OO 281, Hornby ‘Ultimate’ Black 5 Troubles

Welcome to my two hundred and eighty first video on my work with OO gauge.
In this video I'll be looking at the Hornby's brand new tooling of the LMS Stanier Black 5. This was announced as the 'ultimate' OO gauge Black 5, back in 2022. The first versions of it finally became available in April 2024, and mine arrived last week. Sadly - spoiler alert - this will not be a happy story. Others have already posted online regarding their troubles with this model, and I'm very sorry to say that my experience has been the same. Ultimately I was never able to get mine to run on layout tracks at all… so I'm afraid that it is going back.
As always, if you have any questions about anything that I say or show in this video, or you would like more information about anything, please post in the comments below, and I will try to respond.

[treblebass]

I looked at Sam's Trains YouTube review of this new locomotive a few days ago. He had what appeared to be the same problem as you have with your purchase and is also sending it back for a refund. I just can't bring myself to buy any new off the shelf locomotives mainly due to the cost and am happy buying old Triang and Hornby ones and doing any work to get them running again. Far less detailed than modern locomotives but simple and robust! PS. always enjoy your videos and the variety of subjects.

[casperbacon]

trouble is over the last 10 years, the manufacturers have crossed the line between producing a robust working locomotive with decent quality control, and a super detailed scale model that isn't really meant to be used. Every time there is a new model, I wait a week or so to see the youtubers that are either getting a broken model through damage done to the flimsy detailing in the post, are just faulty or have an inherent design fault. given the small % of youtubers who make up the total buyers, the actual amount of customers getting these faults must be astronomical, but a fair amount of them then try and fix the problems themselves! Sorry but for that price I want a properly working undamaged model that won't have parts snap off if I forget to pick it up right so I will continue to give Hornby's tat a miss.

[alanrobertson]

Taking it back is absolutely the right thing to do. For what its worth a bit of electrical paint on the contacts may have worked. Its the stuff you can use to repair rear windscreen elements on cars. Although your video reinforces my prejudices I have no joy in it. Modern locos are expensive and unreliable although they can be better when they work. I had new Bachmann 20 & 37 where the motors rattle around as not secured to the body. A bit of cardboard fixes the problem but in dismantling the locos I damaged the wiring so a new circuit board for the 20 and some soldering for the 37. We need to resist the urge to fix things for ourselves except where there is nothing to lose.

[NormanStanleyNew]

Long live Japan.They know how to manufacture value for money, reliable model railways!!

[ChobertonJunction]

Shame really as a Black 5 is something I really would like to add to my layout. But so many have had issues with this loco I wonder how it every got through the Hornby testing department or maybe they don't have one!

[forrestrobin]

Absolutely scandalous for a new locomotive whatever its RRP. Why, how ? What are Hornby doing ?

[modelrailfan]

Good review, but such a shame that Hornby’s quality has gone so downhill…. As a Canadian who likes British Steam locomotives most of my orders come from Nigel at British Model Trains, and seeing as Hornby no longer seem to be supporting the Canadian market I have come to the conclusion that we all might as well just give up with Hornby. Other manufacturers like Bachmann, Rapido, Dapol and Oxford make fantastic models for much more reasonable prices, and they seem to care more about getting products to customers. For me, and I’m guessing yo as well, it is not at all economical to order direct from British retailers such as Rails, Kernow and Gaugemaster.

[grumpygit-svcg]

wonder how long it will be before the ones that do run fail?

[Planestrains-de]

The same issue as both the first and second of Sam’s Trains models *and* as Little Wicket. Such shoddy workmanship - and all three of theirs ended up with another problem when a pin was shed from one of the con-rods as well. Like you, I’m in Canada and won’t be touching any new Hornby stuff with a barge pole any more. I’ve just sent back a new Hornby 14xx that doesn’t work either. Such shoddy workmanship and poor quality control could see them go under.

[danprice]

I am on my second one and it has exactly the same issues with the connector. I can’t even run it in I’m so disappointed as it’s such a stunning looking loco. No choice but to send it back

[OlivierGabin]

I wanted to buy one but, as I already have the previous model, I striked out this model from my list after having seen people with problem with this model, and an underwhelming quality to price ratio (minimal die cast part, no flywheel, botched finish) and decided to stick with my old one.

[kevinblakeman]

I'd just get a refund and it you got a replacement you could still have the same problem with it, i have a couple of Hornby black5s from the 70s and they are robust and reliable

[PlatformONE]

Because their seems to be many problems, they need to do a recall on the item.

[fredsmodelrailways]

another video of the new black 5 failing. and its supposed to be their ultimate black 5. i feel bad for you getting a naff one.

[chasesrailwaylinesrr]

OK every review I've seen of these things has had some kind of fault it won't move all it will do is turn on the light, Youtuber by the name of sams trains had to use a different tender all together to make the thing work. I'm sorry but Hornby need to fix this to make money, Wonders if they even tested it at the factory

[jonathanlake]

Obviously this new coupling system has not been factory tested properly.

[dannyvanstraelen]

Very sad to hear your disappointment, you waited so long to get the order in, and living outside the UK it's extra expensive, I live just live across the pond in Belgium and it cost me a fortune, but being a fan, It's all fine the extra and the hustle if it runs like you would expected to be, and there is no excuse at all why it shouldn't be running, specially considering the high prices you pay now theses days.
But it's unbelievable that something basic, as a wheel pick up and a connection plug, doesn't work.
That's in my view a very big design fault, and for a company with that a long experience in model trains is a very big disgrace.
And If Hornby would be decent, what they should do, is their utter best to get you a good running model, express delivered, asp., without going over the middleman, as it's their fault, they are the producer, they are responsible, or if you doubt that it ever would work, a refund you.
But it's not only Hornby, I also had a similar problem with Bachmann…
If I where you, I wouldn't give up on the model, there is always that car build on a blue Monday.
But you should insist, that all these problems go on their expenses and be handled asp.…

[premikyam]

sadly with any company manufacturing in 2024... 'new' is doublespeak for cheap, nasty, disposable

[scottmcneil]

I'll stick with my fleet of six Hornby Silver Seal R.859 Black 5's. 50 years old and faultless.

[careerprofessional]

Hi, great video. Unfortunately, you seem to have had the same problem as YouTuber Sams Trains.