Model Loco Ltd

[DayReturn]

I have a couple of kits from the long-gone Model Loco Ltd of Carlisle and am keen to find out more about the company and its modus operandi and some background to their catalogue and their relationship with DJH.  Searching for "Model Loco" on the web or even within RMWeb obviously puts one on a hiding to nothing!  So I thought the best way to discover more would be to open a forum topic on the subject.  I have eight DJH kits of which 4 are pro-constructed, 2 home-assembled and 2 not yet started, and I know that Model Loco Ltd distributed limited editions of DJH kits.  I have a pro-made Clan from them (one of my prize possessions) and just recently bought a 9F kit (unmade) via eBay.  As to be expected with DJH kits, the castings are excellent - crisply detailed and free of flash, mould-lines or pitting.

 

I would be interested to know what was the basis for Model Loco's 'exclusive' limited editions - was it simply a guaranteed run that they would retail independently of DJH, or are there any particular detailed variants they commissioned?  I don't think the latter is the case - the 9F kit has a BR1/1A/1G/1H tender, single and double chimneys and etched plates for 'Evening Star'.

 

 

[Steamport Southport]

I believe they commissioned about seven or eight kits from DJH that were limited editions of 600. I think quite a few of them were sold as professionally built models to order. The kits eventually went into the normal DJH range.

 

As well as the 9F and Clan, ISTR it also included the LMS Duchess, Armstrong Whitworth Black Five, a variant of the Britannia, Bulleid rebuilt WC and Bulleid rebuilt MN.

 

I think there was another one. Duke Of Gloucester maybe?

 

 

 

Jason

[Horsetan]

It wasn't just British outline that appeared under the "Model Loco" label. Back in the 1980s, there was also an extensive range of overseas HO loco kits under that brand too: French, German, South African, etc.

 

The German loco kits were of particular interest (I have a couple), since there was some collaboration with the (now long defunct) German firm of Merker & Fischer, using quite a few of their cast brass detail parts. Here's one that I picked up in recent months:

 

 

Sadly the German kits are all out of production now, but the French and South African kits are still available from DJH.

Edited September 1, 2017 by Horsetan

[Andy Hayter]

Sadly only some of the French range is still available.  I suspect as stocks have been sold, or as moulds have worn out that has been the end of an item.

[leopardml2341]

If anybody has a West Country kit that they'd like to do a direct swap for a Merchant Navy, I'd be pleased to hear from them.

 

I have an additional in 'wanted'......

[Mike at C&M]

Perhaps I can shed a little bit of light on this, having worked for DJH at the time.

 

"Model Loco Ltd." was simply a mail order company based in Carlisle which gave DJH the option to market limited runs of kits to give some exclusivity to the production runs. However in practise (and something that still regularly happens today with other companies), the production run for a limited edition run was more than for a normal run. Model Loco Ltd. runs were of 600 kits, 'normal' DJH kits often only saw a run of 200-300.

 

The day to day running was done by someone who was already employed in a different job, so relied on him having the time to run the company. I believe it was the lack of time to cover his Model Loco duties that saw their models come to a close.

 

The "Model Loco" kit of the German BR82 is nothing to do with the Carlisle-based company. In the early 1980s, DJH bought out the German-based company of Mercker & Fischer, and to avoid conflict with their M+F branding, the now unused "Model Loco" name was applied to the ex-M+F kits. This did not prove a success, and I believe that after I left DJH, much of this range was sold on, possibly to Weinert.

Edited September 1, 2017 by 87029

[Coppercap]

Perhaps I can shed a little bit of light on this, having worked for DJH at the time.

 

"Model Loco Ltd." was simply a mail order company based in Carlisle which gave DJH the option to market limited runs of kits to give some exclusivity to the production runs. However in practise (and something that still regularly happens today with other companies), the production run for a limited edition run was more than for a normal run. Model Loco Ltd. runs were of 600 kits, 'normal' DJH kits often only saw a run of 200-300.

 

The day to day running was done by someone who was already employed in a different job, so relied on him having the time to run the company. I believe it was the lack of time to cover his Model Loco duties that saw their models come to a close.

 

The "Model Loco" kit of the German BR82 is nothing to do with the Carlisle-based company. In the early 1980s, DJH bought out the German-based company of Mercker & Fischer, and to avoid conflict with their M+F branding, the now unused "Model Loco" name was applied to the ex-M+F kits. This did not prove a success, and I believe that after I left DJH, much of this range was sold on, possibly to Weinert.

 

Thanks for that info, which explains a lot for me. I bought a Duchess kit from Model Loco back in the early 1980s (they advertised in the Modeller). Expensive it was, too. I wanted something far better made and nicer to build than the K's and Wills fairly crude offerings then available, and this was about twice the price. On its arrival, as happens, I identified a few mis-cast and missing parts almost immediately, and exchange correspondence and received good replacement parts quite quickly. However, later on, and into the build, I found issues with some other parts, and there it stalled. I waited about 3 months for a reply, having sent repeat chasing letters (there was no phone number available). All was dealt with satisfactorily...eventually. Like about another month later! I vowed never to buy another Model Loco kit again, such was the 'customer service' I received after the initial good response. Little did I know at the time the relationship with DJH...

Lovely kit to build, shame about the lack of service from the company. 

Edited September 1, 2017 by Coppercap

[Horsetan]

...The "Model Loco" kit of the German BR82 is nothing to do with the Carlisle-based company. In the early 1980s, DJH bought out the German-based company of Mercker & Fischer, and to avoid conflict with their M+F branding, the now unused "Model Loco" name was applied to the ex-M+F kits. This did not prove a success, and I believe that after I left DJH, much of this range was sold on, possibly to Weinert.

Interesting. Apart from the Br82, I also have a couple of the Br03.10 conversion kits, and am still after the Saxon XX HV / Br19.0 if any are still out there.

 

Weinert also seem to have taken over some of the old Günther range.

[DayReturn]

Thanks very much for the info, especially 87029.  For better or worse, Coppercap, "Model Loco Ltd" is registered as dissolved, so you won't be able to buy another from them anyway.  It seems that DJH in some fashion absorbed the 'Model Loco' branding (although it is hardly original, and DJH's current website is titled "DJH Model Loco" on a website that sells ... model locos).  So, were the Model Loco Ltd kits already part of the DJH range or did ML commission DJH to produce them?  I assume the former.

[Coppercap]

Thanks very much for the info, especially 87029.  For better or worse, Coppercap, "Model Loco Ltd" is registered as dissolved, so you won't be able to buy another from them anyway.  It seems that DJH in some fashion absorbed the 'Model Loco' branding (although it is hardly original, and DJH's current website is titled "DJH Model Loco" on a website that sells ... model locos).  So, were the Model Loco Ltd kits already part of the DJH range or did ML commission DJH to produce them?  I assume the former.

Well it was over 30 years ago, so hardly surprising! I seem to recall that the adverts disappeared soon after I bought my kit... so I did twig there was something strange going on regarding the running of Model Loco.

[Mike at C&M]

Model Loco was effectively a subsiduary of DJH. They were not an independent company commissioning DJH to produce models for them.

 

When Model Loco stopped trading, the range was simply absorbed back into the DJH range.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

...in practise (and something that still regularly happens today with other companies), the production run for a limited edition run was more than for a normal run. Model Loco Ltd. runs were of 600 kits, 'normal' DJH kits often only saw a run of 200-300...

 Ah, the wonders of marketing.

[brigo]

As an aside,I remember DJH acquired the "foreign" colours from Rail Match and they promptly became unavailable. I presume DJH simply used them for their own products.

 

Brian

[ianLMS]

Apologies for ressurrecting this old topic, but i have just purchased the Model Loco Ltd Armstrong Whitworth Black 5 kit but it does not have instructions with it. Online searches didnt come up with anything and was wondering if anybody knows where i can get a copy. Also, i note the DJH link. Is this kit the same quality as DJH? Or on par with cheaper kits?

[cb900f]

Apologies for ressurrecting this old topic, but i have just purchased the Model Loco Ltd Armstrong Whitworth Black 5 kit but it does not have instructions with it. Online searches didnt come up with anything and was wondering if anybody knows where i can get a copy. Also, i note the DJH link. Is this kit the same quality as DJH? Or on par with cheaper kits?

Ian,

 

Owning 8 ML 5s and 1 DJH 5 , I consider the ML to be superior to the DJH kit especially with regards to lost wax castings as opposed to the DJH whitemetal offerings. I will root out a set of instructions and if you PM me with your address I will post a set on.

 

Pete

[JeffP]

The ones I had, (Clan, black 5), were at least the equal of DJH, and in some ways better.

They did share a common build, etched and whitemetal.