Uncertain future for more US-prototype N scale models from Arnold/Hornby

[MichaelWinicki]

Not too happy with the company...

I preordered the U25C's.

Then almost immediately after I received mine they pulled the BOGO nonsense.

Really?

The loco's look great!  The mechanisms didn't knock my socks off.  The electric pickup has been dissected by others and I'll just add I don't care for it either.  It's both more complicated than the Atlas version, yet isn't nearly as good.

And the narrow-threaded wheelsets take a lot of monkeying for Atlas code 55.

Having to removed the couplers, which had a tendency to "explode", in order to take off the shell... SMH.

Finally the handrails would fall off by just looking at them.

I have no idea what these folks were thinking when they were engineering it.

[peteski]

Not too happy with the company...

I preordered the U25C's.

Then almost immediately after I received mine they pulled the BOGO nonsense.

Really?

The loco's look great!  The mechanisms didn't knock my socks off.  The electric pickup has been dissected by others and I'll just add I don't care for it either.  It's both more complicated than the Atlas version, yet isn't nearly as good.

And the narrow-threaded wheelsets take a lot of monkeying for Atlas code 55.

Having to removed the couplers, which had a tendency to "explode", in order to take off the shell... SMH.

Finally the handrails would fall off by just looking at them.

I have no idea what these folks were thinking when they were engineering it.

While some of the issues you described were also present on SW1s, overall it was a better model.

[MichaelWinicki]

While some of the issues you described were also present on SW1s, overall it was a better model.

Agreed.

[Ngineer]

ALL SW1 models are sold out. Everywhere.

WHY on earth does Arnold/Hornby say they have an uncertain future?

As I already said, the SW1 is sold out. Perhaps they could do some really popular paint schemes?

   Javier

[coosvalley]

ALL SW1 models are sold out. Everywhere.

WHY on earth does Arnold/Hornby say they have an uncertain future?

As I already said, the SW1 is sold out. Perhaps they could do some really popular paint schemes?

   Javier

Search "vrchobbies" on ebay, plenty of them there, not terribly expensive either.

[GhengisKong]

Not wanting to beat a horse to death, but I can only find one listing left on ebay at $99. I wonder if Hornby now regrets only doing 1 run?

[nkalanaga]

I doubt it.  Since they haven't done anything else, that I know of, in American N scale, I think they gave up on us long ago.

[dem34]

Could be either way, lot of European manufacturers just don't seem to process that there are/where hundreds of decent sized Railroads in the US and that they can't just make giant runs of one road name with certain models. To them only immediately selling a couple hundred N SW1s in one scheme doesn't compare to them selling a few thousand 00 Pugs in one scheme.

[nkalanaga]

Exactly, they gave up on North American N scale.  Not necessarily out of any dislike of us, but because it didn't fit their business model.

[CBQ Fan]

Exactly, they gave up on North American N scale.  Not necessarily out of any dislike of us, but because it didn't fit their business model.

Weren’t there some financial difficulties with them or a parent company right around that same time?  If that is accurate it could have had a notable impact on their business model.

[Simon D.]

The Hornby story is quite a saga.  James May made a programme (UK spelling) about it: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x74fepv.

[christoph]

Hornby did not offer real new models (i.e. other than reruns or redecorations) for some time.

Recently they have delivered a new german steam locomotive, class 42.  The model ist really nice and hopefully will sell well  (I did my part already  ).  Just search for HN2429, which is the number for the Deutsche Bundesbahn analog version.  Or see here:  https://www.dm-toys.de/de/produktdetails/Arnold_HN2429.html

So there might be hope that they start offering more new models in the future.  OTOH the current Corona crisis and follow-up economic problems might change all plans.

[Point353]

Not wanting to beat a horse to death, but I can only find one listing left on ebay at $99. I wonder if Hornby now regrets only doing 1 run?

If you want a C&NW SW1, then here's one: https://www.westerndepot.com/product_info.php/cPath/21_43_211/products_id/45796

[peteski]

Hornby did not offer real new models (i.e. other than reruns or redecorations) for some time.

Recently they have delivered a new german steam locomotive, class 42.  The model ist really nice and hopefully will sell well  (I did my part already  ).  Just search for HN2429, which is the number for the Deutsche Bundesbahn analog version.  Or see here:  https://www.dm-toys.de/de/produktdetails/Arnold_HN2429.html

So there might be hope that they start offering more new models in the future.  OTOH the current Corona crisis and follow-up economic problems might change all plans.

Arnold and Hornby are the same company.  I just recently picked up couple of their models. First is a set of 5 British SR-5-BEL Brighton Belle Pullman (1960) cars (in 1:148 scale). That is a brand new model, produced in 2019. Then a  new N scale Class 18 201 loco.  It was also released last year. Not sure if it is a new  tool or re-release, but Hornby/Arnold definitely is still alive and producing European prototype models.