Hornby R3623 Princess Coronation Problems part 2

The next chapter in trying to resolve the issues of the brand new £178 Hornby Princess Coronation. Many thanks to all those who offered ideas and suggestions. Sadly while working on this I noticed that my Sir William Stanier FRS model also has the faulty expansion link issue one side and I have seen others with it as well.

I am afraid that this is the last complex/premium loco I shall ever buy from Hornby, they started me in this hobby but have I feel become so aloof from their customers, so disrespectful that my money will be set aside for others. Sad day. #modelrailways #modelrailroad #modeltrains

[letzterinstanz]

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 forward to the 'working'

[castlejunction]

I'm with you all the 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.

[michaelbrowster]

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.

[Manxman]

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?

[Marco-xzsc]

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

[tulyar]

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.

[Benji_transport_vids]

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!

[trainsontuesday]

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.

[georgewyatt]

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...

[ollychap]

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

[robstrains]

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.

[kimspeller]

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.

[LaytonJunction]

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   😃

[harryunderhill]

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

[robioa]

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

[timsytanker]

I would keep it, the replacement could be

[billywindsock]

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.

[stuartthegrant]

They charge top Dollar so it should be in good nick, I think you should return it with links to your vidio's.

[phil]

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...

[morgenergy]

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.