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The following questions were posed by members for Simon Kohler to answer at the BRMA convention, however, Simon was not able to attend and therefore, his answers are reproduced here:
Please explain the price difference between the Maunsell and Stanier coaches? Please advise when we might see some LMS versions again?
Answer: What an excellent question in respect of costs especially where these two types of coaches are concerned. Any company that is in business must use a percentage of their profits to re-invest in new product. When the Maunsell coaches were first discussed a question was raised about the eventual retail price. As those in business can appreciate I have to justify the tooling cost by estimating the actual volume sales over a given time. I then have to calculate tooling costs, product costs and potential sales. Once I have pulled these figures I present them to the Hornby accountants plus my CEO which then results, if all is OK with their approval. Where the Maunsell coaches were concerned I did “experiment” with prices, ie would selling them at a lower retail price and reducing tooling payback time result in a greater number sold? What happened was that my suggestion was taken up and although the enthusiasm for the Maunsell coaches was very encouraging my belief and others here atHornby was that it was more the coaches than the price that resulted in excellent sales. However, this experiment has caused some questions in respect of why the difference in prices between Maunsell and Period 3 Staniers and I trust the above has clarified the situation.
As an aside, I am of course reluctant to increase the prices of the Maunsell coaches in line with the Staniers and will continue to do so until requested otherwise.
Finally, with regards to further releases of Period 3 coaches, I never say what we may or may not do in future years but I have noted the interest.
Have Hornby any plans to manufacture track that has more prototypical sleeper spacing?
Answer: The current track system or equivalent has been with us for a good number of years, in fact I remember when Hornby Dublo introduced their two rail system what a massive difference it made to the overall appearance of a model railway. Hornby introduced its System 6 track (Code 100) in the early Seventies (1970) and once again the effect on the appearance of “real” looking track was remarkable. Since then other manufacturers have released Code 75 track which although a little more tricky to lay has moved things forward once more. However, to answer the question; the investment required to produce a new track system specific to the British modelling “00” market would be immense. No doubt if introduced there would be those who would tear up their existing model railway track and re-lay with the “new” style but how many would really do that? In my job I would have to justify the overall costs and then prove that “pay back” would occur over a certain period. At the moment I would not be able to do that. Much does depend on demand and if that demand grows, and it would have to grow quite considerably, then one can start to move forward but until then I am afraid we are where we are with the system we have. Please also remember that the system would only be acceptable in the British modelling “00” market, if at all and would have no interest (I believe) in the rest of the “H0” World, which would make my justification even more difficult!
But to just reiterate, if the demand is there then it will be looked at with more than a measure of interest. Watch this space or should it be spacing!
It seems for tender locos the trend is for the decoder socket to now go into the tender which allows room to install a loudspeaker as well. So what are your plans for tank locos?
Answer: Excellent question and one for the engineers to get their heads around. What can be said is have a look at the insides of the Hornby Sound Class 08. If we can get a sound decoder, speaker and other relevant components in that model then other locos will prove a doddle. So let me have your suggestions. Which tank loco would you like to see in the range featuring sound!
Can your coach and wagon wheels be produced with a blackened finish please?
Answer: As you are aware the coach and wagon wheels do already have a brown anodised effect but we have no concerns in making it black if that is what the market requires. Perhaps this is something that Clubs and associations like the BRMA would like to take a vote on and let me know. We have no worries about changing if that is what our customers would like.
Does the MROL/MREMAG Wishlist Poll have any influence on your choice of new products?
Answer: A very interesting question. Firstly, one of the reasons why I attend as many exhibitions as I do is so that I can talk directly to my/our customers. He or she can tell me what we are doing wrong or right. They can during the course of conversation provide me with hints as to the where the market is moving and the various “demands” that are being asked for. We also have a questionnaire that we ask our visitors to complete on which they can let us know what locos, coaches or wagons they would like to see. Of course when you have this type of research you will receive some fairly “odd ball” suggestions but alternatively it does not take too long to see threads developing and from that you can start to formulate plans. Now I do not just rely on my own research from these questionnaires, I also receive a large number of letters and e-mails with plenty of suggestions which all goes into the melting pot. At this point I must advise you that I will lay plans down for a new loco or indeed a new piece of rolling stock three years before it will appear in the shops as it can take that long for the relevant design information to be compiled, the tool drawings completed and then the final production. Where the MRE pole and the like come into their own is that they can confirm that we are going in the right direction.
So in a nutshell, yes the polls do have an influence, they let me sleep easier at night!
With great improvements in rechargeable battery technology, has there been any consideration to taking train control in another direction such as radio control?
Answer: You are right battery technology is moving ahead in great leaps and bounds and I am sure that one day the on board battery will replace the loco picking up power from the track but I believe this is some way off. At the moment I can see that space in the locomotive would be a problem but I am aware of work being done in respect of 00/H0 models so watch this space. Who would have thought that there would have been a massed produced Live Steam 00 model available so battery power should eventually be a doddle!!
Are there current patents which would prevent Hornby from developing synchronised smoke generators in its range of locos, either factory fitted or as an after market option?
Answer: One of the biggest problems these days is finding space in models. What with sound decoders, speakers (admittedly in certain instances in the tender), weight, PCBs and the like there is not a terrific amount of spare space available to include a smoke unit. I am fully aware that there are smoke units available that work incredibly well with DCC but these bring their own problems namely that of a higher increase in power to the loco which does mean a more hefty decoder which in turn requires more space!! And then there is the additional cost brought on by not just the smoke hardware but also the various decoders etc required to make it work. My belief is that producing an RTR smoking locomotive would prove to be impractical and far too costly from a commercial stand point. So where does that leave Hornby? Well we have never been scared of a challenge. When I see one of our Sound Duchess locos running round our exhibition layouts or hear the Class 60 start up I cannot help but wish to see smoke pouring from the Duchess chimney or a great “belch” of exhaust being forced from the roof of the 60!
Therefore to answer the question, as far as I am aware there are no patents that would prevent us from producing on board equipment for smoke or diesel exhaust effect, however those systems that are already available would be too cost prohibitive to include in a mass produced model. The result of this is that if we do look to include this facility in our models it would have to be of our own development.
I am wondering where the UK hobby and indeed Hornby is going as far as adoption of wheel standards. It is noted that Hornby models of late seem to be adopting finer specifications as have Bachmann.
Answer: Hornby have for a good number of years been producing finer scale wheels on all their locomotives and rolling stock as well as where possible producing the correct size and profile. For an excellent example of this do have a look at the wheels on the new GWR Horse Box. Of course finer scale wheels can bring additional problems to those modellers who have mature layouts where perhaps the track work is not as even as it once was or the frogs on their points are perhaps a little worn!
In conclusion to all the above questions
To sum up Hornby will continue to evolve their products to suit the demands of the modeller. Not everything can be changed immediately but do be assured we do listen and we will react.
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