Popular Post Major Clanger Posted March 12, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 12, 2018 Perhaps not the best title, as the phrase "winding up" has other connotations, but I wanted to start a new thread to keep the rampant commercialism separate from the tributes to Dave Cleal. Mainly Trains is now part of Wizard Models Limited, and all the stock, paperwork and computer files have been transferred to their new home. There are essentially two types of product: Mainly Trains own products - these will all be continued, and the process of adding them to the Wizard Models website has begun. Other manufacturers' products - some of these will be kept in stock, and will be added to the Wizard Models website. Others will be sold to exhaustion and then discontinued, so they may appear on the website for a limited period, or I might not bother - keep a close eye on the Bargain Box at exhibitions! If there is any particular item you are desperate to buy, please let me know and I'll give priority to adding it to the website. For those of you with old printed lists, please note that the some of the prices are now well out of date, so no cheques/postal orders at the old prices please. I hope to have a lot of items on sale at the Nottingham show this coming weekend, and just about everything by the York show at Easter. Advance orders very welcome... The domain name www.mainlytrains.co.uk has been lost. The other one, www.mainlytrains.com is now owned by Wizard Models, and a redirect to www.wizardmodels.ltd should soon be in place. Finally, I would like to thank the Cleal family for their help and hospitality at the weekend, and I hope to keep up the standards that Dave Cleal established over the years. 50 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Glad it is in safe hands, Andrew, and your standard of service is equal to, if not more than Dave's was, so we can be assured of a future for his very useful ranges. Edit to make a bit more sense... Edited March 13, 2018 by Ben Alder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimbus Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Perhaps a simple amendment of thread title to "gearing up" would remove ambiguity? The Nim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted March 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 12, 2018 Best of luck I only came across the Mainly Trains name after it was too late so happy to see it being carried on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted March 12, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2018 I look forward to the etches and SR tender chassis reappearing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarryscapes Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Ooh, a pleasant surprise! Hopefully you will look to implementing Mainly Trains' superb range of wheels from Gibson and Markits, which was quite possibly their most useful feature for me! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buhar Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Congratulations, Andrew. I'm sure you will manage the range as well as you do the rest of Wizard Models. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted March 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 12, 2018 Thanks for taking on this range, Andrew. As with your acquisition of Comet, you are providing a great service to modellers which I'm sure many of us appreciate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Excellent news. Thanks for coming to the rescue Andrew. Digging out my last fret of loco steps yesterday the announcement could not be better timed. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 G'Day Folks I was a regular at Dave's shop in Chandlers Ford for a few years and after I moved to Oz, and after his move to Somerset, I started doing business again via the internet, his was one of the best internet sites, for ease of use, and carrying what I wanted, I just hope Wizard are just as easy to use. Good luck for taking over Dave's range, manna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Perhaps not the best title, as the phrase "winding up" has other connotations, but I wanted to start a new thread to keep the rampant commercialism separate from the tributes to Dave Cleal. Mainly Trains is now part of Wizard Models Limited, and all the stock, paperwork and computer files have been transferred to their new home. There are essentially two types of product: Mainly Trains own products - these will all be continued, and the process of adding them to the Wizard Models website has begun. Other manufacturers' products - some of these will be kept in stock, and will be added to the Wizard Models website. Others will be sold to exhaustion and then discontinued, so they may appear on the website for a limited period, or I might not bother - keep a close eye on the Bargain Box at exhibitions! If there is any particular item you are desperate to buy, please let me know and I'll give priority to adding it to the website. For those of you with old printed lists, please note that the some of the prices are now well out of date, so no cheques/postal orders at the old prices please. I hope to have a lot of items on sale at the Nottingham show this coming weekend, and just about everything by the York show at Easter. Advance orders very welcome... The domain name www.mainlytrains.co.uk has been lost. The other one, www.mainlytrains.com is now owned by Wizard Models, and a redirect to www.wizardmodels.ltd should soon be in place. Finally, I would like to thank the Cleal family for their help and hospitality at the weekend, and I hope to keep up the standards that Dave Cleal established over the years. Andrew, I am really pleased to learn that you have picked-up where Dave was obliged to leave-off. I would echo the sentiment concerning Markits items - as these seem to become ever more difficult to source directly, a well-stocked alternative source would be very welcome. A word to the wise, though; before re-ordering the Mainly Trains etches, take a close look at the scale; some of the frets were WAY over-scale. I think particularly of the lamp-irons; the 4mm scale ones would not have looked out of place on a 7mm. or even G1 scale loco ! All the best for the future. Regards, John Isherwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcock29 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Fantastic news indeed. I used Dave from about 1982 I reckon and being in Australia without his range it would have been nigh on impossible to have built all the models I have. His range was just enormous I also used to get a lot of wheels through Dave. I echo John's comment above about the etched lamp irons (I'm still wondering what to do with the etch I have as they are so overscale) But the rest of Dave's Mainly Trains range that I purchased was just fine. In particular his scale J52 chassis is going under an old Ks J3 kit I picked up for a song. Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 12, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Excellent news Andrew. As others have said, for many years Mainly Trains was the first-choice one-stop shop for us poor souls on foreign shores. Now Wizard Models can take up that role. If Dave Cleal (junior) happens to read this, I'd like to thank you and your family for the great service your father gave me after I left the UK in 2001. Thanks. Edit: when I first posted this I didn't know that Dave Cleal (senior) had passed away last year. I have amended the post accordingly and apologise for any distress that I may, inadvertently, have caused. Edited March 13, 2018 by St Enodoc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devo63 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 It was sad to hear about Dave's passing but great news that you have taken on his range. As a couple of posts above have mentioned, he was often first choice for those of us in Oz for various bits and pieces. I look forward to seeing some of the etches becoming available again such as the loco window grills and the chassis for the GEM 2-4-0T although I think the demand for the last may fall since the current owner of the kit range has announced he has closed shop for health reasons. (Another possible addition to your range?) Dave R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercity125 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 The title of this implies to me that the business is going into receivership or ceasing trading rather than being ramped up by the new owner. Could I suggest that the title is changed to something clearer for the benefit of the new business owner and its customers. Thanks, Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Another call from Australia, Mainly trains was the place of "go too" for all the bits and pieces in one place that I wanted 20 years ago. now Wizard are and the range is now getting larger! This is a great thing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocp Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Ooh, a pleasant surprise! Hopefully you will look to implementing Mainly Trains' superb range of wheels from Gibson and Markits, which was quite possibly their most useful feature for me! I agree. Mainly Trains was the best place for me in Australia to easily get Gibson bogie wheels. Hopefully Andrew can continue that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tomparryharry Posted March 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 13, 2018 Sorry, I also mis-read the title. If Mainly Trains are back in business, that will be good news. Too much negativity in recent times. Can the OP alter his title to reflect the fact that 'winding up' is highly misleading? Nonetheless, good luck for your future. Cheers, Ian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Hi All, It is so sad to hear that Dave has passed away - a true stalwart in the hobby. As long as I can remember, the Mainly Trains / Dave Cleal type face and logo adorned the pages of Railway Modeller and were an integral part of the hobby. My thoughts are with those who were close to him. Thanks for all the fun and enjoyment that you and your products have given to us all Dave. Andrew - well done! There are a number of bits I always bought from Dave and used in Little Didcot. Stocks were beginning to run low of things like wagon brake bits so, like others here, I am really grateful that you have taken this range on. You saved Comet and allowed me to collect all the Little Didcot coaches from them and now this. Thank you SO much! Orders will be forthcoming good sir... The excellent 4-wheel GWR coach chassis being a first thought - I have a couple of departmental jobs and a camping version to do! All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Brit70053 Posted March 13, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have to agree that the topic title should be changed. I knew I had read the sad news of Dave Cleal's passing some time ago and the current title led me to believe that perhaps the business had continued in some form with someone else and was now finally closing. I'm pleased that much of the mainly Trains range is to continue under the Wizard Models business and I wish Andrew continued success with the business. Several members have specifically posted regarding the Lamp irons etch being overscale, but I always found a little work with a needle file enabled reasonable results to be obtained and I'd be glad to see these available again, having recently exhausted my supply. Regards, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandc_au Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Sorry, I also mis-read the title. If Mainly Trains are back in business, that will be good news. Too much negativity in recent times. Can the OP alter his title to reflect the fact that 'winding up' is highly misleading? Nonetheless, good luck for your future. Cheers, Ian. What is misleading with the title????? It is winding up so if you are interested in the thread one would see that Wizard Models are winding the business up after now taking it over from the Cleal family! My condolences to the family. Like others I heard he retired from ill health but did NOT realise he had passed away. Khris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 The title of this implies to me that the business is going into receivership or ceasing trading rather than being ramped up by the new owner. Could I suggest that the title is changed to something clearer for the benefit of the new business owner and its customers. Thanks, Paul How do you reach that conclusion? If you look at the other thread (previous) you should be able to see the clever pun. A lot of railway modellers would see it as a clever pun going by some of the comments on the forum regarding the use of words. I am curious as to what you would call the action required to get a clock working. Bernard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted March 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) How do you reach that conclusion? If you look at the other thread (previous) you should be able to see the clever pun. A lot of railway modellers would see it as a clever pun going by some of the comments on the forum regarding the use of words. I am curious as to what you would call the action required to get a clock working. Bernard "Winding up" has unfortunate connotations when relating to business matters and any reader unfamiliar with the earlier thread is likely to jump to a negative, and incorrect conclusion. When most of my clocks stop working, the usual remedy is a new battery. John Edited March 13, 2018 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted March 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 13, 2018 Its probably because a winding up order signifies the end of a business. I agree it's a clever pun, but it conveys an unclear message. Surely "Mainly Trains range saved" would be clear, unambiguous and positive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted March 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 13, 2018 Or Mainly Trains revving up again, or suchlike. I agree it's a misleading title (my first thought was that it must mean that the business had been well and truly shut down) but it shouldn't detract from the excellent news. I am also sad to hear that Mr Cleal has passed away; I found him a real gent to deal with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now