Wright writes.....

[JustinDean]

18 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

There seems to be a just-about-even split regarding satisfaction/dissatisfaction about certain 'small' suppliers. 

 

I can only comment on my own experiences, and I've had nothing but satisfaction for quite some time (apart from the non-supply of some transfers a little while back, but that's another story - not about Fox, I hasten to add, whose service has been fantastic). 

 

I think what has been evident in recent times is the drop-off by 'specialist' suppliers at just about all the shows I attend these days. Time was when I could buy everything I needed to build a loco kit at a show (including the kit itself), but not so now (I can't comment on Warley because I didn't attend). The last time I visited Ally Pally (prior to lockdowns) I couldn't see anyone selling metal kits (apart from on the MR Club's second-hand stand), nor were there any wheels, motors, gears, etc, for sale; as for detailing bits? No chance. 

 

Many shows nowadays have a proliferation of 'box-shifters', all competing for the same market it would seem. This is obviously the way things are going, or am I not looking closely enough? 

 

Long live the small/specialist traders; I for one don't want to buy just RTR! 

Warley is the first show I’ve attended in the last 18 months that had a decent selection of small suppliers and that alone was a big draw to the exhibition for me. Dealing with these suppliers in person I find a lot more ‘immediate’ than attempting to reach one by phone or email and hoping they’ll get back to me. Currently I’ve been waiting for one of the mentioned suppliers to respond to an email for a number of days now and while I understand the limitations of being a one man show it can still be a little frustrating. 
Personally I’ve been running my own business (not railway related!) for 22 years now and making the transition to having employees is a precarious one so it’s no wonder that these chaps have chosen to go it alone. Ultimately I’m just thankful they’re still doing it!

 

Jay

[polybear]

14 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

The last time I visited Ally Pally (prior to lockdowns) I couldn't see anyone selling metal kits (apart from on the MR Club's second-hand stand), nor were there any wheels, motors, gears, etc, for sale; as for detailing bits? No chance. 

 

I think High Level Kits may attend Ally Pally (not sure about last year though); I do know that Dave Ellis (was SEF) stopped attending simply because the costs involved meant it became a box-shifting exercise with little. if any profit to be made.

 

Whilst Markits and AG are unlikely to fall into this category, one thing that should be remembered is that many specialist suppliers do it as a side-line rather than their main business.  I think of all the specialist suppliers the ones that would really cause modellers the greatest difficulties if they disappeared would be those manufacturing wheels, as I think pretty much all other components could be either be made or sourced from places like ebay (Motors, for example).

[polybear]

22 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

I suspect that is simply because online / mail order selling must be so much simpler and easier and cost-effective than selling at shows. Stands and transport must be a considerable expense,

 

Not sure about the Model Railway Exhibition at Ally Pally, but one of the small traders at the A.P. Model Engineering Exhibition 3 or 4 years ago told someone standing close to me that his stand rent alone was about a £1000 for the 3 days; add travel costs, probable accommodation costs & food and it's a wonder he was able to sell enough second-hand tools to make a profit.  The last time I went to the show I walked in and was immediately struck by the reduced number of trade stands there; the show isn't on next year (which is a shame) and I do wonder if it'll appear again at that location.  The fact that AP has recently started charging for parking (£16?) - it was free - does nothing to attract the public.  I suspect it's entered a vicious circle of ever-increasing costs which deters both traders and the public from attending and as a result it'll kill the show (if it hasn't already).

[john new]

29 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

I suspect that is simply because online / mail order selling must be so much simpler and easier and cost-effective than selling at shows. Stands and transport must be a considerable expense, to say nothing of giving up numerous weekends throughout the year. Covid has I'm sure just accelerated an existing trend. 

 

... snipped...

That is the reason we (SLS) have had to cut back on show attendances. If a local team can crew it yes but that factor plus an ageing volunteer team makes it a non-starter. 

[rodent279]

8 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Not sure about the Model Railway Exhibition at Ally Pally, but one of the small traders at the A.P. Model Engineering Exhibition 3 or 4 years ago told someone standing close to me that his stand rent alone was about a £1000 for the 3 days; add travel costs, probable accommodation costs & food and it's a wonder he was able to sell enough second-hand tools to make a profit.  The last time I went to the show I walked in and was immediately struck by the reduced number of trade stands there; the show isn't on next year (which is a shame) and I do wonder if it'll appear again at that location.  The fact that AP has recently started charging for parking (£16?) - it was free - does nothing to attract the public.  I suspect it's entered a vicious circle of ever-increasing costs which deters both traders and the public from attending and as a result it'll kill the show (if it hasn't already).

That's the going rate for stalls, even at smaller events. Mrs R sometimes helps a friend at a wool show-the friend is a small trader doing wool as a sideline, and the £900 cost of the stall, plus transport, accommodation & food for 2 days, was just about covered by sales.

[Jol Wilkinson]

Stand rents are a factor but for some shows it is accommodation, food and fuel costs (now becoming much more significant) which represent a large percentage of expenses. At one time, some exhibition managers looked tp cover a large percentage of their costs with stand rents, leaving them less exposed to ticket sales income fluctuations. For example, shows that have a degree of reliance on family/casual visitors, the weather can have a significant impact.

 

The type of the show has an impact on the sales a trader may expect. So, an etched kit supplier cannot expect to achieve much in the way of business at a one-day local show compared to the larger "fine-scale" orientated shows such as Railex at Aylesbury, ExpoEM, York MRS, etc. Increasing expenses for show organisers including venue rental and accommodation, travel expenses, etc. for exhibitors and demonstrators are likely to increase significantly. So everyone will be under greater cost pressures in future. Some shows are already falling by the wayside.  There may be fewer smaller suppliers at shows. Entrance fees may have to increase to absorb a bigger percentage of the show costs. 

 

Perhaps fewer shows may be a benefit, needing to provide a better experience than some do now, to justify higher attendance costs.

 

 

[30073818]

I have recently bought my first etched engine kit. It was at a smaller exhibition that was on for one day only. The kit is a Watford Tank from London Road Models and John Redrup was very helpful in giving advice and gave me a booklet entitled 'A simple guide to building etched kits'. The booklet has been a really useful read and I am looking forward to starting the kit once I have got the extra bits I need (gears, motor and wheels mainly). I am plannning to build more engine kits in the future as I am modelling Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead station in the 1930s and many of the engines that would have passed through are simply not available RTR. My daughter (5) was particularly interested in what I have bought and I expect that when I build the Watford Tank she will be watching and learning. Hopefully she will be amongst the next generation of modellers. 

I don't tend to go the big shows because living on the south coast it is quite a challenge to get to them. The biggest recently was in Southampton where I try to get to when possible. In fact, Tony Wright gave my son a BR coal truck a few years ago at that show and it now runs around behind various locos from the world of Thomas and friends.

[60027Merlin]

With regard to Markits I have received good service over the years from Mark adding in to that the enjoyable crisp north/south banter. However, a couple of years ago after speaking to him, I became aware of his age and as Tony mentioned in a previous post he now has 77 years old on the horizon.

 

Being of similar years I did not really fancy doing what he does on a daily basis and wondered back then just how long he will continue with all the attendant stress. If/when he packs up, all us kit builders/detailers are in trouble! When building kits etc. my mind often drifts to the potential non availability of his extensive range and wonder just what happens then? Will some parties be seriously interested or does it all disappear?

 

Eric

[Andy Hayter]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

There seems to be a just-about-even split regarding satisfaction/dissatisfaction about certain 'small' suppliers. 

 

 

 

 

That Tony I think is the telling comment in all of this.

 

It seems quite a number of satisfied customers have direct contact with Mark and have excellent service.

 

However the newbies to kitbuilding will not have that contact.  They will buy or be looking to buy a kit and go to the stockists for the bits they need to complete the kit - Wizard, Peters Spares etc. - and find that what they want is not available.  So the kit does not get bought/built.  Another potential kit builder lost to the market.

 

From a personal viewpoint I am on that spectrum, needing to be able to buy wheels with a plastic card.  I have enough experience to know that those wheels will eventually come back to the stockists and will wait.  Others will not know and will not wait.

 

I am not suggesting that Markit alone is responsible for the demise of kitbuilding but it certainly is not helping the potential new arrivals to take up the reins  

 

[Tony Wright]

16 minutes ago, 60027Merlin said:

With regard to Markits I have received good service over the years from Mark adding in to that the enjoyable crisp north/south banter. However, a couple of years ago after speaking to him, I became aware of his age and as Tony mentioned in a previous post he now has 77 years old on the horizon.

 

Being of similar years I did not really fancy doing what he does on a daily basis and wondered back then just how long he will continue with all the attendant stress. If/when he packs up, all us kit builders/detailers are in trouble! When building kits etc. my mind often drifts to the potential non availability of his extensive range and wonder just what happens then? Will some parties be seriously interested or does it all disappear?

 

Eric

Good evening Eric,

 

I think many of us loco-builders are 'worried' as to what will happen if Markits disappears from the scene. Though I do have many wheels in stock, plus axles/crankpins/etc, they don't cover all the 20+ loco kits I've yet to build. 

 

I'm sure others have succeeded in getting friction-fit drivers to run well, though I never have (and others too, if what's posted on here is to be believed - and it should be). I suppose it's how 'run well' is defined. A couple of my tasks of late have been to make locos 'run well' which have been built by a so-called 'professional loco-builder', and also get locos from the Brian Lee collection to work. In the case of the former, these were shod using friction-fit drivers and were useless. The quartering was suspect, any attempt at test-running resulted in crank pins unscrewing and/or the rods turning into metal spaghetti! Two tyres came off as I removed the drivers, and those tyres had gone rusty. Replacement with Markits drivers (though not the only solution) then resulted in three sweet-running locos (I rebuilt a couple of High-Level gearboxes as well), which Baz Oliver then DCC-d. In the case of the Brian Lee locos, only those fitted with Romford/Markits drivers have I been able to get running to my satisfaction. Even some with Romford/Markits drivers were 'beyond redemption', but those with friction-fit drivers were the worst runners. Granted, the 'Turbomotive' had originally been shod with Romfords, but these had been 'altered', resulting in a loss of efficacy. Replacement Romfords have resulted in 'perfect running'. 

 

I know if the only driving wheels available were friction-fit types, I'd cease to build locos. This has more to do with my own ineptitude with them than a criticism of the product - I've seen many locos fitted with friction-fit drivers which work fine. One I sold from a collection 'worked fine' on test (a beautiful EM Gauge Finney A3), but once on Retford (which is a loco killer!), the 'weakness' of friction-fit drivers was graphically-exposed as those wheels shifted on their axles under (heavy) loading. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[micklner]

Has anyone used the 4mm Scale Link Plastic/Metal Driving wheels which use Romford axles and crankpins ??.

 

I have just looked at their site and are they are still available.

 

https://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/Locomotive_Driving_Wheels_.html

 

 

[Northmoor]

10 hours ago, gr.king said:

As a (thankfully) past part-owner of a real-world business, I'm afraid that even if I were a hard pressed one-man-band the one thing I would now never again do is to employ anybody to help me. By the time you have trained an employee to be a conscientious real asset to the business, the law gives them all sorts of rights and you have almost no rights at all, just a load of costs and duties. As short-term engagement of untrained or not-fully-trained workers may not reliably help the business, remaining solo and of limited size seems to me the only option.

No offence intended, but that reads like the standard list of excuses from a portion of the self-employed, who blame everyone else for their inability to expand their businesses.  

 

I've never run my own business.  I've known plenty of people who do and most of those complaining about the problems of staff, I wouldn't want to work for either.  A common personality trait is a reluctance to surrender ANY control of the business, which means they try to do everything, including all the low-value-adding activities which do NOT require much time to train someone to do, such as packing and dispatching parcels.  By spending their time doing these things, they are not doing the things which they cannot find someone else to do and which generate the value, like actually turning wheels and axles.....  At worst, they never accept that the business is beyond them and sell up <cough> Cooper Craft <cough>.

 

The criticism of some small suppliers is not unreasonable (although I've not had any bad experiences myself*); if a business does not provide good service, they should be told so.  We're not expecting Amazon-like speed of delivery, but if it's going to take three weeks to send something, SAY SO ON THE WEBSITE.  This is Running a Business Lesson One stuff.  In the same vein, I get annoyed with volunteer-staffed attractions responding to criticism with, "We're only volunteers".  That is not an excuse; people should be put in roles they can perform, not just because they are there when required; availability is not a skill.

 

*Southern Pride, Fox, Railtec to name just three I've had recent good experience with.

[Barry Ten]

26 minutes ago, micklner said:

Has anyone used the 4mm Scale Link Plastic/Metal Driving wheels which use Romford axles and crankpins ??.

 

I have just looked at their site and are they are still available.

 

https://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/Locomotive_Driving_Wheels_.html

 

 

 

I couldn't get on with them, Mick. The problem I came to was unsoldering a crankpin washer, which although I tried to get in and out quickly, still ended up melting the wheel. I think they might be OK if you use the de-luxe type crankpins (which I can't get on with either!) or don't need to unsolder things, or are cleverer at unsoldering than me...

 

I still have a set to go on a 14XX so I will get around to using them one way or another but I'd far rather Markits wheels given the choice.

Edited November 30, 2022 by Barry Ten
typos

[Tony Wright]

10 minutes ago, Andy Hayter said:

 

 

That Tony I think is the telling comment in all of this.

 

It seems quite a number of satisfied customers have direct contact with Mark and have excellent service.

 

However the newbies to kitbuilding will not have that contact.  They will buy or be looking to buy a kit and go to the stockists for the bits they need to complete the kit - Wizard, Peters Spares etc. - and find that what they want is not available.  So the kit does not get bought/built.  Another potential kit builder lost to the market.

 

From a personal viewpoint I am on that spectrum, needing to be able to buy wheels with a plastic card.  I have enough experience to know that those wheels will eventually come back to the stockists and will wait.  Others will not know and will not wait.

 

I am not suggesting that Markit alone is responsible for the demise of kitbuilding but it certainly is not helping the potential new arrivals to take up the reins  

 

Thanks Andy,

 

A tricky one this.

 

I think the demise of kit-building (especially locos) is more to do with the inexorable rise in RTR standards (in all scales/gauges). Time was when to get anything like a half-decent loco, it would have to be built - from a kit or from scratch. Not now; in fact, such is the current high RTR standard that only the very best builders (certainly not me!) will struggle to equal it, let alone better it. Looking, say, at Hornby's latest 9F, I've never built anything better; I never will. In fact, my 'standards' aren't as high as most of the current RTR stuff, except in the abilities of my (heavy) locos to pull heavier loads. 

 

I know this is tangential to your point about difficulties in obtaining parts being responsible for a demise in kit-building, but I think it has more to do with these.............

 

Years ago, I scratch-built A2/2s (helped by Mike Edge initially). Then, DJH produced a kit for one.........

 

 

For which I test-built and wrote the instructions, building the first one for DJH (I also built the prototype). This is the third (I built the second for a customer). Ian Rathbone painted the prototype, two and three (the first remained in bare metal). 

 

Then, two or so years ago, Hornby brought out the same type..........

 

 

Its base green was (with justification) criticised, though I used the (60501) model to produce this example, altering it to suit 60502, which Geoff Haynes then weathered for me. Apart from Ian's superb painting, I think this is very close to my kit-built one (if not better) in terms of a 'layout loco', at less than half the price of a complete DJH kit. 

 

Who'd now buy a DJH A2/2?

 

 

Especially as in a layout setting (the fabulous York) the detailed Hornby A2/2 is a superb model (I sold it to Giles Baxter, by the way, because I never used it). 

 

And so, to the latest Hornby 9F........

 

 

Granted, this is much too clean, but it's an outstanding model.

 

As for detail.............

 

 

 

Even the mechanical stoker is present!

 

 

And a direct comparison with a DJH 9F. This was made by the late Roy Jackson (one of the finest loco-builders it's ever been my privilege to know) and weathered by Geoff Kent (one of the finest all-round modellers I know). Yet, even with such an outstanding pedigree, it's not as accurate as the latest Hornby 9F. The drivers have too many spokes, there's no horizontal handrail on the smokebox door and (I know you can't tell, anyway) there is no mechanical stoker. Yet (and here's a real irony), even at over £250.00 Hornby's latest 9F comes out at well over £100.00 cheaper than the cost of all the current parts to build this! However, which would I sooner have?????

 

Last year I built another DJH 9F........

 

 

Which I painted. Even though this has drivers with the right number of spokes, I don't think it's as good as Hornby's latest 9F. 

 

 

Despite Geoff Haynes weathering it to perfection (he's also weathering the Hornby one). 

 

These two V2s might be of interest (seen on my latest video).............

 

 

 

Such is the excellence of Bachmann's latest V2 that my friend, Gilbert Barnatt has sold this pair to me. They were built by Alan Hammet from Pro-Scale kits (!!!!) and became the property of Tony Geary. Tony detailed/weathered them, and for years they ran on Stoke Summit and Charwelton, before Gilbert bought them after both those layouts were sold. I rebuilt one mechanically to make it DCC-compatible. Both then ran on Peterborough North, until the latest Bachmann V2 appeared, and usurped these!

 

I have to say, I much prefer these (hence my buying them, and I don't own a Bachmann V2), but the latest RTR V2 is very good. 

 

So, I'm sure poor availability of parts militates against kit-building, but the current RTR stuff is much more responsible for this in my opinion.

 

All the above said, I still prefer to make my own locos. If nothing else, they're unique. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

 

 

 

[micklner]

14 minutes ago, Barry Ten said:

 

I couldn't get on with them, Mick. The problem I came to was unsoldering a crankpin washer, which although I tried to get in and out quickly, still ended up melting the wheel. I think they might be OK if you use the de-luxe type crankpins (which I can't get on with either!) or don't need to unsolder things, or are cleverer at unsoldering than me...

 

I still have a set to go on a 14XX so I will get around to using them one way or another but I'd far rather Markits wheels given the choice.

Would Gibson Crankpins fit ? or are the moulded holes too large?. Thanks

[Chas Levin]

6 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

The last time I visited Ally Pally (prior to lockdowns) I couldn't see anyone selling metal kits (apart from on the MR Club's second-hand stand), nor were there any wheels, motors, gears, etc, for sale; as for detailing bits? No chance.

Good evening Tony, like you I haven't been to Ally Pally since before the lockdowns - even though it's very close - but when I did used to go, all the kit and parts people were in a separate smaller room, off to one side, not in the main hall at all.

Please excuse me if you knew this already, but if you didn't and you were just walking round the main hall, then you wouldn't have seen very much that wasn't RTR.

I actually rather liked the fact that kits and parts, paints and other interesting bottles and potions were off in another room, rather than jostling with the big RTR boys, but if it means that people don't realise where they are, perhaps that's not so good...

[JamieR4489]

58 minutes ago, micklner said:

Has anyone used the 4mm Scale Link Plastic/Metal Driving wheels which use Romford axles and crankpins ??.

 

I have just looked at their site and are they are still available.

 

https://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/Locomotive_Driving_Wheels_.html

 

 

I bought a set for my J5 about a year ago and they seemed to be eccentric as the model rocked on the centre axle at some points in the wheels' revolutions but not others. I've read similar stories on here so it doesn't seem to be an uncommon issue.

[Willie Whizz]

1 hour ago, Northmoor said:

…

I've never run my own business.  I've known plenty of people who do and most of those complaining about the problems of staff, I wouldn't want to work for either.  A common personality trait is a reluctance to surrender ANY control of the business, which means they try to do everything, including all the low-value-adding activities which do NOT require much time to train someone to do, such as packing and dispatching parcels.  By spending their time doing these things, they are not doing the things which they cannot find someone else to do and which generate the value, like actually turning wheels and axles..... 

 

 

I agree. Lady Whizz and I used to work for the same employer, though not at the same office. When she was made responsible for supervising other staff, she would sometimes complain of one: “I could do that job twice as well, in half the time”. To which I had to reply: “ But that’s the point, you don’t HAVE (even) half the time now; you’re supposed to be doing more important things.”
 

It’s an important point, ranking alongside the so-called “Busy Fool Syndrome” whereby people choose to do the bits of the work they enjoy, rather than the hard bits that actually generate product and make money. A form of ‘displacement activity’ I believe. 
 

(And I didn’t want to comment about any specific ‘business’ originally, but thinking about it … Half an hour of “telephone banter” - really? And quite commonly, it seems?   And then how much is charged to make that supplier an income from his ‘work’?  No wonder so many people find building kits is expensive, and that traders can’t get stock …!). 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Willie Whizz

[Tony Wright]

21 minutes ago, Chas Levin said:

Good evening Tony, like you I haven't been to Ally Pally since before the lockdowns - even though it's very close - but when I did used to go, all the kit and parts people were in a separate smaller room, off to one side, not in the main hall at all.

Please excuse me if you knew this already, but if you didn't and you were just walking round the main hall, then you wouldn't have seen very much that wasn't RTR.

I actually rather liked the fact that kits and parts, paints and other interesting bottles and potions were off in another room, rather than jostling with the big RTR boys, but if it means that people don't realise where they are, perhaps that's not so good...

Good evening Chas,

 

The last time I went to Ally Pally, I think the idea of a 'scale village' had been discontinued. Unless I did miss it!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Chamby]

40 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

....  So, I'm sure poor availability of parts militates against kit-building, but the current RTR stuff is much more responsible for this in my opinion.

 

All the above said, I still prefer to make my own locos. If nothing else, they're unique. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

Theres a bit more to it than that, Tony.  Accuracy is one thing, I suggest that robustness and durability come into the equation as well.  Brass versus plastic...?

 

How many super-detailed RTR models will still have all their ‘bits’ complete after a few years running?  My brace of Accurascale deltic’s are the most superb models, but with everyday handling those bogie chains and other details still keep falling off...  they require regular maintenance to keep that detail intact. 

 

If you build your own model, you know what has gone into it, and how to maintain it.  If the finely detailed valve gear breaks on an RTR model, how many owners can fix it themselves?  Often the solution will be to replace it with another example, rather than fix it yourself.   I suggest that the life expectancy of a well built kit, if the builder continues to own it and maintain it, will likely be much better than the average RTR purchase.

 

Your layout and it’s most impressive locomotive roster is the culmination of a lifetime’s work, both in terms of input effort and acquired knowledge and skill.  In my case, having started out with my layout build and accompanying model collection upon retirement, I haven’t had that luxury and therefore have a much greater dependency on RTR products to achieve my goals.  But RTR does make those goals achievable, and more!  The range, quality and availability of RTR has opened up a level of modelled accuracy and detail that significantly enhances my enjoyment of this hobby.  Yes, if it’s available RTR I will buy it... and modify every one to suit.  And with items like the A5 tank becoming available soon from Sonic models, the list of what I can’t buy off the shelf also gets shorter every year.

 

But are the RTR models better than your own kit built models?  That very much depends upon your assessment criteria.

[rowanj]

1 hour ago, JamieR4489 said:

I bought a set for my J5 about a year ago and they seemed to be eccentric as the model rocked on the centre axle at some points in the wheels' revolutions but not others. I've read similar stories on here so it doesn't seem to be an uncommon issue.

I have used Scalelink  wheels, and find them satisfactory as long as you check the tyre is fitted properly... they can be a bit off, and it sounds as though this is what happened here. I add a touch of superglue to any I needed to tweak, and always check the back to back. I've never had success with their adapter to convert them from their normal insulated state..I don't know why..so fit pickups on both sides. As has been said, like all plastic wheels they don't like soldering irons on the crankpins, but I normally get away with using standard Romfords. This is another manufacturer trying to retire, so how long his stuff will be available is problematic. His bogie and tender wheels are also very good, but, like the drivers, are generic rather than loco specific.

Edited November 30, 2022 by rowanj

[john new]

21 minutes ago, rowanj said:

I have used Scalelink  wheels, and find them satisfactory as long as you check the tyre is fitted properly... they can be a bit off, and it sounds as though this is what happened here. I add a touch of superglue to any I needed to tweak, and always check the back to back. I've never had success with their adapter to convert them from their normal insulated state..I don't know why..so fit pickups on both sides. As has been said, like all plastic wheels they don't like soldering irons on the crankpins, but I normally get away with using standard Romfords. This is another manufacturer trying to retire, so how long his stuff will be available is problematic. His bogie and tender wheels are also very good, but, like the drivers, are generic rather than loco specific.

IF parts supply is to continue it probably needs consolidation so that all these small businesses are under one organisation in the same way PECO seem to be absorbing some of the subsidiaries. The problem with an ageing group of small interdependent suppliers is there is no resilience when one goes down. I have an old Ks Terrier that was my father’s with a warped chassis. I looked up Comet for an alternative, they do the chassis but all the other bits like wheels, gears and motor are extra and out of stock. Why would I buy the chassis kit from Comet* if I can’t also buy the wheels and motor etc as a complete package? Who will take it on? 
 

* which actually isn’t a chassis kit, it is half a kit due to the extras needed.

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by john new

[uax6]

11 minutes ago, john new said:

 I have an old Ks Terrier that was my father’s with a warped chassis. I looked up Comet for an alternative, they do the chassis but all the other bits like wheels, gears and motor are extra and out of stock. Why would I buy the chassis kit from Comet* if I can’t also buy the wheels and motor etc as a complete package? Who will take it on? 
 

* which actually isn’t a chassis kit, it is half a kit due to the extras needed.

 

Branchlines do a nice etched chassis kit for the k's (and Dapol) terrier and can supply all the other bits you need. I know you have to phone and speak to Brian, but its worth it!

 

Andy G

[t-b-g]

9 minutes ago, john new said:

IF parts supply is to continue it probably needs consolidation so that all these small businesses are under one organisation in the same way PECO seem to be absorbing some of the subsidiaries. The problem with an ageing group of small interdependent suppliers is there is no resilience when one goes down. I have an old Ks Terrier that was my father’s with a warped chassis. I looked up Comet for an alternative, they do the chassis but all the other bits like wheels, gears and motor are extra and out of stock. Why would I buy the chassis kit from Comet* if I can’t also buy the wheels and motor etc as a complete package? Who will take it on? 
 

* which actually isn’t a chassis kit, it is half a kit due to the extras needed.

 

 

 

 

If it is any help, I purchased a complete Terrier frame kit a while ago from Branchlines that I think is still available.

 

I used Gibson wheels which were very old stock (they needed the crankpin holes drilling out) as there was no correct wheel from Markits. I am glad it is beam compensated as it means that the wheels all stay on the deck even if the holes aren't exactly in the middle of the wheel.

 

The body was scratchbuilt in this case and the paintwork is by some rather highly skilled bloke called Ian Rathbone.

 

[billbedford]

44 minutes ago, john new said:

IF parts supply is to continue it probably needs consolidation so that all these small businesses are under one organisation in the same way PECO seem to be absorbing some of the subsidiaries.

 

Go on then...