Good video. I think it's about cost when you're buying a basic set for around £150 which does the job of getting someone interested in the hobby. I myself still use the old hst set even though I still replace the traction tyers and brushes but going back in 2006 you got 2 coaches in the set which were the same as the separate ones. If I remember that virgin HST set cost £75 .
Two coaches would be better value for the the price of these sets. Especially since it's not like the tooling for these models is new and the manfacturing costs in China must be low. The electronics has improved, but components are still cheap.
The cost cutting and laziness in the Hornby products is maybe why their share price is going to $0. And where I live the Hornby products have all gone through a price rise. Your one of the few who truely investigated the weird box artwork and Lima swap out. Hornby need t o deliver these seat not as DCC ready but as DCC installed. They just don't seem to understand that's what customers expect and it's a great way to keep the hobby alive.
My Hornby Virgin Trains 125 pack from the late 90s/early 00s has lights in both ends, and came with two Mk3 carriages, which makes me think that Hornby are trying to cut costs of what's in the box by subbing the second Mk3 with the re-railer. Kind of sad, really.
That’s because all the previous sets used hornby tooling, which had an old incandescent bulb in each end. The Lima tooling has never had lights in both ends. I think the cost of retooling a 40yo model for what is a simple toy for kids, is not worth the increased cost, especially since there is a high detailed model available already.
You have to remember that everything costs a lot more now and if they want to produce an set at an attractive price, then some things have to go to keep the price attractive. So long as it whets the appetite of the buyer to go a little further and expand, then the job has been done. It’s all about economics!!
I think the old Hornby tooling had a window as well as a door in the guard's compartment, as per the box top illustration. The Lima bodyshell just has the door at the rear end - the guard's accommodation moving to an adjacent modified Mk3 trailer guard second (TGS). I believe the guards found it rather noisy sitting next to the diesel engine!
Hornby at its best!.. skimping on everything these days!! even lights on the trailing power car on an old boxed set revamped! (the old 1970's set had lights which came on in reverse!) more or less to look like new goods! and I never liked the Hornby one either the light clusters were naff and didn't fit properly the Graham farish N gauge 125 even looked better compared to it! Lima were always better than Hornby I had two Lima old 1970's paint job power cars which were heavy and quality and sounded great!! the trailer power car was converted to run backwards when the front power car was going forward!! my mate converted it using a pcb board to the capacitor on the motor... you had to take care not to go to fast on the curves as the two power cars were powered as in the real deal ..the set had a tendency to bend the coaches outwards and derail. I weighted the coaches with 6mm metal bar it worked a bit but you could hear the motors straining when i turned the Knob on the HM controller.
Good video. I agree with you about the tank wagon, the plastic is too shiny, it is like something out of the 1970s (not in a good way). I also cannot understand why they use ACME on the side. Just a bit odd. Otherwise a lovely set. The DCC explainer was also helpful.
I must say Hornby has been reckless. Siding not fiting the train. 😏Having lights in dummy cars is a must (like wise tail lights to locomotives- some like Class 92 only hv white head lights). That's odd & disappointing. Too much off a screw up, from something they could maintain in the 1970,80,90s...
When did they start cheaping out and only including a single carriage? An HST looks weird being this short. Might be time for them to re-tool these in general also. This is £170 on hornby currently and I really can't see why? The old virgin set was much better over all and was £70ish....
It's been single coach sets for a while now unfortunately. They have retooled the Class 43, but the new train packs are over £300 just for the power cars!!!
I just bought this for my kids Christmas along with 3 additional matching carriages, or what I thought were matching carriages... Problem 1 - the engine decouples itself from the remainder of the train mid flow. I had the Lima 125 in the 80's and had the same problem back then... Probem 2 - once decoupled, the engine races around the track smashing into the rear of the stationary dummy coach. This causes the controller to cease working for a substantial time period. Problem 3 - the matching carriages have different couplers which are not compatible... Overall a total farce, would not recommend.
That's a shame Derek. I've not experienced the uncoupling issue, it might be because the narrow and wide couplings are being mixed? Or do you have anything on the track that could be lifting the tension lock hooks up as it goes around? It is frustrating that Hornby don't make matching coaches for this set. The set is actually being re-released later this year.
I’m getting exactly the same problem - add in the points don’t link properly and keep knocking the train off the track and the controller seems to conk out every 5 minutes. Early impressions are not good
@@ianmccullough4935 Make sure that the power isn't on the isolated section of track, and i'd reccomend not suing the starter hornby controller. Also check track joins.
Thanks for confirming, it looks like they've copied the lima dummy exactly then. They had to have modified the power car with the motor to fit a decoder socket though, so why not modify/improve the dummy car at the same time?
@@LittleWicketRailway I honestly don't know. I have two lima hsts, GNER Livery and BR Intercity Swallow livery. Off all the limas I have they are really smooth runners. I was going to spray the intercity coaches into Iarnród Éireann livery to match my IE 071 and IE 201. My son persuaded me not to do that. I didn't. ua-cam.com/video/dSHh_iN4wH4/v-deo.html
I Was Gonna Buy The Set As I Love The GWR Colour And Style. However Since You Answered My Questions By Watching Your Video I'm Reluctant As I Wanted To Expand The Coaches And That The Detail Is Not The Same As The Higher End Then It's A Real Shame For Any Kid Who Would Love To Expand The Hobby. Plus The Lights Not In Both Ends Like Really?
I think you've made the right decision if you want to buy extra coaches. If you've already got a layout then I'd put the set money towards a pair of class 43 power cars. Also, the mk3 coaches have come down a lot in price since they were released.
Just boughy this for my son as he is obsessed with trains and metros ! As a first timer i am clueless as to how this can be expanded and with what. Im aware trach can be added , but how many trains on one circiut can be used at one , can i create my own shaped circuit. So many questions. Any help would be appreciated
I hope you and your son love the train set! Hornby track is mostly "settrack" and has been designed so that it fits together using a set geometry so it'spretty easy to build bigger layouts. You can google hornby track plans and there will be plenty of options. They also do track extension packs (A-F). With the analogue controller you can really only control a single train at a time. You can use points to isolate sections to choose which parts of the track get power. If you get a digital controller and put decoders in your models then you can controller multiple models on the same track individually.
@@LittleWicketRailway what a great little set ! Just give it a little trial run before christmas , so i know what is what. Alredy looking forward to expanding it . Think i know now on what can and cant be added as the box has diagrams on the back of the add ons ! Excellent set. One last question , am i better off buying the next track sets as a whole from hornbys direct or will it be ok to shop about as i can see the sets and cheaper
@@Tringlishman1992 buying direct from Hornby can be slightly more expensive. If you're in the UK the Argos used to sell the expansion track packs and often did deals. Not sure if they still do.
@@LittleWicketRailway tha ks for everything. Ill take the chance and go the cheaper route . All parts are aparently brand new so should be ok, so i hope !
Wanna get my first full set And to get the set you showed that fills the whole map which one do I have to buy ? As wanna buy the train set separately to the set as Amazon won’t let me pay for it monthly if I get anything other than just the starter pack So if I buy Hornby R8224 00 Gauge Track Extension Pack D & R8226 Gauge Track Extension Pack F Will that fill the map ?
This set is DCC ready meaning it doesn't have any decoders fitted and will only run on an analogue controller out of the box. You can add sound decoders though.
I wish I had found this review earlier as I bought one of these sets for my 6yo for xmas. I put in a Hornby TTS decoder (R7140 if I recall) and upgraded the speaker in it to one of those megabass cubes which barely fit in the power car, but then go to do the same with the dummy car and yep, it's completely empty. Has anyone got any idea how to get "spare parts" to upgrade the dummy car to be a power car? I looked up the lima 125 and it seems it has a ringfield motor so am I right this is the tooling for the body shell from a Lima 125 but the internals are upgraded? It certainly has different internals to the more expensive, more detailed GWR HST train packs, but it has a fair bit of circuitry in it.
Hi! The Intercity 125, also known as a High Speed Train (HST) is made up of two class 43 power cars (one at either end) with between four to nine mark 3 coaches in between them depending on the route. The Intercity 125 name basically describes the combination of class 43 power cars and mark 3 coaches. Here's some more information about the HST: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_125 This HST formation guide from Hattons is useful to see what the real trains would look like: hattonsimages.blob.core.windows.net/mediaimages/HSTFormations01_hires.jpg In this train set you get both class 43 power cars and a single coach. If you wanted to make this into a full length train like the real thing then you'd really need at least another three coaches. However, this would be a very long train at over 2.5m (8ft) requiring a very large layout, so a lot of modellers are happy with the shorter versions. Hope that helps.
@@LittleWicketRailway thanks so much! I was wondering what HST meant! I guess to expand I’d need to buy those more detailed cars which may not match.... but I have always been fond of the not quite old trains but not quite mew either! This looks like a solid starter kit. Have you seen on the Hornby website they have a pre order for another one like this? Obviously the one in this video is sold out so maybe they’ve changed it up a bit? Looks like it is similar to the 80s Hornby one you mentioned over Lima. (I’m using the holes in the front to assume that)
@@kdbh5423 I hadn't noticed that was available to pre-order because it wasn't part of the new announcement, thanks for pointing that out, it's good they're bringing it out again as it was very popular. It's got the same reference number so I expect it's the same set. The pictures that Hornby used for publicity were different to the model in the box and I think they've probably done it again. I would avoid getting it on pre-rder because you'd pay full price, wait until it comes out in the shop and you'll almost certainly get it for less. This is a good starter set and it's a good way of getting two reasonably detailed GWR class 43 power cars for a lot less money than the super detailed models. As you've said, if you want extra coaches you'll probably find they don't match the one that comes in the set which is a bit of a downside. Also, be aware that there are two types of coaches available for GWR mk3, an older style one with "slam" doors and a newer style one with "sliding" doors. You probably wouldn't want to mix and match the styles. Sometimes the coaches from the set do appear separately on ebay, so you might get lucky if you're only after 1 or 2 more. Although the HST is quite old being 70s/80s, I don't think it appeared in these colours until the 2010's. Does that fit your not old/not new criteria?
@@kdbh5423 I think it's a slam door style, but it's not quite the same style as the other slam door coaches that Hornby make. I don't have any slam door coaches to compare it to unfortunately.
I Have The Same Set And Track Only Had It Run Around The Layout 12 Times For Around 2 Min Each Time So Only Half An Hour But Mine Seems To Go Much Slower On Max Power Would You Know Why ??
Do you have the same controller? Slower suggests a lower voltage is being applied to the motor. The max speed was far too fast on my set anyway, sounds like yours is better.
Hey, this is an excellent set but I only have one problem. The lighting on the sets are not really those of GWR. Would it be possible in any way to refurbish my driving carriages to have the correct lighting? Stupid question I know but this is really annoying me. As a person who just entered the world of model railways, I practically cried when I found this defect. I'll spend any amount of money and pay anyone for this to be fixed. Anyone, please respond to me. Also, if you're going to but this set, READ THIS COMMENT.
Have a look at the products on offer from Black Cat Technologies or Illuminated Models, they offer lighting upgrades, but not sure if they have exactly what you want. Otherwise it might be worth asking in the model railway forums. Good luck 👍
My biggest annoyance is the headlights, they are incorrect, they are different to the power car pack which are real-life accurate, cutting costs it seems
@@smithcast08 Ah, that's sad. I mean, can you recommend me someone who can do the rework? I will ask them whether they can do it. I just need to find a reworker.
Those were the days, but I think they're over. Hornby haven't had the strongest of times financially over the last few years and they've noticably been cutting costs 💰 I'm impressed with the new sliding door MK3s that have been released, they're pretty detailed, but you pay for it. The really old Hornby MK3s weren't even the right length 😂 (I've got a few that are a fair bit shorter). So I think the MK3 that came with this set was somewhere in the middle and reasonable for the cost of the train set, not loads of detail, but at least they're the right size. So frustrated that you can't buy extra in the same style though, that's unforgivable.
@@LittleWicketRailway I haven't bought model railway stuff for a long time now, I don't see the point when Train Simulator provides the same enjoyment but gives you lots more options to chose from. Hornby is become a niche for the top end quality stuff. The low down stuff is so expensive it's not worth it.
Hi Richard, there's a Class 08 included in this set that I reviewed (ua-cam.com/video/87Yl7XnpITQ/v-deo.html), but I haven't done a review of a class 08 on it's own yet. I will when I find a nice example.
They're both good train sets. I guess it depends on whether you like steam trains or diesel trains. I think I would choose Tornado, it's slightly more expensive, but I like steam trains and I think the pullman coaches look really cool.
Excellent review.... but way too many 'bad decisions/cost cutting' by Hornby. Matt finish/no additional matching coaches - really? Shame on you Hornby - wake up and remember your roots....
As a kind of "prototype to model" comment, to describe a PC/TC/PC formation as a "high speed train" would require any protype to have a very highmaximum line speed as train speed is limited to line speed minus 10mph per TC fewer than I think six. This is due to the lost braking effort of each TC but with the constant mass of the PC's, I think the oversight of that rule was the real cause for the Stonehaven incident.
They're not he best controllers, but they're pretty safe and they do the job for a train set I suppose. I'm a big fan of Hornby, it'll be interesting to see what they're going to do over the next few years.
InterCity trains are what brought me into Hornby as a child - this was back in 2006
Good video. I think it's about cost when you're buying a basic set for around £150 which does the job of getting someone interested in the hobby. I myself still use the old hst set even though I still replace the traction tyers and brushes but going back in 2006 you got 2 coaches in the set which were the same as the separate ones. If I remember that virgin HST set cost £75 .
Two coaches would be better value for the the price of these sets. Especially since it's not like the tooling for these models is new and the manfacturing costs in China must be low. The electronics has improved, but components are still cheap.
The cost cutting and laziness in the Hornby products is maybe why their share price is going to $0. And where I live the Hornby products have all gone through a price rise. Your one of the few who truely investigated the weird box artwork and Lima swap out. Hornby need t o deliver these seat not as DCC ready but as DCC installed. They just don't seem to understand that's what customers expect and it's a great way to keep the hobby alive.
Bro what you doin here lmao
thanks - you just saved me 100 quid :)
Saved me 129.99 euros, was gonna buy it today.
I wonder if Hornby painted an old Hornby one in green for the box picture.
My Hornby Virgin Trains 125 pack from the late 90s/early 00s has lights in both ends, and came with two Mk3 carriages, which makes me think that Hornby are trying to cut costs of what's in the box by subbing the second Mk3 with the re-railer. Kind of sad, really.
That’s because all the previous sets used hornby tooling, which had an old incandescent bulb in each end. The Lima tooling has never had lights in both ends. I think the cost of retooling a 40yo model for what is a simple toy for kids, is not worth the increased cost, especially since there is a high detailed model available already.
You have to remember that everything costs a lot more now and if they want to produce an set at an attractive price, then some things have to go to keep the price attractive. So long as it whets the appetite of the buyer to go a little further and expand, then the job has been done. It’s all about economics!!
I like how this review is not long. In other words, only with mostly what is relevant.
The coach is the Hornby tooling; the Lima ones didn't have the 'door unlocked' lights moulded in...
Are you going to get a few more Mk 3 coaches to go with the set?
I think the old Hornby tooling had a window as well as a door in the guard's compartment, as per the box top illustration. The Lima bodyshell just has the door at the rear end - the guard's accommodation moving to an adjacent modified Mk3 trailer guard second (TGS). I believe the guards found it rather noisy sitting next to the diesel engine!
Hornby at its best!.. skimping on everything these days!! even lights on the trailing power car on an old boxed set revamped! (the old 1970's set had lights which came on in reverse!) more or less to look like new goods! and I never liked the Hornby one either the light clusters were naff and didn't fit properly the Graham farish N gauge 125 even looked better compared to it! Lima were always better than Hornby I had two Lima old 1970's paint job power cars which were heavy and quality and sounded great!! the trailer power car was converted to run backwards when the front power car was going forward!! my mate converted it using a pcb board to the capacitor on the motor... you had to take care not to go to fast on the curves as the two power cars were powered as in the real deal ..the set had a tendency to bend the coaches outwards and derail. I weighted the coaches with 6mm metal bar it worked a bit but you could hear the motors straining when i turned the Knob on the HM controller.
Good video. I agree with you about the tank wagon, the plastic is too shiny, it is like something out of the 1970s (not in a good way). I also cannot understand why they use ACME on the side. Just a bit odd. Otherwise a lovely set. The DCC explainer was also helpful.
Thanks James. I imagine that tanker was originally tooled in the 70s.
I must say Hornby has been reckless. Siding not fiting the train. 😏Having lights in dummy cars is a must (like wise tail lights to locomotives- some like Class 92 only hv white head lights). That's odd & disappointing. Too much off a screw up, from something they could maintain in the 1970,80,90s...
It's hard to justify not putting lights in the dummy car when the cheaper Intercity Express has such good lighting.
@@LittleWicketRailway true... Agreed
"a model of something you can still ride on", which is far easier to do today than when that meant perhaps a 4-SUB or a TC/TC/REP formation.
Shame no rear directional lights, and non gloss finish on coach to match other coaches. Good vid.
instablaster.
When did they start cheaping out and only including a single carriage? An HST looks weird being this short. Might be time for them to re-tool these in general also. This is £170 on hornby currently and I really can't see why? The old virgin set was much better over all and was £70ish....
It's been single coach sets for a while now unfortunately. They have retooled the Class 43, but the new train packs are over £300 just for the power cars!!!
I just bought this for my kids Christmas along with 3 additional matching carriages, or what I thought were matching carriages... Problem 1 - the engine decouples itself from the remainder of the train mid flow. I had the Lima 125 in the 80's and had the same problem back then... Probem 2 - once decoupled, the engine races around the track smashing into the rear of the stationary dummy coach. This causes the controller to cease working for a substantial time period. Problem 3 - the matching carriages have different couplers which are not compatible... Overall a total farce, would not recommend.
That's a shame Derek. I've not experienced the uncoupling issue, it might be because the narrow and wide couplings are being mixed? Or do you have anything on the track that could be lifting the tension lock hooks up as it goes around? It is frustrating that Hornby don't make matching coaches for this set. The set is actually being re-released later this year.
I’m getting exactly the same problem - add in the points don’t link properly and keep knocking the train off the track and the controller seems to conk out every 5 minutes. Early impressions are not good
@@ianmccullough4935 Make sure that the power isn't on the isolated section of track, and i'd reccomend not suing the starter hornby controller. Also check track joins.
For a starter set it's pretty good and I think that if they used track pack B, it would increase the set price to over £200
I have one of the 80s Lima golden Intercity Swallow 125 packs with the original box still!
Definitely one to keep hold of, does it still run?
@@LittleWicketRailway It does, but needs a bit of TLC. Yet to buy a lubricating pen
Lima’s hst power car has lights on one end, the dummy car had no lights fitted.
Thanks for confirming, it looks like they've copied the lima dummy exactly then. They had to have modified the power car with the motor to fit a decoder socket though, so why not modify/improve the dummy car at the same time?
@@LittleWicketRailway I honestly don't know. I have two lima hsts, GNER Livery and BR Intercity Swallow livery. Off all the limas I have they are really smooth runners. I was going to spray the intercity coaches into Iarnród Éireann livery to match my IE 071 and IE 201. My son persuaded me not to do that. I didn't.
ua-cam.com/video/dSHh_iN4wH4/v-deo.html
I Was Gonna Buy The Set As I Love The GWR Colour And Style. However Since You Answered My Questions By Watching Your Video I'm Reluctant As I Wanted To Expand The Coaches And That The Detail Is Not The Same As The Higher End Then It's A Real Shame For Any Kid Who Would Love To Expand The Hobby. Plus The Lights Not In Both Ends Like Really?
I think you've made the right decision if you want to buy extra coaches. If you've already got a layout then I'd put the set money towards a pair of class 43 power cars. Also, the mk3 coaches have come down a lot in price since they were released.
Would it of killed them to give us at least 2 mk3s?
I know 🤷🏼♂️
Thanks for the review. Do you know if they have they made additional coaches available yet?
Not in the exact same style as far as I'm aware.
I’ve got that, I find the no lighting in the dummy car very odd and that there’s no decoder in the dummy car good review though very nicely done
Thanks 👍
Just boughy this for my son as he is obsessed with trains and metros ! As a first timer i am clueless as to how this can be expanded and with what. Im aware trach can be added , but how many trains on one circiut can be used at one , can i create my own shaped circuit. So many questions. Any help would be appreciated
I hope you and your son love the train set!
Hornby track is mostly "settrack" and has been designed so that it fits together using a set geometry so it'spretty easy to build bigger layouts. You can google hornby track plans and there will be plenty of options. They also do track extension packs (A-F).
With the analogue controller you can really only control a single train at a time. You can use points to isolate sections to choose which parts of the track get power.
If you get a digital controller and put decoders in your models then you can controller multiple models on the same track individually.
@@LittleWicketRailway what a great little set ! Just give it a little trial run before christmas , so i know what is what. Alredy looking forward to expanding it . Think i know now on what can and cant be added as the box has diagrams on the back of the add ons ! Excellent set. One last question , am i better off buying the next track sets as a whole from hornbys direct or will it be ok to shop about as i can see the sets and cheaper
@@LittleWicketRailway cheaper when the pieces bought individually that should say
@@Tringlishman1992 buying direct from Hornby can be slightly more expensive. If you're in the UK the Argos used to sell the expansion track packs and often did deals. Not sure if they still do.
@@LittleWicketRailway tha ks for everything. Ill take the chance and go the cheaper route . All parts are aparently brand new so should be ok, so i hope !
Wanna get my first full set
And to get the set you showed that fills the whole map which one do I have to buy ?
As wanna buy the train set separately to the set as Amazon won’t let me pay for it monthly if I get anything other than just the starter pack
So if I buy Hornby R8224 00 Gauge Track Extension Pack D & R8226 Gauge Track Extension Pack F
Will that fill the map ?
Hi could you tell me what size the base bord is on little wicket as I am new to this thanks Martin ...
Just received my GWR high speed train..
I have this train set and I extended it with a buffet car
Nice addition 👌
So I just bought this set and i am not sure...does the motorised power car already have a spund decoder installed in it?
This set is DCC ready meaning it doesn't have any decoders fitted and will only run on an analogue controller out of the box. You can add sound decoders though.
comes over as "WTF in a box" this one
good review though
I wish I had found this review earlier as I bought one of these sets for my 6yo for xmas. I put in a Hornby TTS decoder (R7140 if I recall) and upgraded the speaker in it to one of those megabass cubes which barely fit in the power car, but then go to do the same with the dummy car and yep, it's completely empty. Has anyone got any idea how to get "spare parts" to upgrade the dummy car to be a power car? I looked up the lima 125 and it seems it has a ringfield motor so am I right this is the tooling for the body shell from a Lima 125 but the internals are upgraded? It certainly has different internals to the more expensive, more detailed GWR HST train packs, but it has a fair bit of circuitry in it.
I’m quite new to this and just want to know? The whole InterCity 125 thing is the combination of the two cars and mark 3 carriages?
Hi!
The Intercity 125, also known as a High Speed Train (HST) is made up of two class 43 power cars (one at either end) with between four to nine mark 3 coaches in between them depending on the route. The Intercity 125 name basically describes the combination of class 43 power cars and mark 3 coaches.
Here's some more information about the HST: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_125
This HST formation guide from Hattons is useful to see what the real trains would look like: hattonsimages.blob.core.windows.net/mediaimages/HSTFormations01_hires.jpg
In this train set you get both class 43 power cars and a single coach. If you wanted to make this into a full length train like the real thing then you'd really need at least another three coaches. However, this would be a very long train at over 2.5m (8ft) requiring a very large layout, so a lot of modellers are happy with the shorter versions.
Hope that helps.
@@LittleWicketRailway thanks so much! I was wondering what HST meant! I guess to expand I’d need to buy those more detailed cars which may not match.... but I have always been fond of the not quite old trains but not quite mew either! This looks like a solid starter kit. Have you seen on the Hornby website they have a pre order for another one like this? Obviously the one in this video is sold out so maybe they’ve changed it up a bit? Looks like it is similar to the 80s Hornby one you mentioned over Lima. (I’m using the holes in the front to assume that)
@@kdbh5423 I hadn't noticed that was available to pre-order because it wasn't part of the new announcement, thanks for pointing that out, it's good they're bringing it out again as it was very popular. It's got the same reference number so I expect it's the same set. The pictures that Hornby used for publicity were different to the model in the box and I think they've probably done it again. I would avoid getting it on pre-rder because you'd pay full price, wait until it comes out in the shop and you'll almost certainly get it for less.
This is a good starter set and it's a good way of getting two reasonably detailed GWR class 43 power cars for a lot less money than the super detailed models. As you've said, if you want extra coaches you'll probably find they don't match the one that comes in the set which is a bit of a downside. Also, be aware that there are two types of coaches available for GWR mk3, an older style one with "slam" doors and a newer style one with "sliding" doors. You probably wouldn't want to mix and match the styles. Sometimes the coaches from the set do appear separately on ebay, so you might get lucky if you're only after 1 or 2 more.
Although the HST is quite old being 70s/80s, I don't think it appeared in these colours until the 2010's. Does that fit your not old/not new criteria?
@@LittleWicketRailway do the slam doors come with the set?
@@kdbh5423 I think it's a slam door style, but it's not quite the same style as the other slam door coaches that Hornby make. I don't have any slam door coaches to compare it to unfortunately.
I Have The Same Set And Track Only Had It Run Around The Layout 12 Times For Around 2 Min Each Time So Only Half An Hour But Mine Seems To Go Much Slower On Max Power Would You Know Why ??
Do you have the same controller? Slower suggests a lower voltage is being applied to the motor.
The max speed was far too fast on my set anyway, sounds like yours is better.
@@LittleWicketRailway same controller
Hey, this is an excellent set but I only have one problem. The lighting on the sets are not really those of GWR. Would it be possible in any way to refurbish my driving carriages to have the correct lighting? Stupid question I know but this is really annoying me. As a person who just entered the world of model railways, I practically cried when I found this defect. I'll spend any amount of money and pay anyone for this to be fixed. Anyone, please respond to me. Also, if you're going to but this set, READ THIS COMMENT.
Have a look at the products on offer from Black Cat Technologies or Illuminated Models, they offer lighting upgrades, but not sure if they have exactly what you want. Otherwise it might be worth asking in the model railway forums. Good luck 👍
@@LittleWicketRailway Thanks mate!
Can the coupling be removed to fit a alternative couplings
I have found the Hornby DC controllers to be less than useless
They certainly don't seem to have many fans...
They also run in Cornwall 😀
I saw they're down there as the Castle sets. Would like to take a trip after lock down 👍
@@LittleWicketRailway yeah that’s right 😀
Can it honk by any chance
Why have they reduced the number of carriages from 2 to 1 😢
Btw the dummy car is a dvt of course it will have not motor and dvt stands for driving van trailer
Does Little Wicket have a replacement bus service?
Not required, everything runs perfectly at all times (also it's almost impossible to access by road) 🙄 If anything LW has bus replacement trains.
My biggest annoyance is the headlights, they are incorrect, they are different to the power car pack which are real-life accurate, cutting costs it seems
True, is it possible to find someone who can rework them?
@hobbyhub739 unlikely, the Power car pack uses a different mold and this set uses older tooling, I doubt people make headlight parts for it
@@smithcast08 Ah, that's sad. I mean, can you recommend me someone who can do the rework? I will ask them whether they can do it. I just need to find a reworker.
@hobbyhub739 well I'm not exactly sure, but I recon a quick Google search will work?
@@smithcast08 Good news! I found one! I'll consult them when possible.
I remember the days when you could buy a set with two Mk3s, Hornby are getting a rip off. The Mk3 isn't very accurate
Those were the days, but I think they're over. Hornby haven't had the strongest of times financially over the last few years and they've noticably been cutting costs 💰
I'm impressed with the new sliding door MK3s that have been released, they're pretty detailed, but you pay for it. The really old Hornby MK3s weren't even the right length 😂 (I've got a few that are a fair bit shorter). So I think the MK3 that came with this set was somewhere in the middle and reasonable for the cost of the train set, not loads of detail, but at least they're the right size. So frustrated that you can't buy extra in the same style though, that's unforgivable.
@@LittleWicketRailway I haven't bought model railway stuff for a long time now, I don't see the point when Train Simulator provides the same enjoyment but gives you lots more options to chose from. Hornby is become a niche for the top end quality stuff. The low down stuff is so expensive it's not worth it.
What pack do I need to buy to get all the track to fit the map
All of them. A -> F.
Does anyone know where I can get a replacement bogie for a MK3?
Ebay or Peters Spares (www.petersspares.com/) are probably your best chance of finding what you want.
Does the power car’s lights light up?
The power car with the motor in it has headlights that light up, but there are no lights in the "dummy" power car without a motor.
@@LittleWicketRailway thanks you
can you view a class 08?
Hi Richard, there's a Class 08 included in this set that I reviewed (ua-cam.com/video/87Yl7XnpITQ/v-deo.html), but I haven't done a review of a class 08 on it's own yet. I will when I find a nice example.
A few strange decisions there by Hornby but that siding is laughable.
Get the hornby thomas and friends percy set plzzzzz
Great suggestion. I don't have that set, but I'll keep my eyes open and see if I can find one 👍
Witch do you recommend buying the tornado set to this one?
They're both good train sets. I guess it depends on whether you like steam trains or diesel trains. I think I would choose Tornado, it's slightly more expensive, but I like steam trains and I think the pullman coaches look really cool.
@@LittleWicketRailway thanks
Can you show the sound on this model?
This set doesn't come with sound, but you can add sound with a sound decoder later.
Coach has buffer when it shouldn’t and the light on the front are the original style not the correct modern style, disappointment lol
Somebody knows their GWR HSTs! 👍
I had one of these the bogie had to be fixed on delivery and also the controller was broken. Went in the 🗑
Sounds like a bit of a disaster, shouldn't need to fix new models 😭
@@LittleWicketRailway Yes sadly happens sometimes.
This has gone down hill hornby use to give u 2 coaches in the set
Excellent review.... but way too many 'bad decisions/cost cutting' by Hornby. Matt finish/no additional matching coaches - really? Shame on you Hornby - wake up and remember your roots....
Thanks Paul 👍
As a kind of "prototype to model" comment, to describe a PC/TC/PC formation as a "high speed train" would require any protype to have a very highmaximum line speed as train speed is limited to line speed minus 10mph per TC fewer than I think six. This is due to the lost braking effort of each TC but with the constant mass of the PC's, I think the oversight of that rule was the real cause for the Stonehaven incident.
It's a shame they're putting in those awful controllers.
It does the hobby no favours. Hornby seem so out of touch.
They're not he best controllers, but they're pretty safe and they do the job for a train set I suppose. I'm a big fan of Hornby, it'll be interesting to see what they're going to do over the next few years.
Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee