Etched Kits for Beginners

[corneliuslundie]

No longer available except perhaps on e-Bay but the first to etched kits I built, and easily at that, were Pocket Money Kits 4mm jobs - originally 7mm but shrunk down, I believe. For the OP, if he comes across them,I would recommend something like the GWR loriot.

[halfwit]

We don't take money for pre-orders, we don't bank cheques if the kit is not in stock and we don't advertise or produce kits in batches. None of our kits is out of production and will not be, they may be out of stock but not for more than four weeks (and that's only because of delays by the etchers). We don't find this difficult and have built up a very large range of kits in 13 years.

Judith and Michael Edge

 

You forgot to mention that your kits are good value, well designed, have detailed instructions, and are of interesting prototypes. The after sales service is good as well. Some kits fit onto RTR motor bogies so would be suitable for a novice who doesn't want to try their hand at chassis building.

[Kenton]

... and about as much fun as you can get from a soldering iron

[micklner]

What are the issues with the ordering and availability of Mousa Model's kits?

 Issues are, you reserve your advertised  kits, pay a deposit  and they never appear and you ignore all messages. 

[billbedford]

I do not expect an individual to have tons of stock available at a moments notice, but I would expect to be able to purchase one or two "available" kits without waiting months or years for 10 other people to agree to buy them as well.

 

I'm beginning to wonder if you have actually seen the website, or are just relying on hearsay.

 

Items are marked either with 'Delivery in 28 Days' and have a 'Purchase' button, or are marked 'Extended Delivery' and have a 'Deposit' button. It is not rocket science.

 

As I have explained before, but you have chosen to ignore, the drawing for the etches exist, but it will take more than a month to prepare new tools.

 

I have now rearranged the site so that those items which are readily available are at the top of their pages.

 

With Mousa, its not preordering, its reserving a copy "if" enough people show interest.

How is this different from the way other companies operate? Hornby, for instance, cancelled two locos lasts year because pre-0rders didn't meet their sales targets.

 

That kit may never be produced.

 

That's a blinding glimpse of the bleeding obvious. Lots of things could stop a model going into production, e.g. Someone announces a RTR version (again) or I could just drop down dead (which would tend to spoil any plans for new products)

 

Life is a risk -- live with it.

[jwealleans]

Bill's approach may not sit harmoniously with everyone or the current 'want it now' attitude which seems to be pervading every corner of society.

 

However, unlike other suppliers I can think of - without trying too hard - it's very clear on the website how it all works, a pound deposit is hardly the end of the world (and soon less than it will be to post him an order) and up to now everything I've put my pound down for has come through. It's not as if your money is taken up front and then nothing happens for months.

 

I'd go so far as to say it enhances the experience when an unexpected parcel turns up.

 

It might be nice if everything arrived almost as soon as we ordered it, but let's be realistic. I've had a carriage kit on order for some months now, but even if it had come the next day or the next week, I wouldn't have built it yet, so the difference is only that my money is still in my pocket instead of Bill's.

 

Alan Gibson workshop do their kits on a preorder basis, I believe - is that seen as a bad thing as well?

 

We really have wandered a long way from the OP's question - did he ever decide on a suitable kit?

[garethashenden]

I learned to solder with Comet w-irons and Gibson pinpoint bearings. Plastic wagon kits with new w-irons, buffers, and axleboxes are quite satisfying and improve the look of many kits. Plus the whitemetal bits give some nice low-down weight.

[Kenton]

 

We really have wandered a long way from the OP's question - did he ever decide on a suitable kit?

Did he ever return to view the carnage? or even answer some of the questions posed regarding a more specific and focused question.

 

As guilty as anyone here I too became bored waiting and wandered off topic - that is the way it goes especially on subjects that have already been covered in depth several times before. We have had everything suggested from RTR to kits that are almost unobtainable, kits in the wrong scale and material, even kits that are not yet kits but may be one day.

 

I'm off to puzzle my way over someone else's failed attempt at kit building to see if it is worth my time or it is a complete lost cause.

[billbedford]

What we want is a 'Reply to this in a New Thread Button' 

[hayfield]

I would not consider Mousa Models target customer as being a beginner. It is not that they are difficult to build, just that they are a bit specialised. As for Falcon kits, forget them, until they are reintroduced as "much improved" - some of the kits simply do not deserve to be called kits and require a great deal of scratchbuilding skills and are not known for their instructions (well known for not having any). There are other kit manufacturers around.

 

 

Kenton 

 

You are so right about Falcoln/Jedinco kits, not for the beginner

 

A lovely easy kit I made was a Blacksmith S&DJR milk van, quite straight forward to build. Or a Caley kits but keep away from 6 wheeled vans initially

 

Go for simplicity first with a 4 wheeled van or wagon, and do obtain the correct tools, solder and flux

[CKPR]

The first etched brass kit I built was the PC Models LNWR open carriage truck, which has to be one of the best kits ever designed. As a result, it was pretty easy to build  and much less of a struggle than any number of white metal monstrosities and it is much easier to rectify any errors than with a plastic kit as you can just unsolder, clean up and try again. I would suggest going for a well designed kit (High Level comes to mind but the PC range is fairly easy to obtain)  in the first instance rather than an apparently simple kit. If it's well designed, a complex etched brass kit just takes longer to build and building them is very satisfying in itself. Just beware of old Falcon/Jidenco kits and some of the Peter K range (the GWR 1365 is apparently excellent, the Cambrian / Furness 'Sharpie' is a complete pig to build !).

[Quarryscapes]

The Cambrian/Furness 0-6-0 is definitely not for beginners, no fittings, strange chassis compensation and coupling rods that do not match the wheel centres. I have two versions, I suspect there may have been a third iteration as I also have some cast fireboxes which are not mentioned anywhere in the parts list nor in articles on constructing the locos. 

 

I think the first etched thing I built was a Worsley works coach. You basically get 2 sides and 2 ends, you only have to work out how to join them and build the rest!