DJModels End of Year report 2017

[DJM Dave]

Hello everybody. I hope you have all had a fantastic Christmas and will have an equally great New Years.

 

In continuing with tradition, here is my end of year report to keep you ‘in the loop’ as much as possible with things going on at DJM towers over the last 12 months and hopefully a glimpse into what the next 12 months hold.

 

As a lot of you will know, I have been out a lot more this past year at shows or with presentations, and sometimes both at once.

Attendances at Fareham, Spennymoor, Perth, Crewe and Warley to name but a few, have been well received by the modelling public and I shall carry on in the same vein this year, with the forthcoming Safford show in Early Feb.

 

Warley was very busy for me as it was my first time there for 5 years, and I think the APT announcement at the show plus the 92 and HUO 3D printed models pushed things on a bit for me as well.

 

It was great to meet everyone and I’m sorry if I didn’t get a chance to chat to you, but as you could see, there were 5 deep in front of the stand at times, and I hope to rectify some of that by extending my stand to double the length for 2018’s Warley.

 

It was great to meet old acquaintances like Graham Hubbard and Simon Kohler again, and it was just like the ‘old days’ again, chin wagging and reminiscing.

I even got a pathetically clumsy attempt by another company to tap me for information regarding new products (I hope the photo came out well, lol)!

 

So to the year almost passed. Well, like the previous year it’s been a bit of a struggle, but things are turning round slowly (I wont give the ‘oil tanker’ analogy, but you get what I mean), and the very smart money is starting to look away from China in earnest due to rising costs and changes , albeit subtle ones, in their terms and conditions out there. Putting a sticking plaster over a problem is short termism in the extreme and as such I fully accept that China will, in fact sooner than later, have priced themselves out of the model railway business. Places looked at recently have included Taiwan, Korea, India, Hungary and Romania. I have even looked at a possibility of bringing full production back to the UK, and this is still ongoing, and talks are continuing with local governments to see if any funding is available to start here from scratch.

 

As for DJM projects, the 14xx for Hattons was fully delivered, as was a second batch of DJM J94’s, plus some class 71’s for clients. The gate stock came in for Kernow a month or so back, with the 1361 in transit, and the D600 to follow once it has been approved.

 

My first wagon, the N gauge mermaid was a huge success in black, but strangely I still have a few Dutch ones left, and I wonder if the market has moved on from ‘Dutch’ livery for the time being, as I only had 1000 of them made?

 

The crowdfunding initiatives have moved on, and I intend to start tooling for the 92 in OO and N gauge and the N gauge King in mid-march after having invoiced customers at the end of January for these models. I still have 2 more contracts to sign for ‘new items’ which will as I have alluded to on RMweb, surprise a lot of people.

 

The Shark Plough Van is in the tool room for revised bodyside handrail positions and planking gaps and should be with me within a month.

J94 (3^rd batch) are undergoing artwork creation, and there might be an announcement regarding more special editions using this model within a few months.

Stobart Rail N gauge class 92 will be added to the DJM expressions of interest page this coming few days along with ‘Tops’ HUO wagons in both gauges. There will also be an announcement regarding the OO gauge Stobart Rail class 92 as well.

 

The N gauge class 17 is awaiting 2^nd ep tooling and financing (I do wonder if I should have crowdfunded the missing funds to deliver it quicker?)

The class 74 is in final cad/cam design and will be shown on the DJM website and RMweb, plus released to magazines at the same time, and I hope this is an ‘any day’ thing now.

 

APT. This was the surprise announcement at Warley, where I have been commissioned to produce (Crowdfunding permitting) the OO and N gauge by Durham Trains of Stanley. This ‘fully loaded’ model is available in quite a few versions form 5 car test to the full 14 car passenger train.

 

Whilst not cheap, it is seen as a 1 hit model as it is doubtful there will be a market after initial production to produce more models, and as such needs to cover its costs immediately. Having said that, it is fully featured with DCC, DCC sound (2 working power cars where necessary) directional lighting, carriage lighting, tilt, close coupling, through pick-ups, correct painted interior details etc.

 

The design for the tilt mechanism is undergoing testing at the Chinese factory already, as is the multi pin through connector design. So things are moving one nicely. If you have yet to place an order, I would urge you to do so soon (remember the cost for the train will be spread over 4 payments), so as not to miss out on what will be part of UK model railway history.

 

Crowdfunding of these models is well underway, and you can sign up via the Durham Trains of Stanley website. http://durhamtrainsofstanley.co.uk/my_store/

 

With more to come this year, and the delivery of some long awaited items, this should free up a lot of finance to help push the outstanding models (class 23, Q6, J94 etc in N, and the Hudswell Clarke etc in OO), however, there is always a slip between cup and lip, so no guarantees.

 

I’ll sign off now with a repeat of my opener… please have a fantastic New Years, and I wish you and whoever you love, a healthy, fun and great 2018.

 

Cheers

Dave

DJModels Ltd

[GreenGiraffe22]

Ooo hoping a J94 in 1943/4 WD condition is on the cards =)

[Littlethorpe]

Mermaids in Indian Red & black-liveried BR versions please.

[Thebigshot]

Hi Guys

 

All the best to one and all

 

Thanks

Alan

[Roy L S]

Mermaids in Indian Red & black-liveried BR versions please.

 

Agreed, or at least Indian Red and Olive - we've had the black ones! 

 

Personally I'm disappointed for Dave but not surprised that the "Dutch" ones haven't sold through as well as the black ones did.

 

I'm not trying to court controversy by saying this but the period they represent wasn't actually that long in duration and I suspect the number of people modelling that period, while a very vociferous group are by comparison to the transition period a mere fraction the number.

 

Roy

[davec.hh]

Any chance of a 7mm Austerity in the near future?

 

DaveC

[Bomag]

 

Personally I'm disappointed for Dave but not surprised that the "Dutch" ones haven't sold through as well as the black ones did.

 

I'm not trying to court controversy by saying this but the period they represent wasn't actually that long in duration and I suspect the number of people modelling that period, while a very vociferous group are by comparison to the transition period a mere fraction the number.

 

Roy

 

Or it could be that the sensible people who prefer to represent the 1980's would like to buy, to a greater degree, from a physical shop rather than a box shifter (the lack of shops selling them is not really DJM's fault). Also the black ones came out in the summer and there was limited competetion for spending, if you are buing a dutch mermaid then you need to get a class 40 as well!

[DLPG]

Thanks for attending the Spennymoor show this year. The HUO announcement was well received and look forward to the final product. All the best for 2018

[Littlethorpe]

Agreed, or at least Indian Red and Olive - we've had the black ones! 

 

Personally I'm disappointed for Dave but not surprised that the "Dutch" ones haven't sold through as well as the black ones did.

 

I'm not trying to court controversy by saying this but the period they represent wasn't actually that long in duration and I suspect the number of people modelling that period, while a very vociferous group are by comparison to the transition period a mere fraction the number.

 

Roy

 

The Black ones were the GWR version. I have all 4 of these but would also like Black with BR Numbering.

[GWR8700]

Thanks for the update, interesting stuff in regards to moving from China.  It was nice to speak to you at Warley where I picked up a bargain ex-LSWR 02.  I look forward to my pre-order of a 1361 in the coming months!

 

Have a Happy New Year and a great 2018!

[Hippo]

 

J94 (3^rd batch) are undergoing artwork creation, and there might be an announcement regarding more special editions using this model within a few months.

 

Oh no. I already 4 on pre-order...

 

happy new year Dave.

 

Good luck with 2018.

 

Owen

[Chamby]

Many thanks for the update. I would particularly encourage you with regard to shifting production to the UK, and would be happy to pay a bit of a premium to support such a move.

 

Phil

[eagle50043]

looking forward to new 'surprise' announcements, and the progress of class 92

[David Stannard]

I'm looking forward to any GWR release that you might be doing in the future, hopefully it will be another small locomotive such as the 850 or 2021 Pannier Tanks or perhaps a Metro Tank, I have purchased one of your 58xx locomotives and will have to say it's one of the most delightful locomotives that I have ever owned with it's smooth running and exceptional detail, especially when I compare it to my old Hornby 14xx it's worlds apart.

[Phill Dyson (onslaught832)]

Is 7mm still on the agenda?

[Great Western]

There seems to be a prevailing theme of "I'll build it if you pay for it" coming through.

 

A way to clear the over optimistic initial release announcements seems to be crowdfunding (again), you need to decide whether your a producer like Bachman and Hornby or a middle man producer via third party commission or indeed crowdfunding ?

 

Also why do you feel the need in official communications to pick at other manufacturers? Not very professional, it's also a huge turn off for potential customers.

[tomparryharry]

Happy new year!

 

For heavens sake, give the bloke a break!

 

 

It's wise to remember that if you've got the money, you can buy anything, at pretty much any time. Bleating about not having toy X, in colour Y is, quite frankly, laughable. The prevailing attitude about 'building & paying' can be looked at both sides, methinks. As a dyed in the wool Great Western person, may one enquire when are you liable to release your model of a Large Metro?

 

Pushing doesn't help here: Polite discussion about future models pays dividends. Trolling isn't very productive, either.

 

On a lighter note, if you fund up for a Large Metro, 1016, or say, a 'Stella', let me know, I'll put my name down for the first out of the box.

 

Your cheque, sir, awaits.....

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

[Oldddudders]

There seems to be a prevailing theme of "I'll build it if you pay for it" coming through.

A way to clear the over optimistic initial release announcements seems to be crowdfunding (again), you need to decide whether your a producer like Bachman and Hornby or a middle man producer via third party commission or indeed crowdfunding ?

Also why do you feel the need in official communications to pick at other manufacturers? Not very professional, it's also a huge turn off for potential customers.

What is this about? DJM operates as DJ sees fit. He can procure model manufacture for clients, he can offer models under his own name, or he can initiate a crowdfund. Which of those is either immoral or against the interests of the modeller? Crowdfunding avoids bank charges, so the models come cheaper, and DJ has a good idea that adequate demand exists before pressing the button. It sounds a good idea to me, and one that others are also embracing.

 

And where in his post does he “pick at other manufacturers”? I can’t see it, other than a thoroughly honorable mention of two well-known industry figures.

 

Puzzled.

[adb968008]

Maybe the Hudswell Clarke could go crowd funded ?

[TheSignalEngineer]

And where in his post does he “pick at other manufacturers”? I can’t see it, other than a thoroughly honorable mention of two well-known industry figures.

 

Puzzled.

I've missed that bit as well. When you are in a small field, like I was in signalling, many people from the limited number of companies involved have worked with each other in different roles over the years. I wrote the technical side of one of the first successful tenders post-privatisation from BR. I had worked with members of the bid teams from all of the other companies and two of the people involved in running the bid at Railtrack. 

[Fenman]

...

And where in his post does he “pick at other manufacturers”? I can’t see it, other than a thoroughly honorable mention of two well-known industry figures.

...

 

I assumed the OP was referring to this bit [emphasis added]:

 

...

It was great to meet old acquaintances like Graham Hubbard and Simon Kohler again, and it was just like the ‘old days’ again, chin wagging and reminiscing.

I even got a pathetically clumsy attempt by another company to tap me for information regarding new products (I hope the photo came out well, lol)!

...

 

Though I was a bit surprised at someone seeming to object to Dave having multiple channels to market, if those mean that something will be manufactured that otherwise wouldn't.

 

Paul

[Steamport Southport]

Or it could be that the sensible people who prefer to represent the 1980's would like to buy, to a greater degree, from a physical shop rather than a box shifter (the lack of shops selling them is not really DJM's fault). Also the black ones came out in the summer and there was limited competetion for spending, if you are buing a dutch mermaid then you need to get a class 40 as well!

 

All the places that many people derogatorily call "box shifters" are physical model shops. Maybe go to one of them and you might be surprised how good they actually are compared to most of the other shops. They are successful for a reason.

 

 

 

Jason

[Oldddudders]

All the places that many people derogatorily call "box shifters" are physical model shops. Maybe go to one of them and you might be surprised how good they actually are compared to most of the other shops. They are successful for a reason.

 Jason

True. And it is that ilk of successful shop that is now tapping up DJ to create new models we might otherwise not have seen.

 

The market place is the richer, and competition for our scarce £s the keener, because of DJ and his (so far limited) kind.

[Mark Saunders]

All the places that many people derogatorily call "box shifters" are physical model shops. Maybe go to one of them and you might be surprised how good they actually are compared to most of the other shops. They are successful for a reason.

 

 

 

Jason

 

I have never seen anyone refer to Tesco (other retailers are available) in a similar vane. Likewise Amazon is what I would describe as a real box shifter!

[Roy Langridge]

I have never seen anyone refer to Tesco (other retailers are available) in a similar vane. Likewise Amazon is what I would describe as a real box shifter!

The parallels between Amazon and the likes of Hattons / Rails are there though. Whilst both do shift other manufacturers’ items, they are both developing their own items for sale.

 

Roy