Hatfield Shed wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:05 am
'The match' to the A2/3 is the Peppercorn A2.
Fair enough; aside from the stovepipe chimney, I kind of think that the A2/3's aren't actually all that bad looking, above the running board anyway; give them Peppercorn frames (call it a 'what-if' rebuild), and you'd probably have a really nice machine.
I must admit I found myself somewhat underwhelmed by this years release. I'm surprised they haven't built on the 2MT launch with either a 2MT tank, or a 3MT tender for that matter (or why Bachmann haven't jumped on that one themselves!), instead plucking for the 9F, which lets be honest, Bachmann already have well covered with their own version, a very odd choice in my opinion, with so many classes as yet not done, perhaps the 9F, like a certain A1/A3, is a good cash cow for them?
The streamlined P2 is lovely, but I would only be buying it for want, rather than needing it as a key part of my railways stock (which the originals would never have traversed anyway).
I can fully understand their mild re-tool of the A1/A3, I sense a general two folded issue with the current Hornby range, and that is 1, design engines/tooling engineers not being able to design in the right profile to the running plate to offset distortion, and 2, the inability of the manufacturer to control distortion in the moulding process. Perhaps the current suppliers are more specialised in diecast parts, and Hornby is moving towards it. I haven't seen any of the latest models they've done in large portions of diecast, but I gather feedback is good. That being said, my 46256 and 46229 are far from lacking in adhesion themselves.
I'm just pleased they haven't monitored my activities and started offering Lambton locomotives haha.
Paul_sterling wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:09 pm
...plucking for the 9F, which lets be honest, Bachmann already have well covered with their own version, a very odd choice in my opinion, with so many classes as yet not done, perhaps the 9F, like a certain A1/A3, is a good cash cow for them? ...
You should believe it! Even now after decades of competition, Hornby retain their grip on the RTR OO market, to the extent that a significant number of enthusiasts for the brand won't purchase anything else. The Gresley pacifics are acknowledged winners, not least in keeping Hornby solvent on at least two occasions. This makes Hornby's failure to cover all the Doncaster designs of Ivatt and Gresley before bothering with those of any other railway inexplicable. Oops, a little personal bias emerging there...
Paul_sterling wrote: ↑Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:09 pm
...I haven't seen any of the latest models they've done in large portions of diecast, but I gather feedback is good ...
Just take a look at the most recent of these, B12/3 and J36. There are detail aspects which can be improved upon if the owner desires, but overall these are a sound basis for a modeller to create a portrait of a selected member of the class. And the mechanism is smooth running from dead slow, with adequate traction thanks to the weight the die cast boiler provides. I would like all my future RTR steam loco purchases to this standard.
I wonder if this generic nonsense is an import from across the pond. For decades HO Steam locos and rolling stock have been marketed in liveries that the prototypes never carried? The trouble is that the main manufacturers are running out of prototypes and are not conducive to producing specialist prototypes like restaurant and sleeping cars as they don't sell as well as the normal coaches. Thoughts?
Saint Johnstoun wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:06 pm
I wonder if this generic nonsense is an import from across the pond. For decades HO Steam locos and rolling stock have been marketed in liveries that the prototypes never carried? The trouble is that the main manufacturers are running out of prototypes and are not conducive to producing specialist prototypes like restaurant and sleeping cars as they don't sell as well as the normal coaches. Thoughts?
The odd thing about the generic pre-grouping coaches from Hornby is that they're not really generic at all. They are all to some extent slight modifications of actual Stroudley coaches, the four wheelers suffering from being both stretched and squashed, and the six wheelers the same.
Hattons are genuinely generic with many variations of certain parts that allows them to just about be representative of lots of different companies, but not be "accurate" - but they are very detailed.
You pays your money, makes your choice - the Hornby ones are undoubtedly aimed at the train set market, not modellers, but I think could be good starting points for some modelling for many. If you want something closer, Hattons is better, and if you want something accurate - kits it is! Which lets be fair - has been the way for many years.
Or is that just trans-port?
