Hornby at Railfest - O1, B17 and Thompson suburbans

[S.A.C. Martin]

The O1, B17 and the Thompsons are all slated for October 2012. I suspect this is related to a possible pre-Warley release and possibly a tie in, B17 to Thompson Suburbans, as they did with the B1 and the Gresley Suburbans last year, in a marketing sense.

[nzpaul]

Hi All
Email from Hattons just the other day suggest end of October for B17, not really bothered, bin waiting nearly 2 years is it now?? can't remember original release date.
Just to change subject for a bit, I did get hold of the new V2 this week,(I had to buy something this year given lack of B17 and cancellation of A3 Book Law) despite the obvious missed oportunity to fix up the boiler and dome, the improvements to the chassis are genuine, the wheels are much nicer, it's a very steady runner and finish is far superior to my older V2s(My newest one came from about 2003) and I don't have to build my own Cartazzi truck under the cab.
It's not a brilliant model but better in the flesh than photos.

Cheers
Paul M

[S.A.C. Martin]

Hi All
Email from Hattons just the other day suggest end of October for B17, not really bothered, bin waiting nearly 2 years is it now?? can't remember original release date.
Just to change subject for a bit, I did get hold of the new V2 this week,(I had to buy something this year given lack of B17 and cancellation of A3 Book Law) despite the obvious missed oportunity to fix up the boiler and dome, the improvements to the chassis are genuine, the wheels are much nicer, it's a very steady runner and finish is far superior to my older V2s(My newest one came from about 2003) and I don't have to build my own Cartazzi truck under the cab.
It's not a brilliant model but better in the flesh than photos.

Cheers
Paul M

Yes, a few of us on RMweb have been modifying our new Bachmann V2s. Here's a link to my blog with the full lowdown of mods I've done to mine: Bachmann V2 Bashing

In complete agreement on the finish and chassis, Bachmann nearly had it right but missed out on the bodyshell again. A right shame after the excellent 4MT and Jubilee retoolings.

[60526]

B17...changing sourcing from China to India? Everything has its price, perhaps the profit margin isn't in there for Hornby.

Looking back at the current B17, if you ignore the chassis and valve gear, the loco body isn't that bad?

[Manxman1831]

Reading between the articles in the modelling press and blogs on here, I think Bachmann's owners (Kader/Kadee?) have succeeded in getting Hornby out of the factory they were sharing, and had recently bought outright. If this is the case, I would expect many more models to follow suit, with similar losses/improvements made to the change from Margate to China production.

[Tom F]

Hi All
Email from Hattons just the other day suggest end of October for B17, not really bothered, bin waiting nearly 2 years is it now?? can't remember original release date.
Just to change subject for a bit, I did get hold of the new V2 this week,(I had to buy something this year given lack of B17 and cancellation of A3 Book Law) despite the obvious missed oportunity to fix up the boiler and dome, the improvements to the chassis are genuine, the wheels are much nicer, it's a very steady runner and finish is far superior to my older V2s(My newest one came from about 2003) and I don't have to build my own Cartazzi truck under the cab.
It's not a brilliant model but better in the flesh than photos.

Cheers
Paul M

Yes, a few of us on RMweb have been modifying our new Bachmann V2s. Here's a link to my blog with the full lowdown of mods I've done to mine: Bachmann V2 Bashing

In complete agreement on the finish and chassis, Bachmann nearly had it right but missed out on the bodyshell again. A right shame after the excellent 4MT and Jubilee retoolings.

Indeed, here is mine that Tim has been working on. IMO it's the finest RTR V2 out there now pride of my fleet. That front end on mine really captures the essence of a V2.

Hats off to Tim, a lot of thought and work went into her!

[Atlantic 3279]

The fact that one Hornby new arrival appeared to have been made in India rather than China was pointed out to me over a year ago.

If there's a wholesale move to manufacture without Bachmann's interference, in order to achieve more reliable delivery dates, that's a good thing. I do hope however that this doesn't mean another round of re-design for chassis units, leading to yet another overall concept - maybe axles of different sizes again, disappearance of the slick mid-noughties pacific chassis and replacement by the Tornado derived lump etc. giving rise to yet more questions of what parts will actually fit other locos when carrying out upgrades and conversions ......

[2002EarlMarischal]

Yes, a few of us on RMweb have been modifying our new Bachmann V2s.

As this is the LNER Forum and we are taliking about the V2, please could we have a step by step illustration of the modifications here? We don't all use RMweb!

If there's a wholesale move to manufacture without Bachmann's interference, in order to achieve more reliable delivery dates, that's a good thing. I do hope however that this doesn't mean another round of re-design for chassis units, leading to yet another overall concept - maybe axles of different sizes again, disappearance of the slick mid-nineties pacific chassis and replacement by the Tornado derived lump etc. giving rise to yet more questions of what parts will actually fit other locos when carrying out upgrades and conversions .

Hmm, highly likely unfortunately.

[S.A.C. Martin]

[As this is the LNER Forum and we are taliking about the V2, please could we have a step by step illustration of the modifications here? We don't all use RMweb!

I've just posted a separate thread in model railways outlining how I did mine - all pictures and words come from my external blog.

[2002EarlMarischal]

[As this is the LNER Forum and we are taliking about the V2, please could we have a step by step illustration of the modifications here? We don't all use RMweb!

I've just posted a separate thread in model railways outlining how I did mine - all pictures and words come from my external blog.

You are a top man Simon - many thanks!

[Atlantic 3279]

I've amended my post above to show that I meant the mid "noughties" (2005-ish on?) China-built pacific chassis.

[nzpaul]

Hi all
I've just recieved an email from Hattons suggesting the B17 will now be due in December, I guess a few others on the forum will have recieved the same. Hornby must be starting to feel rather embarassed by the inability of their manufacturer (no longer Sanda Kan??) to deliver the goods. Can't imagine what could be causing the hold up, the B1 turned up on time and I see the big GWR tanks are almost into production, the B17 must be somthing really special.

Cheers
Paul

[2512silverfox]

According to yesterday's DT Business Section, Hornby are in some trouble over the 'specials' for 2012 Olympics which have not sold as well as expected. I surmise therefore that with lots of 2012 Olympic gear on their shelves, cash flow dictates a slowing up of new items, until they have liquidated some of the stock - admittedly these items are Corgi, Scalextric etc, but the lack of sales impinges on th whole group.

[Atlantic 3279]

I was speaking to "the man who really ought to know" at Barrow Hill last saturday, and in the same conversation in which I pointed out to him that his/Hornby's B17 was displayed in the cabinet with tender back-to-front ( ), we also touched on the matter of delivery date. It would appear that he has now forecast "next month" at so many different dates, that he is prepared to say no more until there is hard evidence of the relevant containers having been put on the ship in the far east.

I wonder how long it will be until Bachmann/NRM make another sly change to the date for Butler-Henderson too, originally meant to be with us this month, or has that already slid again, beyond October, whilst I wasn't looking?

[60800]

I wonder how long it will be until Bachmann/NRM make another sly change to the date for Butler-Henderson too, originally meant to be with us this month, or has that already slid again, beyond October, whilst I wasn't looking?

Still October, but the NRM shop's front page has now updated to 'in stock soon'