SCALE MODEL NEWS

THE TT:120 CLUB IS ONE OF HORNBY'S i deas to support prospective owners of the newly-introduced 1:120 scale model railway system. David Jefferis : Our TT:120 club membership package arrived in the post today. An impressively chunky envelope contained details of the rewards for joining up. There was an introductory welcome letter, introducing the club and its benefits. These include: A quarterly club magazine, featuring all the latest news and product updates. Hornby TT:120 membership card plus a lanyard and badge holder. Just right for going to club meetings or displays! There was a neat little TT:120 Club pin badge, to attach to a jacket lapel. 15% off orders when buying TT: 120 products directly from Hornby online. However, the main heft in the package was a handsome A4-size 32-page catalogue, entitled Small World… BIG ideas . Full-colour printing on glossy paper make this a pleasure to read, so congrats to those members of the Hornby team who put it together. So the next thing f...

Scale Model News is sad to hear of the passing of Darrell Burge of Hornby. Darrell was Product Manager at Airfix, since moving from Humbrol in 2006, and in charge of the revitalisation of Airfix products over the last decade. Darrell died suddenly on Wednesday 10th February 2021. Our condolences to his family and colleagues at Hornby.

THE BASSETT-LOWKE BRAND DATES BACK to the late 1890s. So it's appropriate that the Hornby-owned company is now trailblazing a path back to that era with a dedicated range of steampunk-inspired locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories. SMN report: There’s a whole backstory associated with the Bassett-Lowke venture. Here's what B-L has to say about it: “So this is the new world; a world of mad science, eco-warriors beneath the waves and empiric wars. The three-mast clippers are now too slow to get their precious cargo past the devastating submersibles of those that despise empires, whilst the horse and cart falls constant prey to the hungry lizards that slip through the streams. The tea must get through though, the world demands it. “Wenman Joseph Bassett Lowke is one of those concerned; a seasoned maker of steam boilers, industrial brewing equipment and proud owner of some of the finest aromatic tea plantations across the world. That precious crop had to be delivered; he nee...

SOLID PROGRESS ON THE Hornby Group turnaround plan is proceeding well, according to the company’s latest report. SMN report: Structural changes to the business have been carried out, and key European operations will be transferred to the UK in the coming months. Importantly, product ranges have been thinned down. 2017 brochures have been printed, published, and distributed. And they have earned enthusiastic reactions from trade and customers alike.  Hornby property in the seaside town of Margate, Kent, has been sold, the company now aiming to lease part of it, so the Hornby Visitor Centre can continue. Hornby CEO Steve Cooke reported: “…Our improved financial position is evidence of the success of the first stage of the turnaround.  Hornby is well positioned to continue its transition to profitability and higher cash generation." So it looks like familiar names like Airfix kits, Hornby trains, and Scalextric slot cars will continue, though what will happen with European brand...

UK MODEL MAKER HORNBY is set to raise money to secure its future. The train set manufacturer, also the name behind brands such as Airfix, Corgi and Scalextric, revealed big losses this week. SMN report: However, there is a turnaround plan, which involves reducing Hornby’s size, streamlining operations, and focussing on brands that are making money. Whether a planned new visitor centre in Ramsgate, Kent, will go ahead is unclear at this point. The Hornby name goes back to 1901. Its model trains ( pictures below ) have been manufactured since 1920. Early locomotives were powered by winding up a clockwork motor, but were soon followed by electric versions. Hornby revenues have fallen some 4 percent in the last year, meaning that the company is currently trading at a loss. Executive chairman Roger Canham will put a rescue plan to shareholders next month, though he says, “…if they are not approved there are serious concerns over the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.” But ...

Here's a fun few minutes from Russian CGI outfit, Digital Light Studio. We'd like to see versions of these locomotives running on scale tracks, modded from Hornby or Bachmann originals. As Digital Light Studio puts it: "Only the best of the best race steam trains have reached the final. Red Arrow accept a challenge of Iron Shark. Black villain is ready to do everything just to get to the finish line first. But his opponent is brave and courageous. "Steam up your engines, gentlemen!" Digital Light Studio here. Hornby here. Bachmann here.

Modelzone had up to 47 stores across the UK, but ran into trading problems in 2012, moving into administration in June 2013. Not all is lost though: Amerang, the wholesale part of Modelzone, has been purchased by Ripmax, a distributor of radio-control (RC) models. It sounds an excellent fit, as Ripmax is an old-established outfit that’s been around in various forms since 1949, and RC continues to be extremely popular. Richard Hawes from administration firm Deloite said, “We are delighted to have secured a buyer for Amerang, which continues to be an attractive brand given the strength of its customer and supplier base and its reputation in the market.” Sad to say, Modelzone stores are likely to disappear, as Deloitte is putting in place a closure programme. Why did Modelzone run into trouble? It seems that online competition was a big issue, but that over-expansion was the real villain, with new stores that couldn’t cover their high lease costs. For UK modelmakers it’ll be worthwhile lo...

DAVID JEFFERIS REPORTS: The tie-up between Hornby and the classic Pocher car kit brand has finally turned to modelmaking gold with the upcoming 1:8 scale kit of Italy’s finest - the Lamborghina Aventador LP700-4. As you might expect from Pocher’s previous kits, the body of this hefty 7kg (15.4lb) 1:8 scale model is made of high quality diecast metal and comes ready painted. The Aventador has more than 600 components, made of materials that include metal, plastic, rubber and various textiles. Functional parts Steering, suspension and spoiler mechanisms are functional as are the swing-up doors. Despite that, the car is claimed to be easy to build, and can be assembled in either left- and right-hand drive versions. Despite the large scale, the low-slung Lambo is hardly a massive shelf-filler, as it barely tops 142mm (5.6in) high. Still, size isn’t everything, though looks are, and this one has it in spades. About Pocher Arnaldo Pocher was born in 1911 in Trento, Italy. He trained as a gol...