Earl of Pembroke

So Heljan has announced 7mm scale BR Mark 2 coaches and a GWR Collett 2251 0-6-0 locomotive at the NEC jamboree. When we will see them? Perhaps Heljan can give a simple, consolidated update on the following long list of promised, but undelivered 7mm scale projects: Class 03 - 2016 Class 50 - 4/17 Class 56 - 8/18 Class 17 - 11/18 Class 31/1, 31/4 - 9/19 Class 40 centre headcode - 11/19 Class 47 retool - 1/18 Class 117 Class 120 (rumour this has been cancelled) Class 121 Class 122 GWR AEC Railcar 8/18 Mark 1 CCT 9/19 Here's hoping I will live long enough to see them. Charles

The smart money is betting that Dapol will be announcing the actual delivery of some of the long list of models it has promised, but has so far failed to bring to market. That should be its priority, not the promise of yet more stuff that will take years to deliver. Charles

I suspect the other manufacturers have been approached, but having done due diligence into the business and the principal decided it was not for them. It is noteworthy that the principal's previous business Citrus DM Ltd was dissolved by Companies House in 2016 through compulsory strike-off, having previously been granted an extension of its accounting period from October 2014 to March 2015. A compulsory strike-off is usually the result of failure to file company accounts or non-payment of tax. Here is the Companies House link: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07420392/filing-history The mystery about what has happened to the Class 22 advance cash payments is a major question and while it remains unanswered is a deterrent to any potential investor. As is often said on a certain TV programme, "I'm out." Charles Trelawney

Businesses like this usually fail for one reason: lack of cash. This one was doomed from the start because it had no capital. Another recent failure was also due to lack of cash arising from the owner's inability to concentrate on finishing a project and getting the sales revenue in before starting on the next project. Charles

I saw this announcement on Facebook before it appeared on here. A minimum investment of £90,000 is required to breath life into this concern, but I suspect it will cost more than £65,000 to get the Ruston to market. I'm sure it is more complicated than pithing up at a factory with some tools. I am very concerned that it will take the putative proceeds from the manufacture and sale of the Rustons to finance production of the very complex Class 22. From this I infer that the cash from the Class 22 orders does not exist, so where has it gone? I don't think this advances the situation and it certainly provides little or no comfort for those who have paid money for the Class 22 locomotive. Is anyone out there prepared to stump up almost £100,000? The trade seems to have answered this question emphatically. Charles

Could we change the title of this thread from "...the end" to "...will it ever end"?

The other major common factor looking at the most recent published accounts for both companies on Companies House is a lack of cash.

With even greater respect, what people want who have money at stake is their emails and telephone calls answered, even if it is no more than a holding reply with the promise of further information as soon as it is possible to disclose. This does not require a general announcement to the public.

Mr Leathers was also the sole director of another company called Citrus DM Ltd Company number 07420392, which is listed as an "Advertising Agencies" by Companies House. This company was dissolved by compulsory strike-off on 12 April 2016. The last set of accounts for this company were 31 October 2013. Unless we start to get some news soon, I am thinking about bringing this case to the attention of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox programme, which is always interested in crowd-funding. CT

I too saw those Class 15s on the Digitrains stand. Mr Leathers needs to break his radio silence. I had rather a lot of less than charitable talk and speculation about LLC at Doncaster yesterday. The situation is aggravated by the rather parlous state of LLC's published accounts for the year ending 31st October 2018, which seem to be light on cash.

Quite a few of Ricey's designs propose a series of separated, but connected scenes. This one is on three levels, but could easily be adapted for use in the horizontal plane. Ideal for all those Minerva and Ixion industrial locos and the Agenoria kits, which I am delighted to see are back in production. Regards, Charles Virtua in Industria by Iain Rice.pdf

Steve, That's very helpful. I think I have some kiln-dried sand in the garage of the type for brushing into block-surfaced driveways. Regards, Charles

Has anyone had a reply from LLC about the Class 22 money situation? The latest accounts are not reassuring and there was quite a bit of negative chatter at Railex about LLC. LLC's registered office is at "The Old Casino" in Hove; I hope that is not a portent.

How do you so effectively simulate the mucky, ash ballast of a loco depot?

It was great to see your layout at Railex. It is exquisite. The 0 gauge layouts at the show were first class and something to aspire to. Kind regards, Charles