What is a perfect Loco kit? .... This is! - DMR SR Z 4mm

[Metropolitan]

This is the second DMR SR Class Z I have built

 

Heaven knows how many 00 gauge loco kits I have now built. Most have been an unequal struggle!! I have in the past pondered what makes for a perfect kit. What are the qualities of a really good kit?

 

Of all the kits I have built, most of which I have taken notes of during the build, two stand out as perfect. The first is the Comet Ivatt 2-6-0 and the second is this DMR Maunsell Z Class. It is difficult to be precise about why I rate these kits above all others but here are some of the reasons. By the way I am not prejudiced against whitemetal in any way. In no particular order:

 

1) Good instructions, pointing out any foibles, and clear drawings. This kit has nice clear drawings blown up to A3 size.

2) Excellent design for ease of assembly. All the parts on this kit are tabbed for accurate no fuss location. Brass etches are very lightly tabbed allowing easy removal of the parts.

4) The minimum of complexity to achieve a prototypical model. Overlays only where necessary to avoid having to punch out rivets. No microscopic demon soldering necessary.

5) Whitemetal - Perfect castings with no flash. Brass - Boiler and other parts preformed.

6) Proper use of materials. Etch that with should be etched. Turn that which can be turned. Lost-wax only those parts that should be lost-waxed. And cast in whitemetal those parts which should be cast. This kit is perfect in this respect with turned chimney and buffers etc, Lost wax injectors and cast backplate etc.

7) The kit has been designed to allow a motor and gearbox to actually fit in. The wheels, motion, valve gear and brakes do not foul anything if the kit is built as per the instructions.

8) The finished model runs well and looks perfect to prototype with the minimum of hassle.

9) It's fun to build

 

ETC!

 

[Horsetan]

Presumably you built this within 2 hours?

[rodshaw]

Is the price perfect too?

[South Pole]

What sort of range of kits do they do? I had never even heard of them

[Guest Belgian]

Do you know if the DMR kits are anything to do with Dave King and PDK, since they all originate near Truro in Cornwall?

Edited July 24, 2012 by Belgian

[Horsetan]

Do you know if the DMR kits are anything to do with Dave King and PDK, since they all originate near Truro in Cornwall?

They are about as similar as two completely dissimilar things in a pod...

[Mallard60022]

DMR Kits are VG. I've seen the finished results at Donny on the stand on two occasions. I think the chap actually specialises in 7mm but has a range of 4mm kits 'on board' as they say. He only does a couple of shows I think?

P

[jwealleans]

They are about as similar as two completely dissimilar things in a pod.

 

In that they're not (AFAIK) in any way connected. DMR kits are very highly spoken of and every PDK (or Crownline) kit I've built or seen built by friends has also been very good.

Edited July 25, 2012 by jwealleans

[Metropolitan]

Presumably you built this within 2 hours?

 

No. But jigging the chassis square, making the pistons and painting it only took two hours!

 

The reason? All the holes are correctly etched to size. And all the parts fit. You simply remove the parts from the etch and solder everything together. No fiddling and breaking 100 0.5mm drill bits necessary.

 

So far so good. Still gets a Gold Star. (Avoiding the term Gold Medal just in case!!!)

 

 

Edited July 25, 2012 by Metropolitan

[DLT]

The reason? All the holes are correctly etched to size. And all the parts fit. You simply remove the parts from the etch and solder everything together. No fiddling and breaking 100 0.5mm drill bits necessary.

Quite agree; I built this kit recently (see my 4mm Workbench Thread) and its quite superb. One of the best I've ever built.

Theres one problem, and thats due possibly to innacurate drawings. The bunker in the kit is designed to taper towards the rear, which is incorrect. The footplate tapers, but the bunker sides should be parallel.

 

Cheers,

Dave.

[Horsetan]

Not fast enough! You ought to get a move on. See if you can finish before the Olumpic thing on Friday.

[DLT]

I think the chap actually specialises in 7mm but has a range of 4mm kits 'on board' as they say.

P

A freind of mine has built the 7mm version of the Z, and its mightily impressive.

Dave.

[Metropolitan]

Not fast enough! You ought to get a move on. See if you can finish before the Olumpic thing on Friday.

 

I know!! I think I am getting too old! God's Teeth:I cannot see the damn parts unless the sun is shining or I am wearing +2 glasses! No wonder I think my models are OK? They are probably rubbish because I am too old to see the imperfections!! I wish my belly would not keep growing and that hair would stop growing out of my ears!!!!! It's a young persons hobby and yet few young persons show any interest?

[jwealleans]

Are you sure it's not just that there aren't any young people in your part of the country, John?

[Horsetan]

Are you sure it's not just that there aren't any young people in your part of the country, John?

 

Why, has he moved to Bognor Regis?

[3 link]

Why, has he moved to Bognor Regis?

 

Oi, there's nothing wrong with Bognor Regis .

 

Martyn.

[Metropolitan]

Bognor? There are more hormones in the air there than there are here I can assure you!!

 

It's so hot I decided to model outside. But a near miss by a seagull forced me to give up.

 

You can't go wrong with this kit. No, honestly you cannot go wrong. All the parts are tabbed so there is no possibility of getting the body anything other than square. There are also half etched alignment grooves to aid assembly.

 

 

Edited July 26, 2012 by Metropolitan

[Metropolitan]

If you can't put one of these chassis together you might as well give up any hope of kitbuilding a loco. All the valve gear holes are etched out to the correct size. Simply remove the rods from the fret, insert a rivet, tap it and that's job done!! Make up up the valve gear and the brackets and fit them to the frames. Simple as that. No filing, fiddling, fettling or tearing your hair out necessary.

 

I have one small bone to pick with the designer which looses the kit a mark! The valve rod bracket is in my opinion unnecessarily complex. It consists of five parts which have to be soldered together and, being very small, it's not easy. I can see no reason why the bracket could not be etched as just one part with fold up lines???

 

Still, this is (even though I say it myself) a sensational chassis. Smooth with great low running to match any new RTR.

 

It's run in and now ready for a final clean up and a bit of filling where the wheel weights are not quite right.

 

 

[Kenton]

It's so hot I decided to model outside. But a near miss by a seagull forced me to give up.

 

Could have saved you having to bother weathering

[darren01]

This is the second DMR SR Class Z I have built

 

Heaven knows how many 00 gauge loco kits I have now built. Most have been an unequal struggle!! I have in the past pondered what makes for a perfect kit. What are the qualities of a really good kit?

 

Of all the kits I have built, most of which I have taken notes of during the build, two stand out as perfect. The first is the Comet Ivatt 2-6-0 and the second is this DMR Maunsell Z Class. It is difficult to be precise about why I rate these kits above all others but here are some of the reasons. By the way I am not prejudiced against whitemetal in any way. In no particular order:

 

1) Good instructions, pointing out any foibles, and clear drawings. This kit has nice clear drawings blown up to A3 size.

2) Excellent design for ease of assembly. All the parts on this kit are tabbed for accurate no fuss location. Brass etches are very lightly tabbed allowing easy removal of the parts.

4) The minimum of complexity to achieve a prototypical model. Overlays only where necessary to avoid having to punch out rivets. No microscopic demon soldering necessary.

5) Whitemetal - Perfect castings with no flash. Brass - Boiler and other parts preformed.

6) Proper use of materials. Etch that with should be etched. Turn that which can be turned. Lost-wax only those parts that should be lost-waxed. And cast in whitemetal those parts which should be cast. This kit is perfect in this respect with turned chimney and buffers etc, Lost wax injectors and cast backplate etc.

7) The kit has been designed to allow a motor and gearbox to actually fit in. The wheels, motion, valve gear and brakes do not foul anything if the kit is built as per the instructions.

The finished model runs well and looks perfect to prototype with the minimum of hassle.

9) It's fun to build

 

ETC!

 

DSCN0421.JPG

 

Can you still get this kit, as I can not find one on line?.

[Jol Wilkinson]

Darren

 

the DMR kits appear to have passed into the hands of Phoenix Precision Paints;

 

http://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/d-m-r-products.html

 

The SR Z class 7mm kit is still listed, but not the 4mm version. I suggest that means it no longer qualifies for the accolade "perfect loco kit".

[Daddyman]

Can you still get this kit, as I can not find one on line?.

Well, Phoenix Precision have taken over the range, and I don't know if the Z is one that they plan to re-release. Thing is, I'm given to believe (by Horsetan) that PP don't have a good record on re-releasing kits. I keep hoping this range hasn't dropped into a PP void, but the string of excuses since their planned release date of 15th April 2016 gives me pause. (The website, until a couple of weeks ago, was still promising they'd be ready by April!). A recent excuse is lost chimneys (still not found after two weeks), and now the latest is that they're too busy packing for shows to actually pack any of the kits for shows! The expiry date for that excuse is two weeks down the line. 

 

If I'd done what I knew I should have and started scratchbuilding in April, I'd be well on my way to finished by now. And I'm waiting for a kit I've never even seen. The only DMR kit I've actually seen (and built) is the K1, which left much to be desired. 

[Enterprisingwestern]

If you want a real laugh, order the kit with Sharman wheels.

 

Mike.

[Horsetan]

Well, Phoenix Precision have taken over the range, and I don't know if the Z is one that they plan to re-release. Thing is, I'm given to believe (by Horsetan) that PP don't have a good record on re-releasing kits.

They don't. See No Nonsense Kits, DMR, Modelex/Churchward Models.... Just as well I'm not in the market for any of the kits in those ranges.

 

I keep hoping this range hasn't dropped into a PP void, but the string of excuses since their planned release date of 15th April 2016 gives me pause. (The website, until a couple of weeks ago, was still promising they'd be ready by April!). A recent excuse is lost chimneys (still not found after two weeks),....

Funny, they had a rack of turned brass chimneys on their stand at Scaleforum. There might have been a "Z" chimney or two amongst them. Probably the same stock that Mike Russell left them with when he sold the business to them.

 

...and now the latest is that they're too busy packing for shows to actually pack any of the kits for shows!

Since they seem to attend quite a lot of shows, it looks like not a lot of packing will be done. 

 

....The only DMR kit I've actually seen (and built) is the K1, which left much to be desired.

Try Dave Bradwell's K1 next time.

[pete_mcfarlane]

I'm pretty certain the 'York at Easter' promise has been on their website for several years now.