Hornby 2005

It has to be something that covers up those overscale single cylinders.

The Deltic was my first thought - Bachmann have sort of made amends on the

37 with the 37/0, but the Deltic with it's much criticised nose and printed panel-lines is still unsatisfactory to many. That said, the piece on MREmag said that they were "going head-to-head" with an existing "superdetailed" model. That leads me to think that we are talking about Heljan.

As for the "other" model, a 66 would mean going head-to-head with Bachmann on that too.

Time will tell I suppose.

Personally, I'd like a better 40 and a new AC electric (87, 85 or 81)

Adrian

"Adrian" wrote

I think most people would prefer variety rather than manufacturers going head-to-head with duplicated products. I don't see there can be any winners when those crazy for power or market share starting coming to the fore.

It's already being widely suggested that Hornby have put too much product into the market place this Christmas, with train sets sales particularly poor at many smaller retailers.

John.

I agree that the last thing we want to see is any of the 3 UK OO manufacturers being pushed out or even scaling down their plans. Variety is indeed what we need, but as I've said in other threads, for those who want better r-t-r models, head-to-head competition *may* help to achieve that. As long as there is only one cl40 on the market and one 31 and one Deltic etc, there is no pressure on manufacturers to improve their products. Personally, I am happy with the current situation and whilst I accept that there is a market for expensive hi-spec models just as there is for cheap-and-cheerful, the majority of demand sits somewhere in the middle and I'm not convinced that there is room in the market for two manufacturers producing up-to-date versions of the same prototype.

Out of interest, which models would you like to see diesel-wise ? It seems to me that the majority of the popular classes are now available - or will be when the 31, 33, 26, 27, 57 and 66 appear... I suppose 60, 73 and upgraded 56 and 58. There are bigger gaps in the AC electrics.

Adrian

Classes 14, 15, 17 and 22. Badger.

Diesel model suggestions - the LMS prototypes of 1947/48, Nos 10000 and

cheap-and-cheerful,

It wouldn't matter how good the mech was, if a lump like this was sitting on top.

Have a look at and the full size images, just to remind yourself how crude and crummy the models really were!

G'day All Maybe it will be something American or European. Graeme Hearn

Hornby has paid good money for the molds - will you tell them they've wasted their capital? My bet is they're going to get as much on the market as soon as they can, both to get a return on that capital and to keep the other manufacturers from poaching their prototypes. If "xyz" puts a better 33 on the market then that mold will only be of value to the cheap toy market. Investment gone!

Regards, Greg.P.

Back when Herpa-Liliput crumbled (1991_ and Bachmann bought their molds, it was 1995 before Bachmann got the first limited range of models on the market, and 2001 before the majority of the _best_ were in the catalogue. With three major markets to service, I don't expect much for the European market for at least 5 years.

Regards, Greg.P.

G'day, I have it on good authority that they are looking at mid 2005. Graeme Hearn

Who? :-) The people ordering or the people making the production promises?

The molds were made for not particularly modern Italian machinery - they will need to be modified to suit whatever (Chinese) machines the Chinese own.

Regards, Greg.P.

In the case of some of the OO tooling - yes! Hornby's main reason for acquiring Lima was to break in to the European market, including distributing Scalextric in Italy under the Lima brand. They plan to re-introduce some Lima models in Europe in the second half of 2005, while *some* OO models will be resurrected in 2006.

--

*** *** Rich Mackin (rich-at-richmackin-co-uk) MSN: richmackin-at-hotmail-dot-com

"Gregory Procter" wrote

They've already said repeatedly that their initial concentration will be on getting stuff into the European and USA markets, and that it may be some time before anything happens in terms of releasing ex-Lima stuff for the UK.

In fact it may be some time before anything happens anywhere. Note their promise to keep the Italian sales operation active by giving them Scalextric to sell.

John.

Rich Mackin wrote:-

If Lima are dated now, they will be positively prehistoric by 2006. A re-motored 20 and 67 perhaps? The rest, scrap.

(kim)

Oh I don't know, hey could do some useful work with the GWR rail car and parcels car, got to admit I'd pay good money for up to date versions of these. I reckon that Hornby would get their money back on any additional investment they'd need to make on these, just look how quickly the second hand ones get snapped up.

They have moulds of their own which that could apply to, but we haven't seen re-issued EM1, AL1, Blue Pullman and even the APT. All these go for inflated prices on eBay, but Hornby haven't shown any sign of resurrecting them. I can't see that Lima moulds should be any different.

Adrian

All true all a bit of a shame really, its often assumed that for a model to sell well the prototype has to have been well known and built in large quantities, I really don't believe that to be the case. I know we tend to harp on about it but what about the Q1? Before Hornby produced the model I reckon only a fraction of the current generation of model train enthusiasts had ever heard of it but it's my understanding that it's sold like hot cakes. Even I've bought one and I have no real interest in SR, it's well made, unusual and dare I say it charismatic, I'm sure some other older less well known types would have equal success.

Chris Wilson wrote:-

It would cost as much to bring to bring the GWR Railcar up to 2006 standards as it would to design a whole new model.

(kim)