Category: News & Announcements

We’re delighted to announce that the first batch of motor upgrade adaptors for Hornby ringfield motors is now available.

It’s taken a huge amount of time, effort and testing to arrive at a product that works well and is as simple to use as possible, but we got there…

There are three kits in the Hornby-compatible adaptor family:

• • HA2 (6V) and and HA6 (12V) options for Bo-Bo models, and
  • HA1 (6V) kit for Co-Co and Tender Drive steam models.

Each kit comes with a two-part adaptor, a replacement motor, two pinion gears (one spare), a motor insulator, some clips and a length of heat shrink tubing. You’ll need some tools, but those are all the core components required.

There’s also a detailed, step-by-step instructions booklet, which can be downloaded from our website, and a tutorial video will be published in the not too distant future. I listened to feedback from my Lima kits, so these new instructions are much lighter on text and full of photos.

How do they work?

The adaptors have been developed to avoid the need to drill out the bogie and in most cases require no permanent bogie alterations (although the old brass bushing may still need to be popped out)…that means the upgrade is normally reversible and you can replace the ringfield motor in the future, should you wish.

In fact, for the majority of Hornby ringfield variants, the installation process is all-but plug ‘n’ play – you just insert the adaptor, then the motor, attach the gear, clip it all into place, wire it up and you’re done…it’s far simpler and more straightforward than the hot glue-based methods described in most model railway forums.

And if you have a Co-Co or tender drive model, the adaptor solves the age old problem of how to reattach the central wheel. There’s a hole in the adaptor for the small axle, meaning the wheel can be easily replaced and remain fully functional.

Check out our step-by-step installation video

How much do they cost?

The price of a kit is £15.50 each*, irrespective of the motor voltage. UK postage is still £2.99* irrespective of the number of kits purchased.

The price of the Hornby kits is a little higher than their Lima cousins, for two main reasons: firstly, there are more components in them, and secondly, the adaptors take longer to make and require extra manual work to finish off.

*Correct at time of article publication.