Chris from Olivia's trains here. you say the loco tender connection worked fine on other models. trust me it didn't the amount of returns for the connection breaking or tabs snapping inside it was silly. so with that said we are 1 shop with a lot of problems from the connection i assume Hornby got a lot more complaints for the same issue, so i am assuming they have reversed back to the 4pin plug until a better design is made
I’m assuming they went back to the four pin plug because this is the original b17 chassis with a new body, so they didn’t bother changing the tender connection
@@Alpha-oo8 agreed just use the old design, it worked so why change it. i still hope they have done a reversal on the new connections. as a person who has had to repair many there awful, cheap and as delicate as i am very very easy to break
@@chrishaynes1804 such a shame… Hornby do seem to struggle a bit with innovation. Like, they don’t do enough R&D. The ideas are good, like the tender couplings, the removable working lamps, but they seem to have problems that more development time may have fixed. How are the tender couplings from the other manufacturers? In your experience, do they have similar problems to the Hornby one, or do they work most of the time?
@@Alpha-oo8 off the top of my head i cant think of any having any issues which means there doing there job. the only 1 that does come to mind that did have a few issues was the Rapido Stirling single it was a bit floppy and very delicate. but other than that example there all pretty solid. if there is any you are specifically wanting info about i would be happy to give you my thoughts
@@chrishaynes1804 it maybe that the b17 is not made in the same factory as the other designs with the silly push together (hope the traction forces don’t stress the contacts) draw bar. However I think it is logical to take the decision to use the existing proven harness design on a chassis design which also has been previously used if requiring som updates for the new model. Why introduce expenditure on a feature which is unproven (or proven to be unreliable depending on dates of freezing the design) which would not threaten sales of omitted? Olivia’s is a first class shop by the way - well done!
I love how this loco is so small yet also streamlined! It looks so unique because of that, despite the fact it basically just looks like a mini A4 (or mini Rebuilt W1)
Hold their feet to the fire,make ‘em smoke!!!’ You would think fire box flicker, etched name plates, smoke unit wouldn’t be asking too much. Premium prices need premium features.
Well, I do have to say it is a good looking locomotive and an excellent runner. Your assessment was fair but I think a D would have been more concise. Hornby is very close to folding and needs to stop the bleeding. I think they should appeal to the masses and tell them exactly why the price is so high and stop blaming inflation as the only cause. Once Hornby and other manufactures opted to move production to China the clock started ticking. Nostalgia and loyalty can save a company, but the company has to trim the fat and that starts at the top. I wish I had better news for the future of this hobby, but all things change. Time for a beer, cheers! Great review and video, Jersey Bill
Thanks a lot for sharing Bill, appreciate your thoughts! I think trimming the fat is really what Hornby needs to do - job loss is terrible and not at all desirable... but if they don't fix this and go out of business, everyone loses their jobs! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains I agree. The whole thing wreaks of poor management and their commercial strategy has big holes all over it. I'm all for variety and a strong British manufacturing base (Moving production to China, whilst saving them money was a poor business decision given that the company, for our hobby, has always represented the very best of British!) but the unnecessarily high pricing alienates their base market, the one they have always been able to rely on in the past. I applaud them for the vision of TT but to introduce it as they did, in a market where the vagaries and the confusion of Brexit were completely predictable, just didn't make any sense at all. I really want Hornby to survive but, as it stands, if current marketing trends and policies continue, I don't think they stand a dog's chance. Far better to knock managerial heads together now, bring the production back from China, and save some long-term jobs and skills rather than to let the whole thing go to the wall and lose part of our model railway heritage. I'm happy to pay a small premium for Hornby models but this B17/5 is just a step too far.
It's a nice looking loco - but the price is insane!! (Plus due to rise tomorrow!) Deffo won't be buying unless it's seriously reduced. Does look fantastic in the green though.
Dude, every time ya said b17 instantly made me think I was watching a video about WW2 bomber planes. I've been on a bit of a war history binge these days. Lol
Hi Sam. Another excellent, forensic review. Your process-focused approach is "best in class". I always search for your review on any loco I intend to buy prior to shelling out my cash. As an enthusiast living in East Anglia I would have definitely bought this loco, especially after tour review, but the damn price is just a deal breaker. Oh well... I wouldn't disagree with anything you said. But I think your final rating of an E is harsh. Keep up the good work, sir.
@@SamsTrains Your welcome. Regarding watching your reviews before I buy, Derails was offering the Hornby Sentinel for £59 (Inc postage!), so I re-watched your review from 2022 and decided to give it a miss. It was a close-run thing, as the price does make it more attractive, and I could fix the pickups. But I decided against it.
I bought a new R3171 Hornby P2 class last month for under £98 shipped. That had a flywheel in it. And while it didnt have a firebox flicker or a diecast body, it also didn't have near Hornby Dublo tier pricing. I've really been wanting a modern model of an LNER 4-6-0 tender engine too and would like this to join the other streamlined A4s and Hush Hush I have, but that price and the features make it hard to justify. That cab interior is, however, spectacular.
what a cute little baby A4! Pretty good looking, the detailing is perfect, but the price is clearly over-the-top... It should be what a regular model looks like, not a premium priced one.
Good review Sam. Funny you reflect my feelings exactly. I was fortunate enough to pre order this loco when club members got 10% off so I only paid £188.99. I like the loco but it doesn't give me the buzz that say an Accurascale one does. As you say it is lacking in features which is exactly what I thought and I asked myself "would I have paid much more for this loco". The answer was definitely no, even worse is a Accurascale or Dapol Manor with sound is not much more than Hornby's recommended retail price. The lack of Firebox flicker really got me, virtually all their competition's locos have it. Interestingly I have been adding it to A4s I convert to decoder in tender. The circuit board they make, makes joining that 4 way they use to the loco pickups easier.
I’ve definitely been looking forward to this; everyone seems to want these streamlined B17’s! Regrettably I am not so convinced as I hoped to be. The smooth motion and diecast body are truly marvellous, as is the plastic coal load - for a change. Effort has been made to some degree and thankfully those merits show. But, regrettably with no new drawbar, firebox flicker, old motor without a flywheel, nor nameplates, I’d say this model is worth £180. Honestly I am chronically disappointed in Hornby’s price increase and this will only turn model makers towards the likes of Rapido, Dapol and Accurascale. Frankly, Hornby’s years are numbered. I, and multiple modellers haven’t been able to take Hornby seriously for a good number of years now. This new price says it all.
Hey Sam! Not sure if it's my eyes playing tricks, but I'm pretty sure the tender green and the loco green are different. I could be wrong, but you may wanna look closely at that.
This is a pretty good model, but for such a price, I don’t want to have to repaint the green, fix the lining and boiler bands, fit decent wheels, fit decent valve gear and coupling/connecting rods, make a decent cross head, fit decent buffers, and on top of all of that, fix a lot of soft moulding. I’d be happy to do all the previous if the price didn’t make my wallet beg for mercy, but I don’t like the sound of a sobbing wallet enough to justify purchasing this model. By the way, the cable on the left side is the whistle cable, and the small brass valve connected to it is the whistle valve, Hornby slightly botched the detail, and it should look a bit more like how it is on the A4s (whistle cable on the A4s ran under the ejector pipe to the brass valve). Thanks as always Sam!
I like it Sam. In the bus world it would be classed as midi bus...skipping round corners/curves... Be great if you could strip off the cladding like an Airfix Snapkit
I have bought this loco, mainly because it's just so unique. However because of the high price I chose to buy this instead of the Black 5. Had both locos been at a more reasonable price I probably would have bought both, and it's the same with a lot of other Hornby products where I choosing to buy one over another rather than both, or going to another manufacturer entirely.
High price probably reflects that as a niche loco it will have a small production run and possibly no repeat, meaning the fixed costs have to be shared between fewer models.
I am glad they at least re-did the base keeber plate and contact wipers so they can be fully removable. I expected at least working lamps (in the express headcode) to be fitted even if it uses the old B17 chassis. I also expected a pre-fitted speaker at that price, and it wouldn't be difficult just to wire existing parts to this loco without raising the price.
While working lights would have been nice many pictures of the 2 B17/5s show them with headcode discs setup for express passenger apart from a couple of exceptions when it hauled a different train, there are a couple of photos where lamps are fitted but the majority of the time pictures show headcode discs.
Not a model train set owner, but none the less enjoy watching ST's channel. The cost of these locomotives and ancillaries are almost approaching lease/financing territory!
Hi Sam, Gresley had introduced the B17 class in 1928 for the East Anglican area of the L.N.E.R, 73 engines were built in total, replacing Holden's B.12 class. Where his A3 class couldn't run due to the strict axle loading restrictions, adding to the fact that the they also were too long for the turntables. Gresley's successor Edward Thomson motivated by wartime constraints he had rebuilt a number of B.17s with 2 cylinders to the extent that these became B.2s
I had this on order. But a couple of months ago I cancelled the order due to cost. Hornby are over pricing the customers. They need to look after their customers
i like how the numbers and letters have a 3d effect., long before that would ever be a term. not so much for the model more for the prototype, but you know what mean it makes you think.
The new Hornby LNER B17 with the streamline casing looks very nice and its performance is fantastic. Shame that it is very expensive now and its mechanism along with its body are quite basic but it is a pretty good model Sam.
Hi Sam another useful review. I'm guessing with the tender-to-loco connection they used the existing tender so went with the old wire connection to avoid the cost of a newly tooled tender, which is understandable. Similar with not having firebox flicker if they used the existing B17 chassis. Another reason why some recent Hornby locos have new features and some don't is because some models were designed before these features were available and some after. The length of time between the initial plans for a model being drawn up and the finished article arriving in the shops can vary due to various factors such as: - How long it took to finalise the design. - If any issues were found when checking the pre-production prototype which needed correcting. - Which of the various factories Hornby uses was making it. Different regions of China have faced different periods of lockdown so some factories have had their production times affected more than others. Additionally I understand that some have faced issues with getting materials. A good example was the 2MT which took 5 yrs to finally arrive and so didn't feature Hornby's latest innovations. However I do agree the price should reflect that and one bug-bear I have with both Hornby and Bachmann is how they price some basic old tooled models the same as ones brand new tooling and new features. The 8F and 9F are a good example. Both have an RRP of £250. The 9F has a new tooling, diecast body, high level of detail, firebox flicker, etc. In contrast I believe the tooling for the 8F is pretty old, I think it might even date back to Airfix. It has poor detail, a plastic body and no features. It really should be in the railroad range. There doesn't seem to be much logic or consistency in how Hornby and Bachmann price some of their models.
Thanks very much - yes that's right it's the same solution as on the old model... I suppose I was hoping to see some updates for the money! They also used the existing loco chassis without updating it, which also explains the lack of features! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
It's a very beautiful made model, the paint is probably a bit thick on the metal body, making the detail a bit soft, but the texture, lining and printing are very good. Very nice wheels also and a good cab detail. I also did run fairly well on you layout with good control. The lack of any extra features like lighting, fire box flicker or a speaker is what lets it down, the mechanism is a direct carry over from the old B-17 but yet these features could have been included without a lot of redesign to the mechanism. However, while almost £250,- RRP is expensive but still relatively affordable compared with models on the continent nowadays. I recently did see the surprise model from Märklin for this year, the French 141R 2-8-2 class locomotive. While this model looks the part with lots of separate parts, smoke (sadly not dynamic), DCC sound, fire box flicker and head, tail and cab lights and even lights under the running boards €680 really is a price that puts me off, I could buy 2 or 3 UK models for that money even with the current pricing. This doesn't speak Hornby free of maybe unfair price increases, or is it the wages in China going up that much?
I'm not keen on the stubby streamlined look in green, but I saw one in all black on AGR Model Railway Store's in-shop test track and that did look good.
Hornby need to decide what they are. They are trying to cater to all markets, but instead cater to none. They need to decide if they are premium then they make premium and all the comes with it. Or they say, we are mass market producers, our models will be good quality but will lack some of the details of some of the more expensive brands. We will be decently priced, but not the cheapest in market. In the end the joe average hobbyist just wants a train that runs well, and if we do decide to pay the extra money then we expect the detail and bang for buck. Look at toyota, their cars are boring, but they are well made and are quality where it counts so lots of people buy them. Hornby have no direction and dont know what they are or where they sit in the market.
It's a very interesting and unique model Sam. I remember the old one had a problem with its front bogie, it looks like Hornby has fixed that. Cheers Jasper & Willow
Maybe when Hornby goes under, Dapol or Accuscale can pick up the license for the micromist "smoke" system. Maybe even dye the water and add "dirty" smoke to the diesels? Maybe, to push the envelope even further, include crew members? Oh, and still be affordable models?
A fair and informative review as always, Sam. A very desirable loco which, despite its imperfections, might have found a place in my collection but for Hornby's 'over-ambitious' price, which is presumably even higher as of today (1.9.24).
One problem with the final presentation of metal bodies is the need for a primer layer of paint and its thickness. The paint dulls the sharpness of the detail (and this happens on 1/1 scale items also). A feature that should be noted on all models is the relative axial and vertical movement of the wheels relative to each other. This is the only way to get round corners and changes in gradient. Too rigid on corners, slow or derail, too rigid vertical will rock on the the centre axel over peaks and lift over troughs.
Sam, I've bought a Heljan Metropolitan Bo-bo. It doesn't have any quality issues whatsoever. It's weird how some Heljan models are so good while others suck.
It's probably a production issue in the factory like cars some are built better than others. I have 3 heljan locos class 86 , 58 , 33 dating back to 2011 with no problems. I would advise to not use cheap decoders if running on Dcc 😊
Sam, will you be getting Hornby’s LNER Coronation coaches to review? I really like them, especially the observation car and I really want to get them to run with my Mallard, but I’d like to see an objective review from someone before I do, given Hornby’s recent unreliability with models
It’s crazy to think that I paid £109 for a standard B17 just four years ago😨I have to agree that it’s a very beautiful locomotive but for £250 it’s just not worth it!
So to sum up, very nice to look at, maybe not the diamond standard but still good quality, die-cast boiler, runs very well, it is way better than the new Hornby Black Five, and would be lovely to have... ...but it costs a couple of kidneys... Real tough one on this. Thanks for your reviews as always. The detail you go into makes it very helpful for deciding on what to get.
Bit of a pity that the high price, lack of features (pre-fitted speaker in the tender, firebox flickering), lack of a flywheel for the motor let B17/5 down as it looks rather nice.
Good review but you'd probably take off another star for value if you did the review today as it's now gone up to £274.99 on the Hornby website! I found that the 21 pin holder needed lowering in order to fit a sound decoder.
I much prefer the un-streamlined B17. I have a project coming soon where I got the BR green Railroad version for 43£ and will combine it with the BR Apple green body, named Sheffield Wednesday. All for less than this new release. I think its okay, the metal body was a huge surprise for me and demonstrates that Hornby can do streamline bodies out of metal (still sad that the Hush Hush has a plastic one). But holy crap over 250£ RRP is borderline insane. The Turbomotive, 9F and the Accurascale Manor are way cheaper or thw same price, but much larger or more feature packed. A shame, but at least the model itself is well built and looks stunning in it's unique way. Great review, Sam 👍
@@stephendavies6949 I mean technically sure. I tried Fox Transfers once. A bit pricey but their name plates and number decals are really top notch. Idk about removing numbers though. I just put the new name and number plate on my Hall Class back then, but surely, you can somehow remove the old number without damaging the paintwork.
18:42 - Found a huge oversight by Hornby: the number on the tender is different than the one on the loco, clearly belonging to the other streamlined class member.
No this is not an oversight from hornby as it’s a builders plate you are being shown in the shot, let me explain, locomotive builders plates are not normally the same number that the locomotive was given, Mallard for example may be numbered 4468 but it’s builders plate lists it as 1870. A builders plate lists where the locomotive was built, it’s serial number and year of manufacturer and where it was built so for Mallard for example,it was built. By the London and North Eastern Railway Co, it’s serial number is 1870, Built at Doncaster in 1938, Mallards current tender is numbered 5642, yes this tender does have the number of the other locomotive but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is for that locomotive, another scenario is if the tender is actually for City of London at some point it may have been paired up with East Anglian, back when steam engines were running it wasn’t uncommon for locomotive and tenders to be swapped round if there was work being carried out on the loco or tender so maybe at one time East Anglian may have ran with the tender City of London had while the original tender East Anglian had may have been being worked on.
Sam I was looking at real life coaches and I noticed the roof had Matt finish. Maybe this might influence your opinion on some coaches? You should try out some second hand OO gauge graham farish stuff, like a pannier!!
now modelling 1930's LNER, not the East Anglia region specifically - not convinced on this due to the price, sub £200 maybe, if I see one on a decent discount I may grab one. cab lighting etc I can live without, currently ditto sound. Do wonder why it needs a 21 pin decoder given short of a speaker and the motor it doesn't exactly tax the number of wires. level of detail is decent from what you have shown, pity on the lack of crew though. does seem a bit of a step back very fair review, on a discount I can see this on my layout, just not at full price
It is a difficult model - Just 2, relatively unknown locos built in Pre-war LNER green. Plain black is the only other livery choice. Will look amazing with a teak Quad art set ( also very niche, but never likely to be done again). Will the B17/5 be done again, probably not, unless they do City of London in the green - hopefully they will not be tempted to do 'What If' blue and silver versions like the W1 in LNER Lined green. I hope this project doesn't burn them to a point that they no longer take these risks and just stick to the old favourites.
Doesn't work for me like the shortened version of the 747 Jumbo Jet - very odd to look at. Dunno - if Accurascale can do what they do without you having to remortgage your house to buy them then what is going on? As for having crew figures why don't they include that Royal Mail coach guy doing a shit off the back of the wagon? Appropriate? 👍
Definitely NOT WORTH THE MONEY… I would price it around 160-180 in today’s market. But around 200-230 for dcc and sound fitted.. but thats just my opinion.
Since Hornby is a loss making business it seems quite sensible to reuse a chassis design and make the model more profitable. If they don't start making money soon we will lose them. Would that be a good thing? Maybe/probably not. My main issue with hornby isn't that they reuse bits of previous investment, it's more that their QC seems to be very poor. I can forgive efficiency savings if things work, not if they don't.
A good looking model definitely, but the price now is pushing people out of the hobby. Think I'll wait till it starts appearing on the pre owned market.
Hi Sam I’ve basically stopped buying hornby.due to there excessive prices.i buy accurascale. And bachmann. As there models are better priced and better quality.
Yep. As an enthusiast now living in East Anglia, I'd have definitely bought this if it wasn't so damn expensive! PS: I'm a ex-Pat from South Wales, and judging by your YT name, you probably have connections to that part of the country too? I see you pop up on various channels. OOBill just fixed my 56xx. It'll be waiting for me to try out on the layout when I get back to the UK early next week.
@@stephendavies6949 Hi Stephen, yes indeed, in Barry, me. I started modelling 50s SW steam freight but now I also do 80-90s diesel freight, US freight and a bit of passenger stuff of all eras and places. I have a few 56xx around the place - my neighbour when I was a boy was a 56xx driver who had switched to class 37s so my channel is named in his memory. Enjoy your tank Collett goods lol
@@Valleys56xx Barry: I'm just about old enough to remember the Scrapyard and walking round it in awe as a boy when on daytrips to Barry Island, not knowing at the time what I was looking at really. Now, of course, I bump into at least one of those former rusting hulks every time a visit a heritage line. I guess no self-repsecting model railway enthusiast from South Wales should be without a 56xx (or 57xx and a class 37 for that matter). Happy modelling.
Looking at the wheel layout of this loco it makes me think that despite it having 6 driving wheels it would be better described as a 4-4-2 or even a 4-4/2-0 as to me it doesn't look like a true 4-6-0
Have you reviewed the tt version yet. Falcon is a nice looking engine. I've got an issue with willy white balancing on the centre drive wheels. The bushes obviously aren't going in or the rods are pulling it out. I'm not sure whether to open it or send it back, and whether to send the set back or locomotive only. Any advice ?
I don't see it's worth at $530 nz not inc p&p even if it had all the things you mention. I'd be curious what the profit margin is on it. I can't help but wonder if making bodies with cnc from billet would be cheaper to make rather than casting & the issues that arise from it depending on the reject rate when casting
Hello I do like your reviews etc. and watch your videos regularly. However, as a very mature and price conscious pensioner, I can’t understand your price expectations. I moved to H0 mainly German three rail some time back. Their prices would give you nightmares. Yes, the metal castings are superior and all have digital fitted even smoke on most too. Hornby, are certainly struggling in sales within the market. You are correct in that the mechanics are weak and behind, but price, plastic or die cast are very reasonable, compared to the industry. Love the channel, please give us more…… best regards TonyH
Ciao Sam, bella recensione! Condivido le considerazioni che hai fatto...per oltre 200 sterline, mi aspetterei come minimo un volano ed illuminazione delle lampade....nel 2024 dovrebbero essere caratteristiche e funzioni standard.... Un saluto!
So, they announce this in the 2023 range, meaning they were hoping to release it in 2023… but the drawings are from 2024? Why do they announce locomotives for the years range when they are not even remotely close to having it ready?
nice loco and it is nice to see diecast from hornby but it is what you pointed out lack of details. but one has to remeber that hornby is clarley struggeling with money. and is shows on some models but not on others. 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
The strange little moulded detail on the body that you didn't know the purpose of really gave me Hornby railroad vibes - such moulded details only partially picked out in paint like that look quite unacceptable for a loco that price in my opinion
Hi again Sam. This is a good case for showing the colour - sheen difference between the die cast loco and plastic tender. It was immediately very noticeable to us since unpacking to the point of constant annoyance. We just could never live with it. On the whole, she's quite basic. At least lights should have been included and a modern loco-tender connector. This reaching the equivalent of 300 Euros now really is too bare. Btw, the chassis - side view - is different Sam. Perhaps you missed it, but the upper part of it has a very different profile. Either they have revised it, or developed new. Lovely loco though but the colour difference between the loco and tender, and it being too bare bones does leave some questions. Cheerio.
Hi Linda - thanks a lot - yeah that's an interesting point - pity they haven't been able to crack that, though I admit it's not something I noticed in person at the time! Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I understand this model is a product of its time, in development longer than the models it released with. I’d say it’s true peers are the first bout of updated A1s and A3s. I’m happy with the modern features being left off, but that comes with leaving off the modern price tag. In terms of the drawbar, bit if a mixed bag, even with the new one working. For tight radius curves I think the new one does look better; however, the lack of a close coupling option makes it worse for more realistic layouts. In my opinion at any rate. If Hornby could solve that issue, then I’d be all for the new design.
I bought one of those A1/3s new for £122 from TMC. Rather different from the price of this model. I'd pay £160 - £175 for it. Who knows? There may be a "flash sale" of excess stock in a few months.
@@stephendavies6949 hopefully. Even now, there are some versions of the A1 going for less than £180. Heck, a Dublo Scotsman is going for a pent off £200 at Kernow at the moment. But, maybe I shouldn’t say that considering I am considering picking one up myself.
You can't compare Hornby with other manufactures for their (heavy) 'structure' is completely different - resulting in higher price politics. At least this seems a well made and nice running locomotive.
Chris from Olivia's trains here. you say the loco tender connection worked fine on other models. trust me it didn't the amount of returns for the connection breaking or tabs snapping inside it was silly. so with that said we are 1 shop with a lot of problems from the connection i assume Hornby got a lot more complaints for the same issue, so i am assuming they have reversed back to the 4pin plug until a better design is made
I’m assuming they went back to the four pin plug because this is the original b17 chassis with a new body, so they didn’t bother changing the tender connection
@@Alpha-oo8 agreed just use the old design, it worked so why change it. i still hope they have done a reversal on the new connections. as a person who has had to repair many there awful, cheap and as delicate as i am very very easy to break
@@chrishaynes1804 such a shame… Hornby do seem to struggle a bit with innovation. Like, they don’t do enough R&D. The ideas are good, like the tender couplings, the removable working lamps, but they seem to have problems that more development time may have fixed.
How are the tender couplings from the other manufacturers? In your experience, do they have similar problems to the Hornby one, or do they work most of the time?
@@Alpha-oo8 off the top of my head i cant think of any having any issues which means there doing there job. the only 1 that does come to mind that did have a few issues was the Rapido Stirling single it was a bit floppy and very delicate. but other than that example there all pretty solid. if there is any you are specifically wanting info about i would be happy to give you my thoughts
@@chrishaynes1804 it maybe that the b17 is not made in the same factory as the other designs with the silly push together (hope the traction forces don’t stress the contacts) draw bar. However I think it is logical to take the decision to use the existing proven harness design on a chassis design which also has been previously used if requiring som updates for the new model. Why introduce expenditure on a feature which is unproven (or proven to be unreliable depending on dates of freezing the design) which would not threaten sales of omitted? Olivia’s is a first class shop by the way - well done!
I love how this loco is so small yet also streamlined! It looks so unique because of that, despite the fact it basically just looks like a mini A4 (or mini Rebuilt W1)
haha I know - I think that's exactly what makes it look so odd... love it!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Almost unique.
There was another one, 'City of London'.
Hold their feet to the fire,make ‘em smoke!!!’ You would think fire box flicker, etched name plates, smoke unit wouldn’t be asking too much. Premium prices need premium features.
Yeah I think so too - I certainly don't think those features are necessary, but at this price it should have had them!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Well, I do have to say it is a good looking locomotive and an excellent runner. Your assessment was fair but I think a D would have been more concise. Hornby is very close to folding and needs to stop the bleeding. I think they should appeal to the masses and tell them exactly why the price is so high and stop blaming inflation as the only cause. Once Hornby and other manufactures opted to move production to China the clock started ticking. Nostalgia and loyalty can save a company, but the company has to trim the fat and that starts at the top. I wish I had better news for the future of this hobby, but all things change. Time for a beer, cheers! Great review and video, Jersey Bill
Let's hope you're wrong, but I fear you're right.
As long as the Rivarossi Allegheny engines are released before they fold.
@@user-uk8jr6zc9l Yes, I'd have given en it a D too
Thanks a lot for sharing Bill, appreciate your thoughts! I think trimming the fat is really what Hornby needs to do - job loss is terrible and not at all desirable... but if they don't fix this and go out of business, everyone loses their jobs!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains I agree. The whole thing wreaks of poor management and their commercial strategy has big holes all over it. I'm all for variety and a strong British manufacturing base (Moving production to China, whilst saving them money was a poor business decision given that the company, for our hobby, has always represented the very best of British!) but the unnecessarily high pricing alienates their base market, the one they have always been able to rely on in the past. I applaud them for the vision of TT but to introduce it as they did, in a market where the vagaries and the confusion of Brexit were completely predictable, just didn't make any sense at all. I really want Hornby to survive but, as it stands, if current marketing trends and policies continue, I don't think they stand a dog's chance. Far better to knock managerial heads together now, bring the production back from China, and save some long-term jobs and skills rather than to let the whole thing go to the wall and lose part of our model railway heritage. I'm happy to pay a small premium for Hornby models but this B17/5 is just a step too far.
It's a nice looking loco - but the price is insane!! (Plus due to rise tomorrow!) Deffo won't be buying unless it's seriously reduced. Does look fantastic in the green though.
Thanks mate - yeah the price is the worst aspect of this... not looking forward to the price rise!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Dude, every time ya said b17 instantly made me think I was watching a video about WW2 bomber planes. I've been on a bit of a war history binge these days. Lol
Also, as an american who doesn't know much about British locos, this model looks like an A4 that was shrunk in the drier.
Hi Sam. Another excellent, forensic review. Your process-focused approach is "best in class". I always search for your review on any loco I intend to buy prior to shelling out my cash.
As an enthusiast living in East Anglia I would have definitely bought this loco, especially after tour review, but the damn price is just a deal breaker. Oh well...
I wouldn't disagree with anything you said. But I think your final rating of an E is harsh.
Keep up the good work, sir.
Thank you so much Stephen really appreciate that. Yeah worst thing about this is the price - pity about that!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Your welcome. Regarding watching your reviews before I buy, Derails was offering the Hornby Sentinel for £59 (Inc postage!), so I re-watched your review from 2022 and decided to give it a miss. It was a close-run thing, as the price does make it more attractive, and I could fix the pickups. But I decided against it.
Certainly is a beauty, it's a shame that the prices on hornby's models has gone up. Excellent video Sam, keep it up😁
It sure is - yeah pity about the price, otherwise it's a wonderful loco!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I bought a new R3171 Hornby P2 class last month for under £98 shipped. That had a flywheel in it. And while it didnt have a firebox flicker or a diecast body, it also didn't have near Hornby Dublo tier pricing.
I've really been wanting a modern model of an LNER 4-6-0 tender engine too and would like this to join the other streamlined A4s and Hush Hush I have, but that price and the features make it hard to justify. That cab interior is, however, spectacular.
what a cute little baby A4! Pretty good looking, the detailing is perfect, but the price is clearly over-the-top... It should be what a regular model looks like, not a premium priced one.
Thanks Damien - I think so too - over the top price, but a very decent model!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
That engine looks like Mallard but with different collors 😃
Great review, honest as always and very detailed.
Thank you Sam.
Thank you so much - glad you liked it!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Good review Sam. Funny you reflect my feelings exactly. I was fortunate enough to pre order this loco when club members got 10% off so I only paid £188.99. I like the loco but it doesn't give me the buzz that say an Accurascale one does. As you say it is lacking in features which is exactly what I thought and I asked myself "would I have paid much more for this loco". The answer was definitely no, even worse is a Accurascale or Dapol Manor with sound is not much more than Hornby's recommended retail price. The lack of Firebox flicker really got me, virtually all their competition's locos have it. Interestingly I have been adding it to A4s I convert to decoder in tender. The circuit board they make, makes joining that 4 way they use to the loco pickups easier.
I’ve definitely been looking forward to this; everyone seems to want these streamlined B17’s! Regrettably I am not so convinced as I hoped to be. The smooth motion and diecast body are truly marvellous, as is the plastic coal load - for a change. Effort has been made to some degree and thankfully those merits show.
But, regrettably with no new drawbar, firebox flicker, old motor without a flywheel, nor nameplates, I’d say this model is worth £180. Honestly I am chronically disappointed in Hornby’s price increase and this will only turn model makers towards the likes of Rapido, Dapol and Accurascale.
Frankly, Hornby’s years are numbered. I, and multiple modellers haven’t been able to take Hornby seriously for a good number of years now. This new price says it all.
Yeah that's right - the basics are right, but at this price it should have more than the basics - pity really!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hey Sam! Not sure if it's my eyes playing tricks, but I'm pretty sure the tender green and the loco green are different. I could be wrong, but you may wanna look closely at that.
It's slightly easier to see at 17:33, assuming I'm not just going bonkers.
This is a pretty good model, but for such a price, I don’t want to have to repaint the green, fix the lining and boiler bands, fit decent wheels, fit decent valve gear and coupling/connecting rods, make a decent cross head, fit decent buffers, and on top of all of that, fix a lot of soft moulding. I’d be happy to do all the previous if the price didn’t make my wallet beg for mercy, but I don’t like the sound of a sobbing wallet enough to justify purchasing this model. By the way, the cable on the left side is the whistle cable, and the small brass valve connected to it is the whistle valve, Hornby slightly botched the detail, and it should look a bit more like how it is on the A4s (whistle cable on the A4s ran under the ejector pipe to the brass valve). Thanks as always Sam!
I like it Sam. In the bus world it would be classed as midi bus...skipping round corners/curves... Be great if you could strip off the cladding like an Airfix Snapkit
haha! Yeah it'd be interesting to see it without the cladding wouldn't it?
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I have bought this loco, mainly because it's just so unique. However because of the high price I chose to buy this instead of the Black 5. Had both locos been at a more reasonable price I probably would have bought both, and it's the same with a lot of other Hornby products where I choosing to buy one over another rather than both, or going to another manufacturer entirely.
Hornby goes headhunting at Ticketmaster.
haha!!
High price probably reflects that as a niche loco it will have a small production run and possibly no repeat, meaning the fixed costs have to be shared between fewer models.
I am glad they at least re-did the base keeber plate and contact wipers so they can be fully removable. I expected at least working lamps (in the express headcode) to be fitted even if it uses the old B17 chassis. I also expected a pre-fitted speaker at that price, and it wouldn't be difficult just to wire existing parts to this loco without raising the price.
While working lights would have been nice many pictures of the 2 B17/5s show them with headcode discs setup for express passenger apart from a couple of exceptions when it hauled a different train, there are a couple of photos where lamps are fitted but the majority of the time pictures show headcode discs.
Not a model train set owner, but none the less enjoy watching ST's channel. The cost of these locomotives and ancillaries are almost approaching lease/financing territory!
Hi Sam, I got mine direct from Hornby at the original pre-order price of £188.99.
I am sorry to see where this is headed. But I really want to say, you guys are so lucky to have such beautiful trains available to you.
Hi Sam, Gresley had introduced the B17 class in 1928 for the East Anglican area of the L.N.E.R, 73 engines were built in total, replacing Holden's B.12 class. Where his A3 class couldn't run due to the strict axle loading restrictions, adding to the fact that the they also were too long for the turntables. Gresley's successor Edward Thomson motivated by wartime constraints he had rebuilt a number of B.17s with 2 cylinders to the extent that these became B.2s
Didn't exactly replace the B12s, they were still around and the last ones went out of service after the B17s had gone.
I had this on order. But a couple of months ago I cancelled the order due to cost. Hornby are over pricing the customers. They need to look after their customers
i like how the numbers and letters have a 3d effect., long before that would ever be a term. not so much for the model more for the prototype, but you know what mean it makes you think.
My class 28 Met Vic CoBo.is 1962 vintage, boxed and it runs well
Ahh fantastic - can't beat the old ones!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
when I read the title before seeing the thumbnail I thought he had reviewed the B-17 Flying fortress 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sam can you actually do that
The new Hornby LNER B17 with the streamline casing looks very nice and its performance is fantastic. Shame that it is very expensive now and its mechanism along with its body are quite basic but it is a pretty good model Sam.
I think so too Bryan - thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam another useful review.
I'm guessing with the tender-to-loco connection they used the existing tender so went with the old wire connection to avoid the cost of a newly tooled tender, which is understandable. Similar with not having firebox flicker if they used the existing B17 chassis.
Another reason why some recent Hornby locos have new features and some don't is because some models were designed before these features were available and some after.
The length of time between the initial plans for a model being drawn up and the finished article arriving in the shops can vary due to various factors such as:
- How long it took to finalise the design.
- If any issues were found when checking the pre-production prototype which needed correcting.
- Which of the various factories Hornby uses was making it. Different regions of China have faced different periods of lockdown so some factories have had their production times affected more than others. Additionally I understand that some have faced issues with getting materials.
A good example was the 2MT which took 5 yrs to finally arrive and so didn't feature Hornby's latest innovations.
However I do agree the price should reflect that and one bug-bear I have with both Hornby and Bachmann is how they price some basic old tooled models the same as ones brand new tooling and new features.
The 8F and 9F are a good example. Both have an RRP of £250. The 9F has a new tooling, diecast body, high level of detail, firebox flicker, etc.
In contrast I believe the tooling for the 8F is pretty old, I think it might even date back to Airfix. It has poor detail, a plastic body and no features. It really should be in the railroad range. There doesn't seem to be much logic or consistency in how Hornby and Bachmann price some of their models.
Time-to-market is a key element of success. This is not how it seems to be for the industry in general and Hornby in particular.
Thanks very much - yes that's right it's the same solution as on the old model... I suppose I was hoping to see some updates for the money! They also used the existing loco chassis without updating it, which also explains the lack of features!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
It's a very beautiful made model, the paint is probably a bit thick on the metal body, making the detail a bit soft, but the texture, lining and printing are very good. Very nice wheels also and a good cab detail.
I also did run fairly well on you layout with good control. The lack of any extra features like lighting, fire box flicker or a speaker is what lets it down, the mechanism is a direct carry over from the old B-17 but yet these features could have been included without a lot of redesign to the mechanism.
However, while almost £250,- RRP is expensive but still relatively affordable compared with models on the continent nowadays. I recently did see the surprise model from Märklin for this year, the French 141R 2-8-2 class locomotive. While this model looks the part with lots of separate parts, smoke (sadly not dynamic), DCC sound, fire box flicker and head, tail and cab lights and even lights under the running boards €680 really is a price that puts me off, I could buy 2 or 3 UK models for that money even with the current pricing.
This doesn't speak Hornby free of maybe unfair price increases, or is it the wages in China going up that much?
I'm not keen on the stubby streamlined look in green, but I saw one in all black on AGR Model Railway Store's in-shop test track and that did look good.
Hornby need to decide what they are.
They are trying to cater to all markets, but instead cater to none.
They need to decide if they are premium then they make premium and all the comes with it.
Or they say, we are mass market producers, our models will be good quality but will lack some of the details of some of the more expensive brands. We will be decently priced, but not the cheapest in market.
In the end the joe average hobbyist just wants a train that runs well, and if we do decide to pay the extra money then we expect the detail and bang for buck.
Look at toyota, their cars are boring, but they are well made and are quality where it counts so lots of people buy them.
Hornby have no direction and dont know what they are or where they sit in the market.
It's a very interesting and unique model Sam. I remember the old one had a problem with its front bogie, it looks like Hornby has fixed that.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Thank so much - ahh the old B17? That's good to hear!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
hi sam, its expensive because i believe hornby is £7 million in the red !
More than that I think!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Maybe when Hornby goes under, Dapol or Accuscale can pick up the license for the micromist "smoke" system. Maybe even dye the water and add "dirty" smoke to the diesels? Maybe, to push the envelope even further, include crew members?
Oh, and still be affordable models?
A fair and informative review as always, Sam. A very desirable loco which, despite its imperfections, might have found a place in my collection but for Hornby's 'over-ambitious' price, which is presumably even higher as of today (1.9.24).
Thanks a lot Rob - yeah very much so - over ambitious indeed but a lovely loco!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
One problem with the final presentation of metal bodies is the need for a primer layer of paint and its thickness. The paint dulls the sharpness of the detail (and this happens on 1/1 scale items also). A feature that should be noted on all models is the relative axial and vertical movement of the wheels relative to each other. This is the only way to get round corners and changes in gradient. Too rigid on corners, slow or derail, too rigid vertical will rock on the the centre axel over peaks and lift over troughs.
Sam, I've bought a Heljan Metropolitan Bo-bo. It doesn't have any quality issues whatsoever. It's weird how some Heljan models are so good while others suck.
All their steam engines suck and their diesels are generally adequate. Being a steam fan this triggers me so bad.
cant agree on heljan quality wheels fall off the 47 and to co bo derails far to easily being top heavy when run at anything but a crawl
@@alfiewenn9440 Well I mean, at least some of their diesels work!
@@xavierlu5849 the bachmann and accurascale are far better
It's probably a production issue in the factory like cars some are built better than others. I have 3 heljan locos class 86 , 58 , 33 dating back to 2011 with no problems. I would advise to not use cheap decoders if running on Dcc 😊
Sam, will you be getting Hornby’s LNER Coronation coaches to review? I really like them, especially the observation car and I really want to get them to run with my Mallard, but I’d like to see an objective review from someone before I do, given Hornby’s recent unreliability with models
It’s crazy to think that I paid £109 for a standard B17 just four years ago😨I have to agree that it’s a very beautiful locomotive but for £250 it’s just not worth it!
I have you beat - I paid £81 5 years ago for my standard B17!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
That is lovely and as an East Anglian I especially like it.
They should call them the Mini Mallards, even though they are not that much smaller.
So to sum up, very nice to look at, maybe not the diamond standard but still good quality, die-cast boiler, runs very well, it is way better than the new Hornby Black Five, and would be lovely to have...
...but it costs a couple of kidneys...
Real tough one on this. Thanks for your reviews as always. The detail you go into makes it very helpful for deciding on what to get.
Bit of a pity that the high price, lack of features (pre-fitted speaker in the tender, firebox flickering), lack of a flywheel for the motor let B17/5 down as it looks rather nice.
Yeah I think so too - with the right features this could have been worth the top-end price!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Nice I'm going to stick to G scale for now .... OO prices have already skyrocketed here.....
The coca cola diesel shunter set is now $200 here
haha - I bet G scale will be cheaper soon!!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Thank God Hornby haven't used those horrendous front lamps as added to the Black 5.
It’s all subjective, a friend of mine has one and he loves it. There again he is an LNER aficionado.
Good review but you'd probably take off another star for value if you did the review today as it's now gone up to £274.99 on the Hornby website! I found that the 21 pin holder needed lowering in order to fit a sound decoder.
I can’t afford most of the new Hornby locos, there prices a just ridiculous.
The odd one out is the Bachmann 5P Stanier Mogul, the LMS 2965
A nicely made model,except for no flywheel,and a firebox light would save a lot of work later
I much prefer the un-streamlined B17. I have a project coming soon where I got the BR green Railroad version for 43£ and will combine it with the BR Apple green body, named Sheffield Wednesday. All for less than this new release. I think its okay, the metal body was a huge surprise for me and demonstrates that Hornby can do streamline bodies out of metal (still sad that the Hush Hush has a plastic one). But holy crap over 250£ RRP is borderline insane. The Turbomotive, 9F and the Accurascale Manor are way cheaper or thw same price, but much larger or more feature packed. A shame, but at least the model itself is well built and looks stunning in it's unique way. Great review, Sam 👍
It is possible to buy the necessary items to rename/number the B17s. I'm planning to do it with one of mine soon.
@@stephendavies6949 I mean technically sure. I tried Fox Transfers once. A bit pricey but their name plates and number decals are really top notch. Idk about removing numbers though. I just put the new name and number plate on my Hall Class back then, but surely, you can somehow remove the old number without damaging the paintwork.
18:42 - Found a huge oversight by Hornby: the number on the tender is different than the one on the loco, clearly belonging to the other streamlined class member.
Ahh very interesting - I missed this, well spotted!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
No this is not an oversight from hornby as it’s a builders plate you are being shown in the shot, let me explain, locomotive builders plates are not normally the same number that the locomotive was given, Mallard for example may be numbered 4468 but it’s builders plate lists it as 1870.
A builders plate lists where the locomotive was built, it’s serial number and year of manufacturer and where it was built so for Mallard for example,it was built. By the London and North Eastern Railway Co, it’s serial number is 1870, Built at Doncaster in 1938, Mallards current tender is numbered 5642, yes this tender does have the number of the other locomotive but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is for that locomotive, another scenario is if the tender is actually for City of London at some point it may have been paired up with East Anglian, back when steam engines were running it wasn’t uncommon for locomotive and tenders to be swapped round if there was work being carried out on the loco or tender so maybe at one time East Anglian may have ran with the tender City of London had while the original tender East Anglian had may have been being worked on.
Great Video Sam , You said it as it was.
Sam I was looking at real life coaches and I noticed the roof had Matt finish. Maybe this might influence your opinion on some coaches? You should try out some second hand OO gauge graham farish stuff, like a pannier!!
I wonder why...
now modelling 1930's LNER, not the East Anglia region specifically - not convinced on this due to the price, sub £200 maybe, if I see one on a decent discount I may grab one. cab lighting etc I can live without, currently ditto sound. Do wonder why it needs a 21 pin decoder given short of a speaker and the motor it doesn't exactly tax the number of wires.
level of detail is decent from what you have shown, pity on the lack of crew though. does seem a bit of a step back
very fair review, on a discount I can see this on my layout, just not at full price
It is a difficult model - Just 2, relatively unknown locos built in Pre-war LNER green. Plain black is the only other livery choice. Will look amazing with a teak Quad art set ( also very niche, but never likely to be done again). Will the B17/5 be done again, probably not, unless they do City of London in the green - hopefully they will not be tempted to do 'What If' blue and silver versions like the W1 in LNER Lined green. I hope this project doesn't burn them to a point that they no longer take these risks and just stick to the old favourites.
Doesn't work for me like the shortened version of the 747 Jumbo Jet - very odd to look at. Dunno - if Accurascale can do what they do without you having to remortgage your house to buy them then what is going on? As for having crew figures why don't they include that Royal Mail coach guy doing a shit off the back of the wagon? Appropriate? 👍
Hornby won't last much longer
Sam i have a question about your models, do you ever take them to like mode railway club layouts? Or do you just keep them in your attic?
Definitely NOT WORTH THE MONEY… I would price it around 160-180 in today’s market. But around 200-230 for dcc and sound fitted.. but thats just my opinion.
Spot in, IMO
Awesome video today Sam what a such good looking locomotive
Did I see a Princess class loco there? If so I claim it as being the odd one out.
I'd love to send you a new Brawa loco that is about $700 for your review
Looks nice good review Sam👍🏻
Since Hornby is a loss making business it seems quite sensible to reuse a chassis design and make the model more profitable. If they don't start making money soon we will lose them. Would that be a good thing? Maybe/probably not. My main issue with hornby isn't that they reuse bits of previous investment, it's more that their QC seems to be very poor. I can forgive efficiency savings if things work, not if they don't.
Price hikes and the numerous issues they seem to have is why I'll never buy Hornby OO gauge stock again
A very fine model, apart from the price...I wonder how much it'll be costing from tomorrow?
A good looking model definitely, but the price now is pushing people out of the hobby. Think I'll wait till it starts appearing on the pre owned market.
If you're desperate for one, why not but a used B17, acquire a used A4 body and do a bit of good old kit bashing!
Hi Sam I’ve basically stopped buying hornby.due to there excessive prices.i buy accurascale. And bachmann. As there models are better priced and better quality.
Bachmann locos are not cheap: the new 08 is a case in point.
Fair scores there accross the board for me. The price is very dissapointing but unsurprising. Thanks Sam.
Yep. As an enthusiast now living in East Anglia, I'd have definitely bought this if it wasn't so damn expensive!
PS: I'm a ex-Pat from South Wales, and judging by your YT name, you probably have connections to that part of the country too? I see you pop up on various channels. OOBill just fixed my 56xx. It'll be waiting for me to try out on the layout when I get back to the UK early next week.
@@stephendavies6949 Hi Stephen, yes indeed, in Barry, me. I started modelling 50s SW steam freight but now I also do 80-90s diesel freight, US freight and a bit of passenger stuff of all eras and places. I have a few 56xx around the place - my neighbour when I was a boy was a 56xx driver who had switched to class 37s so my channel is named in his memory. Enjoy your tank Collett goods lol
@@Valleys56xx Barry: I'm just about old enough to remember the Scrapyard and walking round it in awe as a boy when on daytrips to Barry Island, not knowing at the time what I was looking at really. Now, of course, I bump into at least one of those former rusting hulks every time a visit a heritage line.
I guess no self-repsecting model railway enthusiast from South Wales should be without a 56xx (or 57xx and a class 37 for that matter).
Happy modelling.
Looking at the wheel layout of this loco it makes me think that despite it having 6 driving wheels it would be better described as a 4-4-2 or even a 4-4/2-0 as to me it doesn't look like a true 4-6-0
Have you reviewed the tt version yet. Falcon is a nice looking engine. I've got an issue with willy white balancing on the centre drive wheels. The bushes obviously aren't going in or the rods are pulling it out. I'm not sure whether to open it or send it back, and whether to send the set back or locomotive only. Any advice ?
I don't see it's worth at $530 nz not inc p&p even if it had all the things you mention. I'd be curious what the profit margin is on it. I can't help but wonder if making bodies with cnc from billet would be cheaper to make rather than casting & the issues that arise from it depending on the reject rate when casting
No not at all - I'd be very curious to know that too!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hello I do like your reviews etc. and watch your videos regularly.
However, as a very mature and price conscious pensioner, I can’t understand your price expectations.
I moved to H0 mainly German three rail some time back. Their prices would give you nightmares. Yes, the metal castings are superior and all have digital fitted even smoke on most too. Hornby, are certainly struggling in sales within the market. You are correct in that the mechanics are weak and behind, but price, plastic or die cast are very reasonable, compared to the industry. Love the channel, please give us more…… best regards TonyH
Ciao Sam, bella recensione! Condivido le considerazioni che hai fatto...per oltre 200 sterline, mi aspetterei come minimo un volano ed illuminazione delle lampade....nel 2024 dovrebbero essere caratteristiche e funzioni standard....
Un saluto!
Well, if the extra profit from the higher price and reduced sales volume numbers are good, than that's why they a doing it !
Hiya - I like the B17 Locos - but I specially these newer Streamlined B17 - looks like a bit like the Mallard!!! 😉🚂🚂🚂
You caved Sam, regarding the price increase.
I wonder what Hornby will do now that they’ve run out of streamlined LNER locomotives to make?
The ones that didn’t get made. Streamlined V2, V4 anybody?
So, they announce this in the 2023 range, meaning they were hoping to release it in 2023… but the drawings are from 2024? Why do they announce locomotives for the years range when they are not even remotely close to having it ready?
nice loco and it is nice to see diecast from hornby but it is what you pointed out lack of details.
but one has to remeber that hornby is clarley struggeling with money.
and is shows on some models but not on others.
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
The strange little moulded detail on the body that you didn't know the purpose of really gave me Hornby railroad vibes - such moulded details only partially picked out in paint like that look quite unacceptable for a loco that price in my opinion
Looks like a baby A4 with only a 4-6-0 wheel configuration and 6 wheels on the tender.
Im surprised he actually got one those sell out fast
Hi again Sam. This is a good case for showing the colour - sheen difference between the die cast loco and plastic tender. It was immediately very noticeable to us since unpacking to the point of constant annoyance. We just could never live with it. On the whole, she's quite basic. At least lights should have been included and a modern loco-tender connector. This reaching the equivalent of 300 Euros now really is too bare. Btw, the chassis - side view - is different Sam. Perhaps you missed it, but the upper part of it has a very different profile. Either they have revised it, or developed new. Lovely loco though but the colour difference between the loco and tender, and it being too bare bones does leave some questions. Cheerio.
Hi Linda - thanks a lot - yeah that's an interesting point - pity they haven't been able to crack that, though I admit it's not something I noticed in person at the time!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
I understand this model is a product of its time, in development longer than the models it released with. I’d say it’s true peers are the first bout of updated A1s and A3s.
I’m happy with the modern features being left off, but that comes with leaving off the modern price tag.
In terms of the drawbar, bit if a mixed bag, even with the new one working. For tight radius curves I think the new one does look better; however, the lack of a close coupling option makes it worse for more realistic layouts. In my opinion at any rate.
If Hornby could solve that issue, then I’d be all for the new design.
I bought one of those A1/3s new for £122 from TMC. Rather different from the price of this model. I'd pay £160 - £175 for it. Who knows? There may be a "flash sale" of excess stock in a few months.
@@stephendavies6949 hopefully. Even now, there are some versions of the A1 going for less than £180. Heck, a Dublo Scotsman is going for a pent off £200 at Kernow at the moment. But, maybe I shouldn’t say that considering I am considering picking one up myself.
This looks like a mini-A4 or mini-Streak cause that’s the A4’s nicknames.
You can't compare Hornby with other manufactures for their (heavy) 'structure' is completely different - resulting in higher price politics. At least this seems a well made and nice running locomotive.
Odd one out is the Stanier Mogul at 35:40, isn't it?
My first trainset contained the old b17
I love my old B17s.
When I first saw this I thought someone had removed the rear bogie from the A4! Love the cab detailing on this one
Why does Hornby never remember to mention the speedo assembly?
How do you film your videos do you use a video cam or a phone
Did anybody else hear a whistle at 41:14? It's a shame that locomotive is so expensive, the price seems to be a real letdown of the model.
Could've sworn the B-17 could fly
You should do a video on exposing hornby