The annual 'what will they do next year?' thread.

Still waiting for 34013...

 

About time, I was beginning to think it was a myth.

 

I'm led to believe 71000 should be in the shops within the next few days according to my local model shop.

 

71000 arrived in my local model shop today. I was lucky to snap up the last model. I'm led to believe by the owner that there's been a big take up for this model.

 

Just like the 592 version of Bachmann's C Class, I was thinking of getting one as a Christmas present to myself, nowhere has it in stock and when they occasionally pop up on ebay they go for silly money!

 

What's the pipework and smokebox dart like?

 

The model is ok but the smokebox dart is moulded in to the door unlike my model of 45190.

 

Will probably give it a miss, as it will look a bit naff next to my 'Brits' and 'Clan'.

 

Hi Bulleid Pacific,

I found a review about 71000 on the RM forum.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/in...ristmas-present’-–-hornby-duke-of-gloucester/

 

Will have a read now. Thanks.

 

Having read the review of what's moulded on and what's not, it looks even more naff now than it did before! Fixed con-rods? They're having a laugh! If this model is anything to go by, I cannot see any difference between the premium product and the 'Railroad' budget line. A wasted opportunity.

 

It does seem rather a piece of junk that 71000 review if it's the premium model, no sprung buffers and mostly moulded detail ? I thought Hornby had moved away from the bad old days of comedy tender drives and cheapo detail, with the Grange I thought they had finally caught up to Bachmann.

 

It's a weird approach. The "premium" model seems to be a sort of halfway house between the normal range and the Railroad range, and the price reflects this. Moulded buffers I can live with (what use are they anyway?), but one-piece coupling rods, square, plain bearings and moulded smokebox handles just makes it look cheap. Moulded handrails on the tender and firebox top pipework too. The biggest problem to me though is the smokebox sticks out over the sloping front, when the bottom of the smokebox should be flush.

There's an interesting review on RMWeb if anyone's interested.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/in...ristmas-present’-–-hornby-duke-of-gloucester/

 

True, but then why bother doing one in the first place?

 

At the end of the day it's a cheap model (yes it is really) and it's made in a relatively cheap way.

They are going to sell the beans out of it to recoup the cost and a cheap railroad range, will if ever the real one works again, sell very well in the lads & dads market.. which is what hornby is all about.
There are 4 variants on offer already (train pack, railroad, detailed and now 1960's)
The model can always be improved in the future (and of course lead to new sales).

A strange choice, but not nearly as strange as the P2… but then a Standard 4 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 and B1 were all strange decisions too.

 

Details such as handrails and smokebox darts can be improved with relative ease by an average modeller, but the basic shape is far more of an issue!

 

A couple of limited edition models of the Austerity Saddle Tank in OO gauge
Kernow Model Rail Center: Longmoor Military Railway No. 196 Errol Lonsdale £99.99 pre-order (£109.99 after) http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.co...ls_Class_J94_060_Steam_Locomotive_number_196_
RMWeb: NCB no. 65 £99.95 + P&P http://djmodels.co.uk/?page_id=91

 

MHR are now a stockist of DJ models

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/article.php/462/dj-models-available-from-the-watercress-line