High Level Kits

Due to storm damage to part of the building,The Newcastle Show, scheduled this coming weekend (11 and 12 Nov) has been cancelled. Pity, it was looking like it was going to be a good one.

Just in case anyone hasn't seen it anywhere else, the organiser of Newcastle show, scheduled this coming weekend (11 and 12 Nov) has contacted me. Due to storm damage of the building, the show has been cancelled.

Hello John, I did reply a good while ago and received no notification to say the message hadn't got to you. I have no clue why this happened. The reply was pretty short, that we keep the spares you require on The Spares Page of the site. Regards, Chris

Customers with Gmail accounts (for emails) who might think we're ignoring their communications: We are unable to send messages to anyone with a Gmail address, due to Gmail changing security settings at their end. Sending from our business mail doesn't work either but, as a last resort, we may be able to send you a text if we have your mobile number. This has been going on for a while now but sending via the message facility has always worked fine. Now even this is playing up... Other news: when time allows, we're ploughing on with the Barclay Chassis. This is proving a difficult job for a variety of reasons and when you get into the dimensions it's apparent why the Hattons' designers made it the way they did. We hope to overcome all the problems and provide a finescale chassis with compensation, for EM and P4. With virtually zero clearance above the wheels, the hornblocks will ride on stops with spring wire exerting downward force only. The gearbox will be a split affair, as in the Pug. The boiler will be cylindrical with daylight underneath the chassis. We were hoping to be able to utalise the existing cylinder assembly, but now it's looking like we'll have to include our own. It'll be extra work but at least it'll be silver and will integrate with the etchings to provide a strong job. Hopefully, the brakegear can be re-used. That's the plan up to now....

We do try to be on the case and most of the time we are, but these are difficult times and sometimes we are unable to get stuff from our suppliers. Other snags to do with this strange new world we now seem to live in, also make life difficult. Your patience and understanding (when needed) continued support and encouragement is not taken for granted, so thank you very much for the above comments... Changing the subject, I have revisited the Hattons' Barclay chassis drawing. It's going to involve the use of a number of untried concepts to make it work the way I would like. I don;t know when I'll get the time to get back on it properly, but hope to do so at some point. It'll be for the 14 inch and the way things seem to be going will be for EM/P4 but probably not OO.

High Level Kits Update: The current economic climate has caused us to review the viability of our range of products. Maintaining the range of kits has proved very difficult in these times where nothing seems to be straightforward any more. We had reluctantly considered either dropping, or at least suspending, production of some, or all, of our boxed items. However, because we take great pride in our products, we’ve decided to try a different approach which we hope will benefit everyone... Although we still have some original stock, we’re now starting to offer our kits in a slightly different format. As before, we’ll include a full set of etched and cast components, a custom gearbox specifically designed for that model, but so you don't have to pay twice for common parts you may well keep in stock we leave you to provide parts like brass wire and tube, nuts and bolts, and handrail knobs. Nothing will be any different if you're buying 'consumable' items like gearboxes, hornblocks and suspension items, and we'll still continue to offer a choice of high-quality motors to go with all our products. We hope this approach will go some way to offsetting the massive rise in the cost of the materials and manufacturing services we pay for, allowing us to keep our own prices as competitive as possible. It might be that this simplification also frees up time for more design work...

Anyone attending this show needing a motor/gearbox solution, bring info with you, if possible, to the High Level stand. Line drawings (to scale) are ideal but if you can't provide this, then the actual model certainly helps. If you want head's start then read this: https://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/gear-planner It's been three tough years and we're looking forward to attending this show again. It's always a good one.... Quality railway modelling appeals across the board, regardless of scale or gauge, so we hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Our new website has been up and running since last August and is working pretty well for us. If you’ve used it, you’ll know it takes orders, processes payments and we’ve also tried to provide clear and easily accessible information and guidance. This has freed up more time to spend on other aspects of the business, but also means we don’t get the opportunity to talk to our customers. So we’re looking forward to catching up with customers at EXPO EM 2022, our first show since late 2019, where we’ll be able to help with any queries you may have. We’re in the process of stocking up and hope to have most things available in time for the show.

Hello, Quite few issues with supplies at the moment. We're trying to keep stocks up, but it's not easy. We do try to be careful as careful as possible when packing gearboxes, but slip-ups do inevitably happen and, for this reason, we recommend that customers check over all the bits just to be sure and thus minimise the problems caused by any errors. I know this is a bit of a faff, but its the safest way. Having said that, we will label the bags if requested. Chris

Hello, Etches are on order but the turnaround times are not good. I would have to be honest and say 6-8 weeks. Material shortages and staff absence are the current reasons cited. Sorry I couldn't give you more positive news...

Thanks very much Frank. I'm glad you like some of the features that are a bit of a departure from normal practice. You didn't take lang to build it either!

We've been busy with the new version of the 34mm bogie, designed to take a 1220 coreless. This 3D mock-up is the first etch and a lot may change, so take it with a pinch of salt...

Thank you Mr 50... if we have the bits we try to turn the orders around pretty sharpish. There's a few problems with some parts, but nothing that's going to effect us long-term. Chris

They're a while off yet Martin. The reason for the redesiegn is purely due to motor change. Yes, we spec'ed the new motors with the same screw centres as the Mashimas so they fit the existing boxes.