I'd say that was 14 months well spent, thats a very fine group of engines. 

Given what I read about mazak rot and plastic bits falling apart I doubt the rtr stuff would last anywhere near as long as quality kit or scratch building. 

Thanks folks..........bbbbbbbbbbbbut......  SR,  GWR, LMS, LNER  and Industrial type  reasonably priced  RTR are now covered by the likes of    Heljan, Dapol, Minerva, Ixion , Lionheart etc...

Only MOK have been producing new 7mm loco kits and I can`t see any other  kit manufacturers extending their ranges..........

Grab the quality kits if you can............  the end is nigh !!!!!!     We`ve hit the buffers !!!................................ Off the rails !!..... trapped by the bunkers !!

We`re all  DOMED !!!        

Hmm, none of the rtr in any scale looks as solid as those rosspop. 

Ok, I appreciate its your blog, but I'll say it anyway. I would rather see someone stick a few bits of card together to build a shed and make something themselves than see 100s of pics of rtr stuff. I think there always will be folk who want to make things, just for the joy of actually making things. Well, I hope so.

Thankyou.

I suppose it has been all down to me being predominantly a loco `kit` builder, not only because of personal satisfaction etc but to achieve my own interpretation of  `perfect running` that I still believe cannot routinely be expected from mass produced RTR. I also feel that a `metal` prototype   modelled in `metal` has a finer aesthetic image.

Of course, this may be available from the more expensive manufacturers.... Finescalebrass etc, I would certainly expect it to be. But I can`t afford those......

Like you all I also save time by using RTR coaching stock and have a Lionheart and Tower Models GWR auto coach, but have managed to track down a complete RJH bow ended `B` set rather than the Dapol/Lionheart production just to `model them myself`

And of course  the LMS does`nt seem to attract production of RTR rolling stock so I have now got a quality etched LMS pull-push coach to complete.

may be this will change with Dapol`s 7mm Jinty..................................... 

Anyhow, for the first time in 40 years I finally have the `last` loco kit to start....... the MOK 48XX Auto tank and one kit to finish... the DA Castle kit..

No More Loco Kits................................................................................