DJM Dave

just as a thought here..... if the entire production moved to Oxfords current factory, could the factory cope? bear in mind we know there are many many factories currently being used by Hornby, add to it Oxfords output, them maybe a new 'super factory' which does both manufacturers, and given its would all be in house rather than spread, you could do away with staff that go from factory to factory in China all the time, and have more flexibility. The idea that you control a factory, and can therefore 'call the shots' is how things should be, so rather than wait for a production slot of, for example peckets, that take 12 months to come through, you drop a slower selling model and bash out a second run of peckets either in the same livery, or new ones, and ride the crest of that waive for a couple of releases. a new livery comes along? straight on it, no messing about. out in the shops within 4 months. Almost a perfect scenario if you have quick thinking and forward looking staff and your own factory.

No news is definately good news guys, The King is just finishing off then into the tool room, followed by copious invoices in both gauges and tooling for the 92. HTH cheers Dave

Hi Alan, Sorry, no update on the models yet. i'll post any updates once i have them. cheers Dave

hi mate, the files are there on post 860, a few have managed to download the software and viewed them, but i must admit i havnt yet. Hopefully Jamie will clear his pics onto the other site soon so that model stuff and chat is easier to find. cheers Dave

Hi mate, post 860 i believe, sorry, Jamie is in the process of porting his pics onto APT pictures, on this forum, and cleaning this thread up for me, otherwise you would have found them quite easily. cheers Dave

Hi David, yes both black with straw lettering and Indian Red are in the first batch of liveries. cheers Dave

Hi Roy, valid point, although dogfish, seacows etc can use the plough. However, what is a tad concerning is we arent talking huge numbers here..... 1500 models in total. Some will have the NGS kit, and out of mine...some will only need 1, some will need 2, some will want liveries from the second run, but 1500! so far orders for only 730 have been received with closing date for orders and into production of later this week. It's a little disconcerting to be honest. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, this week is the cut off date for stockists to order from me, so you need to get your order in almost immediately if you havent done so, so far. As for pre-orders from stockists, i have to say they are dissapointingly low, and at least 50% down on the minumum order run. It seems theres not much interest in this wagon, which is puzzling given their length of duty and era spread. Anyway, onwards and upwards Cheers Dave

Hi everyone, to try and keep the OO APT-P thread clear for notifications and updates, please use this section for any photographs you may have of the laser scanning day and the beast itself. Feel free though to post a note on the OO APT thread to tell everyone you have posted here. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, For the panoramic pictures please use this which was recommended by the laser scanning guys.... http://www.fsoft.it/FSPViewer/download/ cheers Dave

And here are some images (rough and ready) from the point cloud of the APT. please note these are not panoramic, merely standard Jpegs. Please note the work has now started on processing these into usable images the final cad to snd to China for design with a view to tooling. However i do not expect anything tangible for 2-3 weeks from the laser guys.

Hi everyone, Today i hope to have some first renderings from the point cloud of the APT-P which was laser scanned with some of you present last Saturday at Crewe. I have in the meantime attached 3 x panoramic files which you can download via...... http://www.fsoft.it/FSPViewer/download/ Meanwhile if you want to look at them as Jpegs on your system feel free to save the pics below (although you can also view them here too. cheers Dave

Hi everyone, Today's iteration of the King cad/cam for your thoughts. I have a couple of thoughts regarding the firebox top edge slope back to the cab, but i'd welcome thoughts. cheers Dave

Thought Andy had gone to 'moo moo land' for a bit there.

Hi everyone, i can now confirm that the King model will have 2 bogie frames. 1) without coupling box and fully detailed on the front and 2) with coupling box and partially detailed on the front it will come factory fitted with the coupling box version, with the 'spare' bogie frame, in the box for customer fitting. cheers Dave

Hi Kit, Hope your well on the mend thats a great pic, and i wonder just how long before it was sent scrap the pic was taken? cheers Dave

thanks to all, that made the event today. Hope you all enjoyed it, and it was a shame the weather didnt completely play ball. good to meet you and have a chat. as for the APT, the photograph above without the steps wont be possible again and apparently its the first time since delivery on site that the steps havnt been in the way of a clear photograph. cheers Dave

Hi Jamie, feel free to take pics of the event, but would add that it might be 'good form', if your getting anyone but my ugly mug in a photo as a relatively close up pic, to just ask if they mind. and 3d printing? not sure weve promised that to be fair. as an aside, Kit (Mr APT) sends his apologies as he wont ge able to make tomorrow after suffering a hear attack early this week, and is in hospital recovering. I've sent him my best wishes, and he's upset he wont be there tomorrow. cheers Dave

i think it will be quite a leisurely day out to be honest. i can see some of you sitting on the balcony watching trains. dont forget the steam special through crewe at 10.00am though. i have a feeling because of numbers, there will be multiple presentations over the day, and there is no rush to leave guys, you can go when you want or when your bored. lol, the heritage centre is ours for the day. cheers Dave

hi, not to late to order a second or third one or even a 4th one ;-) that option will close for crowdfunders once production is ready to start as i will need the definitive numbers by then. for non crowdfunders, once we are all happy with the cad/cam and all 3 versions to be made available, the cad/cam will be locked down and no new crowdfunders will be able to order at the crowdfunding price but can order as many as they want at the higher price. Remember that the advertised name and running number combo will not be offered again, even as a special edition etc, so you will be getting a very select, limited edition model. as for the gap, currently its radius 2, and the connectors between loco and tender are sprung to ease on curves and contract on straights. cheers Dave

And i wouldn't blame you to be fair. I know some would like but apart from tooling for a second bogie frame (which will cost) i'm not sure, given clearances needed that its a good idea either designing wise or aesthetically.

Hi everyone, More progress and a slight couple of back steps on the King Cad/Cam, but here's the latest one hot off the press form an hour ago. Things to note: 1) The BL**** horrible coupling housing on the front! i hate it, can see why its there, but dont want it. Opinions? 2) Splashers are thinner, but please note that the driving wheel flanges might be seen from certain angles 3) Buffer Beam corrected 4) Cab roof profile not corrected 5) Loco to tender connections designed and in place 6) Mechanism and chassis block currently being worked on 7) Tender detail not quite there yet. Anyway, on with the pics. As always C+C welcome. cheers Dave

hi mate, order before the deadline, and basically you'll have at least a couple fo weeks to get the deposit together, as i'm changing banking payment companies and this is dragging on. cheers Dave

Hi Everyone, Due to the change from paypal to Lloyds bank click safe online banking for all orders and payments, although orders for new NEW crowdfunding customers finishes tonight, payments wont be asked for until the Lloyds Click safe system is up and running. So far it's taken 2 weeks and could, in all honesty, take more. so as long as you order by tonight, your APT is safe at that price, and you are, like existing crowdfunders entitled to buy and further sets they may want to, before i announce a tooling date, at that same original crowdfunded price. Any orders after tonight go up to the previously announced amount. However, once i announce the click safe system is up and running, you wil only have 2 weeks to pay the first installment for the APT's you may have ordered. Reminders will be sent out though, so please dont worry, and i'll also be posting here and on my web site. Hope this helps? 10% chance of rain on saturday chaps, so it could be quite a fair day in store. Cheers Dave

the target is second radius, but that may mean fitting an alternate bogie. The fix for the light under the frames/ above the bogie is actually surprisingly easy. cheers dave