Hornby 2013 - Duke Of Gloucester

So Hornby have announced their 2013 range and it includes on first clanks 71000 and P2 Cock of the North!

Hornby Model Railways - 2013 Range

(mods wasn't user were best to put this so please move were seems appropriate)

 

Some really exciting and innovative stuff there, and what small boy wouldn't want a train set called 'The Majestic'?

 

wow 71000... I would never have thought it.. yes for "popularity" sales.. but with 1 number and 1-2 variations.. and few re-usable bits for other moulds thats a bit of a risk..
But well done Hornby.. I suspect this is a model only a recession could ever produce.

 

Perhaps they're economising by commoning upon bits of the rotary valve gear with the P2? Couldn't find any images of either model though?

 

P2 is a bit of an enigma too, but with the hype of a new build, and possibly upto 7 variants, and variations it could have potential to sell enough. Hornby does have a more long term view than some of its competitors (even if it doesn't always work out.. APT, Class 92, Rocket, Lord of the isles, jones single etc).

But I suspect some of the chinese manufacturers are also reducing prices ( taking on some R&D risk to maintain quantity levels to keep the job going making some of these possible), after all there's more tooling in a P2 than an Andrew Barclay.. But which has the potential to sell more if it were modelled outside a recession ?

 

Maybe we'll see a caprotti black 5 in the future?

 

I wouldn't be surprised - might just have 6' 2" drivers too?

 

Looking at the "Railroad" and "fully detailed versions", I think we can assume that this approach with 60163 has been a big success. 71000 and the P2 are both big locos which are likely to appeal to the "train set" market as well as fill specific gaps quite a few enthusiasts will be keen to fill.

And from personal experience, I can tell you that can come up with an excuse for almost anything that takes your fancy to join a model railway collection!

Also interesting that Hornby have followed the lead of a number of Euroepan manufacturers (of which Hornby do, of course, own a few!) by going for rarer locos. This has certainly been a trend in recent years in Europe, although one does have to be little concerned as to how much of a part they has played in the financial troubles faced by almost every long established European manufacturers in the last decade.

Steven

 

They are using 71000 on the cover of their web promotion:

http://www.modelrailforum.com/images/Hornby/ggg-2013-Range/2013-Range.jpg

Foxy

 

Really excited about 71000 being made but one downside though is by the looks of it, the pony truck looks to be solid with the frame like my model of 6233 in LMS Black. Really wish they would go back to the old style and have it pivot seperately.

 

To be honest, I'm not too bothered about the solid trailing truck as I quite like the extra details that this enables. Apart from 71000 and 'Okehampton', not a lot for me. Even then, it depends on whether I can afford them when they finally arrive on the shelves. At least that means something else will take 71000's place in the wish list of models, as that locomotives has been on it for a few years, now. The only reason I'd get 71000 is to 'complete the set', as I have a 'Brit' and a 'Clan' due to their Southern connections (the latter a bit tenuous, but the five following 72009 would have gone down south if built), so why not. However, with a final major fling on the rails on the cards next year while I still have my railcard, I doubt I'll have the money to spare.

 

I believe it is in the Railroad range - one of the models offered is 5972, I would guess in red! It almost certainly uses the old Triang mold dating from the late 1960s!

Steven

 

They do seem to be offering a more detailed version of Rood Ashton Hall though, alongside the two railroad versions...

 

The Hall class, the P2 & DOG are all new tooling. They will be made in the same way as the Hornby Tornado, a basic model in Railroad and a more detailed version in the standard range.

 

Will the caprotti valve gear actually turn?!

 

It's a replacement for the nigh on forty year old ex-Airfix 'Castle' in the Harry Potter train sets, and they're releasing it in a couple of other liveries (and 5972 with different nameplates as 'Olton Hall') as a spin off from that.

 

Not everyone's cup of tea. I see Hornby are going to do 2-Bil unit next year.

 

A list of all the new tooling (apologies for any duplication of previous posts)
GWR Star class
LNER P2 'Cock O' The North' (Detailed & Railroad versions)
GWR Hall class (Detailed & Railroad versions)
BR Standard 8 'Duke Of Gloucester' (Detailed & Railroad versions)
Sentinel 4 wheeled Industrial Diesel shunter
SR 2BIL EMU
BR MK1 Coaches - CK, SK, BSK (Railroad range)
BR Fish Van
GWR Shunters Truck
LMS Parcels Van