Hornby announces its latest release, while Corgi announces the latest winners of the Design Your Own Corgi Toys Truck competition.
Hornby Hobbies is taking hobby craft to a new level with the release of e-Link and RailMaster.
Hornby’s new e-Link interphase allows a model railway layout to be controlled by computer with additional control via iPad, iPod or Android devices. This latest technology adds a new control dimension to railway modelling that will appeal to a new and younger generation of model railway enthusiasts.
The launch of the e-Link and RailMaster combo follows the release of the Western Master train set earlier this year.
RailMaster is designed to be straightforward to use for both experienced and novice hobby enthusiasts. With the software installed, users can quickly programme locomotives and design their matrix-style track layouts with ease.
The computer system, e-Link, can operate up to 9,999 locomotives and in excess of 2,500 points or accessories at any one time.
Simon Kohler, marketing manager for Hornby, said: “We need to have products that will attract and interest young families in this wonderful pastime that we call railway modelling. Young and old see the excitement in today’s amazing developments in model railways and they quickly understand what a great family pastime it is. Model railways are both fun and creative for all and the e-Link just adds that little bit of technical ingenuity to makes controlling a layout intuitive and straightforward. As always this development underlines Hornby’s passion for taking the simple train set and providing the necessary equipment so that given time and patience it can develop into a hobby which will last a lifetime.”
The e-Link is available as a combo pack consisting of e-Link, RailMaster, 1amp transformer and USB leads. For beginners, the Western Master comes complete with track, twin trains and the e-Link Combo. A series of RailMaster instruction DVDs will be available soon.
Corgi has also announced the latest winners of the Design Your Own Corgi Toys Truck competition.
Four hand-decorated models arrived at Hornby headquarters in Margate last week and will soon be heading off to the four competition winners who created the quirky designs. The winners were Findlay Smith, five, from Aberdeenshire, Ashley Chadwick, six, from Lancashire, Samuel Ayriss, 16, from Suffolk and Olivia Gleed, eight, from Cuxton.
Bobby Hutchinson, 10, from York, was the first competition winner in May and has already received a model featuring his winning design.
In May this year Corgi launched a competition in conjunction with Ye Olde Oak hot dogs. This is the second Hornby-owned brand to work with Ye Olde Oak after a successful promotion in 2012 with Scalextric. The latest campaign offered entrants the chance to design their own Corgi Toys Truck, with one winner being picked each month between May and September.
Each winning design has been transformed into a real-life Corgi Toy.
Martyn Weaver, Corgi marketing manager, said: “From two-dimensional hand-drawn designs, converted to three-dimensional actual models, it has been great to see these winning designs come to life as Corgi Toys. The Corgi Team will be sad to see these exclusive one-off Corgi Toys leave, but we are sure that the winning designers will give their models a lovely home.”
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