david.hill64 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) This morning's mail brought a pleasant surprise - an invoice from the etching company. Now the invoice itself wasn't a surprise, nor in itself is getting an invoice ever pleasant! The pleasant surprise was that the prices had gone up by only 6% whereas whitemetal has gone up by 15% and brass castings by 10%. We have decided that the typical price increase for the kits will be about 5% (a little more for kits with a high content of brass castings - mostly the ex-Fourtrack range). The new prices will apply from 1 November. Meanwhile we will accept reservations (with a small deposit) on any kit in the range to be supplied at the current price whether or not it is in stock at present. Additionally we will not charge P&P where payment is made by cheque, cash or bank transfer. If we receive a reservation for a kit that is currently out of stock, it will be supplied within 3 months). We know that nobody likes to pay more and would have liked to have held prices at least until the end of the year. We hope customers will understand that we have done our best to keep the rise to as little as possible. Dave and Trisha Edited October 19, 2016 by david.hill64 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 An update on production. We will be putting together a limited number of kits next week, but the main assembly will be done in time for the Reading Trade show in December. In addition to the current range it is planned that we will have the following kits available that are presently out of stock. Duchesses: both non-streamlined and de-streamlined/utility front. The de-streamlined comes with the destreamlined tender as standard but we can supply the non-streamlined (welded or rivetted) tender on request. Rebuilt Royal Scot Stanier Mogul LNWR SDX LNWR Coal Tank LMS 8F LNER O4 LNER O4/7 LNER Q6 LNER L1 LNER K2/2 SR H2 LNWR 6w coaches Additionally we are about to order parts for the following. These should be available year end or early 2017. LMS Rebuilt Patriot LNWR Prince of Wales (original and Belpaire) LNWR Experiment (original and Belpaire) LNWR 19" goods (original and Belpaire) LNER K1 LNER B16/1 LNER D9 LNER Director (D10, D11) LNER J11 LNER D17/1-2 LNER N8/N9 LNER G6 So plenty in the pipeline with an aspiration that the full range will be back in stock by Telford next year. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 A big 'Thank You' to all who came to say 'Hello' at Bristol. Looking back at the last post shows that we were not able to get everything in production by the end of last year that we had hoped. We have managed to add stocks of these models to the range: LNER O4 LNER O4/7 LMS 8F (Stanier tender variants) LNWR SDX We had one Stanier mogul but that sold immediately: another one will be available by Kettering. We have restocked the following: LNWR Coal Tank LNER L1 SR King Arthurs LNER Q6 We ran into a problem with the K2/2 and B16/1 as some of the lost wax moulds were lost. However, we have the casting masters and new moulds are being produced now. We have a bigger problem with the N8/9. The photo etching tools for these have gone to the same place that 14BA nuts go when dropped on the floor: some parallel universe perhaps never to be seen again. If anyone has an unmade N8 kit perhaps you would be kind enough to get in touch. I am confident that the following out of stock items will be in stock for Kettering: 'New' releases (those not produced since we acquired the range a year ago): LNER B16/1 LNER C4 LNER D17 LNER D9 LNER F1 LNER G5 LNER G6 LNER J3 LNER J6 LNER J11 LNER K2/2 Plus the following 'Re-releases': LMS Non-streamlined Duchess LMS Rebuilt Scot LMS Rebuilt Patriot LMS Stanier Mogul LNER K1 SR H2 We are then planning to reintroduce the Great Central Locos in time for Doncaster, but as always if you want something in the range that is currently out of stock, please let us know and we will advance its reintroduction. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 It seems that my confidence in the kits available for Kettering was slightly misplaced: although we did manage most of the restocking the following kits that we had hoped to have ready are delayed until Reading and Doncaster: LNER D9 LNER F1 LNER J3 LNER K1 LNER N4/5 LMS Rebuilt Scot and LMS Rebuilt Patriot We sold out of the LNER G6 but will restock for the Reading Show. For Doncaster we hope also to have the following available: LNER B1 LNER B2 LNER B4 LNER B7 LNER C13 LNER D10/11 LNER J21 LNER J25 GCR 11B SR H1 early SR S15 SR Schools This is a bit of a push but we will do our best. The first 'new' kit will be available by Telford. This is an ex-LBSCR ballast wagon. Other projects are in hand: watch this space! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 We managed to get stocks of the following kits for the Reading ALSRM show and they are now available through the website: LNER D9 LNER D10 LNER F1 LNER J11 LNER K1 LNER N4/5 LMS rebuilt Patriot LMS rebuilt Royal Scot The revised list for Doncaster includes the following additional kits: LNER B1 LNER B2 LNER B4 LNER B7 LNER C13 LNER J21 LNER J25 GCR 11B SR H1 (Early) SR H2 SR King Arthurs (various) SR Schools I have to say that I cannot imagine being successful in completing this list in time, so as always will be grateful to receive requests ahead of the show so that I can prioritise things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 An update on progress with restocking. We managed to get the following restocked in time for Doncaster. It has some resemblance to the planned list! LNWR SDX LNER B1 LNER B16/1 LNER C13 LNER S1 SR H1 (early) SR H2 SR S15 (since sold out) We would have had the LNER J21 and J25 ready, but Mr Stupid (me) forgot to order the chassis etches so these will be ready for Telford. The LNER (ex GCR) locos may be ready in July: B2, B4, B7, B8 as may the destreamlined Duchess and SR Schools kits. We had a good day at the Doncaster show. We sold out of the non-streamlined Duchess and L1 kits and will restock these and for Telford. We also plan to add the LNER C4, LMS Princess and Austin 7 kits, plus some LNWR designs if time permits. High up the list for production is the now out of stock L1 kit so that others can replicate PAD's excellent work! We will also be introducing a new wagon kit: the LBSCR ballast wagon. We are hoping to to have the LNER O4/5 and O4/8 designs available early next year. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 The following kits are now in stock: LNER B2 LNER B4 LNER B7 LNER C4 LNER J3 We have just sold out of D10/11, D17/1 and U1 kits but will restock as soon as possible. We have sold out of the Stanier/Lemon 0-4-4 and will restock early next year. We have decided to delay the re-introduction of the Duchess locos until we have procured replacement fireboxes. We are quite confident that the following out of stock items will be ready for Telford: LNER L1 LNER J21 LNER J25 LNER Q6 LMS Austin 7 LMS Prince of Wales LMS Princess LMS British Legion SR Schools We hope also to have the GCR 11B available. This is pending delivery of some castings. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonmarshall Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 Hi David Very pleased to see the Gladiator range still being developed and offered. Quick question for you - are there any plans to offer some of the coach kits? In particular I am interested in the Super Saloons in pre-facelift / kitchen style and would buy 3-5 of them. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted August 2, 2017 Author Share Posted August 2, 2017 Hi David Very pleased to see the Gladiator range still being developed and offered. Quick question for you - are there any plans to offer some of the coach kits? In particular I am interested in the Super Saloons in pre-facelift / kitchen style and would buy 3-5 of them. Thanks Hi! Coaches have been down the pecking order but we have the etches in stock for many of the LNWR types. These will be passed on to a builder at Telford so that new instructions can be prepared. One thing that has been slowing down the coach production is finding a supplier who can stamp out parts we need for the corridor connections. We haven't found one yet but will keep trying. As soon as we have this we will do a batch of Super Saloons and Centenary Stock. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 We are having problems with the website today. The hosting company is aware and trying to resolve the issue. There has been some delay in the production of etches and lost wax castings so there are now some doubts about which kits will be in stock for Telford. We are pressing our suppliers to get whatever they can to us. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 Pleased to say that the website is back up again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 A big 'Thank you' to all who came and said 'Hello' to us at Telford this year. We managed to get most of the planned stock available but failed to prepare the Prince of Wales and British Legion kits. We did manage to restock the D17/1. Getting the coaches packed also eluded me, but they are moving up the priority list. On a brighter note the missing artwork required to complete the N8/9 kits has been found and these will be available next year. We have also made progress with the production of a modified Duchess firebox which will also be available in the new year. Meanwhile it is probable that we have been able to source a limited number of some alternate high quality boiler/firebox castings to enable reintroduction of the Duchess kits later this year. Watch this space! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted December 3, 2017 Author Share Posted December 3, 2017 Thanks to everyone who came and said ‘Hi’ at Reading yesterday. We have made good progress in building stock. The recent production of U1 and J11 sold out so we will restock. Various missing artwork for etches turned up so we were able to produce the N8/9 and will be able to do the LNWR locos with Whale tenders. We expect that the whole range will be available by Kettering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 The revised Duchess firebox 3D print has been measured up and appears to be sufficiently accurate to form the basis for the revised production item. I now need to detail it with washout plugs and clothing rivets before it is used as the master for the next batch of resin castings. We will be replacing some of the whitemetal castings on Stanier locos - particularly cab fittings - with lost wax brass castings. Inevitably this will result in a small increase in price but with a significant quality improvement. We are pleased to announce that we have concluded an agency arrangement with the supplier of the Javelin range of kits to sell them through the Gladiator website. The first kits - the excellent Black 5 models - are now available. These include the short firebox, long firebox and long wheelbase variants. We hope that the other kits may be forthcoming. We are now starting to assemble the LNWR carriage kits. There have been some minor issues with sourcing parts but these have been resolved and we expect that many of the kits will be available in the spring. The 6 wheelers will be available in January. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold k22009 Posted January 16, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2018 Hi David Firstly Happy New Year to you and Mrs Gladiator. Do you have any news on how the resin firebox for the Duchess is progressing please? Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Hi David Firstly Happy New Year to you and Mrs Gladiator. Do you have any news on how the resin firebox for the Duchess is progressing please? Dave Sorry for the delayed response. The new resin firebox master is complete. I had taken it to the Bristol show to be picked up for production, but sickness prevented it being picked up. It will now go at the end of the month. I flew out straight out after the Bristol show (indeed I had to leave Mrs Gladiator in charge for the last hour) and took it with me as I didn't want to post it. The new box is dimensionally correct and the detailing promises to be a little better (smaller rivets for the clothing) but until I see the first production samples I will not know for sure. David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted February 23, 2018 Author Share Posted February 23, 2018 Apologies to all, but the situation with JLTRT has a knock-on effect to us. JLTRT was producing the Whale tender bodies for the LNWR Experiment and 19" Goods locos that are otherwise complete and packed. There will now be a delay in production while alternative suppliers are sourced. Similarly JLTRT was going to produce the replacement Duchess firebox, so an additional delay is inevitable. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 Apologies but Trisha and I have decided that we cannot attend the Gauge 0 Guild show in Kettering today. We cannot get the car out of our street. On a brighter note, we have an alternate supplier for the Whale tender bodies and Duchess Firebox and expect these to be ready by the end of May. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted May 2, 2018 Author Share Posted May 2, 2018 Just a quick not to advise that we will not be able to process any orders for a couple of weeks from today. Normal service will resume in two weeks! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted May 24, 2018 Author Share Posted May 24, 2018 We will be attending the Doncaster Guild show: please say hello! Regretfully I have just been told the production of the Duchess fireboxes and Whale tenders is delayed. These may not be available until end July. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 Happy to report that the resin castings for the Whale tenders have arrived, so the LNWR Experiment and 19" Goods locos are back in stock. The test builds of the Belpaire firebox versions of the Prince of Wales, Experiment and 19" Goods locos will be underway soon as will the builds of the LNWR 50' carriages. We now have nearly every loco type in stock and fully expect to have the full range in stock for the Guild Show at Telford. (Excluding the above mentioned Belpaire locos). The revised Duchess fireboxes have been received. There will be some minor modifications to these pre-production versions before moving to full production. We are now also stocking 10BA tapped crankpin bushes.These are of two types: one with a circular flange and the other with an 8BA hexagonal head. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted September 7, 2018 Author Share Posted September 7, 2018 Thanks to all who came and said hello at Guildex. We regret that rising input costs have resulted in price increases of about 3% across the range. This is the first increase since November 2016. The test builds of the LNWR belpaire boilered locomotives and the LNWR 50' arc roof carriages are progressing as planned. Work still continues on the replacement Duchess firebox, though kits with a resin boiler/firebox are in stock. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 The test build of the LNWR Belpaire locos has revealed some issues so introduction will be delayed while the etches are re-drawn. Our next show will be the Guildford Gauge 0 group event at Reading on 1 December. As we now have almost all of the range back in stock, and only limited space in the car we can bring only one of each stock item with us. If anyone wishes to pre-order any item please let us know so that we can ensure that we have it with us. Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 The replacement fireboxes for the Duchess locos are now in final production and will be available to exchange for an original soon. Watch this space! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted November 14, 2018 Author Share Posted November 14, 2018 Test builds of the LNWR 50' arc roof carriages have gone well and these will be on display at Reading We have updated the website to include the threaded crankpin bushes and the GNR and NER loco buffers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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