Hornby's Worst Model Railway Products
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- A rundown of Hornby's worst products... according to me!
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0:00 Intro
1:27 10th place
3:12 9th place
6:37 8th place
7:59 7th place
10:26 6th place
12:26 5th place
13:21 4th place
14:56 3rd place
15:55 2nd place
17:33 1st place 
Авто/Мото
As big of a Thomas & Friends fan as I am, I’m in full agreement with you about Hornby Edward. He’s the worst model in the range only second to Emily. The lack of outside cylinders and the fact that he’s taller than James highlight this. Everyone says Hornby had a 2P tooling they should’ve used at the time Edward’s original model was released (2006), and it’s hard to disagree!
Meanwhile, Bill and Ben (along with Toby) were repurposed from the Thomas clockwork range from 1999. They were deliberately overscaled for children (I had the full range growing up), and that was unfortunately carried over into the OO range.
It’s just disgusting seeing these models absolutely massive and not correct to the Tv show or the books,well some of the books.Along with The E2’s being massive.Edward looks like he’s as long as the Hornby Gordon and my pillow
Plus they were this 🤏 close to make atleast replicas of the rev. Models but nope they had to use that thing for Edward...and i Don't want to start with Emily.....
@@TaG.189 They should have took an example from another company,but obviously since Hornby was probably not gaining has much money when they made the Thomas models.Thomas in my opinion is ok,he’s an actual E2 and E2’s were bloody massive
@@Over_Aviation i think they put most of the budget on Percy, wich from the rev. description could have Simply been a Smokey Joe Painted green with a face and bunker
@@TaG.189I also don’t get why they didn’t modify a D16 for it
"Function 8 is a murder" -Sam's Trains 2024
I think it was supposed to be workshop or blacksmith noises.
My impression is that it's levers being pulled in a McKenzie &Holland lever frame.
I like your videos
The steampunk range’s worst aspect was that it brought shame and dishonour to the name of Basset-Lowke, who practically kickstarted the hobby single-handedly! A firm that made spectacular 0 gauge and live steam engines that still work wonderfully to this day. Hornby should have used the Basset-Lowke name to enter the 0 gauge market and/or live steam, which would have greatly helped their profits. Thanks as always Sam!
Indeed, a great many people who still revere the hallowed name of Bassett Lowke were absolutely livid.
Too right, they can tarnish their own brand, but they needn't drag Basset-Lowke down with it... That could have been used so much better. Surely Hornby in N Gauge or using Basset-Lowke for O Gauge would have been far less financially risky than trying to relaunch TT?
Absolutely agree. Even though Bassett Lowke pretty much made none of their products until a few common items in their latter years, and of course WJ was the big sponsor for Greenly and WJ was a genuine hero, rescuing Stefan Bing and others from a certain heinous fate.
Arguably of course, AW Gamage sold vast amounts of model railway equipment that WJ could only dream of, however Gamaged just the equipment, not the encompassing use of that equipment, and WJ also got other manufacturers involved in the hobby, as an example a wallpaper manufacturer retailing scenic scenes specifically designed as backdrops for a model railway.
And wallpaper then wasn't machine printed of course, it was all complicated silk screened overlays and masks.
Tbh the steampunk range sounds like one of those ventures by someone in the model railway industry having little to no knowledge or enthusiasm of the model railway hobby, just an enthusiasm for model railways as being a marketable product.
I’m very pleased with all the correct and tasteful replies. I do still wonder though, what does Sam and others know of this? Maybe it’s time to for him to review some samples of older, important models to keep their marks of progress known to many. Bassett-Lowke, Varney Super h0, Hornby Dublo, and many others have produced models that with a little love and attention can give todays newest models a good run for their money.
@1471SirFrederickBanbury well said. I did a timed result on my early fifties märklin CM800: 0.98 scale kph, 28.73 to move 8mm, 1 minute 51.95 seconds for one wheel revolution. Meaningless though: I'm more impressed with my 102 year old Ives wide gauge that runs noisely, and faultlessly, and looks magnificent in its enamel paint, cast iron and brass.
I appreciate different tastes of course, and Sam did do a review of a Hornby 0 #50 think it was, and he treated it very fairly, and in context of what it was.
Tbh I had lots of 3 rail dublo and every time I ran my prewar SNG and artic, I always thought how magnificent, and magical these toys were, reflecting that the dublo A4 wasn't a replica of an old steam loco, Gresleys A4 was still the pinnacle of front line service at the dublo launch...
As a Lego builder, I think the brickpunk range were the worst designs I have ever seen. A deceased hamster could design a better model.
Yeah. Multiple people, (hopefully) with knowledge of model trains and Lego had to approve of that!
and i thought that was one of the designs, not a putative designer
The strange thing about the Thomas range is that the quality of the model depended on what they had used for it. Most of the more obscure characters like Oliver, Murdoch, and Stepney faired well because they're prototypes were ubiquitous in oo scale but then you look at main characters like Edward and Toby and they just look horrible. I think people would look back on it better today if Hornby put more effort into the main characters
And ntm they were pretty accurate to their basis’s.
Would you believe I saw a second hand Murdoch - the ochre 9F - with a £200.00+ price tag on it the other day? I couldn't believe it.
Should have brought it, people are selling them on ebay for £6-800 or more....and they do sell.
@@JohnDavies-cn3ro Murdochs sell on Ebay for £1000-1500+. If it was only £200 it was probably a home conversion of a 9f with a face stuck on.
@@JohnDavies-cn3ro I'm selling a Murdoch and a 1st edition Spencer for £1400, but that IS both models, not just the one...
I feel like Hornby isn't trying anymore. Squeezing out every last dollar, old models, overpriced models.
It is really sad to see it fail like this
I think this is a lazy comment, compared to the 9F, P2s, Turbomotive, the new management is making a difference, if they release old models to keep them afloat to produce things like those 3 long may it continue, you don’t have to buy them
Since you did Hornby's worst products, can you please do a Bachmann's worst products?
A bit of balance would be great!!
Hornby knocking is what you get on here.
Sam will have to be careful saying anything bad about Bachmann.......
@@richardstaz721
I beg to differ. We all want Hornby to thrive. I'd suggest that our host's criticism is constructive albeit I cannot talk for him.
Life long modellers are fed up to the back teeth with the company's mgmnt delighting, it seems, in incessantly shooting it in the foot.
I remember the sound wagon being featured in James May’s Trouble in Model Britain about Simon coming back to rescue Hornby. I nearly bought one the other day for about £20. Thanks for saving me
Who doesn’t want murder and abattoir sound effects on their model? 😂
Oddly enough the earlier model of sound wagon - darker colour and different sound set - is better quality. It focused on things like birdsong and traffic noise, where quality matters less because it adds ambience.
You literally explained every problem I have with the Hornby Thomas range. It’s so bad. How do you get a license as popular and important (at the time) as Thomas, and then don’t even try on it? They literally gave Arry and Bert the wrong faces. Like they actually have faces that are from two different characters. How do you even do that?
The most annoying thing about the SECR E2 is that it has the number 326. The SECR had a number 326, it was a Wainwright H Class 0-4-4T, and it was scrapped in 1961.
Yes
The TTS sound wagon is pointless!!
Back in the olden days of model railways, modellers would visit preserved railways with a contraption called a cassette recorder (I used a Phillips N2220 back in the 1970's). These cassette recorders would record al the railway related sounds that the modeller desired in superior to digital, analogue quality onto 1.5 hour playing magnetic cassette tapes. Back home, these tapes could be inserted into an old fashioned stereo music centre, with cassette tape playing facilities, to be played in the background whilst operating a model railway layout, etc.
Some people also published and sold railway sounds cassettes & LP records, advertising them in model railway magazine publications.
There was someone who was quite famous for that. Can't remember his name.
@@caw25shaPeter Handford?
I had a 12 inch LP of train sounds as a kid in the 80's
Cassettes? How novel!
The most fun you can have with the TTS van is identify what those sounds even are.
My issue with hornby's iteration of Edward, is because he isn't even the right class. The rehashed build designs of the e2, Percy, etc, are absolutely abismal
They're definitely not amazing by any means, but if you find "Definitely not Percy/Thomas" on sale and you have your own fictional railway and livery, they make for a fun weekend painting project at least.
I think that’s a big issue with other engines too, like Emily and Dart
@@backbonepictures78 more so the hornby Emily. She isn't even close to her original basis. Bachmann US, made the character itself
That tank engine in that Beatles set…is another Thomas retooling! They used to make an 0-4-0 Thomas before the e2 one
As indeed mentioned in the video.
😅 😅 😅 The e2 came first in 1985.......it ran rubbish, still does that 0-6-0 chassis is junk it derails alot, that's from new.
Lol it sucked in the 80s
Lol funny how sam didn't recognise the level crossing barrier sound
....or indeed tge sound of signal box levers.....
that's the level crossing sound in the uk?
I remember seeing one of those steampunk trains, the 0-4-0 one, for sale for 50p 😂
Oh wow also hello
@@spitfire-747 👋
Would have one for 50p, the chassis is worth about that…
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
Where?
I've got the sound effect van. The siren is a level crossing and the shooting sound as you say it is. Is doors being closed at the station
Could have fooled me!
Probably the most fun you can have with the TTS van is to note what you think the low-quality sounds eminating from it are. I heard an auction and a UK level crossing (like you said).
Thank you, Mr Kohler.
I've noticed Sam that the 14xx never has a good reputation in model form. Hopefully one day someone will make a new tooled 14xx model.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
This is why I watch professional model train RUclipsrs to know if it’s worth it buying a set/train pack or not.I also feel bad for anyone why bought the “new” 14xx
I'm betting on Rapido for this. And Dapol in second place.
The poor old 14xx in reality was a good, handy little engine. Keysers used to do a decent whitemetal kit which with a little care and skill could be made into a decent model. I have several, one Keysers, one Sayer Chaplin (they made etched kits in the early 1950's) and a third by Eames or Hamblings, also from the 50's, all of which run well.
The problem with the Hornby / Dapol / Airfix engine is twofold. One is the traction tyre on the centre axle, which spoils pick up and also 'rocks' the engine fore and aft; on the original Airfix model the plunger pickups also easily foul up. Not sure what's wrong with the new Hornby reissue, but I'll stick with my veterans, thank you.
I thought my 14xx was a pretty good model and runner
If Oliver is the best 14xx Horny had to offer, then we might have a problem.
Sam, what to do with your worst top ten items.
10: Repaint the livery to the correct livery or rebody it.
9: Take it apart, take out the sound system, and have it connected to the layout else where with better speakers. The van then can be unpickuped to use it free wheeling.
8: Strip it for usable parts or weather it with TMC or rebody. The latter which Hornby probably did with the returned model you got back.
7: The franchise should have insisted on new tooling before Hornby bought its licence. Not to use old tooling releases. A bad deal by the franchise and no wonder they lost the deal to Bachmann. Reuse as spares or repaint to proper liveries or rebody.
6: The 66 was also used for the NHS Thank You Capt Thomas Moore and I was so let down for the charity model. I expected a Super Detailed release and end up with a Railroad loco. Hence I bought the Bachmann release a few months ago with the WW2 Planes set, a better perfect tribute release. As for my Hornby NHS loco, offer me a price and its yours or to anyone watching. Highest offer wins with a 20% donation to the NHS from me.
5: Sacrilege to the Beatles name, or anything like it as a franchise or licence release. Just poor thought out items. Solution is to repaint, and weather to proper stock or replace all bodies to true liveried stock.
4: The 14xx model, if it can't be fixed, strip it for spare parts. Otherwise rechassis it. Also, repaint the body, or heavy weather it to hide the terrible printing.
3: The Coke franchise should have pulled the plug on the licence for these crass models. This lowmac, cut away the bottle, reload with a proper load and stick it in a siding, Sam. Even cut away the D couplers and replace with a magnetic set to see if that helps its running.
2: Runner up, well, lets see, hmm, resell at a big loss, give them away, bin them, or melt them down, but keep the metal wheels.
1: Top slot, the steam punk range. It's best to rebody the stock with proper fictional bodies, or use the best of the chassis' as spare parts and scrap the rest. As for the Lego, just mix the parts in with the rest of your bricks and say nothing, lol.
I hope these hints and tips will help you make better use of the top ten fails, Sam. They are practical solutions to make good out of bad buys. Enjoy doing the Mods and lets see what you can do to make use of them in a future 'Can We Reperpose, or Destory' video, 😂😂😂.
After watching the video for new content for the channel with Chloe. The above reperposing idea would be a start, lol.
At least most of the Hornby characters look accurate to the Railway Series.
Yes for #9. Or leave the decoder in there and have it play the engine sound, and 3D print an OO-scale refrigeration unit. I assume the Brits have a refrigerated van Sam could use as a reference? NEM or tension-lock couplings would really help, too. You could take the weathered van body off and use it as a line side MOW shed, just put some random railway parts (also weathered) nearby, such as ties (sleepers), random barrels, cut pieces of rail, etc… Same could then place this somewhere near the turntable.
100% agree- salvage what you can, repurpose as much as possible!
The loco chassis are probably worth keeping (the little 040s aren't bad runners), but bin the rest of the dross.
Great video thanks. Hope your operation goes well. Look forward to next update.
I bet for a million British pounds that Accurascale or Rapido can make a proper Furness Railway K2 4-4-0 American tender engine in double 00 Sam. I mean, Rapido is making the real life Bill and Ben counterparts in model form.
Furness Railway K2 4-4-0 “American” tender engine?
Wdym ‘American’
@@FeatherWing162 4-4-0 is the "American" wheel arrangement.
@@ManOfUnknownWorth
I mean, it’s not really exclusive to America..
America-centrism as usual "no country exists on earth but America"
@@FeatherWing162American styled......... afaik it was not a common arrangement here but inspired from American whyte, not calling the K2s American...
2:18 Until you realise that only one e2 ever wore lbscr umber livery (no 100), and only for a short period of time, while every other e2 carried lbscr black livery, including no 100 for the majority of its life!
Please make a follow up to this, but rather than ripping Hornby a well deserved new one, do it to Bachmann too.
Just bought a very good condition Bachmann Class J but was disappointed by the split chassis and self tapping screws securing the plastic body.
The front self tapping screw that holds the front of the body down was short and actually broke its stem that it was supposed be securing. While this model was an older model, I know Bachmann still like to release new models with this type of cheap construction.
Was that a Norfolk & Western 'J'?
@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga it is actually a Norfolk and Western J from the Bachmann Plus range. I've been running it in since I've unboxed it and, while it is in very good condition despite the broken body stem, it was sold to me as new and it has signs of mild use.
It's actually a very good runner despite the split chassis and has a very enthusiastic smoke unit so now I'm just a bit torn as to what to do with it. May ask for a partial refund and just keep it, securing the body with a slightly longer screw with the same thread
im pretty sure the secr e2 is a reference to the thomas and friends ertl bluebell which also used thomas model repainted
Also for some reason when the TTE series switched to full CGI they depicted an "origin story" Thomas as having green livery before getting NWR blue. I'm guessing that since LBSCR never actually did use SECR green it could potentially be a copyright issue to combine the two.
@@asteroidrules The LBSCR did paint many of its goods engines in a 'Goods Green' livery. There aren't really good pictures of them, as there were no color cameras back then. I don't think that color was very accurate to the SECR or the LBSCR. Thomas' number was odd too, I think he was numbered LBSC 70 for the 70th anniversary of the Railway series. But the E2s were never numbered around there. It could potentially work though. By the time Thomas was built, the actual LBSCR #70 Poplar(an A1x terrier that survives in preservation) would have been sold off to the Rother Valley/Kent and East Sussex Railway. The Terriers were already being duplicate listed and given a 6 prefix to their numbers so that newer locomotives could have their numbers(IE: Stepney was 655 by this point)
Thank you for another very informative Video, and also a really amusing one, which I laughed out loud at. Brilliant as usual.
Oh no, the Hornby steampunk range managed to outlive Sam! 😱
20:41 lol, that was very funny Sam.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Lol, funny, goofy music with the closing titles hahah. We remember all those reviews, and this is a joyful witted Sam style overview of all that drab 🤣 Cheerio.
The only locomotives I wanted to get from the Hornby Thomas range were Thomas, Percy, and James. Compared to their Bachmann counterparts, they come with front couplers and will be “more useful” if required for shunting(a task each character has done in the show). The only way to attach a front couplers to the Bachmann models is to modify them.
Liking the video!
Can you a similar topic but with Bachmann?
It just occurred to me that the SECR green E2 is probably based on the ERTL model of Bluebell.
Loved your video. I do agree with your assessments.
What I would like to know is why you don't like rubber tires on train wheels? Just curious.
Concerning the ex-Thomas released in SECR livery, maybe they should have released it in the Farnborough, Reigate, Alton, Upwell and Dover Railway livery?😀
Fraud railway?
Function 8 of wagon is signalbox levers being pulled or replaced. Siren sound you mentioned is AHB claxon
Have you done any reviews on the latest Hornby A4 as I'm looking to get a A4 to replace my old one
On my way to some ghost house for my sister, over an hour left to go and this is gonna make the wait more fun! You uploaded this as I was at a gas station!
3:19 funny story Sam, I actually got one of those along time ago, but it never really work on me. The speaker just gave up on me, and I've never tried to fix it ever since, now it's just a piece of rolling stock on my layout.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Funny thing Sam, Tony Wright master model loco builder who's layout, Little Bytham, is one of the best in the country, was very impressed with the Hornby A2/2's & the A2/3's 7 says he couldnt build a loco to match them. Now if you've seen Tony's loco builds that is some praise for Hornby indeed as his kit built loco's are just works of art.
I've two A2s and they're both great runners.There are plenty of worse models out there IMO.
However I must admit the washed out livery is disappointing and a diecast running plate would have been better. I paid just over £100 for both of mine which I think is a fair price for what they are.
I think Sam got a real dud with his which is why he slates them so much.
Is there going to be one for bachman heljan acurascale and other brands? Or just hornby
Very entertaining. Thank you.
Hornby’s Thomas range could have been fine. Edward is often modelled from a Hornby 2p, Bill and Ben could have been made for Hornby’s many 0-4-0 mechanisms, and Emily should have been a new tool. At least it has its pearls, like Spencer, Gordon, and James, which all look miles better than Bachmann, or the television series models.
In Hornby's defense, the Thomas range was partially based on the characters RWS versions, but I still see what you mean.
This was the first time I heard about beetle Thomas and I think a part of my soul was murdered brutally and lies dead on the floor. It was murdered by F8 of the van!
I will admit sam that the class 66s don't belong in the railways range, however I think you got quite unlucky with the livery - mines lovely and runs amazingly! Other than that, I really agree with you sam - what on earth was hornby thinking with brickpunk?! They've gone absolutely nuts. Yet another great video sam! I hope you're alive for the next video, or it's going to be a boring week!
Brickpunk? He must have spelt Steampunk wrong.
*Sees end of video*
Oh dear
That wrap thing that Hornby did with their Class 66 they also did with their limited edition Drax Power biomass wagons. I certainly wasn't happy with it considering it too had air pockets over details and began pealing at the edges shorty after I unboxed them. Far from impressive considering they were priced at, if i remember rightly, around £80 each.
A great video as always. Whenever i see the coca cola wagon and the beatles loco i can only wonder... what the hell were they thinking...?
the hornby Edward as a model train is fantastic, as for looking like Edward from the TV show… ehh….
I am surprised the Hush Hush did not make it to this list. I remember all the grief you had with it a few years ago. Such a disgrace!
Really good video Sam, and very well narrated.
I'm a big fan of European TT, however I would've been happy for Hornby to forsake their British TT range and have gone instead for a real Era I range.
Things like locomotion are exciting.
Now wouldn't it have been great if Hornby had put some real investment into genuine era wagons. Locos like the steam elephant, and what I think would be a clincher: an era I track system.
What happens of course is you get your superlative locomotion No1, a few carriage underframes with dead livestock, empty carriages with a guard having a squat, and wheel it around on Hornby set track.
Of course track then looked nothing like track now. No sleepers, contemporary lithographs picturing rails embedded in ash, or rails on stone setts. It'd be wonderful to have a track system with that look, and points didn't have point bladed, they were of the variety where the rail ends just displaced as appropriate. A working signal system where it's semaphore, operated by solenoid via the policeman standing at the base.
With the tiny wagons you could have the genuine right-of-way, with 4' 8 1/2" gauge and 4' 8 1/2" track spacing as well.
Those tiny wagon turntables like at old Euston where they used to re-marshall entire trains and locomotives without even leaving the platforms.
And of course, Hornby could've even ventured into.... dare I say it?... broad gauge...
But no, what we're all really after is more Beatles trains...
As someone who has most of my trains in LEGO, my response to Hornby doing knockoff LEGO is "...huh?"
Oh, btw, the next live Sams Trains, I would like to see all these locos and wagons together as a single train. Just to see how far it gets before it fails, lol. If you wish to see this happen click the like comment button. Over 50 votes and Sam is to do it, right Sam, lol.
Brilliant idea - a sedate circuit of SAMs layout - parade of SHAME👍
Awesome video Sam's trains 😊 did you know that Hornby made a wooden train set?
SAM"S TAT DETECTION CHANNEL ! . . SAM: Rippin n Terrin' . . . YOU GO Guy !
I use the “steampunk” range for my younger nephews so they have something to run on my layout, mostly because their $30-36 on Amazon plus always on sale for $10 off
I feel like it’s the old locos that are bring it back and “improve” it
I also have the Hornby Thomas but one of its side rides have fallen off somehow
Just came in off a RUclips short advertising Hornby’s gold-plated Scotsman models…
All aboard the Hornby hate train, I guess 🤷🏻♂️
Saw that too. It been done before for those who just want to look at it as running it will wear off the Gold Plate
Congrats on 150k subs Sam I’m going to make a little video for you to congratulate you
I had no idea the Hornby Edward even existed. It would be more convincing if they'd use a class 33 diesel!
What about their ex Lima Class 55 with HO bogies, it just keeps reappearing in the range with a different livery. I remember Lima bringing this out in the 70's and it looked wrong then...
Looks pretty bad parked alongside a Bachmann 55...
The old dicast push along Thomas range of the 1990s/early 2000s included a Thomas without a face in SECR livery! It would appear Hornby made it a OO electric model! Presumably the original Dicast version was supposed to be P Class 27 Primrose which did make an appearance in a Thomas book!
Bill & Ben are actually KITSON 0-4-0T dock shunters, both of which are actually on the preserved Bristol Docks railway. There's even a U-Tube video that features them in action.
The Railway Series' Bill & Ben may be similar to the locos at Bristol Harbour but it's not them. Bill and Ben are actually based on 'Alfred' and 'Judy', two Bagnall shunters that worked at Par Docks in Cornwall. They are both preserved at the Bodmin and Wenford railway (also in Cornwall).
2:11 Interestingly enough, ERTL made the same choice when producing their version of the engine for their Thomas line.
It is a bit harsh putting the whole of the Thomas range in there. If you'd have put Edward, Bill and Ben on there own then fair enough. The Hornby Thomas, Henry and Gordon still look far superior to the bachmann ones as they had existing moulds.
I remember when the steam punk were announced and thinking who'd on earth would by those. We got our answer, no one.
Is the Bachmann Thomas range HO instead of OO?
You need to change the traction tyres on the 14xx. I had to change the traction tyres on my 14xx because it kept on stalling on the points. I agree about Edward, they should have used the 2P instead of the D49.
Hey Sam!
It’s been a LONG time since I looked at this channel! I gotta lot of catching up to do lol
Not sure how I feel about putting the beetles on a model train. Anyway, always interesting to learn about these things. I'm more of a Bachmann, Tyco, and Walthers Train Line kind of guy, but Hornby sure is something huh?
2:05 it looks a lot like the Ertl Blue Bell and this logo might be perfect to make a custom E2 Bluebell
I've always liked the Hornby Thomas range, I like looking at them as "Day out with Thomas" models where railways try to represent the characters with whatever engine is available. Does that make them good? No, but it gives them their own charm, and I will totally admit that I love the Horny Toby, because it just looks so dumb and silly.
As for that steampunk range. ...Yikes.
I am really excited for your next homemade locomotive is there is any update regarding next locomotive
i believe that the only good hornby thomas product is James and maybe some rolling-stock, but thats because either the model casually resembles it, or because Awdry used a 3f for his own model of james, either way... they're neat collectables, but not great models...
The whole "Steampunk" range is just a strange idea. I mean, steam was going strong into the 50s without the weird accoutrements on those Hornby..."things". Their concept was just silly. They need to switch chemicals :P
Dunno if it's just me, but _Scoundrel Tractoid_ could be a decent name for a prog rock band!
What about Hornby’s best/worst loco - the Dog-a-Poodle-Choo-Choo?
I really want them to release that!😂😂😂😂
One of the problems I see Hornby have is that they are trying to cater for 2 different markets. The collectors market of which running quality isnt a concern and silly themes appear to be collectable. Then you have the serious model rail products of which like you say they do well at times. From a business model in my view they need to concentrate on the latter and forget the former and improve their products overall . Then they will do better and get a better reputation.
I agree with you, but Hornby will only survive by success in both camps, so maybe clearer separation of the two markets combined with marked improvements in quality is the way forward. I can only dream.....
There’s probably a place for both … but quality is the key … and no one, even wealthy people, like paying top £ / $ / € for a substandard product.
Wasn’t the Thomas model just a retooling of their original umber brown E2? I guess the modified the original mouldings so extensively they couldn’t reproduce the original E2
I’ve got those stephensons rocket stamps on a first day cover :)
Weirdest thing about the SECR E2 is that Hornby, back in the 70s/80s, did make one in LBSCR Umber. (although I think the model was actually slightly better, rather than the simplified Thomas mould)
Only reason they did it, far as I can see, is to try and appeal to the Thomas crowd (as there was an episode where he rather strangely wore an "LBSCR Green" which...never existed), ironically failing.
The steampunk stuff is dire for multiple reasons, and I quite like the steampunk aesthetic. If only Hornby had a good, small 0-4-0 chassis to work with....Oh they do! The L&Y Pug they nicked from Dapol. But no, they go with el-cheepo again, so even if you were buying the engines to rework yourself, the basis is abysmal.
I like the idea of Hornby making “true to life” models of the Thomas characters…but when they just grabbed the closest they could find was awful. I know new tooling would’ve cost more, but going this way has made it just seem like a cost cutting idea.
11:20 I got the Hornby GBRF grey livery class 66 and it’s honestly very good. No wraps in sight and mine was as heavy as a brick!
Awesome video today Sam I agree Bachmann do the Thomas range better then hornby
Hornby would have saved some pride if they produced the LBSC E2 in the Umber Livery. I would have bought one.
They did... It had a shorter funnel, as per the real E2
This one oughta ruffle some feathers on the Interwebs...
EDIT: I nominate for 11th place, (dis)honourable mention the GWR 72xx. For such a large tank engine it is astonishingly light and weak, what few separately-applied details it has are quite brittle, and it has the same faded, plasticky finish as the A2/2.
Not to mention the Hornby Toby is so tall that he cannot go through sheds and tunnels I'm not getting him either despite the fact that he has moving side rods unlike his Bachman model
Hilarious! Well done, Sam - but I'm looking forward to the 10 BEST models video...
On a more positive note, will you be reviewing the P2 Prince of Wales with steam generator? It looks like a step in the right direction. Cheers
Ok sam been watching your channel since 2016 its how i learned my modeling basics Edward bill and emily deserve to be on this list but the whole rang was frankly good they made custom model for James and Percy also remember that They started thomas model production Decades before bachmann i mean they could have swichted but they also cartered to the railway series modeler so you cant knark the whole rang
You need to do a top best and worst for bachhman as well
I feel an honourable mention section should feature the hornby kinematic couplings that do not work unless you use the hornby supplied close couplings
12:38 I can't even watch your Beattles review. Fast forward quick!!!
Oops, sorry no, Coca Cola and Scream Kerplunk too.
Well said Sam. Fair and with the sound of desperation in your voice that we all feel, I think.
I am intensely baffled that a company like Hornby was low enough to infringe on Lego’s patents with that steaming pile of garbage that was the brickpunk sets, almost every piece there was a casted reproduction of official Lego pieces
There only a few pieces with production rights from Lego. Most pieces are free. Just google Blue Brixx or Coby
At 4.21 + number 5 sounds like someone flushing an old fashioned toilet!😭
That last bit of the video was lol 🤣
The Hornby Bill & Ben would be a good basis for a freelance 7mm narrow gauge loco.
Not as bad as the Loid Rodney I bought last year, there was nothing to connect the motor to the wheels to drive the loco. I did send you a picture of it to ask if you had any idea where I could get the part but never heard anything. Hornby have been trying for nearly a year to get the part in, so in other words, not a chance of getting it working. I think it's called a Cardon Shaft.
"They also supplied a small number of deformed mutant animals..." Whahahaha love it! I own a Thompson pacific and it is indeed a woefully constructed loco although I quite like the prototype really. Joachim
Don’t blame you for putting the Thomas and friends range in there .
They do have the few gems Duck and Henry in particular were good ones as in the books they were based directly off existing engines and the designs work in that regard. Agree with the Edward remark the scale on that is just completely off.
The e2Xs did not wear the Umber Brown sadly, only the boring LBSC black livery.
3th place????😂😂 Must have been really difficult to reduce the rubbish products by Hornby down to just 10!
13:01 it looks like this little Thomas and his big brother are all dressed up for the Beatles concert
Did anyone mention the Hornby R1149 Disney Toy Story 3 train set!! I think it tops anything you talk about in your interesting video, Sam.