I bought Princess Akexander to go with my new Coronation Scot rake. On the third run, the mech jammed and I found the conrod was free of the crosshead. The rivet is still in the crosshead. Witness marks on the front crankpin bolt tell me it had fouled the conrod. Question is, do I fix it or return it from Australia?
You might try taking photos and send it to Hornby, ask them if they will meet postage costs. But if you can fix it you might have less stress. A very bad fault how ever you look at it
Mine has the same problem (mines an unstreamlined version) but mine also derails on curves, causing the motor to continue making noise but no wheel action!
There appears to be a gouge in the guide rail on the side that the crosshead jumps, in and out of, it's the top guide, and it's dead in line with the edge of the wheel.
My rápido stirling single seems to be a noisy runner, and it seems to be the motor, I cannot figure out why! I can’t send back, shipping is to much! Any suggestions
Hi, I don't know anything about those, if its a conventional motor then a small drop of plastic safe oil on each armature bearing could well solve your issue. Do you know what type of motor is used?
Probably been suggested further down the comments, but with the right-hand side piston issue, would it be possible to ease the rivet holding the connecting rod to the crosshead - it might be on a little tight? For the left-hand side, with the loco wheels having plastic centres (and having done this on my own A1/3's) it might be possible to force the crank to have a greater sweep, using a pair of pliers gripping the length of the crank and twisting in the direction required?
I'm with you all the way.....I saw the light after sending models back only to be replaced with another faulty model this happened on three different models I then decided never again will I buy a Hornby model.
Yes, when I took the original back to the shop, we went through all there stock and I ended up with the display case model. At least i have one, but feel very cheated due to the massive cost.
OK Mike - you've fixed 2 out of 3, and they are the important ones. Bloody Well Done! Make sure it runs on the track without the Hornby 30mph Lurch. If you're happy with it, keep it. You'll probably not get another ! (My replacement Sir Francis Drake shows no sign of arrival - high return rate too)? The answer is not to buy any more - but - we will - and Humbug Hornby know it................look forward to the 'working' video......Reinhard.
Hi Reinhard, thanks, yes kind of fixed, I have stopped now because I don't want to snap anything. Sorry to hear you are still without a Nelson! I am sadly really going to stop with them now, unless I can pick them up really cheap, the horrid feeling of disappointment having shelled out loads of money is too much
That's why I like kit building locomotives. You can check and adjust at each step of the way! Much as I hate to say it I'd send it back. These aren't cheap models and for the money it should work. It's ready to run, not ready to fix lol.
do you not think that we have got to a point where mass produced models have become too fine scale and easily damaged ? i think i would rather have cheaper less detailed models that worked and i didnt have to worry about breaking every time i picked them up or looked at them in an odd way.
Such a beauty! All that binding and poor fitting mars your enjoyment. I would have reliability concerns, too. It seems to suffer from Chinese QC: 80% meets spec-- good enough.
That's the key, it seems Hornby's factory over there just does not care, why Hornby put up with them I do not understand. Other manufactures do have issues but it does not seem to me anything like as bad as the Hornby one. And its a very great shame.
Sorry to see you have had these problems. For an engine costing around 180 pounds it is a disgrace! Hornby are making things down to a price and not up to a standard. It doesn't even have a flywheel drive. Therefore my advice to you is to send it back. It is faulty so you cannot enjoy it as you would like to. If the replacement is faulty,send that back as well.
I do sadly agree, flywheels are something I am unsure of really but the thing I detest is the horrid toy like rear pony wheel, the older models had a proper radial pony wheel, why the hell are we supposed to put up with this mess.
@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited Have you seen the Hornby J15 run? It has the best momentum effect(overrun) of any British RTR engine,why? It has a flywheel each end of its motor plus a good gear ratio. If Hornby and Bachmann put mechs like this in all their locos then they would sell more of them and probably at a lower price. But since they don't it is like I said earlier, making models down to a price which equals poor quality,hence the problems in your video.
sorry to see this sad state of affairs.its totally unacceptable for this to happen. I would send it back.thank goodness I have my old triang locos that still run.the x04 motor and the power bogie were a good piece of kit.
Hi Peter, I agree. I do still have it, looking at other videos about the Internet its clear they are all much the same or far worse so I have mind in a ok state now.
Hi Mike. Well you seem to have done all you can it sounds better no ticking but that wheel is still wobbling. I think it's time to send it back at the price of these loco's you shouldn't have to do this. hope you get it sorted with them. Regards George...
I think you've said it all in your description Mike. Send it back and be stern. Ask them if we the customers are just a nuisance to them, would it be better if we just went away? I`d want better quality in a £75.00 loco. David.
Any problems you may have are NOT for you to sort out thats the whole reason of a warranty guarantee its for Hornby to sort out if you do anything yourself you could invalidate any warranty etc
Mike, it depends if you're happy with the model or not. that's all that matters really . I personally would have returned it for a refund or contacted Hornby to get it sorted to my satisfaction
I would send it back, That wheel wobble for a £180 loco is a disgrace, I have heard a few people have sent them back with that issue. I just do not understand with the cost of loco's now and the exchange rate why manufacture of them cannot be brought back to the UK at least here they will be properly enginered and built and not thrown together.
My thoughts echo what everyone else has said so far - given the price you’ve paid for the loco, it’s not good it doesn’t run properly. Sadly, I’ve seen a lot of other people complain about the exact same issue from what I’ve seen posted on social media and UA-cam. Time for a refund, I think. And if it’s to be exchanged, you need to make damn sure the replacement doesn’t have the same problem!
i agree for the money the product should be better quality such a shame as the hobby is expensive enough without this to put up with. but it is a gorges engine though 😃
That's the issue, I love it which is why I left my brain at home and paid £175 for an upside down jelly mould on a non flywheel mechanism with that terrible toy like pony truck. She is just lovely to look at. Money wise i feel very cheated and maybe the lesson to myself is more valuable.
sadly i agree if the same attention to detail for the mechanism was applied as to the body then it would be worth the hight price if that makes sense 🤔😃
If you spent £178 on a microwave or vacuum cleaner and it didn't work properly from new, you would send it back. I will do the same with model trains. The wonky driving wheel is the deal breaker.
The never ending story of Hornby's production & assembling issues in China and the 'remarkable' lack of quality control. Except from a Class K1 loco all the others: 3 x Class S15; 1 Class J15 and others wobble. Not one wheel seems to be round. Like in the song The Coo coo: "she wobbles as she flies"... Not funny. SEND IT BACK ! The first J15 I ordered came faulty, the replacement had a loose soldering and I repaired it myself...UNACCEPTABLE ! Maybe RAPIDO will produce more British locos in the near future and that will be a relief ! PS. Oxford Rail has similar issues too and not to mention Heljan...
I wonder where the line between being a model actually being faulty and people being pedantic is. I have multiple Hornby pacifics that have some tightspots and I also own this model which clicks in a minor way but I've never returned any of them because they still work as intended? Sometimes I feel modellers get caught up in these tiny details that don't actually matter that much. I do sometimes too. But quite frankly these tiny "faults" were probably not even the result of shoddy build quality but the design itself, shoddy or not. Though I would like to see these sorts of complainers try their hand at etched kit model building, instead of swearing "to never buy from x company" again only to realise that their next announced model is only available from "X" manufacturer.
I think you are missing the point, these are not toys, they are expensive models. It's hardly being pedantic wanting your expensive model to at least start off perfect, any faults at the start will only get worse. If they were cheap toys then you might be right, but they are not toys and far from cheap. I have a deal of experience with scratch builds etc
All these issues are utterly despicable to see on a brand new model that costs the best part of £200. The wobble alone would piss me right off - it did when a mere traction tyre caused some wobble on a Lima Class 50. Personally speaking, I’d send it back. The 170 odd quid is better spent elsewhere on models that are actually refined and...well, work! Whatever was wrong with the “old” Coronation that Hornby made? Saw a lot of people ask the same thing when this nonsense was announced last year. I’m half hoping it’ll make a return in the RailRoad range alongside it’s 3 pack of coaches. With Hornby’s 2019 range announced in less than a week, I do wonder what horrors are in store for the company.
Mike, this locomotive is not fit for purpose! I was originally going to order one, but seeing your trials and tribulations, I’m not going to bother. Poor quality control from Hornby, yet again! This is just not good enough. I’d send it back with a blistering note to the CEO! Hornby seems to not understand why it’s still losing money. Far to big, far too arrogant and far to inflexible to get the fundamentals right.
Hi Gary, have to sadly agree with all you said. I think for me this loco has taught me a valuable lesson, Hornby are not improving and are not responsive.
I bought Princess Akexander to go with my new Coronation Scot rake. On the third run, the mech jammed and I found the conrod was free of the crosshead. The rivet is still in the crosshead. Witness marks on the front crankpin bolt tell me it had fouled the conrod.
Question is, do I fix it or return it from Australia?
You might try taking photos and send it to Hornby, ask them if they will meet postage costs. But if you can fix it you might have less stress. A very bad fault how ever you look at it
Mine has the same problem (mines an unstreamlined version) but mine also derails on curves, causing the motor to continue making noise but no wheel action!
Ooo that don't sound right at all, sounds like the motor mount is lose to start with. Are you able to work on your own engines?
@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited not at the moment but she still runs alright
There appears to be a gouge in the guide rail on the side that the crosshead jumps, in and out of, it's the top guide, and it's dead in line with the edge of the wheel.
Hmm I see what you mean
Hi Michael, just checked the loco and gladly there is no gouge, must have been a trick of the light in this video
My rápido stirling single seems to be a noisy runner, and it seems to be the motor, I cannot figure out why! I can’t send back, shipping is to much! Any suggestions
Hi, I don't know anything about those, if its a conventional motor then a small drop of plastic safe oil on each armature bearing could well solve your issue. Do you know what type of motor is used?
Probably been suggested further down the comments, but with the right-hand side piston issue, would it be possible to ease the rivet holding the connecting rod to the crosshead - it might be on a little tight? For the left-hand side, with the loco wheels having plastic centres (and having done this on my own A1/3's) it might be possible to force the crank to have a greater sweep, using a pair of pliers gripping the length of the crank and twisting in the direction required?
Many thanks, I'll look at the rivet, there was no moving the crank pins and I fear putting more pressure on them
I'm with you all the way.....I saw the light after sending models back only to be replaced with another faulty model this happened on three different models I then decided never again will I buy a Hornby model.
Yes, when I took the original back to the shop, we went through all there stock and I ended up with the display case model. At least i have one, but feel very cheated due to the massive cost.
OK Mike - you've fixed 2 out of 3, and they are the important ones. Bloody Well Done! Make sure it runs on the track without the Hornby 30mph Lurch. If you're happy with it, keep it. You'll probably not get another ! (My replacement Sir Francis Drake shows no sign of arrival - high return rate too)? The answer is not to buy any more - but - we will - and Humbug Hornby know it................look forward to the 'working' video......Reinhard.
Hi Reinhard, thanks, yes kind of fixed, I have stopped now because I don't want to snap anything. Sorry to hear you are still without a Nelson! I am sadly really going to stop with them now, unless I can pick them up really cheap, the horrid feeling of disappointment having shelled out loads of money is too much
That's why I like kit building locomotives. You can check and adjust at each step of the way!
Much as I hate to say it I'd send it back. These aren't cheap models and for the money it should work. It's ready to run, not ready to fix lol.
As leokimvideo said on an old video about the issues with a Hornby Thomas the Tank Engine: “before I am playing, I’m repairing.”.
Seems we are buying 'ready to fix' instead of ready to run
LOL well said
do you not think that we have got to a point where mass produced models have become too fine scale and easily damaged ? i think i would rather have cheaper less detailed models that worked and i didnt have to worry about breaking every time i picked them up or looked at them in an odd way.
Hi Kim, yes absolutely 100% things are far too fine now
Such a beauty! All that binding and poor fitting mars your enjoyment. I would have reliability concerns, too. It seems to suffer from Chinese QC: 80% meets spec-- good enough.
That's the key, it seems Hornby's factory over there just does not care, why Hornby put up with them I do not understand. Other manufactures do have issues but it does not seem to me anything like as bad as the Hornby one. And its a very great shame.
Sorry to see you have had these problems. For an engine costing around 180 pounds it is a disgrace! Hornby are making things down to a price and not up to a standard. It doesn't even have a flywheel drive. Therefore my advice to you is to send it back. It is faulty so you cannot enjoy it as you would like to. If the replacement is faulty,send that back as well.
I do sadly agree, flywheels are something I am unsure of really but the thing I detest is the horrid toy like rear pony wheel, the older models had a proper radial pony wheel, why the hell are we supposed to put up with this mess.
@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited Have you seen the Hornby J15 run? It has the best momentum effect(overrun) of any British RTR engine,why? It has a flywheel each end of its motor plus a good gear ratio. If Hornby and Bachmann put mechs like this in all their locos then they would sell more of them and probably at a lower price. But since they don't it is like I said earlier, making models down to a price which equals poor quality,hence the problems in your video.
sorry to see this sad state of affairs.its totally unacceptable for this to happen. I would send it back.thank goodness I have my old triang locos that still run.the x04 motor and the power bogie were a good piece of kit.
Hi Peter, I agree. I do still have it, looking at other videos about the Internet its clear they are all much the same or far worse so I have mind in a ok state now.
Hi Mike. Well you seem to have done all you can it sounds better no ticking but that wheel is still wobbling. I think it's time to send it back at the price of these loco's you shouldn't have to do this. hope you get it sorted with them. Regards George...
Many thanks George, I am doing a running video later and will let you all judge now that I am done tinkering.
I think you've said it all in your description Mike. Send it back and be stern. Ask them if we the customers are just a nuisance to them, would it be better if we just went away? I`d want better quality in a £75.00 loco. David.
Thanks David, with them being out of stock it would mean I won't get another one and she is simply stunning. I understand what you say however.
Sorry you have this trouble. the only thing to do is send it back for an exchange and hope the next one is a good one.
Thanks Philip, I just don't trust that the replacement would be as good as what I currently have. I have now seen 4 of these fail.
Any problems you may have are NOT for you to sort out thats the whole reason of a warranty guarantee its for Hornby to sort out if you do anything yourself you could invalidate any warranty etc
Lol Rob, I admire your optimistim
Mike, it depends if you're happy with the model or not. that's all that matters really .
I personally would have returned it for a refund or contacted Hornby to get it sorted to my satisfaction
Thanks Oliver, I will do a running video and let you all see how she is performing now.
I would send it back, That wheel wobble for a £180 loco is a disgrace, I have heard a few people have sent them back with that issue. I just do not understand with the cost of loco's now and the exchange rate why manufacture of them cannot be brought back to the UK at least here they will be properly enginered and built and not thrown together.
Hi Rob, blimey so its not just me then, I sometimes feel it is lol
My thoughts echo what everyone else has said so far - given the price you’ve paid for the loco, it’s not good it doesn’t run properly. Sadly, I’ve seen a lot of other people complain about the exact same issue from what I’ve seen posted on social media and UA-cam. Time for a refund, I think. And if it’s to be exchanged, you need to make damn sure the replacement doesn’t have the same problem!
I just don't trust I'd get a better one even if they were available.
Model Railways Unlimited I agree - I know someone who is on their third!
would not get a refund if model has been tampered with in anyway
i agree for the money the product should be better quality such a shame as the hobby is expensive enough without this to put up with. but it is a gorges engine though 😃
That's the issue, I love it which is why I left my brain at home and paid £175 for an upside down jelly mould on a non flywheel mechanism with that terrible toy like pony truck. She is just lovely to look at. Money wise i feel very cheated and maybe the lesson to myself is more valuable.
sadly i agree if the same attention to detail for the mechanism was applied as to the body then it would be worth the hight price if that makes sense 🤔😃
Itold you you’d fix it (sort of). And sorry but I don’t know what I would do - most likely send it back
Good luck - Harry
Cheers Harry, lol no I don't give up. I present these videos to try and help others, I hate having to make them however.
Check the quartering.
All seems in order thanks
If you spent £178 on a microwave or vacuum cleaner and it didn't work properly from new, you would send it back. I will do the same with model trains. The wonky driving wheel is the deal breaker.
Thanks Billy
For the price you paid I would send it straight back Hornby do seem to be letting themselves down in Quality !
Many thanks
I would keep it, the replacement could be worse.....
Maybe I should ask Hornby for a part refund as this was clearly a 'ready to fix' instead of ready to run?
The never ending story of Hornby's production & assembling issues in China and the 'remarkable' lack of quality control. Except from a Class K1 loco all the others: 3 x Class S15; 1 Class J15 and others wobble. Not one wheel seems to be round. Like in the song The Coo coo: "she wobbles as she flies"... Not funny. SEND IT BACK ! The first J15 I ordered came faulty, the replacement had a loose soldering and I repaired it myself...UNACCEPTABLE !
Maybe RAPIDO will produce more British locos in the near future and that will be a relief !
PS. Oxford Rail has similar issues too and not to mention Heljan...
Thanks
They charge top Dollar so it should be in good nick, I think you should return it with links to your vidio's.
Thanks Stuart, I don't think they would watch lol
Get a Tri-ang one, lol . ; )
That would be nice
I wonder where the line between being a model actually being faulty and people being pedantic is. I have multiple Hornby pacifics that have some tightspots and I also own this model which clicks in a minor way but I've never returned any of them because they still work as intended? Sometimes I feel modellers get caught up in these tiny details that don't actually matter that much. I do sometimes too. But quite frankly these tiny "faults" were probably not even the result of shoddy build quality but the design itself, shoddy or not. Though I would like to see these sorts of complainers try their hand at etched kit model building, instead of swearing "to never buy from x company" again only to realise that their next announced model is only available from "X" manufacturer.
I think you are missing the point, these are not toys, they are expensive models. It's hardly being pedantic wanting your expensive model to at least start off perfect, any faults at the start will only get worse. If they were cheap toys then you might be right, but they are not toys and far from cheap. I have a deal of experience with scratch builds etc
All these issues are utterly despicable to see on a brand new model that costs the best part of £200. The wobble alone would piss me right off - it did when a mere traction tyre caused some wobble on a Lima Class 50.
Personally speaking, I’d send it back. The 170 odd quid is better spent elsewhere on models that are actually refined and...well, work! Whatever was wrong with the “old” Coronation that Hornby made? Saw a lot of people ask the same thing when this nonsense was announced last year. I’m half hoping it’ll make a return in the RailRoad range alongside it’s 3 pack of coaches. With Hornby’s 2019 range announced in less than a week, I do wonder what horrors are in store for the company.
I know what you are saying I really do. Once again, its a very sad time for the hobby.
Send it back. Clearly a fault. Up to them to fix it, not you 🙂
Good point
Mike, this locomotive is not fit for purpose! I was originally going to order one, but seeing your trials and tribulations, I’m not going to bother. Poor quality control from Hornby, yet again! This is just not good enough. I’d send it back with a blistering note to the CEO! Hornby seems to not understand why it’s still losing money. Far to big, far too arrogant and far to inflexible to get the fundamentals right.
Hi Gary, have to sadly agree with all you said. I think for me this loco has taught me a valuable lesson, Hornby are not improving and are not responsive.
Well with such wobbly wheels...thats no quality! Sent it back!
Thanks for your thoughts