R1281M Hornby Red Rover Train Set Review

I’ve wanted to buy this set for a while and when it popped up for just £139.99 I jumped at the chance
It normally retail’s between £158.99 to £190 or there abouts
Come have a look at this set and see what you think

[@azuma892]

They should make a cheap Railroad quality Class 800 train set, like the 395 they did.

[@leokimvideo]

Hornby has been so slow in moving forward into modern trains they now have multiple generations of potential buyers finding a more up to date hobby to play with. I'm not surprised in any way Hornby's share price is going to $0. They seem to be unable to read the marketplace and supply sufficient stock lines. Just incredible the same old rubbish controller is used, very old design rolling stock and a siding that can't even hold the whole train. My God it's not rocket science to make things right.

[@sonontwo-he5ck]

Use to watch you when I was like 5 or something you started my train obsession thank you

[@Steves00gauge]

Jesus 1.3 million subscribers and you’re watching my pokey little channel. I’m honoured 😨😵 thank for being here

[@leokimvideo]

@@Steves00gauge And I never asked people to subscribe, anyway i had to walk from the site. It's impossible to get traction here now and the money has completely evaporated. Costs way more to make a video Vs the return. It never use to be like this. Sad how KZbin is geared now.

[@saxon6197]

This isn't the only set where the siding is too short. Not good enough hornby.

[@BritishRail60062]

Nice train set. Its ideal for newcomers as its more robust than the fine scale models. Its more forgiving when being handled.

[@Steves00gauge]

It’s a shame the container wagon is very flimsy and it will break quite easily but the rest of it is great and I agree with you. Anything that’s good for new comers I’m on board with 100%

[@eurovnik]

Great video. Converting the loco to to DCC was very easy once I got the body shell off. Interestingly although the moulding appears to be from the old Lima model, the mechanism has changed. Only one bogie is powered whereas the Lima design has a central motor with flywheel driving both bogies.

[@williamvanalen9414]

I totally agree about the artwork. I think sometimes the artwork on the box is better than the contents.

[@toucan221]

thanks for this review, its a long time since i had Hornby railway, at least I can see what things might be like for me, if I decide to start going for trains again. As you say there's a lot in the box and nicely packed too 😃😃

[@Steves00gauge]

My pleasure, hit the subscribe. I have 5 reviews for sets I’m yet to upload but will do soon when work quietens down

[@Thetrainbloke]

If I see that tanker in any other set (I’ve got like five) my head will self implode

[@Steves00gauge]

Don’t worry it wasn’t in the sets or train pack I bought yesterday. There was a tanker though

[@brucejohnston8510]

Nice one Steve nice looking train set cheers from Bruce.blenheim south island new Zealand

[@Steves00gauge]

Welcome along Bruce. The set still works great which is more than can be said for some other purchases. At the end of the year I’ll do a recap on items I have had through the year abs how they are doing but with a comedic balance 😅

[@danielpeter2507]

Thanks for the vid ! This is now on offer for £130 and includes a free anniversary locomotive and real Christmas tree

[@chuckmaddison2924]

They should give more track . Enough for a twin track loop and sidling or 2. Update, just had another look seems best option with track pack's B, C, D comes in at $ 640 for me plus table tennis table another $ 130. Must ask if you don't mind. I guess you from South Cymru.

[@AgenoriaModelTrains]

Personally I'd like to see a set with a Class 67 and 2 Mk3 coaches in Chiltern Railways Mainline livery. I remember seeing them idling in the sidings at Stourbridge Junction growing up. I'm glad this set has old school hornby D bar couplings and not those thin NEM couplings which are incompatible with older rolling stock.

[@Steves00gauge]

This loco and rolling stock would derail with NEM couplings on the small radius so I’m glad that the sets come with the old skool couplings as you say.

[@AgenoriaModelTrains]

@@Steves00gauge Where possible I replaced modern stock with old NEM couplings with Hornby D Bar couplings which I am able to run with my older locos. It might be worth trying if you ever have that issue.

[@Steves00gauge]

@@AgenoriaModelTrains great idea, I have Oxford rail wagons I love but they derail when reversing over the points into the sidings so maybe I can rectify this

[@AgenoriaModelTrains]

@@Steves00gauge On Hornby and Bachmann wagons it is an easy fix. But with Oxford Rail it's a bit tricky. Because Oxford Rail couplings have a slot, you can take the coupling out of the pocket connector and put the forks of larger replacement couplings through into the pocket and slot it back in to the coupling area. I realise I'm going to have to buy at least 3 packs of replacement couplings for all my locos and rolling stock and at £11.99 for a pack of 10 I think it will be worthy investment, to save me having to sell rolling stock for other rolling stock.

[@cdyvids22]

Thanks for the heads up on daisy, I loved the train set review though, but it shows I'm gonna need to modify daisy to run on them points, speaking of, will you review the uk bachmann edward, nobody I've seen has looked at it, and the uk ones are different

[@Steves00gauge]

Hey buddy. I have both Edwards. Hornby and bachmann but I’ll check which one I bought as it was recent so it may be the uk version. I’ve got so many items I just need to get around to them now

[@theoneishere369]

Ive found weighing some of the carriages down that derail helps

[@Steves00gauge]

It does help but I find I have to do it for so many sets it’s a pain. If every wagon was light and detailing in each set that would be one thing but some are fine and some aren’t so gets quite annoying. I buy lots of sets because I need to see a therapist 😂😂 I’m a glutton for pain at this point And don’t get my started on plastic wheels Thank you for the tip though I appreciate it sir

[@theoneishere369]

@Steves00gauge nah thanks for ur channel great advice and tips I'm pretty new to this after a mad life no one exceed me to do this sort of stuff lol. But I enjoy making stuff etc I learnt by accident about the weight.

[@alexdrennan7654]

Thank you for the lowdown for review , i am thinking about this set as i am getting back into the hobby , after many years and at the moment looking at getting the rolling stock while its around . would loved to have seen the track mat as they are a good basis for a layout that's what i am looking at as the use of trains and rolling stock that i have kept , yes i have bought new rolling sock but that will enhance the railway. Interesting bits about the rolling stock being light from when i had a triang set back in the early 70s the two container wagons were very light with plastic wheels and the set had three 20ft freightliner containers and yes it was light plastic wheels . on the 67 does the centre light work or not ? , and by the way it looks a great model . The nickel track is loads better than th old steel track but you can use both togeather

[@Steves00gauge]

If you are anywhere near South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 I have a brand new trackMatt you can have. Long shot I know

[@Lee.Willcox]

I had a wonderful train set as a kid in the late 70's and very early 80's. Many engines, tack galore with varying radius curves so I could run multiple trains. I would get it all out, put it together on the floor, play with it all for hours and pack it neatly away. My grandson loves trains so I thought I would buy him a starter set for his birthday. NO WAY ! HOW MUCH ? Hornby, what has happened ? You were the go to for train sets, but now you are completely unaffordable especially when it's a gift for an 8 year old. It is hurting me, I really wanted to get him a train set. The Hornby Web Site is poor too. There is no detailed explanation of what you actually get when you feel like making a bank breaking purchase of a set. Perhaps I am not looking at it very well but I don't see a break down of the components, track, trains, cartridges and the like. Perhaps someone could help and advise me, I really want to get my little lad a train set. I know how much he would love it.

[@Lee.Willcox]

Wait, I just bloody remembered. I have my father 21st birthday present my mother got him. The damn Midland Railway set. No controller. I kept it after he passed away. WHY DID I FORGET THAT ? I am an old fart now. I will got see if I can find it in the attic somewhere and see if I can get a controller. Track, train and cartridges are in the battered box. It's a lovely red steam train. No need to help me, I have it sorted. WOW, I can't believe I forgot about that. Jumping with joy !

[@Steves00gauge]

You are correct. I’ve made many videos and many cover this topic People sat “buy used” and they have a point BUT if nobody buys new there’s less used so those premiums go up as well. I’m going to try and do a Xmas giveaway if I can to help just one person get some items

[@Lee.Willcox]

@@Steves00gauge I sold so much stuff on ebay some 15 years ago not thinking one day I would be a grandad. Silly me. I am kicking myself. I had so much. Mallard, Flying Scotsman, the old Green GWR common engine. A Deltic and a ton of track with four controllers. Long Hornby platforms and ticket offices. Signal box, level crossing. Foot bridges, a bloody turntable with the motor. Engine sheds, cars, people, fences, trees, tunnels and so much more. What an IDIOT ! Silly me. Never mind eh 🤦‍♂ Thanks for the reply and I understand why the second hand market is pretty much non-existent now. Such a shame Hornby. Going to check out some more of your videos and make sure I have subscribed. Thank you.

[@Steves00gauge]

@LW.fishies.frogies.kitties i really hope you come across a bargain or something to get you back into it with your grandson. It’s crazy, even when I started nearly 5 years ago you could get a starter set at £45 but things have escalated quickly. N gauge is now in many cases a better starter option when it used to be way more to purchase than 00 gauge. I have some n gauge sets on here too I believe

[@Lee.Willcox]

@@Steves00gauge I have been looking into N Gauge because you can have more with less space. I love making models too. I made a cat door in my garden gate that is somewhat Prison Like (Porridge) if you know what I mean. Thanks, I will keep looking and thanks for the advice !

[@Steves00gauge]

Rendering up to 4k, will be a while

[@DOCTORDROTT]

Hope the 67 is better than the real one, I worked on the real thing and its rubbish

[@penjjd_0459]

can you put the AWM or herpa container tank and container van 20 to 40ft on him? thank you

[@welshknight1456]

I've bought this set and noticed that one of the engine bogies is really loose, like it's just hanging on the wires Is this normal

[@Steves00gauge]

That shouldn’t be normal at all, get it sent back. The only issue I’ve noticed since my review is it’s seemingly got a bit noisier

[@jasonlee3247]

Has been £119.99 on Amazon recently (after I bought at £139.99 ffs)

[@Steves00gauge]

I know 😂 it’s been that price a few places now the last month. £119.99 is a great deal as all in all its a good set just not £189 good. I’m ok with £139.99 but £119.99 I would of been much happier with 😅

[@Ben_Horne]

I only just noticed that the Santa Express set I bought my son didn’t come with the track mat.

[@Steves00gauge]

Send me an email with your address and if I find one I’ll send it over to you I should have plenty

[@_RandomPea]

Sorry but that set is not worth more than £100 imo... I think we are far to tolerant of the silly prices, its nice that lights were included, considering its 2023 you'd expect basics like that of course but its nice they have done it 😂

[@Steves00gauge]

Just wait until you see my bachmann review coming next week. Circle of track, no straights, no points £190 I bought it so people don’t have too 🫣🤮🤮🤣🤣

[@_RandomPea]

@@Steves00gauge omg that's just silly pricing. It's all cus the manufacturers are trying to ekk out as much as they can from the older generation of modellers who have long since paid off mortgages etc. It's such a shame really, it's so short sighted but on an excel spreadsheet somewhere the maths adds up and that's clearly why they think it's ok. Guaranteed that retailers will have to offer offers on tt120 soon, Hornby really fluffed their lines on that

[@Ely666]

Plastic wheels on the wagons, I thought Hornby had moved on form cheep wheels, even in train sets. Lack of ladder and transfers on the tanker that also come in other train sets, again poor do. Hope the loco is better for you.

[@Steves00gauge]

Plastic wheels are common it seems in some of these sets. £139 isn’t so bad and I’m pretty happy with it at this price point but it’s RRP at £170-£190 wouldn’t be great to be fair

[@shanecollier7952]

I have this set. I like it. The only gripe was I had to take off one of the lower skirt/shields that was half fitted from new as trying to fit them was very tricky. The pins break so easily too, plus the skirts/shields were catching on the points and track too when in motion..but I shall keep it and carry on. Alls not lost.