Ryde-on-time

The thread about the previously announced E1 is here

A bit concerning that the website does not seem to display the companies registered number or address, a legal requirement I believe The return policy is also contrary to the consumer rights act in not refunding the original shipping charge and threatening a 20% restocking fee https://www.railwaymodelstore.co.uk/return-policy/ If this is a legitimate business which you hope to develop then I would suggest brushing up on the relevant laws which you need to comply with

Another vote for the coach. If you have a really hectic 8 days out there then perhaps going for the easiest option of the coach might be best. Even if the plane is slightly delayed there should be no problem catching the coach. Just a short walk from the terminal, get on and off to sleep! The train option will be tight and if your tired perhaps you don’t want the worry when the plane leaves late, your circling in a stack above Heathrow for ages, it takes forever to get off the plane, several A380’s landed just before you so immigration takes ages, waiting for your case etc etc. That is why we always drive to LHR when we could get a train from Leighton Buzzard or Bletchley. I have done it once, it was a stressful and unpleasant end to a great holiday

I thought the 30 wagon Llanwern trains were approx. 3000 tons (100 tons per loaded wagon)?

To start with I would check what time the flight tends to land. If you google the flight number websites like flightradar24 will confirm what time the flight has landed for the last few days. With planes making multiple short flights during the day, some European flights tend to run late in the afternoon as delays accumulate. Then work forward from that allowing for delays in the airport, an hour on the tube plus a bit extra

The next RMweb gold members event perhaps?

Not sure if there were proper comprehensive t&c's but if ordering an APT the order page states "Important Please note that so far there has been considerable outlay for this model including research and laser scanning. Therefore the money from this 25% deposit will go towards paying this, and the initial cad/cam design within China. It is the first installment of four that are required to finish and deliver this model, and as such you are therefore asked carefully consider this investment funding before you re-order." This would perhaps explain where the money went and why the pot is empty, the deposits from the APT, King, 92 etc have been spent on the initial research, CADs (and trips to China) etc https://djmodels.co.uk/product/br-class-370-apt-existing-orders

That is the philosophy behind the drive train on the £450 Rapido Hudson which seems to work very well. Details can be found if you scroll down their newletter 92 here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-Vol--92---New-Videos--deadlines-and-factory-updates-.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=lAXRjGa-Dq0 It does concern me just taking a few gears out if the factory would normally design a chassis with all axles gear driven as I would expect there to be a knock on effect on the connecting rods, something the factory might not be familiar with. From the start people were asking for a spec of the model loco and it seems apparent there wasn't one, rather than being the best possible model of the GT3 it seems to be what’s easiest and most convenient for the factory

Yes, concern expressed on Facebook regarding the drive train and also the possibility it will have an old style split chassis I find it interesting though that Rapido decided to use a similar drive train on their Ho scale Hudson steam loco, a premium price top of the range product. They apparently decided on the all geared design after testing a series of prototypes. It certainly seems to run extremely smoothly on videos and has had positive reviews from purchasers. It seems then that it is possible to make such a chassis work, we just don’t know whether the GT3 has had the same amount of development or whether it’s just what the chinese design team has come up with

Would that be the Business License which is a secret?

I was taught that people have to earn respect? It was Keiths decision to be so secretive, to go the crowdfunding route rather than get a bank loan, and to use the forum for publicity I have seen so many negative things such as his temper. Perhaps you could come up with one factual evidence based positive reason why someone would risk backing this project (the only thing I have seen is that Keith is “enthusiastic” , a more comprehensive list of attributes I feel is required to see this project through to completion)

BRM has done what in can at short notice by putting it on the World of Railways website https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/brm/reviews/dj-models/news-dj-models-goes-into-receivership & https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/brm/reviews/dj-models/news-dj-models-update The was also reported by them in a news e-mail on the 6th June which refers to that article

It’s obvious you like playing the victim and I am staggered at you attitude If you were to employ someone, perhaps a project manager to oversee a building extension, would you just keep handing money over to so someone unknown, with no known relevant experience, promising the earth, with no physical address to trace them, showing little evidence of progress and who gets aggressive when questioned? KRmodels is you, so questions are going to be partly about you

Another prickly and somewhat daft response The impression I get is that you feel people should be grateful to you for doing this project, they should shut up and blindly give you the money. I on the other hand think it is you who should be grateful to those interested in funding this model for you I don’t think your a crook. Concerns however make my mind does go back the the FTG wagon saga as another example of a single individual with no experience but trying to get a model produced. FTG was set up to produce modern wagons and the first, a simple SPA open wagon, was developed. It was researched, CAD designs done, the wagon was tooled and first EP”s shown on RMweb, however there were then problems with the factory (I don’t think the reasons were made public). Ironically it took Dave Jones to then step in, help rescue the tooling and get it transferred to another factory who did eventually make the wagons There are a couple of differences with your project - FTG were only trying to develop a simple wagon and it was not crowd funded (so the escalation in cost due to problems could simply be reflected in an increased selling price) Your role with the GT3 project appears to be one of project management but you don’t seem to know your customers (for instance people in the uk are suspicious of PO box addresses) and communication skills don't seem to be one of your strengths. China like all countries has its own culture and I can't see your style of communication going down well in certain situations. What is your plan B if you have problems or begin to run out of money? Would it be your plan to ask for further money rather than cancel the project?

Yes, someone unknown, in a different country, with no known business skills, with no known experience of working with the Chinese, hiding behind a PO Box address, with only vague details on their website and who is now asking for the second of three payments with little evidence of how the money is being spent. Yet some mad people refuse to just throw money at this venture and want basic info clarified! If this venture was run in a similar manner to Cavalex I would order but not as it stands

DJmodels did not originally announce 9 models, he originally announced the 00 J94 to be followed by 5 other models with the research shared with similar models in different scales - N gauge – Class 17, Class 23 and J94 O gauge – Class 23 and J94 The point about funding is that initially DJmodels gambled with his own money so it didn't matter how over ambitious he was Right from the start KRmodels is only gambling with other peoples money

It's easy to have a cheap dig at DJmodels but perhaps you should consider the facts DJmodels started with the intention of making one model, the Austerity, which would then go on to fund a small number of other models . His initial plans for his range were modest, supplemented with commission work. Dave was already well known within the hobby but he did not start with crowd funding, his initial plans were self financed. You, however, are unkown within the hoddy, are secretive about many thngs, and don't seem to want to put a penny of your own money at risk with the GT3 (unlike Cavalex for example who reach the point where they are ready to start tooling before asking for money)

The Class 71 was crowdfunded (although there were also some special editions available from Hattons & Kernow etc.)

It's interesting to see Larry behaving himself in the WT forums and I do wonder whether he's perhaps realized that he needs forums more than they need him? (RMWeb seems to be soldering on without him) He was a prolific poster on here before his ban. Perhaps he thought he was above being banned but it was only right to do so if he had had numerous warnings, it must have created something of a hole in his life judging by the time he spent on here There are only so many online model railway forums with so much modelling content which is hopefully having a bearing on his current behavior. Just a pity he didn't take the warnings on board

The problem is people are still willing to throw money at the KRModels GT3 with precious little info forthcoming Whereas the likes of Cavalex to me show how it should be done. They fund the research, scanning if necessary and design work to the point where the model is ready to be tooled before asking for the first payments. We can see what the product will be and the spec. In contrast KRModels have asked for the second (of 3 payments) already for the GT3 having shown nothing more than a few doodles on Facebook. There is no official body to police crowdfunding, it’s down to modellers to use their judgment and perhaps pressure new comers to do more to demonstrate they are worth backing

Perhaps it is? Looking at the KRModels GT3 thread, the second installment is already being asked for with only an incomplete CAD shown Lots of enthusiasm and positive spin from the person behind it though (although not many answers to difficult questions)

There are plenty of other consumer websites giving info on this such as Which, I agree that Money saving Expert is not perfect Where I disagree is about approaching a CC company saying "it’s certainly worth trying it". I would say it is definitely worth trying because by using a credit card directly (but not through an intermediary like Paypal) the purchaser has rights laid out clearly in Law in the Consumer Rights Act. A friendly approach is always best, and it might require firm persistence, but if people have a legitimate claim they should persevere.

Sorry, but that is not correct. For s75 protection the full price of the item must be over £100 (and under £30K) but you only have to pay 1p of that on a credit card to get protection. The DJModels website clearly showed yesterday that monies paid were deposits and the full price was over £100 An example is that you pay £50 deposit on a credit card for a £10K car with the rest paid in cash. S75 covers you for the full £10K Info can be found here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases/

Another thought is that while the website is still up and running it would be worth getting screen shots of how things are advertised - the king for instance showing the the payment of £67.50 is specifically described as a 'deposit'. A second payment of £67.50 confirms the full price is over £100 so eligible for a section 75 claim if direct CC payment. The more evidence the better

It seems you are saying that paying by Paypal should not make a difference to Section 75 claims when that goes against the advise offered on consumer website such as Which and Moneysavingexpert etc, respected newspapers and everywhere else online. Those websites indicate that it can make a difference if they act as an intermediary If that is the case what is your advise on how to pursue claims with credit card companies? It seems to me to be another case where an act needs to be updated (in this case the 1974 consumer rights act) to maintain the protection it originally gave to consumers, and to include recently developed online payment methods