettisoned our OO- from the late 1950s/early 1960s, so physically it is a Fresh Start for us, even though mentally we are returning to the hobby.
I am and always was pathetic at Marketing, so what do I know ...?
Cheers, Chris

[4472]

Check out Simon Kohler on this subject

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/new ... WB,19DB2,1

[Mountain]

Web only is a sure way to restrict sales.

[Bufferstop]

They are missing a trick if the non modellers will never get to see them because there's none in the shops. Perhaps if the release sets to the shops but keep all the rest on-line they would pick up parents and grandparents browsing the shops.

[Richard08]

They are missing a trick if the non modellers will never get to see them because there's none in the shops. Perhaps if the release sets to the shops but keep all the rest on-line they would pick up parents and grandparents browsing the shops.

And if 'everyone' did decide to go TT, the model shops will be cut out and lose sales volume to Hornby that they cannot replace, and maybe dying as a result. It seems a odd strategy. I'd bet a cup of tea they have done it so they can keep batches small, not having to make stock for the shops to put on their shelves. If they said it'll only be on-line to start with while stocks are built up that would make sense and I think people would understand - and the shops could breathe again.

[Bigmet]

Web only is a sure way to restrict sales.

Hornby may well be restricting their TT sales: largely to the more wealthy and free spending sector of the population, that rarely if ever frequent the high street. Everything about what they are doing says to me that it is a completely new group of customers Hornby are primarily targetting. Those with a current railway modelling interest and purchasing TT would be icing on the cake in this scenario.

There likely will be 'model shop' TT items if the scale takes off: it's wait and see what competitors choose to do...

[Mountain]

I am wondering if this TT takes off for Hornby, if it is a good idea to sell off their other assets to get out of debt, bring manufacturing back to the UK to be in a better position if a collapse comes?

Is just a thought...

[Alexander Court]

One of the suggestions there was to do with the Flying Scotsman centenary, well:

https://uk.hornby.com/catalogue/flying- ... -centenary

There's a new raft of playtrains rolling stock/locos as part of that release too.

Alex.

[RAF96]

One of the suggestions there was to do with the Flying Scotsman centenary, well:

https://uk.hornby.com/catalogue/flying- ... -centenary

There's a new raft of playtrains rolling stock/locos as part of that release too.

Alex.

Am I being naive in thinking that a DCC-Ready loco (8-pin) is good value at £363 a pop. It may be a good spec - metal body, etc, but that price is eye-wateringly expensive.

[D605Eagle]

I am wondering if this TT takes off for Hornby, if it is a good idea to sell off their other assets to get out of debt, bring manufacturing back to the UK to be in a better position if a collapse comes?

Is just a thought...

The problem is Hornby are really just an online retailer now. They manufacture nothing other than hot air and have no equipment whatsoever to manufacture anything and actually would have extreme difficulty getting any tooling for their models from China. It would be no different from an outsider starting from scratch.

[Richard08]

The problem is Hornby are really just an online retailer now. They manufacture nothing other than hot air and have no equipment whatsoever to manufacture anything and actually would have extreme difficulty getting any tooling for their models from China. It would be no different from an outsider starting from scratch.

They announced that they were bringing 10% of manufacturing back to the UK in 2012 (basically the Airfix Quickbuild range as far as I can find), then again in 2015 they paid off their Chinese supplier with talk of re-shoring more (several articles from several sources, but could be just cut-and-paste copying - no details given). Humbrol also brought back 60% of production in 2013 (airfix.com). There were stories of some short run/specialist train manufacturing being started in the UK as well a few years back, but I can't find any actual info on that. 'The Dicast Model' blog on line magazine (I know nothing about it's 'pedigree') claims 70% of Hornby's production is now outside China (no detail about where it's supposed to have moved to). Does anyone know for sure what the current state of play actually is?

[b308]

Well I've ordered a set so will wait and see. Having modelled in TT 1:120 I know how good the scale is, more detail than N but a lot less space than 00. The sales method is interesting, but for launching a new scale it may just work. How many of you actually purchase full priced stuff from your local model shop anyhow? I'd lay odds that most are done online with Rails, Hattons or the like. I suspect if it does succeed they will allow shops to stock it, though.

Interesting times.

[Meister]

My guess is Hornby have looked hard into their crystal ball and come to the conclusion that relying on OO is not going to be profitable enough in the longer term. With major retailers now offering their own ranges and numerous new smaller players like Accurascale and Rapido to take an ever increasing chunk of Hornby sales they have decided to 'go big' on a new venture where Margate can rule the roost. Relying on direct sales (at least initially) will boost profitability and help to offset the huge initial investment. A risky move possibly but it might work if new entrants to the hobby opt for TT in significant numbers and some existing modellers decide to jump ship. Not the slightest chance I will switch after 40+ years with OO but others may come to a different conclusion.