Hornby Models
 

Looking at the Hornby model locomotives the pricing seems quite odd; one Cock of the North is about 80 quid while another is about 40 more. A Merchant Navy Class or a Britannia will cost about 270 while another Merchant Navy Class will be half that. How are these prices justified?

Quite often Hereward, it depends on the standard and quality of the loco. Some are made for Railroad and have less fine detail than say a collectors model. It makes a difference if it's DCC ready or DCC fitted. Some have digital on board with sound, some don't? Lots of variants offer different prices.
I am not a modeler however I do have mounted in cases, some very fine examples of the high quality end of the market, all able to run but no track to run them on(yet) there are some very good molders on here and hopefully they too will add more to your question.
All the best
Phil

Thanks Phil, I always meant to collect a few models, Evening Star was probably top of the list, never actually did though. I suppose you would need to see the models together to see the difference. My grandson’s other grandfather had a model collection of cars, buses and locos, I never saw them but they realised £30,000 at auction. Think I best stick to eating or heating.

As a modeller I get quite wrought over the pricing of Hornby

you have

Railroad - - - Basic model very little detail added to molding
on these the lining may be moulded into the body before painting

DCC Ready this is a higher spec model for 12vDC operation
handrails are separate as are draincocks,nameplates and a few other extras

DCC on board again higher spec but with the standard digital control fitted

then you can get them with lights and sound as Phil says

BUT as with all model some vary in accuracy and hornby make cock ups regularly their lastest was to fit a 12 spoke tender wheel to a GWR model that should have had a 10 spoke (they have replaced these for free BTW) and of course some have the problems of being OO where the gauge itself causes the problem being 16.5mm instead of 18mm so you get wheel spacings out and other problems with splashers etc

Without your knowledge, Gray, I’m glad now I didn’t buy a model. When I have come across them the seller didn’t take credit cards and I wasn’t carrying enough cash. At an open day at Tyseley there was a stall selling them and I was going to pick one up on the way out but they had packed up and gone early.

Hornby news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25874992

“….we have manufacturing bases in China and India so are able to weather the vagaries of economic misfortunes…..”

An interesting (albeit of concern to modellers) article in the business section of the Times Newspaper on Saturday 25th Jan regarding Hornby and its current financial and supply chain situation. Also a hint that production of more Hornby Group items may move back to the UK at some stage. Although at present only the Airfix Quickbuild model aircraft range is made in the UK.

Also covered by the Telegraph here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...in-issues.html