Very nostalgic! I visited the Hornby factory back in the 50’s, watching them make track in the plastics moulding machines. My first train set was a Trix 3-rail (AC) which allowed me to run 2 trains at once. Then i acquired a large Hornby Doublo set from a school friend. Then I moved onto Marklin 3 rail when I lived in Germany in the 70s. Now, 50+ years later i am about to start on a US themed steam layout, using DCC with sound locos.
Will deffo visit. Interested in the history of these toys and kits etc. Owned some of them over the years, a real trip down memory lane. The layouts for me represent 'home' layouts which we have all owned. Looks fab.
That's a honest and well presented review, only passed through Margate once and that was to head to Ramsgate to change trains and visit a brand new station, just love the scenes with the grumpy cameraman.
Looks like a nice place to visit. In addition to model railroading, I race Scalextric, and have a collection of vintage diecast including several Corgi models. Who hasn't built an Airfix kit?
Always enjoy your videos, honest and informative. Re: Airfix and the 4mm scale locomotives, as these were originally produced by Rosebud under the Kitmaster range and in there day (my youth) were super models. Two books were produced to cover this range and that of the Rosebud company. Airfix also produced a model of an Ariel Arrow motorcycle which also originated from Rosebud. Take care, enjoy the new year too.
Thanks for the extra info - so lovely to find out more about these great companies. At today's show I met someone who used to hand draw all the instructions inside the Airfix kits, long before computers took over. Fascinating!
Dawn great insight into the Hornby brand. Those displays covered most of my childhood models and toys. Except that back then the brand name was Triang. Trains ,Scalextric, model ships, dolls, prams etc I'm afraid I'm biased with my view of Hornby. My favourite Aunt worked for Lines Brothers aka Triang at the Margate Factory. So all my toys came via her. It was Triang who saved Hornby from going down the pan yet there's little mention of them and they soon dropped the name in favour of Hornby. Your overview was clear and concise covering all of the Hornby brands and I'm sure that the young visitor's would marvel at the working displays plus having a visit to the shop with Dad's or Mums wallet!!!! I think you need to take Grumpy the Camera Man outside for some one way transmissions or remove the e numbers from his diet!!!!. As an adult would I want to visit it, no but my Grandchildren would. Well it's almost 2024 so Happy New year to you and Mr Grumpy.
A nice overview of the Wonder Works Dawn, and I guess whilst it would be nice to see a more detailed model railway there, it is probably aimed to encourage visitors to have a go and building one themselves. So it doesn't need to be to grand, another well produced video. Cheers James 🙂👍
Very well made video. Watching it for the 1st time. The 1st model railways that my father brought for my elder brother was a Hornby Dublo 3 track system (the name of the engine was Duchess of Montrose). The cars were from Matchbox (dinky toys). Though I am not much into OO these days, I do have many rolling stocks from Hornby (I am a fan of HO scale and find the quality and variety of HO scale model manufactures such as Trix, Roco, Marklin, Brawa, Piko etc much better than that of Hornby, sad but true). However I am sure a visit to this Hornby WonderWorks would be worth every penny. One more place to be added to my bucket list.
Very interesting video. The correct pronunciation of Pocher is "Póker" with an "o" as in orange and a hard "c" as in cat or letter "k". It was an Italian company based in Turin that was acquired by Rivarossi in 1964, eventually becoming part of Hornby when it took over the Lima-Rivarossi-Jouef concern in 1998. In Italian you read the "Ch" letter combination as a "k", as in "chiave" (key) or "anche" (also), Pocher is the Italian spelling of the card game Poker, dating back to when foreign words were adapted to Italian spelling rules. There's quite an interesting history to be read on this topic, dating back mainly to the Italian interwar years, when our leader had a surname beginning in M and ending in I.
Great video! It does look like a good day out, for kids as well as us 'older kids' 😳! After watching the TV series, your review makes me want to visit even more! 👍
A fair review I think. Looking at the footage you took would you say 'The Wonder Works' is marketed for Kids but the gift shop products are priced for Adults?
I think that's fair to say about the gift shop Dave. I think it actually does a great job of striking the right balance between appealing to both adults and children - not an easy task!
I live in Planet Thanet and have been to both the visitor centre and wonder works. I model in 009 so don't have much interest in Hornby but my 2 year old son loved the WW. The only criticism is that they could have provided platforms for small kids to be able to see the layouts. Carrying him around for ages was not good for my back 😢
Grew up with Airfix (and Matchbox), Corgi and Scalextric. Never had Hornby or Airfix 00. Being a Swede I had Roco, Fleischmann, Lilliput, Piko, Lima....feels like I'm missing one or two! 🤨🤔 These days I fiddle about with plastic kits instead, lack of space (why can't I have a TARDIS, THAT would be handy) unfortunately, maybe one day! 🤨🤔😉😆😂
@modelrailwayquest Totally agree! Plenty of modelling space for Airfix and the like! Plus, enough room for a nice layout for Milwaukee Road and one for LMS, GWR, LNER and Southern....oh the possibilities! 😎😉😆😂
I’ve seen a couple of videos now on the Hornby wonderworks and a couple of things keep getting mentioned by various different people they are not happy it’s changed it’s aimed more towards Kids and youngsters that’s the whole idea I don’t understand why the ultra elite hobbies that they think they are one day they’re gonna get old and die out youngsters need to be encouraged into these hobbies. These hobbies are dying out slowly look at Hatton they even said in their press conference in customer demographic was one of the reasons. Yes the old guys you know the 60+ that you see all the model shows they’re not being replaced by young people in the lobby Hornby I’ve done something positive here to try to get youngsters interested
Thanks for the video. I believe the correct pronunciation is with a soft "ch" in the middle. We don't really have a similar sound in English - try saying "ch" and "sh" at the same time😇
Very nice presentation. However I am sure Airfix didn’t start with rubber powered model aircraft, that was FROG. I think Airfix started by making plastic combs !
Hornsby have basically given up on UK, no production at all and everything out sourced to China. If they wanted to make money then they should have kept a price friendly range so children can get into the hobby. They aren’t going to do that with locos costing £300 or more. It’s ok saying the 1960’s trains were low on detail, yes they were but, they were affordable!
Great video, though you do need to sort out the location audio. IE better lav placement. It must have been a nightmare, as the rooms are all hard surfaces, and it sounded like a lot of people in the background. Sorry for the nit pic but audio is good audio is more important than video quality. That said loved the video.
@@modelrailwayquest I sympathize, having done interviews in noisy environments. Try having the lavalier mic higher up, just under the throat. Also, if it is a cardioid mic point it upwards. (mine are omnis so they go down to reduce plosives) I thought the noise was children, it is the high-pitched noise you can't get rid of. For some reason, these sort of places frown upon the camera crew using cattle prods on the little darlings... :-)
.....and then if someone actually planned to open a real factory shop where you don't have to fly to China, to see them making it. Here in Blighty with more detailed, better painted railway models to fine-scale that could be an even better day out.
It was indeed. If you watch my latest video - the interview with Phil Parker, he makes mention of The WonderWorks having some old Tri-ang stock in storage.
I have to say that for me, this looks disappointing. My interest in railway modelling is in amazing layouts, showing the range of kits, trains, scenery etc. in situ on a layout. I have been to Wunderland in Hamburg twice and could easily spend a whole day there. I'm not overly interested in the history, construction and other exhibits so wouldn't spend much time on those parts of the exhibits. Your video has just ensured that I wont be making the journey especially for this but would obviously stop by the shop if ever I'm nearby. On that note, can you visit the shop without paying?
I think that’s a fair point and what I’ve been hearing from fans of the former visitor centre. Yes, you can visit the gift shop without paying the entrance fee.
Very nostalgic! I visited the Hornby factory back in the 50’s, watching them make track in the plastics moulding machines. My first train set was a Trix 3-rail (AC) which allowed me to run 2 trains at once. Then i acquired a large Hornby Doublo set from a school friend. Then I moved onto Marklin 3 rail when I lived in Germany in the 70s. Now, 50+ years later i am about to start on a US themed steam layout, using DCC with sound locos.
Fantastic - that's what's so lovely about the hobby. It evolves with time... and experience! :-)
It was so refreshing to hear you use the term "OO Scale". Thanks for bringing a smile to my face 😺
Jesus…your easily pleased. OO…OO…OO
@@jimrockford3662 and you are easily triggered by the looks of it 😂😂😂
Excellent all round thankyou, Happy new year.
Thanks and Happy New Year to you!
Very interesting and well presented review. Have subscribed. Happy New Year. Roy.
Thank you Roy - welcome to my channel!
Lovely video ❤
Fantastic visit to Hornby, looked fun, thanks for your videos
Went when it was the Visitor Centre, hoping to go on my Birthday (assuming it's open in February of course).
Will deffo visit. Interested in the history of these toys and kits etc. Owned some of them over the years, a real trip down memory lane. The layouts for me represent 'home' layouts which we have all owned. Looks fab.
I agree - the layouts are the kind we can all make, which makes them relatable and achievable! Let me know what you think of it.
That's a honest and well presented review, only passed through Margate once and that was to head to Ramsgate to change trains and visit a brand new station, just love the scenes with the grumpy cameraman.
Thanks Simon - I won't tell him that, it'll go straight to his head! ;-)
new here, a wonderful presentation.
Thank you and welcome aboard!
Thank you 👍
Looks like a nice place to visit. In addition to model railroading, I race Scalextric, and have a collection of vintage diecast including several Corgi models. Who hasn't built an Airfix kit?
It’s a great place, took my 2 year old son and bought a few Airfix models for myself!
Always enjoy your videos, honest and informative. Re: Airfix and the 4mm scale locomotives, as these were originally produced by Rosebud under the Kitmaster range and in there day (my youth) were super models. Two books were produced to cover this range and that of the Rosebud company. Airfix also produced a model of an Ariel Arrow motorcycle which also originated from Rosebud. Take care, enjoy the new year too.
Thanks for the extra info - so lovely to find out more about these great companies. At today's show I met someone who used to hand draw all the instructions inside the Airfix kits, long before computers took over. Fascinating!
@@modelrailwayquest wow
May be worth a visit to Pecorama at some point this year - compare the way they do things? 🤔
Definitely - a great idea! Plus... a trip to Devon!
Dawn great insight into the Hornby brand. Those displays covered most of my childhood models and toys. Except that back then the brand name was Triang. Trains ,Scalextric, model ships, dolls, prams etc I'm afraid I'm biased with my view of Hornby. My favourite Aunt worked for Lines Brothers aka Triang at the Margate Factory. So all my toys came via her. It was Triang who saved Hornby from going down the pan yet there's little mention of them and they soon dropped the name in favour of Hornby. Your overview was clear and concise covering all of the Hornby brands and I'm sure that the young visitor's would marvel at the working displays plus having a visit to the shop with Dad's or Mums wallet!!!! I think you need to take Grumpy the Camera Man outside for some one way transmissions or remove the e numbers from his diet!!!!. As an adult would I want to visit it, no but my Grandchildren would. Well it's almost 2024 so Happy New year to you and Mr Grumpy.
They bought the name and not much else off the Receiver of Lines Bros, IF my memory serves me well...
A nice overview of the Wonder Works Dawn, and I guess whilst it would be nice to see a more detailed model railway there, it is probably aimed to encourage visitors to have a go and building one themselves. So it doesn't need to be to grand, another well produced video. Cheers James 🙂👍
I agree with you there!
Looks good, went about 8 years ago and enjoyed it, maybe time to re-visit
Very well made video. Watching it for the 1st time. The 1st model railways that my father brought for my elder brother was a Hornby Dublo 3 track system (the name of the engine was Duchess of Montrose). The cars were from Matchbox (dinky toys). Though I am not much into OO these days, I do have many rolling stocks from Hornby (I am a fan of HO scale and find the quality and variety of HO scale model manufactures such as Trix, Roco, Marklin, Brawa, Piko etc much better than that of Hornby, sad but true). However I am sure a visit to this Hornby WonderWorks would be worth every penny. One more place to be added to my bucket list.
Some brands to add to my list to feature! Thank you. Welcome to my channel - hope you enjoyed the video.
That was a fun time!
Very interesting video. The correct pronunciation of Pocher is "Póker" with an "o" as in orange and a hard "c" as in cat or letter "k". It was an Italian company based in Turin that was acquired by Rivarossi in 1964, eventually becoming part of Hornby when it took over the Lima-Rivarossi-Jouef concern in 1998.
In Italian you read the "Ch" letter combination as a "k", as in "chiave" (key) or "anche" (also), Pocher is the Italian spelling of the card game Poker, dating back to when foreign words were adapted to Italian spelling rules. There's quite an interesting history to be read on this topic, dating back mainly to the Italian interwar years, when our leader had a surname beginning in M and ending in I.
Fascinating... that's another Google rabbit hole I can add to my list of interesting information to explore! Thank you!
Great video! It does look like a good day out, for kids as well as us 'older kids' 😳! After watching the TV series, your review makes me want to visit even more! 👍
Thanks Paul - that's lovely feedback! Happy New Year to you!
@modelrailwayquest and a very Happy New Year to you too Dawn!
i been there hornby and it was very good i be glad to go back again
That's good to hear!
A fair review I think. Looking at the footage you took would you say 'The Wonder Works' is marketed for Kids but the gift shop products are priced for Adults?
I think that's fair to say about the gift shop Dave. I think it actually does a great job of striking the right balance between appealing to both adults and children - not an easy task!
re watching this video i spotted a stephensons rocket- i had one of these 30 odd years ago and like the twerp that i am i sold it
Have you guys been down to AIMREC? It’s not too far from Margate
Funny you should say that - yes, we have and a video coming soon! 😊
I live in Planet Thanet and have been to both the visitor centre and wonder works. I model in 009 so don't have much interest in Hornby but my 2 year old son loved the WW. The only criticism is that they could have provided platforms for small kids to be able to see the layouts. Carrying him around for ages was not good for my back 😢
Good point - I did notice a lack of portable platforms for kids!
Grew up with Airfix (and Matchbox), Corgi and Scalextric.
Never had Hornby or Airfix 00. Being a Swede I had Roco, Fleischmann, Lilliput, Piko, Lima....feels like I'm missing one or two! 🤨🤔
These days I fiddle about with plastic kits instead, lack of space (why can't I have a TARDIS, THAT would be handy) unfortunately, maybe one day! 🤨🤔😉😆😂
A Tardis as a work studio… now there’s an idea! All that space… I’d probably still fill it with bits of track, paint and layout stuff!
@modelrailwayquest
Totally agree! Plenty of modelling space for Airfix and the like! Plus, enough room for a nice layout for Milwaukee Road and one for LMS, GWR, LNER and Southern....oh the possibilities! 😎😉😆😂
I’ve seen a couple of videos now on the Hornby wonderworks and a couple of things keep getting mentioned by various different people they are not happy it’s changed it’s aimed more towards Kids and youngsters that’s the whole idea I don’t understand why the ultra elite hobbies that they think they are one day they’re gonna get old and die out youngsters need to be encouraged into these hobbies. These hobbies are dying out slowly look at Hatton they even said in their press conference in customer demographic was one of the reasons. Yes the old guys you know the 60+ that you see all the model shows they’re not being replaced by young people in the lobby Hornby I’ve done something positive here to try to get youngsters interested
Thanks for the video. I believe the correct pronunciation is with a soft "ch" in the middle. We don't really have a similar sound in English - try saying "ch" and "sh" at the same time😇
Ch-okay! Sh-anks! Not sure that worked :-) Have a fantastic New Year!
That's not the Turner btw, but more interesting is that despite its name, there are next to no Turners on display. Curiouser and curiouser...
And that’s not Margate beach either but we didn’t think anyone would notice! 😉
Very nice presentation. However I am sure Airfix didn’t start with rubber powered model aircraft, that was FROG. I think Airfix started by making plastic combs !
Hornsby have basically given up on UK, no production at all and everything out sourced to China.
If they wanted to make money then they should have kept a price friendly range so children can get into the hobby. They aren’t going to do that with locos costing £300 or more.
It’s ok saying the 1960’s trains were low on detail, yes they were but, they were affordable!
Great video, though you do need to sort out the location audio. IE better lav placement. It must have been a nightmare, as the rooms are all hard surfaces, and it sounded like a lot of people in the background. Sorry for the nit pic but audio is good audio is more important than video quality. That said loved the video.
Yes, one of the challenges of being a paying visitor, filming in a busy location with lots of children. A work always I progress!
@@modelrailwayquest I sympathize, having done interviews in noisy environments. Try having the lavalier mic higher up, just under the throat. Also, if it is a cardioid mic point it upwards. (mine are omnis so they go down to reduce plosives) I thought the noise was children, it is the high-pitched noise you can't get rid of. For some reason, these sort of places frown upon the camera crew using cattle prods on the little darlings... :-)
thank you for the tip! much appreciated - not about the cattle prods though :-) Happy New Year!
.....and then if someone actually planned to open a real factory shop where you don't have to fly to China, to see them making it. Here in Blighty with more detailed, better painted railway models to fine-scale that could be an even better day out.
Please don't forget to mention that the Factory was Triang in the 60's...
It was indeed. If you watch my latest video - the interview with Phil Parker, he makes mention of The WonderWorks having some old Tri-ang stock in storage.
I have to say that for me, this looks disappointing. My interest in railway modelling is in amazing layouts, showing the range of kits, trains, scenery etc. in situ on a layout. I have been to Wunderland in Hamburg twice and could easily spend a whole day there. I'm not overly interested in the history, construction and other exhibits so wouldn't spend much time on those parts of the exhibits. Your video has just ensured that I wont be making the journey especially for this but would obviously stop by the shop if ever I'm nearby. On that note, can you visit the shop without paying?
I think that’s a fair point and what I’ve been hearing from fans of the former visitor centre. Yes, you can visit the gift shop without paying the entrance fee.
I have had 2 Pocher kit they were terrible the parts fit was terrible.
It’s a pity that Hornby gets their trains etc made in CHINA instead of England!
Yes, but then they’d be twice the price if they were made in England
Looks like a typical museum of the 21st century; lots of space full of nothing followed by a cafe and a giftshop...
Not much there TBH - ok if you're on your todd but definitely not good value if you have a disinterested other (😊)....
No
Just visited this two weeks ago and apart from my childhood toys, no it is not worth a visit, I was expecting more !!