Hornby - A Model World

[droopsnoot]

FiF said:

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

I had the "Matchbox Motorway", a bright orange track (I think) with long coiled springs that ran in a slot in the track. Standard Matchbox-sized cars could be used just by sticking a little pin underneath the car, and there was a big cog somewhere that moved the spring around the slot. I seem to recall spending more time trying to un-knot the spring than actually playing with the kit - I suspect it was intended to be left set up all the time.

[ChemicalChaos]

droopsnoot said:

FiF said:

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

I had the "Matchbox Motorway", a bright orange track (I think) with long coiled springs that ran in a slot in the track. Standard Matchbox-sized cars could be used just by sticking a little pin underneath the car, and there was a big cog somewhere that moved the spring around the slot. I seem to recall spending more time trying to un-knot the spring than actually playing with the kit - I suspect it was intended to be left set up all the time.

Never heard of that but it sounds an intriguing setup!

My dad apparently used to have a set called Total Control Racing, which even in the 80s was capable of the on-demand lane-switching that Scalextric digital only managed to offer in the 2000s?

[spitfire-ian]

Whilst we're on the subject of Matchbox slot cars, I had this. Actually I'm sure I still have it somewhere.



Edited to add:

Of course my brother got this...



...which was much cooler

Edited by spitfire-ian on Thursday 30th March 09:32

[Eric Mc]

RichB said:

siremoon said:

pingu393 said:

I wonder if Hornby have ever thought of merging with Airfix and producing model locos that you can make and run. I have an Airfix model of a Black 5 (model is called "Mogel"). It doesn't have a motor, so it will only ever be a static model.

In the late 1960s, Triang-Hornby, as it then was, produced a couple of locomotives and coaches in their range as "flat pack" pre-painted kits. Iirc the sales tax of the day was lower on kits than assembled items and so it was thought that such things would appeal to the budget conscious. The models of the day were, needless to say, far simpler than they are now.

I believe you are referring to their CKD (Completely Knocked Down) models. I purchased several of these and you are right, they were cheaper because there was lower tax (presumably the same reason on could buy cars like TVRs and Lotus 7s as parts). They were not a construction kit like an Airfix model, but you got the same loco or carriage as usual except it was in component parts. So, for example, I bought a green Princess Elizabeth which was basically the plastic body, the cassis, the motor, the cylinder block and the con rods etc. and a bag of screws. Same for the BR Mk1 coaches of which I bought several. It was a bit of fun and saved money.

In the early 2000s, Hornby (before they took over Airfix) released kit versions of their Scalextric Ford GT40 and Caterham 7 cars minus the running gear. I have a few of them in the stash.

[FiF]

http://www.minicmotorways.org.uk/alist.htm

Pages link to cars, commercial vehicles, sets and layouts etc.

[pingu393]

droopsnoot said:

FiF said:

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

I had the "Matchbox Motorway", a bright orange track (I think) with long coiled springs that ran in a slot in the track. Standard Matchbox-sized cars could be used just by sticking a little pin underneath the car, and there was a big cog somewhere that moved the spring around the slot. I seem to recall spending more time trying to un-knot the spring than actually playing with the kit - I suspect it was intended to be left set up all the time.

I've got an Airfix slot car racing "game". It's very much like Scalextrix, but nothing is interchangeable. It's from the '60s, and the cars are a BRM and a Cooper. The cars could be easily modified to run on a Scalextrix track.

Nothing to do with me, but it looks like I'm not alone...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/airfix-motor-racing/bn_70...

[3anascooter]

droopsnoot said:

FiF said:

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

I had the "Matchbox Motorway", a bright orange track (I think) with long coiled springs that ran in a slot in the track. Standard Matchbox-sized cars could be used just by sticking a little pin underneath the car, and there was a big cog somewhere that moved the spring around the slot. I seem to recall spending more time trying to un-knot the spring than actually playing with the kit - I suspect it was intended to be left set up all the time.

Reminds me that I had one of these...my track was grey though. Power came from 2 little buildings I think that looked like sheds and they had a horizontal cog that went into the side of the track (if memory serves me). Unlike Scalextric the track was hard brittle plastic and I remember the clips used to snap off. As for the spring....yup, spent much of the time Un ravelling it !!!

[3anascooter]

ChemicalChaos said:

droopsnoot said:

FiF said:

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

I had the "Matchbox Motorway", a bright orange track (I think) with long coiled springs that ran in a slot in the track. Standard Matchbox-sized cars could be used just by sticking a little pin underneath the car, and there was a big cog somewhere that moved the spring around the slot. I seem to recall spending more time trying to un-knot the spring than actually playing with the kit - I suspect it was intended to be left set up all the time.

Never heard of that but it sounds an intriguing setup!

My dad apparently used to have a set called Total Control Racing, which even in the 80s was capable of the on-demand lane-switching that Scalextric digital only managed to offer in the 2000s?

Feeling old now as I got one of these one xmas..it was pretty crap and I reverted to Scalextric by the new year. The track had low vertical sides to keep the cars on and the controller had a flip switch on it to move lane. There were 6 wires/metal lines in the track, 3 per lane and the cars had 3 pick-ups for power so think the way they changed lane was by driving only one rear wheel when you pressed the flip switch. Was a great idea, but a bit crap in reality !!!

[57Ford]

3anascooter said:

Feeling old now as I got one of these one xmas..it was pretty crap and I reverted to Scalextric by the new year. The track had low vertical sides to keep the cars on and the controller had a flip switch on it to move lane. There were 6 wires/metal lines in the track, 3 per lane and the cars had 3 pick-ups for power so think the way they changed lane was by driving only one rear wheel when you pressed the flip switch. Was a great idea, but a bit crap in reality !!!

I loved my TCR set. I think it was 2 Pantera’s and a different Jam Car which just drove around slowly to get in the way of the racing. It’s where I honed my God-like timing for close overtaking maneouvers

[Milkyway]

57Ford said:

I loved my TCR set. I think it was 2 Pantera’s and a different Jam Car which just drove around slowly to get in the way of the racing. It’s where I honed my God-like timing for close overtaking maneouvers

Racing a car against the Scalextric’s Williams Artic was like that... especially for the chicanes.

[Rumblestripe]

pingu393 said:

Milkyway said:

pingu393 said:

I wonder if Hornby have ever thought of merging with Airfix and producing model locos that you can make and run.

I have an Airfix model of a Black 5 (model is called "Mogel"). It doesn't have a motor, so it will only ever be a static model.

I wouldn’t fancy gluing on all those rivets... especially if it’s got more than one type.

Pedantry point.

"Mogul" refers to the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement of the locomotive (2 leading wheels, 6 driving wheels, no trailing wheels) a "Black 5" was a 4-6-0 locomotive manufactured by the LMS railway designed by Sir William Stanier. The Airfix model was of a standard class 4 (a lower power smaller locomotive) for BR by Robert Riddles.

[Panamax]

Rumblestripe said:

"Mogul" refers to the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement of the locomotive a "Black 5" was a 4-6-0 locomotive manufactured by the LMS railway designed by Sir William Stanier.

I was surprised recently to hear the term "Pacific" applied to a British 4-6-2 locomotive. I'd previously thought it was an expression used only for North American locomotives.

[RichB]

Panamax said:

Rumblestripe said:

"Mogul" refers to the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement of the locomotive a "Black 5" was a 4-6-0 locomotive manufactured by the LMS railway designed by Sir William Stanier.

I was surprised recently to hear the term "Pacific" applied to a British 4-6-2 locomotive. I'd previously thought it was an expression used only for North American locomotives.

No, it's commonly applied to British steam locomotives with that wheel configuration, also others like Prairie as in GWRs Prairie tanks, and in the early 1900s GWR had examples of Atlantics as their express locomotives.

[matchmaker]

Panamax said:

Rumblestripe said:

"Mogul" refers to the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement of the locomotive a "Black 5" was a 4-6-0 locomotive manufactured by the LMS railway designed by Sir William Stanier.

I was surprised recently to hear the term "Pacific" applied to a British 4-6-2 locomotive. I'd previously thought it was an expression used only for North American locomotives.

"Whyte" notation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte_notation

[chris watton]

I really shouldn't watch these programmes, so weak willed!

Since it started, or rather, since I started watching it, and even though I don't even have a track, let alone layout, I have bought a Hush Hush, Flying Scotsman, Dapol Manor Class with sound, Coronation Class, B12 Class, Terrier and a couple of Pecketts! Not to mention a set of Hattons Generic coaches and a rather stunning Rapido Dynamometer car! What is wrong with me!

[tr7v8]

FiF said:

nicanary said:

I liked the look of those Minic road cars. I didn't know anyone who had one when I was a kid - my guess is they were very expensive. What I liked was the realistic speed, unlike Scalextric which is mentally too fast.

I had a Minic set, wanted a Scalextric but parents went for the cheaper Minic

Not all was realistic speeds,0 though car chases between a RR Shadow and a Mk2 Jag complete with blues got very "dab of oppo". All spoilt when they could be out dragged by a Routemaster bus.

I had Minic as a kid. It integrated with OO railway track, they had various truck & train interchanges. Mine was the earlier grey track, later track was black. Minic stuff in good nick fetches big money. Unfortunately the bodies distort with time due to the plastic they were made with.

[matchmaker]

chris watton said:

I really shouldn't watch these programmes, so weak willed!

Since it started, or rather, since I started watching it, and even though I don't even have a track, let alone layout, I have bought a Hush Hush, Flying Scotsman, Dapol Manor Class with sound, Coronation Class, B12 Class, Terrier and a couple of Pecketts! Not to mention a set of Hattons Generic coaches and a rather stunning Rapido Dynamometer car! What is wrong with me!

In the past year. 2 Bachmann 47/7. 2 Bachmann 37. Heljan 27. Dapol 29. Hornby HST. Bachmann 158. Bachmann Crab. KRM Fell. All DCC sound fitted. I don't have a layout, but do have access to several, including a recent Railway Modeller "Railway of the month".

Fortunately, my wife loves Lego so she's easy to bribe!

[RichB]

chris watton said:

I really shouldn't watch these programmes, so weak willed!

Since it started, or rather, since I started watching it, and even though I don't even have a track, let alone layout, I have bought a Hush Hush, Flying Scotsman, Dapol Manor Class with sound, Coronation Class, B12 Class, Terrier and a couple of Pecketts! Not to mention a set of Hattons Generic coaches and a rather stunning Rapido Dynamometer car! What is wrong with me!

Good grief Chris, you're a push over!

[paulmakin]

i had matchbox motorway as well - not sure if it was an add-on or there were 2 different layouts but mine had a roundabout with a round building on it housing the power supply instead of the flyover. little switches on each entry allowed for track swapping .

[droopsnoot]

^ I think I remember seeing that version in a catalogue, now you've mentioned it.