peejay

I'm contemplating the ACE Kits LSWR H16 4-6-2T, but was also put off by comments from fellow modellers about their quality. However, surely they cannot be as bad as the old MegaKits ? I still have one for their S15 and it is truly dire. To even state it complies to the GOG standards was so wide of the mark it missed the barn, let alone the door !! I will most likely save up for the Gladiator S15 now instead.

Having proudly announced in a post above that I was buying an ACE kit, on arrival I found that the brass etches are of McGowan Models origin. That may not necessarily be a bad thing - I have no experience of McGowan - but it does highlight that one may not be buying what one expects. Even 'high-end' kits are not without their problems if what I have read elsewhere, both in the past and currently, is anything to go by.

No I don't think it can be applied to any kit.

Kenton

I think you missed the irony of my comment

The vast majority of true kits only require the supply of wheels, motor, gearbox and time to enable them to be built into very representable models of their prototype.

Any kit missing instructions, requiring the fabrication of some of its components rather than source from listed supply, requiring non-typical user tools (lathes ect) and the cutting/forming of items that could have been etched are certainly only scratch aids.

 

From what I have seen of these kits (only a look into a box) they are well deserving of the designation of "kit"

 

Of course there is a whole range of levels of "kit" from those which simply don't go together as instructed, to those that are simply a joy to build.

Otherwise I agree entirely.

And yes, my order for an Ace Products kit is in the post B)

Yeah, I read it yesterday, (soon as I opened the Gazette!), what's the chances of that eh? I think it concured with the posts here quite well, I thought the finished model looked quite good, but they do sound a bit challenging, though Ace Products do defend their corner quite vigorously and do make some good points in their defence.

 

Keith

Seems to me that the reviewers main gripe was that the kit did not contain parts from his favourite source, or made from his preferred material. To describe the kit as an aid to scratch building is somewhat OTT in my opinion - one could say that that applies to any kit currently on the market. Also it should be noted that his complaints didn't stop the reviewer from buying another kit from Ace Products so the kits, as supplied, can't be that bad. William Ascoughs response has actually encouraged me to order a kit from him.

Thank you both for your kind comments gentlemen, I'm not convinced about producing a professional finish, but I appreciate the sentiment, especially if you saw the solder lake I created on the underframe web that I spent 45 minutes cleaning off!

 

...<snip>...

 

 

Finally I'm off to take the bogie back off the underframe and give the whole assembly a bloody good clean before I go any further.

Boris you bad lad you didn't sign your timesheet!

Absolutely cracking work though.