HM204: Hornby all-new OO gauge Stanier Black Five

[@hornbymag]

Key Publishing/Hornby Magazine have a zero tolerance policy for bullying and harassment. As such any and all negative comments about our members of staff, or featured guests, will be removed/blocked.

[@FormallyknownasE100]

This model just gives me the feeling that if it just had another few months of refinements and another engineering prototype stage then it’d have been superb. Just feels slightly rushed due to the numerous issues reported. Quality control processes also need a serious review.

[@AussiePom]

It's a nice model but I don't like the fixed working lamps because in that configuration it denotes a class 8 freight which is a fully unfitted freight like a long coal train of 4 wheel wagons with no continuous brakes. I would have been better if Hornby had included all the lamp irons and made them all powered so that with their own range of working lamps then any code configuration could be shown. That's just a half arsed attempt whereas with powered lamp irons allowing any code configuration to be displayed that would have been a huge leap forward and of course including a diagram of which trains carried which code.

[@aberfordwest4003]

The lamps are supposed to be removable I think, although it is difficult

[@richardswiderski4985]

She does look good I am waiting for the steam generator version later in the year.👍

[@jameskalas16]

My eye was immediately drawn to the fingerprints/glue marks and botched bits of paintwork. I wonder if the models released after the initial launch are better (the BR era models)

[@NewModelRailway1]

I see the haters are out again (that wasn't aimed at you hornbymag). I have seen more positive reviews of this Black 5 than negative ones. I somehow feel the number of negative experiences are being over-exaggerated, although I certainly accept the issues have been real. I'm staying true to the course and hope I will have the spare cash to buy the smoke generator one when it comes out later this year.

[@aberfordwest4003]

I wouldn’t say haters, although some people are probably over zealous, they are right to be outraged if they shelled out £250 and it’s faulty.

[@johnphillipson1107]

So this is the second one you have tested as the first failed? If so a real problem as others have had issues and returned this loco. The lamp situation is also a totally impractical solution to adding working lights and why a working light on the tender when pulling a train? Will not be buying this model. JP

[@LNER985]

Clearly you don't want to support the hobby.

[@chrisbaines6931]

​@@LNER985I totally agree with John, the tender lamp is the reason I will not buy this model.
I'm sure John, like me supports the hobby by buying other models, just not this one.
If only hornby bothered to find out what loco lamps are a there for they would have realised serious modellers won't want a lamp between the loco and the train.

[@aberfordwest4003]

@@LNER985not everyone has £250 for faulty modes mate…

[@johnphillipson1107]

The comment I do not want to support the hobby is totally incorrect - I have about 100 locomotives, two hundred coaches and at least 300 wagons and run a large 'at home' railway. Unfortunately Hornby models over the last three years have been the most problematic of all the manufacturers so that is why I will not be buying Hornby again.

[@LNER985]

Yet you're attitude towards Hornby clearly shows you don't want to support when the hobby would die without them. Apart from Bachmann are the only manufacturer that offers products that get people into the hobby and clearly you're ego is more important than the growing of the hobby.

[@LNER985]

@@jamtart606 Earlier in the year when the clickbait articles got released saying that the hobby is dying. At this rate people like you are pushing us towards that and in the current world of mental health issues. Negative people like you pushing the world into a dark place.

[@davidkavanagh189]

@@LNER985 I don't know what planet you're on but the hobby is most definitely NOT dying. Quite the opposite.

[@jamtart606]

@@LNER985 LIES

[@LNER985]

@@jamtart606 You are literally a troll.

[@colinmeredith7114]

At the inflated price there shouldn't be any issues... I said I wouldn't buy one and I haven't, and will Not! A Brassmasters kit for £30.00 will make a big upgrade difference.

[@HamStrains]

Inflated? Not really, that old tooling cost about the same when launched in terms of hours you'd have to work to afford it.
Math on this claim is 2002 £4.20 minimum wage model launched for £81.50 that's ignoring everything else going on which isn't in hornbys control 20 hours of your work as a base to afford it. This one today £230 run the same thing over at an £11.44 minimum wage and that's 21 hours. Not really inflated compared to what you can minimally earn for your labour. The models haven't really got more expensive, everything else sure has but that's hardly a fault of a toy manufacturer. 😊

[@aberfordwest4003]

@@HamStrainstrue but the old ones actually worked

[@carllawton9520]

I have a steam generator one on order and have been waiting 2 1/2 years now, watching the reviews on TH-cam highlighting all the problems from the manufacturer i’m considering counselling this order.

[@aberfordwest4003]

You have the right to return- id wait and see, maybe they’ll iron out the issues

[@NathanielKempson]

Apart from the fact it broke, and this is the second one you have had. its great XD
Makes me laugh. Its pretty but its garbage and not that well thought out.

[@LNER985]

It isn't garbage.

[@NathanielKempson]

@@LNER985 Well, the only two videos I have watched of it and the people have had problems with it.
Dosnt bode well does it? Its obvious whats happened, yet again Hornby have rushed it to get theirs to market before anyone else. Or at least tried to.
Tender connections not working, stuttering, slowing down on corners that it should have no issues with, lamps being far too fiddly and breaking, the valve gear falling out, finger prints and glue marks, not the neatest paintjob and a wealth of other issues. That from the price should not happen!!

[@LNER985]

@@NathanielKempson Plenty of people haven't had any issues with their models and just you continuing to push this disgusting grudge against Hornby.

[@andrewbellamy722]

@@LNER985 Hornby have produced some good models but it is very obvious that they did not take notice of a large amount of feedback they received when this model was in development.
Hornby said themselves that this would be the ultimate Black Five it is not, many of the TH-cam videos show genuine issues with this model and Hornby’s inconsistency in both research and development of this model.
Another view may be that Hornby rushed this model in development to get it on the market as the recent financial report from the company shows a business that has increasing debt and no profit.
People talk much about a grudge against Hornby, l have Hornby models in my collection but the very clear fact is if Hornby where consistent in quality and accuracy this would not be the case.
Hornby have to wake up and realise there are companies out there that are consistently delivering high quality accurate models.

[@criminal__8615]

so many reviews are showing issues with the kinematic coupler, has hornby addressed this issue, or you were lucky to get one that worked

[@hornbymag]

We had no issues with the kinematic coupler on the 2 models we used to test and film, however we did have to source a second model after complications with the first one we were given.

[@criminal__8615]

@@hornbymag do you think hornby need to address this issue, because it is a lot of money for an item you can have issues with and get it fixed, so while the model is beautiful, if it has electrical issues people will steer clear until they hear that it has been resolved.
I think your video should have touched more on the issues that you had with the model and what steps hornby should take, otherwise its just an advert glossing over issues

[@NewModelRailway1]

I think you will find this is an 'overview' not a 'review'. If you want to read the 'review' you will have to subscribe to Hornby Magazine where I'm sure they will reveal all. Did I do it right @hornbymag?

[@paulwebb8018]

I’m getting a bit depressed by the trade mags (Hornby, Model rail, et Al). In reviews of this item they all just say excellent blah blah. They must be aware of problems reported.

[@FormallyknownasE100]

@@paulwebb8018 the only one I now subscribe to is BRM partially for that reason. Generally a lot more robust in their reviewing IMO.

[@ethmister]

How are the inner carriages coupled?

[@hornbymag]

We have fitted the magnet couplings to most of these Mk1's. They're strong enough to hold the entire set together as well as provide more close coupling too 😊

[@TechnoJonny]

Hi, Technically, when the Black 5 with capprotti valve gear is released, it will not be the 1st ready to run model fitted with it, what about the Hornby Duke of Gloucester?, good review otherwise.

[@hornbymag]

Yes, that's very true however it will be the first time a Black 5 with that valve gear has been produced.

[@tulyar1043]

​@@hornbymag Only available from the Hornby Website so you can't assess it before buying like you can in a brick and motar model shop. Looks nice but having seen some of their recent horrors it will not be finding me opening my wallet for one.

[@hornbymag]

@@tulyar1043 Just so there's no confusion: our business is Key Publishing and we produce Hornby Magazine as one of our titles. Hornby Model Railways are the ones who produce the models and we are not part of the same business. 😊

[@tulyar1043]

@@hornbymag I am fully aware of your independance from Hornby Railways. Just stating my opinion on their new Caprotti Class five.

[@andrewbellamy722]

This is a poor model, there are many detail inaccuracies
Incorrect brake shoes and hangers
Hopper ash pan actuator that should not be there on an early Black Five
Incorrect bogie wheel profile
Incorrect cab detail
Issues with material thickness especially on the tender sides
Pipe work details under the footplate have been researched from a preserved locomotive and are incorrect
The chimney shape???!!!
The gap between the running plate and the boiler should not be there.
All of these issues were raised with Hornby during development and the fact that many of the preserved Black Fives differ from drawings of locomotives even in their later lives.
There is a huge amount of published information regarding the Black Fives available of which Hornby clearly have not used they have not delivered on this model at all or the BR liveried models either.
Sorry to be negative but respected researchers and authors spend thousands of hours compiling information concerning locomotive accuracy and detail of which manufacturers should take the time to study.
I’ve spent many years researching Black Fives and 8Fs and many of the above issues are very basic issues.

[@jameshardy4354]

Ultimate black 5 it sounds any thing but with the reviews that I've seen on TH-cam

[@LNER985]

It is the best black 5 on the market.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

@@LNER985 Maybe there's still a gap in the market then . . . ?