The odd one out is that oh-so ugly Hush-Hush duckling. Can't understand why you wanted it after the first one let you down badly. There's no such thing as a perfect model steam engine. The hobby isn't about perfection. No-one's perfect at what they do, not even you. The hobby is all about having fun with what you buy and run, whether the performance is "perfect" or not. Take Miles for example. The little 0-4-0 blue saddle tank engine is a beginner's model, and he's given you lots of fun over the years I'm sure. You made me fall in love with him, whenever you let him run on your railway. You tell me where your idea of a "perfect" model would be found. You're taking the hobby far too seriously. Miles isn't tired and old, he's still young and handsome. He's crying because you're keeping him away from his friends. I can tell by the sorrowful look on his smokebox face.
Well spotted Kelly - that was the one! That's true, the hobby isn't about perfection - but I think some models should be closer to perfection than they are given how much they cost these days! It's certainly no fun handing over a small fortune for something that doesn't meet the mark - that original Hush Hush I bought is a very good example! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Sorry I have to disagree. Manufacturers should be taking pride in their product and produce items that are as perfect as they can get. We have seen it from them so not sure why the downturn in excellence. I think a lot of modellers would also disagree with you about perfection, serious modellers strive for it, right down to a movie poster on a wall sharing the correct date the movie was released. To each his own though.
We do take the ‘perfection’ as a means of saying that a certain high standard may simply be expected for that money. That is serious cash and therefore fun of the hobby is to co-exist with equal measure of what you actual get out of the box overall. The delight of a purchase from new in this hobby is fun, but quick disappointment by out of tune standards kills it instantly. We take all our of purchases new very seriously(!) It's not like buying some hamburger. People pay serious cash at those prices and manufacturers are to deliver as such full stop. But expectations do of course vary. For us: quality and 'perfection' above all.
The 266 Down (the goods equivalent of the 'Flying Scotsman'), was in later years always A4 hauled - not even A1or A3! Fitted freights and Pacifics are definitely not unknown.
£252.99 That's... Roughly $304 here in the states. ... Yeah, I think I'll stay happy with my Railroads Tornado and Flying Scotsman. They may not be super detailed A1/A3's, but they still look very nice in motion and only cost me about $100 each.
I know that this is an old video but on hornby uk they are currently going for 210 dollars which is a pretty good discount,its only the one in black tho
Great review Sam and a very fair one. We don’t want to be like a broken record but seeing the price at 252 GBP (300 Euro, mind you), we would immediately compare it to what is normally to be expected for that fortune in our mind. I take your ‘perfection’ as a means of saying that a certain high standard may simply be expected for that money. That is serious cash and therefore fun of the hobby is to co-exist with equal measure of what you actual get out of the box overall. The delight of a purchase from new in this hobby is fun, but quick disappointment by out of tune standards kills it instantly. We take all our of purchases new very seriously(!) as German stuff is often very expensive already but there you just know what to expect in high precision, quality and consistency as a Swiss watch, along with Japanese Kato. H here is very close to that German-style pricing mark and therefore should deliver into that direction, full stop. German manufacturers always offer pivoted trailing wheels (thus flanged), and (here we go again)… directional lights, even in the tiniest casings and “impossible” locations. It must be said though that H compensates with intricate lining, sprung buffers and vast painting details where German steamers are just black with red wheels. From our perspective, we would conclude that quality here is still not in balance entirely. NO broken parts or wonky ones are acceptable, full stop. BUT it also happens with 500+ Euro German made stuff. We’ve not yet encountered it but we have seen someone buying a brand new ICE4 from the most expensive maker (Marklin - but we ourselves bought the Piko version) and a piece was missing from the factory on the Marklin… So it does happen as well to the very best. It’s just that H needs to keep upping their game and consistency for the prices they ask imho. It’s certainly not awful this but just not there yet perhaps. People pay serious money…
Thanks very much Linda - you're right, it's very serious cash, so a model of this standard should be the bare minimum to my mind! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
My opinion too. Warped parts on a model that costs nearly 15% of my monthly wage is unacceptable for me. As is a lousy drivetrain. If I would been interested in static models, I would have bought plastic kits from Italeri or Revell, who makes HO static models of German steam engines, not something five times the price with a drivetrain inside. Basics for me : zero botched assembly, no wonky parts, and a drivetrain you can use in confidence at least.
Exactly. Back in the 1980s, when Hornby were still producing virtual 'toys', Roco were producing engines such as the 01 - superb bar frames and Walschaert's valve gear that actually correctly moved the valve spindles. Although only a 2-cylinder engine, the details of the frame's internals were perfectly modelled. NO modeller of 00 locomotives has done that on a British locomotive even now. To the continental mind, even the best of the best of Bachmann and Hornby are mere toys. Don't mention Märklin: unlike Roco and Fleischmann, they ARE toys - they cater for a very different clientele. Their 'Flying Scotsman', though loaded with features, totally misses the look of the locomotive to the extent that even Sam may notice - even the cabside numbering is the wrong size and font!
The steam models are often let down by their tender underframes. Roco's locomotives are magnificent things, but their tenders would (quite rightly) be torn to shreds by Sam in many cases.
Lol thanks for replying to my pointless comment on your last video today, I was feeling a bit stressed out from all the schoolwork and decided to rewatch parts of the video to relax. :(
Good video and a very fair review of a visually stunning model. The price is truly frightening I agree though! Gresley pacifics routinely found themselves on freight, even the A4s. There was a regular afternoon express freight from Kings Cross to Edinburgh that was put in the top link for reliability in the late 1950s, and hauled daily by a gleaming Top Shed A4. Grantham-based A3s also sometimes hauled fully braked ironstone trains from local quarries to Yorkshire. Of course the mixed traffic V2s were built to handle this type of long distance fast freight traffic, but pacifics deputised occasionally.
Absolutely love it! I really want one but I don’t have that money to spend on a model at the moment. It’s nice to see they have redone it more up to date! They LNER Apple Green looks class on the A1! Stay safe 😀👍
Great to see Hornby actually taking on some feedback and looking to improve a model. Shame it’s so expensive but at least as you say, the loco has improved.
You see, I’m from the states and if I can get my hands on any Hornby product, I’m incredibly grateful for it. So for Christmas in 2021 I got the OO scale flying Scotsman train set and I think the locomotive is a 9.5 out ten.
Awesome to see Hornby finally upgrade their A1 locomotive! Love the details all around to give it this nice fresh look! Overall, this locomotive is amazing!
Hi Sam, another great video. The model upgrade is long overdue, and the price is over the top, for my budget, but the previous price would have had me taking a walk to the model shop or buying online, if I modelled in OO . The A1 A2 A3 do catch the eye, even for a southerner 😂. I agree the seam line is better if off centre, and that one is not so noticeable. The firebox flicker is a good feature, if like this model it works well. Well done Hornby, let’s hope that your one is not a one-off though Sam, although for £206 you deserve something after all the lemons 🍋 you have had to endure. When I win the lottery, I will definitely be stocking up on my favourites, but not at stupid prices. But at the present rate of success, might have to wait a long time. 😆 keep up the great work Sam , looking forward to seeing your next one.
I just received my first Hornby models today in fact. They were my second order which I received first so my second delivery will be my first order,beautiful examples. Great review Sam thanks again to you and your community for your help.
Starting watching your videos about 6 months ago and loved it, then stopped enjoying it then for whatever reason. But know I’m back and I’m absolutely loving it
Addicted to your reviews, Sam, which are always a ‘must see’ before any potential purchase. Despite the superb detail on this, plus incorporating several features which you yearned for on the Rebuilt Hush Hush, I checked back with that video as to why such a difference in score. Seems a flywheel on the motor and better mechanism makes all the difference with performance. Thanks as ever.
Thanks for thanking the plunge and buying one to review. Very nice colour.. !Question for a £250 model it appears the box shows the old version with previous tender to loco connection? How much do you need to spend for them to get the packaging correct? I would have liked to see separate etched brass builder plates and name plates like railroad plus or bachmann locos. Fine scale brass handrail fittings rather than plug in plastic ? wonky ones. Cab side window deflectors should be brass with a small glazing piece. They always break. Still seems built down to a price? Not setting the bar? Missed opportunity?I think Accurascale locos will set a new level / standards, having tested the Deltic at model rail Scotland!
I got 'knight of the thistle' which is the same as this but came out a year later than this for a discounted price. dome off out of box and only one of those clear glazing pieces was broken.
I love A1s (especially the GNR tendered ones) so I’m definitely going to get this when my model shop stocks it, so it looks like the N2 is going to have to move out so this can move in
Going to have to rescind my recent comment on here about the price of N gauge…£250 is a barrier we have not crossed for a single loco (yet!). Having watched the Blue Scotsman review, I agree the improvements were more extensive then expected. Another quality review and enjoyed it, so thanks.
Awesome video Sam. Despite the high prices, Hornby really seem to have cleaned up their act with this one. Such an exquisite model. I'm definitely getting the Lemberg when I get the chance.
I just bought one from TMC in their 50% Summer Sale which cost me all of £136 including TMC putting real coal in the tender! So definitely worth it for lucky me..I then got nervous it might not be such great quality but reassured by your review and let's face it.. may be an old model but lining is superb plus sprung buffers and die-cast running plate...
So that's why this took so long to come out: you went for the same one that I did lol. Would have expected a flywheel and spring loaded contacts for the pickups at the price point. Looking forward to recieving mine!
Wow! That's about Aussie $440. At least it's a retooled version and looks exceptionally nice. I think I'll be sticking to my old railroad one unless I can pick one of these up at a big discount sometime. With current prices from the big manufacturers, I guess we have to expect this kind of RRP for a retool. Such a pity they didn't rework the baseplate and include a 21-pin socket though.
haha yeah - and it isn't retooled by the way, just a modification of existing tooling! Can't blame you for sticking with the Railroad ones... definitely much better value! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Also not been a fan of Hornby lately but this is stunning. The lining is amazing and that trailing wheel is flangeless and touching the rail. BRM magazine compared this quality to a kit built loco and it cam out as a bit of a bargain. However that said I cannot get my head around a loco being over £250. Did we skip them being about £180?. We seem to have gone from £150 to £250 in a very short time.
I bought an A1 LNER applegreen "Royal Lancer" over 10 years ago, and to me it looks just as good as the current one....only i paid a reasonable price back then (under 100.- Gbp..)....it will do for me until further notice....and i can't see any visual differences either....:-)
Sounds good! It's possible the quality was much better 10 years ago - but the ones from recent years were getting a bit ropey... maybe the tools were getting worn out? No doubt you got an awesome price 10 years back too - so I don't blame you for being 100% satisfied! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Really gorgeous and detailed. Impressive and a great vid as usual... A company should always have some quality control. Although not perfect, it's looking better at Hornby. I and my wife have a small business and although we don't sell items that actually "function" but are more static pieces of art - HOWEVER, we do focus on absolute quality control. If a piece has defects - we TELL our customers so there are NO surprises. NO one really likes surprises... when they are spending a lot of money. Bright LED's - at my old company we made CT scanners and there was this one board. The prototypes of the board had the LED's so BRIGHT you almost couldn't look at the board. Eventually, someone changed the resistors to cut the current...but it took awhile. It wasn't just one LED either...it was a bank of them.
Absolutely agree with Kelly below -- this is a hobby that should give you peace of mind and pleasure and a smile on your face. It is not about 'perfection'. BUT -- having said that, a smile on your face at what price? Hornby R3709 Princess Coronation Class, upgraded two years ago, you can still buy for 170 GBP. Still Very expensive!! But... It has a flywheel. A fair increase (my opinion) in price to amortize and recover the cost of new tooling for the metal chassis for this new A1 might be about 30 GBP. Cut the cost of the flywheel, maybe minus 5 GBP. Shipping costs up? Ok, add 10 GBP. So a fair price for this new A1 should be 205 GBP. Ok, we will round it up to 209.95 GBP. There is 42 GBP extra profit fat added in to Hornby's price! Meanwhile, my Hornby R262 Duchess of Athol from 1982 with tender drive still runs strong and brings a smile to my face....
Thanks! A great review. And as you said it is a great looking engine. The finish is clearly superb. It is almost so good that I might get one. Really appreciate your reviews.
Hi Sam, I have just had my model of Doncaster to add to my fleet of A1's and after running in it is very smooth and am impressed with the slow running in both directions. Also I have had recently Knight of the Thistle and find both to be smooth runners. The finish of both are an improvement on some of the other Hornby loco's. The metal footplate has increased the level of traction and now will pull up to 20 coaches of Gresley teak stock [super detailed] and I have yet to try them on my Pullman stock [super detailed]
@@paulcaswell2813 I seem to remember reading some where that they did during war time. It may have been an A4 and not an A1. There was an accident when a 20 coach train was leaving Kings Cross and stalled in the Gas Works tunnel and had the signalman not switch the point it could have been a lot worse as the train ran back into the station.
A fortnight ago I purchased a second-hand Prince Palatine (circa 2006) from Classic Rail for £60 plus postage. It runs fine. It is good to see models continue to develop but I am reluctant to have more than a few that cost more than £200. Accidents can happen and the more expensive models still do not bounce and are nigh on impossible to repair. I dare say inflation will catch up with me though eventually. As for my original Hush Hush, I like its different appearance and, fortunately, mine contines to perform (unlike Sam's original disaster).
Way out of my price range (mainly because I’m tight) but the manufacturers have created a need for these types of reviews. Back in the day I’d have browsed my local model shop and bought what I fancied based on how good it looked and price. But this was at the price point of up to £80 for a locomotive. At £250+ if I were to spend that sort of cash I’d need to know more, and your reviews give that and so much more so thankyou.
Hornby prices are expensive, but at least they have the railroad brand to help people get into the hobby so as long as they can keep quality controlled I'd say it is a fair set up. it will be interesting to see what happens to the prices of newer competitors once they become more established within the market. Always great to see you impressed with a model, I hope you are able to do the new 9F later in the year!
Hi Sam, nice review of a beautiful locomotive. Regarding the DCC sockets, it's quite possible Hornby installs the 8-Pin socket on their DCC ready models, and the 21-Pin socket on their sound fitted versions.
Thanks Stuart - yes that's what it looks like from the instructions - how pointless!! That means the factory have got to deal with fitting different sockets to the same model... daft! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains maybe it's so buyers of the DCC ready model can use Hornby's TTS sound decoders, which are still 8-Pin. Otherwise Hornby would have to market a 21-Pin version of it in addition to the 8-Pin one.
My Tir-ang/Hornby c1975/6 Flying Scotsman had a firebox 'glow' and exhaust steam sound, ie it had the 'chuff chuff' sound box in the tender. That's come 46/47 ish years ago. Goodness me I must be one of your oldest viewers!
I think the Triang “gimmicks” were fantastic and the only way it can be beaten these days is with a lot more tech (which costs) good to see firebox glow coming back! I too have an old R850 FS but I re bodied it with a much later tender and loco body (from a tender drive loco) It’s a vast improvement but cost less than £25 due to the abundance of FS. It still runs on the Triang chassis and has the chuff chuff tender box still working too.
Doncaster 2547 was my first model train ever, I similarly got it for a Christmas present, as part of the Sheffield Pullman train set, however the engine died shortly after and never got fixed, a friend of mine gave me a little 0-4-0 and I continued on my way, I'd like to get the Doncaster again, but might take a while
That tender connector whould be removeable, you see them quite a bit in electronics just remember to pull by holding the actual white connector part and not the wires
Hi Sam. I'm revisiting your review as I frustratingly missed out on the Kernow offer of a few months ago at £99 for one of these re-tooled beauties, but now TMC has a wartime black livered version (Lemberg) for sale at £120 until midnight tonight, which gives me a couple of hours to make a decision....!
What is it with the fixed pony truck? I think it spoils the look when the wheels don't turn and then the increased overhang of the cab going round a bend. This appears to be a new trend.
In this case, the wheels did actually turn around! In order to make the pony articulate, there would have to be significant clearance between it and the rest of the loco chassis... thus introducing an even greater lack of realism! I think Bachmann did it best with their Pacifics - the axle is flanged, but free to move left and right! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I wonder if Hornby would consider a mid-range option for an A1/A3 between Railroad models and this, maybe discount the old fully plastic detailed version?
My favourite condition for the A3s (as they'd all become by that time) is final nick: double Kylchap, smoke deflectors, and GN tender - of course in BR green with the 'Ferret and Dartboard' tender logo. I own 60049 'Galtee More', bought maybe fifteen years ago, before Hornby's build quality declined, and they captured the atmosphere of the locomotive superbly. It's a great pity that Hornby closed down the Chinese factory responsible for these engines, and moved them to other factories, from which came the infamous 'ski-jump' running plates...
There are so many A1s and A3s available from various releases over the last 15 years or so that the new one at this price is a hard sell. I’ll keep the ones I’ve got. Just can’t get my head around the price.
That's true David - it sucks if you already have a fleet of the existing models! For new buyers though, I think these are worthy replacements to the old version! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
It’d be really difficult to fit a decent flywheel in there without a redesign of the mechanism; they’d have to make the front-most axle the driven one so there’d be room for a longer motor shaft and the flywheel. 🤔
Where did you get those red coaches from? I'm looking for more coaches and rolling stock for my engines but can't seem to find any that are decently priced or have the hook and loop style couplers.
nice loco from hornby have they at last listen to what costumers had been telling them. but on the ohter hand we got hornbys starnge tier system when it comes to alotments. a smashing video as always sam. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Should the rear wheel assembly on the loco be articulated? The old ones were. Is the valve gear/piston rods metal or plastic? They'd better be metal at that price. Also at that price they could have stuck in the DCC chip. I'll not be buying one; extortionate.
Could we get a pure A1 and A3 running session video? like the kind of running sessions you used to do? that would be awesome if you could, no worries if not. But on the topic of this loco oh my this is awesome, I'd love to get one at some point, that old style GNR tender is beautiful with the livery and the white striped wheels, and even the front! it's so unique the smoke box door as it doesn't have the silver burnishing unlike Every single a1 and a3 that Hornby have made over the past 20 years :D i must get Doncaster at some point, the price may be scarey but hopefully that should lower a tad over time, hopefulyl is the key word there :D bril video Sam!
This LNER A1 Pacific Express Engine Is A Bit Like Flying Scotsman And Gordon The Big Engine From Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends The Original Series In 1984. Thanks Sam'sTrains Mate. X
A gorgeous loco! One of the better ones from Honby for sure, definitely derserving of the rating you gave it. I actually have a little idea for an experiment you can do 👀 “How much force does it take to break a OO scale model railway coupling”. You could perhaps accumulate a few different ones of that scale (for example, knuckle couplers, horn hooked couplers and nem) test them, conduct the experiment, and in the end compare the final figures (I guess would be Newtons). Just a little idea! 😆
Can we please get a a3 flying Scotsman lner with the German wind deflectors, with this spec I’d absolutely love it, idc about the price but my old hornby one got damaged past the point of repair so I’m looking at a new one but with a die cast playe and flickering firebox I’d rather eait
Brilliant video, Sam I've got a question as I've had the following scotman model on preorder for 4 months now model number: 4 R3991SS BR, A3 Do you think this be a good model or over priced as I've seen hornby have put the price up to 300 quid now
Sam, are all trailing trucks fixed nowadays, of does it vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, model to model? I understand the fixed truck is as an aid to realistic appearance, if not to running.
If you can, you should totally get the Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 (The REAL one), and the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy for your layout! Two legendary locomotives that I think you'd really enjoy, if you can find them from the right brand at the right price!
I think given the 'upgrades' are in effect a firebox flicker, a bit of weight, streight running board, and a more satin finish... and i can get the old one for £100 less new or £150 less second hand easy, ill have the old one and have fun modelling to make it better than the new one.
I love being an Australian viewer and seeing the scare from Hornby a British prices and then you go and convert the price to aud and then it becomes scary
Nobody likes higher prices but when manufacturers struggle to make a profit due to rising prices they have no choice. I would like to see the silly quality issues resolved though, no excuse for broken parts, and I would have sent that back to Derails for replacement for that alone. Also the front coupling missing would be an issue for me, but it at least looked like it had a NEM pocket, but wasn't clear if a coupling was provided. I also noted that the running palte even though diecast was still not flat. In summary I have no issue paying a fair price that means the company can make a small profit, but there is no excuse for fundamental faults.
just got one new at half price but sent it back smoke box door fell off , dome on boiler fell off and some of the driving rods fell off .GOOD OLD HORNBY STELL THE SAME
Thanks, Sam. I am still considering buying the A3 in Black 'Lemburg' so it was good to see a review of this one. Interesting they didnt upgrade the motor/mechanism.
Ahh excellent - I can definitely give this a thumbs up, though it definitely would have been better with mechanical upgrades too! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I still see the fire box flickering when it's on the move. Have you tried it in the dark? They really made an improvement to the original. I'm Thinking about getting new A3 Flying Scotsman one day on my 00 gauge layout. I've noticed 60163 Peppercorn A1 'Tornado' at the pub siding. Good video and good review.
Should I get this or the flying Scotsman set? I want to get a hornby engine and cars cause I only have American models and I want to check out some models from the UK
I pre ordered the new Platinum Jubilee loco and I'm very concerned about the quality and performance of the loco since I live in Colombia and is not going to be cheap to send it back to the UK for repair. What are you thoughts on it, Sam? Should I withdraw my preorder?
Hey Sam, can you help me by answering a question... I bought a Harry Potter train set after watching your recent video about it. Hornby UK was out of stock, but Hornby US had them (mine even came with an American power plug -- I thought I'd have to buy a US/UK converter)! But I couldn't get one DCC fitted. Nobody has Hornby TTS Hall decoders in stock. What decoder do you recommend that I can get? Or am I gonna have to buy a Hornby Hall loco that is DCC fitted to get my paws on the correct decoder? Thanks! I love your channel! 🙂
Hello Sam. I've looked forward to seeing this video. Before i saw your review i took the plunge and pre ordered this locomotive from a retailer not of Hornby's website. I do not possess a class A1 locomotive, mine are all A3 locomotives of various tooling all BRUNSWICK green. I love the livery it's beautiful especially the red around the wheels of the tender ,SUPERB. It's a pity about the fly wheel in the mechanism and the DCC chip. As for the price it's eye watering, i think Hornby are pushing it abit too far. Thank you Sam for the video, great MINDS think ALIKE 👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ahh fantastic to hear that Mark - you're right it is superb! It's a real shame they didn't upgrade the chassis, but overall it's a very good loco now, if not for the price! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
The odd one out is that oh-so ugly Hush-Hush duckling. Can't understand why you wanted it after the first one let you down badly. There's no such thing as a perfect model steam engine. The hobby isn't about perfection. No-one's perfect at what they do, not even you. The hobby is all about having fun with what you buy and run, whether the performance is "perfect" or not. Take Miles for example. The little 0-4-0 blue saddle tank engine is a beginner's model, and he's given you lots of fun over the years I'm sure. You made me fall in love with him, whenever you let him run on your railway. You tell me where your idea of a "perfect" model would be found. You're taking the hobby far too seriously. Miles isn't tired and old, he's still young and handsome. He's crying because you're keeping him away from his friends. I can tell by the sorrowful look on his smokebox face.
Well spotted Kelly - that was the one! That's true, the hobby isn't about perfection - but I think some models should be closer to perfection than they are given how much they cost these days! It's certainly no fun handing over a small fortune for something that doesn't meet the mark - that original Hush Hush I bought is a very good example!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
hi cant beat the caledonian pug in its blue colour, a good little loco r2672.great for shunting just like the real thing
@@petersmith4455 Glad you agree.
Sorry I have to disagree. Manufacturers should be taking pride in their product and produce items that are as perfect as they can get. We have seen it from them so not sure why the downturn in excellence. I think a lot of modellers would also disagree with you about perfection, serious modellers strive for it, right down to a movie poster on a wall sharing the correct date the movie was released. To each his own though.
We do take the ‘perfection’ as a means of saying that a certain high standard may simply be expected for that money. That is serious cash and therefore fun of the hobby is to co-exist with equal measure of what you actual get out of the box overall. The delight of a purchase from new in this hobby is fun, but quick disappointment by out of tune standards kills it instantly. We take all our of purchases new very seriously(!) It's not like buying some hamburger. People pay serious cash at those prices and manufacturers are to deliver as such full stop. But expectations do of course vary. For us: quality and 'perfection' above all.
33:15 “a goods train, a goods train, a goods train! The shame of it, the shame of it, oh the shame of it”
-Gordon 2016 (I think cuz season 20)
The 266 Down (the goods equivalent of the 'Flying Scotsman'), was in later years always A4 hauled - not even A1or A3! Fitted freights and Pacifics are definitely not unknown.
£252.99
That's... Roughly $304 here in the states.
... Yeah, I think I'll stay happy with my Railroads Tornado and Flying Scotsman. They may not be super detailed A1/A3's, but they still look very nice in motion and only cost me about $100 each.
Have you ever tried the rail road Royal scot? That one imo looks so amazing in br Blue
imma just stick to my bachmann broadway limited and Atlas
haha can't blame you - nothing wrong with those railroad models instead! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I know that this is an old video but on hornby uk they are currently going for 210 dollars which is a pretty good discount,its only the one in black tho
Great review Sam and a very fair one. We don’t want to be like a broken record but seeing the price at 252 GBP (300 Euro, mind you), we would immediately compare it to what is normally to be expected for that fortune in our mind. I take your ‘perfection’ as a means of saying that a certain high standard may simply be expected for that money. That is serious cash and therefore fun of the hobby is to co-exist with equal measure of what you actual get out of the box overall. The delight of a purchase from new in this hobby is fun, but quick disappointment by out of tune standards kills it instantly. We take all our of purchases new very seriously(!) as German stuff is often very expensive already but there you just know what to expect in high precision, quality and consistency as a Swiss watch, along with Japanese Kato. H here is very close to that German-style pricing mark and therefore should deliver into that direction, full stop. German manufacturers always offer pivoted trailing wheels (thus flanged), and (here we go again)… directional lights, even in the tiniest casings and “impossible” locations. It must be said though that H compensates with intricate lining, sprung buffers and vast painting details where German steamers are just black with red wheels. From our perspective, we would conclude that quality here is still not in balance entirely. NO broken parts or wonky ones are acceptable, full stop. BUT it also happens with 500+ Euro German made stuff. We’ve not yet encountered it but we have seen someone buying a brand new ICE4 from the most expensive maker (Marklin - but we ourselves bought the Piko version) and a piece was missing from the factory on the Marklin… So it does happen as well to the very best. It’s just that H needs to keep upping their game and consistency for the prices they ask imho. It’s certainly not awful this but just not there yet perhaps. People pay serious money…
Thanks very much Linda - you're right, it's very serious cash, so a model of this standard should be the bare minimum to my mind!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
My opinion too. Warped parts on a model that costs nearly 15% of my monthly wage is unacceptable for me. As is a lousy drivetrain. If I would been interested in static models, I would have bought plastic kits from Italeri or Revell, who makes HO static models of German steam engines, not something five times the price with a drivetrain inside. Basics for me : zero botched assembly, no wonky parts, and a drivetrain you can use in confidence at least.
Exactly. Back in the 1980s, when Hornby were still producing virtual 'toys', Roco were producing engines such as the 01 - superb bar frames and Walschaert's valve gear that actually correctly moved the valve spindles. Although only a 2-cylinder engine, the details of the frame's internals were perfectly modelled. NO modeller of 00 locomotives has done that on a British locomotive even now. To the continental mind, even the best of the best of Bachmann and Hornby are mere toys.
Don't mention Märklin: unlike Roco and Fleischmann, they ARE toys - they cater for a very different clientele. Their 'Flying Scotsman', though loaded with features, totally misses the look of the locomotive to the extent that even Sam may notice - even the cabside numbering is the wrong size and font!
The steam models are often let down by their tender underframes. Roco's locomotives are magnificent things, but their tenders would (quite rightly) be torn to shreds by Sam in many cases.
Lol thanks for replying to my pointless comment on your last video today, I was feeling a bit stressed out from all the schoolwork and decided to rewatch parts of the video to relax. :(
That's okay! Hopefully it did help you relax!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
33:14 a goods train! a goods train! A goods train! the shame of it! the shame of it! Ohh the shame of it!
Good video and a very fair review of a visually stunning model. The price is truly frightening I agree though!
Gresley pacifics routinely found themselves on freight, even the A4s. There was a regular afternoon express freight from Kings Cross to Edinburgh that was put in the top link for reliability in the late 1950s, and hauled daily by a gleaming Top Shed A4. Grantham-based A3s also sometimes hauled fully braked ironstone trains from local quarries to Yorkshire. Of course the mixed traffic V2s were built to handle this type of long distance fast freight traffic, but pacifics deputised occasionally.
The A1/A3s are such majestic looking locomotives.
They sure are! :D
Absolutely love it! I really want one but I don’t have that money to spend on a model at the moment.
It’s nice to see they have redone it more up to date!
They LNER Apple Green looks class on the A1!
Stay safe 😀👍
That's understandable - it is a crazy amount of money! Sure does look good though! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Great to see Hornby actually taking on some feedback and looking to improve a model. Shame it’s so expensive but at least as you say, the loco has improved.
Yeah absolutely - got to be a good sign that they actually seem to be listening!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
You see, I’m from the states and if I can get my hands on any Hornby product, I’m incredibly grateful for it. So for Christmas in 2021 I got the OO scale flying Scotsman train set and I think the locomotive is a 9.5 out ten.
Awesome to see Hornby finally upgrade their A1 locomotive! Love the details all around to give it this nice fresh look! Overall, this locomotive is amazing!
I agree - made a huge difference didn't it?! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam, another great video. The model upgrade is long overdue, and the price is over the top, for my budget, but the previous price would have had me taking a walk to the model shop or buying online, if I modelled in OO . The A1 A2 A3 do catch the eye, even for a southerner 😂.
I agree the seam line is better if off centre, and that one is not so noticeable. The firebox flicker is a good feature, if like this model it works well. Well done Hornby, let’s hope that your one is not a one-off though Sam, although for £206 you deserve something after all the lemons 🍋 you have had to endure. When I win the lottery, I will definitely be stocking up on my favourites, but not at stupid prices. But at the present rate of success, might have to wait a long time. 😆 keep up the great work Sam , looking forward to seeing your next one.
I just received my first Hornby models today in fact. They were my second order which I received first so my second delivery will be my first order,beautiful examples. Great review Sam thanks again to you and your community for your help.
Always lovely to see new people getting into the hobby. I hope those models give you many years of pleasure :) !
Hey Sam, nice job on these videos man.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much!! :D
Starting watching your videos about 6 months ago and loved it, then stopped enjoying it then for whatever reason. But know I’m back and I’m absolutely loving it
That's lovely to hear - very glad to have you along, thanks! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
yes
Awesome Review Sam. One of my favorite Locomotives. Love the detail on this model.
Thank you so much! I do too! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Addicted to your reviews, Sam, which are always a ‘must see’ before any potential purchase. Despite the superb detail on this, plus incorporating several features which you yearned for on the Rebuilt Hush Hush, I checked back with that video as to why such a difference in score. Seems a flywheel on the motor and better mechanism makes all the difference with performance. Thanks as ever.
Thanks so much Will - and yes the difference between this and that disastrous Hush Hush are immense aren't they?!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
A1 Pacific Gordon has been based on from Thomas the Tank Engine books we’ll remembered
Thanks for thanking the plunge and buying one to review. Very nice colour.. !Question for a £250 model it appears the box shows the old version with previous tender to loco connection? How much do you need to spend for them to get the packaging correct? I would have liked to see separate etched brass builder plates and name plates like railroad plus or bachmann locos. Fine scale brass handrail fittings rather than plug in plastic ? wonky ones. Cab side window deflectors should be brass with a small glazing piece. They always break. Still seems built down to a price? Not setting the bar? Missed opportunity?I think Accurascale locos will set a new level / standards, having tested the Deltic at model rail Scotland!
I really like the black Lemberg 45. My first model purchase after a 45 year absence from train models.
I got 'knight of the thistle' which is the same as this but came out a year later than this for a discounted price. dome off out of box and only one of those clear glazing pieces was broken.
I love A1s (especially the GNR tendered ones) so I’m definitely going to get this when my model shop stocks it, so it looks like the N2 is going to have to move out so this can move in
I do too - and this tender is definitely my favourite! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Going to have to rescind my recent comment on here about the price of N gauge…£250 is a barrier we have not crossed for a single loco (yet!).
Having watched the Blue Scotsman review, I agree the improvements were more extensive then expected.
Another quality review and enjoyed it, so thanks.
Thanks very much for sharing Adam - and definitely - more extensive than I expected too!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Awesome video Sam. Despite the high prices, Hornby really seem to have cleaned up their act with this one. Such an exquisite model. I'm definitely getting the Lemberg when I get the chance.
They have!! Easier to forgive the absurd prices when the models aren't utter garbage!! xD
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Any time Sam, and I'll keep on watching your channel.
Talk to you tomorrow.
I pre-ordered the one with the steam generator, thanks I'm excited to see it now!
Oh fantastic! Very interested to see how those turn out! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I just bought one from TMC in their 50% Summer Sale which cost me all of £136 including TMC putting real coal in the tender! So definitely worth it for lucky me..I then got nervous it might not be such great quality but reassured by your review and let's face it.. may be an old model but lining is superb plus sprung buffers and die-cast running plate...
Hi Sam Needed to watch your video again as TMC have LNER A1 on offer at £126.49. So went ahead and purchased.
So that's why this took so long to come out: you went for the same one that I did lol.
Would have expected a flywheel and spring loaded contacts for the pickups at the price point. Looking forward to recieving mine!
haha exactly - much better than the plain black!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Wow! That's about Aussie $440. At least it's a retooled version and looks exceptionally nice.
I think I'll be sticking to my old railroad one unless I can pick one of these up at a big discount sometime.
With current prices from the big manufacturers, I guess we have to expect this kind of RRP for a retool.
Such a pity they didn't rework the baseplate and include a 21-pin socket though.
haha yeah - and it isn't retooled by the way, just a modification of existing tooling! Can't blame you for sticking with the Railroad ones... definitely much better value!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Also not been a fan of Hornby lately but this is stunning. The lining is amazing and that trailing wheel is flangeless and touching the rail. BRM magazine compared this quality to a kit built loco and it cam out as a bit of a bargain. However that said I cannot get my head around a loco being over £250. Did we skip them being about £180?. We seem to have gone from £150 to £250 in a very short time.
They're still bargains compared with continental HO!
LNER class A4 Mallard at 33:44 on the far left edge
I bought an A1 LNER applegreen "Royal Lancer" over 10 years ago, and to me it looks just as good as the current one....only i paid a reasonable price back then (under 100.- Gbp..)....it will do for me until further notice....and i can't see any visual differences either....:-)
Sounds good! It's possible the quality was much better 10 years ago - but the ones from recent years were getting a bit ropey... maybe the tools were getting worn out? No doubt you got an awesome price 10 years back too - so I don't blame you for being 100% satisfied!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Really gorgeous and detailed. Impressive and a great vid as usual... A company should always have some quality control. Although not perfect, it's looking better at Hornby. I and my wife have a small business and although we don't sell items that actually "function" but are more static pieces of art - HOWEVER, we do focus on absolute quality control. If a piece has defects - we TELL our customers so there are NO surprises. NO one really likes surprises... when they are spending a lot of money.
Bright LED's - at my old company we made CT scanners and there was this one board. The prototypes of the board had the LED's so BRIGHT you almost couldn't look at the board. Eventually, someone changed the resistors to cut the current...but it took awhile. It wasn't just one LED either...it was a bank of them.
Your BR blue Flying Scotsman was £138.6, add 20% (or 30%) to it, £166 (£180 at a push) is probably a reasonable price for this model
Yeah I'd agree - that would reflect the quality improvements!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Absolutely agree with Kelly below -- this is a hobby that should give you peace of mind and pleasure and a smile on your face. It is not about 'perfection'. BUT -- having said that, a smile on your face at what price? Hornby R3709 Princess Coronation Class, upgraded two years ago, you can still buy for 170 GBP. Still Very expensive!! But... It has a flywheel. A fair increase (my opinion) in price to amortize and recover the cost of new tooling for the metal chassis for this new A1 might be about 30 GBP. Cut the cost of the flywheel, maybe minus 5 GBP. Shipping costs up? Ok, add 10 GBP. So a fair price for this new A1 should be 205 GBP. Ok, we will round it up to 209.95 GBP. There is 42 GBP extra profit fat added in to Hornby's price! Meanwhile, my Hornby R262 Duchess of Athol from 1982 with tender drive still runs strong and brings a smile to my face....
This is one of the best detailed cabs I've seen you review
It's definitely up there Peter!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
That looks really nice. My favourite engine i have is the LTD edition Mallard with the 18 carrot gold plating on it.
Oh wow - that one's really something special!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thanks! A great review. And as you said it is a great looking engine. The finish is clearly superb. It is almost so good that I might get one. Really appreciate your reviews.
Thanks a lot Robert - yes hugely better isn't it? Glad to hear that mate! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam, I have just had my model of Doncaster to add to my fleet of A1's and after running in it is very smooth and am impressed with the slow running in both directions. Also I have had recently Knight of the Thistle and find both to be smooth runners. The finish of both are an improvement on some of the other Hornby loco's. The metal footplate has increased the level of traction and now will pull up to 20 coaches of Gresley teak stock [super detailed] and I have yet to try them on my Pullman stock [super detailed]
Thanks for sharing Kevin - glad you were pleased - they definitely are much better now! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
20-on was never achieved by the Gresley Pacifics in real life though...
@@paulcaswell2813 I seem to remember reading some where that they did during war time. It may have been an A4 and not an A1. There was an accident when a 20 coach train was leaving Kings Cross and stalled in the Gas Works tunnel and had the signalman not switch the point it could have been a lot worse as the train ran back into the station.
@@deanosah As you say, she stalled in Gasworks though...
A fortnight ago I purchased a second-hand Prince Palatine (circa 2006) from Classic Rail for £60 plus postage. It runs fine. It is good to see models continue to develop but I am reluctant to have more than a few that cost more than £200. Accidents can happen and the more expensive models still do not bounce and are nigh on impossible to repair. I dare say inflation will catch up with me though eventually.
As for my original Hush Hush, I like its different appearance and, fortunately, mine contines to perform (unlike Sam's original disaster).
Way out of my price range (mainly because I’m tight) but the manufacturers have created a need for these types of reviews. Back in the day I’d have browsed my local model shop and bought what I fancied based on how good it looked and price. But this was at the price point of up to £80 for a locomotive. At £250+ if I were to spend that sort of cash I’d need to know more, and your reviews give that and so much more so thankyou.
Hornby prices are expensive, but at least they have the railroad brand to help people get into the hobby so as long as they can keep quality controlled I'd say it is a fair set up. it will be interesting to see what happens to the prices of newer competitors once they become more established within the market. Always great to see you impressed with a model, I hope you are able to do the new 9F later in the year!
Great video Sam much better A1 now , how's the original Doncaster doing is it still running?
About how I asked you what your first train set was, my first train set was a Bachmann HO scale freight set with an F7 diesel locomotive
Is that Tornado at 33:27? If so she is also the odd one out as tornado is a peppercorn A1 not a Gresley A1!
08/07/23,just got my a1 Doncaster from TMC,£126!,no damage,runs perfectly too! Well chuffed.I think this is the valus Sam was hoping for :-)
Hi Sam, nice review of a beautiful locomotive. Regarding the DCC sockets, it's quite possible Hornby installs the 8-Pin socket on their DCC ready models, and the 21-Pin socket on their sound fitted versions.
Thanks Stuart - yes that's what it looks like from the instructions - how pointless!! That means the factory have got to deal with fitting different sockets to the same model... daft!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains maybe it's so buyers of the DCC ready model can use Hornby's TTS sound decoders, which are still 8-Pin. Otherwise Hornby would have to market a 21-Pin version of it in addition to the 8-Pin one.
My Tir-ang/Hornby c1975/6 Flying Scotsman had a firebox 'glow' and exhaust steam sound, ie it had the 'chuff chuff' sound box in the tender. That's come 46/47 ish years ago. Goodness me I must be one of your oldest viewers!
I think the Triang “gimmicks” were fantastic and the only way it can be beaten these days is with a lot more tech (which costs) good to see firebox glow coming back! I too have an old R850 FS but I re bodied it with a much later tender and loco body (from a tender drive loco) It’s a vast improvement but cost less than £25 due to the abundance of FS. It still runs on the Triang chassis and has the chuff chuff tender box still working too.
Doncaster 2547 was my first model train ever, I similarly got it for a Christmas present, as part of the Sheffield Pullman train set, however the engine died shortly after and never got fixed, a friend of mine gave me a little 0-4-0 and I continued on my way, I'd like to get the Doncaster again, but might take a while
Ahh just like me then! My Doncaster died too after a short number of years... I guess I should've mentioned that, haha!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains in my case a short couple of months, but it didn't deter me from model trains
That tender connector whould be removeable, you see them quite a bit in electronics just remember to pull by holding the actual white connector part and not the wires
Hi Sam. I'm revisiting your review as I frustratingly missed out on the Kernow offer of a few months ago at £99 for one of these re-tooled beauties, but now TMC has a wartime black livered version (Lemberg) for sale at £120 until midnight tonight, which gives me a couple of hours to make a decision....!
What is it with the fixed pony truck? I think it spoils the look when the wheels don't turn and then the increased overhang of the cab going round a bend. This appears to be a new trend.
In this case, the wheels did actually turn around! In order to make the pony articulate, there would have to be significant clearance between it and the rest of the loco chassis... thus introducing an even greater lack of realism! I think Bachmann did it best with their Pacifics - the axle is flanged, but free to move left and right!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I wonder if Hornby would consider a mid-range option for an A1/A3 between Railroad models and this, maybe discount the old fully plastic detailed version?
Would love to see someone make a Raven A2 model to go along with the Gresley locomotives
That'd be awesome - fingers crossed for that!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Decent review there Sam it looks very nice in that LNER green and it has a very good name, also nice to see an A1 with the original tender.
Thanks David - it sure is - my favourite of the tenders! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains I would say the corridor or non corridor tenders are my overall favourite.
My favourite condition for the A3s (as they'd all become by that time) is final nick: double Kylchap, smoke deflectors, and GN tender - of course in BR green with the 'Ferret and Dartboard' tender logo. I own 60049 'Galtee More', bought maybe fifteen years ago, before Hornby's build quality declined, and they captured the atmosphere of the locomotive superbly. It's a great pity that Hornby closed down the Chinese factory responsible for these engines, and moved them to other factories, from which came the infamous 'ski-jump' running plates...
There are so many A1s and A3s available from various releases over the last 15 years or so that the new one at this price is a hard sell. I’ll keep the ones I’ve got. Just can’t get my head around the price.
That's true David - it sucks if you already have a fleet of the existing models! For new buyers though, I think these are worthy replacements to the old version!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
How cool is this! Thanks for another review and heads up!
20:11 they look a bit wonky like they are slightly tilted to the left
It’d be really difficult to fit a decent flywheel in there without a redesign of the mechanism; they’d have to make the front-most axle the driven one so there’d be room for a longer motor shaft and the flywheel. 🤔
Beautiful engine. They did a great job capturing the beauty of LNER A-1.
They sure did didn't they? :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
It looks as though the driving wheel pickups are fitted to the keeper plate. Therefore there should be no problem cleaning them!
Where did you get those red coaches from? I'm looking for more coaches and rolling stock for my engines but can't seem to find any that are decently priced or have the hook and loop style couplers.
The speedo assemblys are British Rail modifications
Hello Sam, amazing to see the new die cast running plate A1/3, lovely to see one of my Doncaster brother ,lol.Keep up the amazing work!!!
Hello! It is awesome isn't it?! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
nice loco from hornby have they at last listen to what costumers had been telling them.
but on the ohter hand we got hornbys starnge tier system when it comes to alotments.
a smashing video as always sam.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I wander if Hornby might make a Great Northern 1472 version of Flying Scotsman.
Evie and Ava are built by Sir Nigel Gresley too. Evie's the N7 and Ava's the V2
Should the rear wheel assembly on the loco be articulated? The old ones were. Is the valve gear/piston rods metal or plastic? They'd better be metal at that price. Also at that price they could have stuck in the DCC chip. I'll not be buying one; extortionate.
What’s your favourite of the Big Four? I’m an LMS person myself
Ahh good choice! I think it'd be the SR for me! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
G O R D O N
Could we get a pure A1 and A3 running session video? like the kind of running sessions you used to do? that would be awesome if you could, no worries if not. But on the topic of this loco oh my this is awesome, I'd love to get one at some point, that old style GNR tender is beautiful with the livery and the white striped wheels, and even the front! it's so unique the smoke box door as it doesn't have the silver burnishing unlike Every single a1 and a3 that Hornby have made over the past 20 years :D i must get Doncaster at some point, the price may be scarey but hopefully that should lower a tad over time, hopefulyl is the key word there :D bril video Sam!
This LNER A1 Pacific Express Engine Is A Bit Like Flying Scotsman And Gordon The Big Engine From Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends The Original Series In 1984. Thanks Sam'sTrains Mate. X
A gorgeous loco! One of the better ones from Honby for sure, definitely derserving of the rating you gave it.
I actually have a little idea for an experiment you can do 👀
“How much force does it take to break a OO scale model railway coupling”. You could perhaps accumulate a few different ones of that scale (for example, knuckle couplers, horn hooked couplers and nem) test them, conduct the experiment, and in the end compare the final figures (I guess would be Newtons). Just a little idea! 😆
Can we please get a a3 flying Scotsman lner with the German wind deflectors, with this spec I’d absolutely love it, idc about the price but my old hornby one got damaged past the point of repair so I’m looking at a new one but with a die cast playe and flickering firebox I’d rather eait
Brilliant video, Sam I've got a question as I've had the following scotman model on preorder for 4 months now model number: 4
R3991SS BR, A3
Do you think this be a good model or over priced as I've seen hornby have put the price up to 300 quid now
Sam, are all trailing trucks fixed nowadays, of does it vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, model to model? I understand the fixed truck is as an aid to realistic appearance, if not to running.
I'm going to watch your Bachmann V2 review again. Want to know what the exact difference is.....................
If you can, you should totally get the Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 (The REAL one), and the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy for your layout! Two legendary locomotives that I think you'd really enjoy, if you can find them from the right brand at the right price!
I think given the 'upgrades' are in effect a firebox flicker, a bit of weight, streight running board, and a more satin finish... and i can get the old one for £100 less new or £150 less second hand easy, ill have the old one and have fun modelling to make it better than the new one.
I love being an Australian viewer and seeing the scare from Hornby a British prices and then you go and convert the price to aud and then it becomes scary
Great review Sam as usual. My comment: how come they didn't detail the smokebox door?
Will you be buying/reviewing the hornby Elizabeth the second West Country class (the purple one)
Nobody likes higher prices but when manufacturers struggle to make a profit due to rising prices they have no choice. I would like to see the silly quality issues resolved though, no excuse for broken parts, and I would have sent that back to Derails for replacement for that alone. Also the front coupling missing would be an issue for me, but it at least looked like it had a NEM pocket, but wasn't clear if a coupling was provided. I also noted that the running palte even though diecast was still not flat. In summary I have no issue paying a fair price that means the company can make a small profit, but there is no excuse for fundamental faults.
just got one new at half price but sent it back smoke box door fell off , dome on boiler fell off and some of the driving rods fell off .GOOD OLD HORNBY STELL THE SAME
I'd have said it was Tornado that's the odd one out as its a peppercorn loco, that was until I saw the W1
Ahh very good, haha! :D
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hey Sam. What would you say is a fair price for this loco?
That's hard to say - I reckon £130-£150 and I'd have given this a much higher value score!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Can you please unbox the bachmann percy
Thanks, Sam. I am still considering buying the A3 in Black 'Lemburg' so it was good to see a review of this one. Interesting they didnt upgrade the motor/mechanism.
Ahh excellent - I can definitely give this a thumbs up, though it definitely would have been better with mechanical upgrades too!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
18:02 - smoke box door.
I still see the fire box flickering when it's on the move. Have you tried it in the dark? They really made an improvement to the original. I'm Thinking about getting new A3 Flying Scotsman one day on my 00 gauge layout. I've noticed 60163 Peppercorn A1 'Tornado' at the pub siding. Good video and good review.
What if you do a brake test downhill?
Should I get this or the flying Scotsman set? I want to get a hornby engine and cars cause I only have American models and I want to check out some models from the UK
Hi Sam , do you put the Extra detail one ?
Generally I don't Chris!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I pre ordered the new Platinum Jubilee loco and I'm very concerned about the quality and performance of the loco since I live in Colombia and is not going to be cheap to send it back to the UK for repair. What are you thoughts on it, Sam? Should I withdraw my preorder?
Hey Sam, can you help me by answering a question...
I bought a Harry Potter train set after watching your recent video about it.
Hornby UK was out of stock, but Hornby US had them (mine even came with an American power plug -- I thought I'd have to buy a US/UK converter)!
But I couldn't get one DCC fitted.
Nobody has Hornby TTS Hall decoders in stock.
What decoder do you recommend that I can get?
Or am I gonna have to buy a Hornby Hall loco that is DCC fitted to get my paws on the correct decoder?
Thanks! I love your channel! 🙂
Thanks for another fabulous review Sam
Hello Sam. I've looked forward to seeing this video. Before i saw your review i took the plunge and pre ordered this locomotive from a retailer not of Hornby's website. I do not possess a class A1 locomotive, mine are all A3 locomotives of various tooling all BRUNSWICK green. I love the livery it's beautiful especially the red around the wheels of the tender ,SUPERB. It's a pity about the fly wheel in the mechanism and the DCC chip. As for the price it's eye watering, i think Hornby are pushing it abit too far. Thank you Sam for the video, great MINDS think ALIKE 👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ahh fantastic to hear that Mark - you're right it is superb! It's a real shame they didn't upgrade the chassis, but overall it's a very good loco now, if not for the price!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam beautiful loco isn’t it? Also do you know of any good cheap locos to start a collection?? I’ve just started collecting a year ago.
If you can, get to a model railway exhibition. You can pick up loads of good quality second hand locos there at very reasonable prices.
Ok I’m pretty sure there’s one nearby next month thanks Benedict Paul
Was that a blue A4 I saw?
Did you ever find a 5 star loco, 10s rank all the way?