There won't be any re-issues of the old Hornby-Dublo product. The tooling went to 'Wrenn' who fooled around with it, and found many ways of diluting the quality, but thankfully that's all over now.kimballthurlow wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:12 am ... I searched for an English equivalent, and the discovered Hornby Dublo (1949-64) has given me a similar pleasure. In that regard I limit my purchases to pre-nationalisation LNER which is why I follow this online group. I too look forward to re-issues...
What the current Hornby brand management is doing is using H-D 'lookalike' packaging styling , with completely newly tooled metal bodied locos inside. Nary a report of how they run, so until Hornby introduce a Kylchap A4 in this range - and provided I am swift enough to get an order accepted - the running qualities will remain unknown. (Unless some kind contributor here knows differently!)
On this matter, let me help. There's a big choice of four models for pre-nationalisation LNER: B12/3, D16/3, J15, J36. I have them all and am very pleased. It's only the locos that have a largely metal body, with some plastic parts, cabs in particular. All benefit from the weight a largely metal body provides to assist traction. The tenders are plastic mouldings. (For those interested in other railways, there are metal loco bodied Schools 4-4-0, 700 0-6-0, Peckett 0-4-0ST; and the awaited BR std 2MT 2-6-0, all new Black 5, and Stanier Turbomotive all appear to have metal loco bodies based on the pre-production pictures Hornby have shown.)kimballthurlow wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:12 am ... Some modern Hornby do come with metal bodies. I wrote to them a few years ago and asked why they did not advertise that feature so I could make a choice - it is a BIG DEAL for me. I cannot go to a hobby shop and check, on which subject Hornby are forging ahead in an attempt to make them disappear. Their answer said something like it was not one of the specification criteria for marketing purposes!...
I would suggest the one to sample is the B12/3. I haven't sampled every RTR OO steam model by a long chalk, but in comparison to those I have, my opinion is that this is the all around best RTR OO steam loco I own. Beats the Rapido Stirling single and Bachmann's new V2 for accuracy, beats Bachmann's atlantics, and 'all brands' current 2-6-0, 4-6-0, and eight coupled goods for traction, the sole exceptions among what has been sampled the Heljan 2-8-0s which are properly weighty (by metal packed inside plastic bodyshells). HTH
Forgot one, not branded Hornby but introduced by Oxford Rail, which is now part of the Hornby's range. That's the N7, 90% of the body cast as a single piece, and very heavy as a result.
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