Jouef HDI Made in Ireland

Nearly 30 years ago,Le Jouet Français (Jouef) set up a small factory on an IDA industrial estate near Shannon,Co.Clare.The Jouef Irish end was called Hobby Developments Ireland (HDI),which started production in 1978.This was to cater for the expanding Jouef ooGauge (4mm) range on the Irish and UK markets.A colour Catalogue was produced and a set was demonstrated on Gay Byrnes Late Late Show that Christmas. The models however were not received well;they were expensive, of poor quality and none were prototypical of anything on CIE or BR, some models being relaunched just 6 months after origional release.Less than 18 months and thousands of pounds later, the company collapsed. Its believed some stock remains buried on site. A couple of years later, Jouef itself went bankrupt and was bought over by Lima, unfortunately Lima in 2004 also ceased manufacturing. Sadly, not much is heard about Jouef in Ireland nowadays but below is a reproduction of an article by Bill Thursfield in the March 1999 edition of the SNCF Society journal.

A small group has been set up to record/display the HDI models in Ireland, please contact

jouefhdi@hotmail.com

A short video of a HDI train in action!Press PLAY to view.

A short video of a HDI train in action!Press PLAY to view.

Any Jouef HDI you have for Sale, Swapping or Parts ???       EMAIL US FIRST !!!

Please e-mail jouefhdi@hotmail.com

or any stories, photos or information you may have on the Jouef HDI in Ireland.

Jouef HDI CIE Set. (Note 220 volt)

Note Made in Ireland on all the boxs

Note the CIE logo on the loco is moulded and not sprayed on like the coaches.

Possibly the rarest Irish RTR Model?

A trio of the mega scarce Jouef HDI CIE Shunters.

Any Jouef HDI you have for Sale, Swapping or Parts ???       EMAIL US FIRST !!!

Please e-mail jouefhdi@hotmail.com

or any stories, photos or information you may have on the Jouef HDI in Ireland.

3 CIE coach variants were produced. The top coach is obviously different to the other two in that the coach ends are orange (black on the other two) and the narrow white roof stripe. The middle and bottom coaches is a little harder to spot the difference, the main ones being the cut out under the door on the bottom coach and the shades of Orange used.

Proof all were Made in Ireland!

This is the only HDI branded wagon that was produced. Photo Courtesy of Dave Coxon

A Full Jouef HDI CIE layout

Note the coach ends and white strip on the early coach (left)and a later model (right)

The loco on the left is pre 1978 French Jouef and both on the right are 1980 Irish HDI

Courtesy of Dave Bracken

Preproduction B-B V220/1

This was HDIs first attempt at a BR Loco

This was HDIs first attempt at a BR coach.

Courtesy William Coert

Jouef better attempt at a BR locomotive, which was much more prototypical.                                                                                                                                                                                        Note; this is the assembled in Ireland version from French supplied parts, in a Made in Ireland box.

Jouef better attempt at a BR coach.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Again,this is the assembled in Ireland Version of the Made in France coach,sold in a Made in Ireland box!

Courtesy Martin Hoey

Any Jouef HDI you have for Sale, Swapping or Parts ???       EMAIL US FIRST !!!

Please e-mail jouefhdi@hotmail.com

or any stories, photos or information you may have on the Jouef HDI in Ireland.