grt
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Posts posted by grt
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Cambrian Model Rail has bought all the old stock of straight wire from the Liquidators of Eileen's Emporium and have listed it on our website at www.cambrianmodelrail.co.uk. We have also been in contact with the wire manufacturer and they have agreed to supply us with more in the future. Given the high sales in the 4 days we have had it listed with no advertising it would seem reasonable for us to continue to stock it. We also have a quantity of the metal section and some metal sheet but have yet to catalogue it. If you used to buy metal products from Eileen's Emporium and want some more then please contact us via email to cmr@cambrianmodelrail.co.uk and we will see what we can do. If there is the demand we may make this a regular stock item as well.
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I am afraid that the C110 is currently withdrawn from the Cambrian range due to ongoing production difficulties with the one piece underframe. The other 4 one piece underframes use the same basic mould with different inserts. The C110 involves the most convoluted flow of plastic due to the sunken floor which cradles the hopper and has always been troublesome. We have tried various solutions but none produce consistent results. Either the mould fails to fill completely or the plastic becomes brittle and sticks in the mould. The time expended on this issue has contributed to us falling behind in production of other kits and so we are taking a break from seeking solutions. The moulding machine we use is showing signs of wear and we may replace or refurbish it which might be the ultimate solution. Failing that the inserts may need to be reconfigured to produce separate solebars and floor. We will not give up on it but need to take a break for the sake of the rest of the range.
Graham Taylor
Cambrian Model Rail Limited
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Thanks for all the suggestions for new kits. It will be hard to come up with priorities. Common components where possible do help.
One piece underframes and bogies may ease construction but they are not necessarily a cost saving in production as they take longer to produce due to putting together and taking apart the more complicated mould. Also failure in one part of the moulding is a failure for the whole structure whereas with separate solebars and floor it is only a failure of 1/3 of the components needed and sometimes spare parts can be salvaged for further use. However it does depend on the mould. At the moment I can mould C43 Gloucester solebars more quickly and consistently than C35 RCH steel. I also reckon I can do both and their respective floors quicker and more consistently then C91 one piece underframes and their associated brakegear (still 3 mouldings in total even if 2 are much smaller) but it may be that I will speed up on the latter as I do more. I know that the extra work is partly reflected in the extra price. The C110 hopper one piece underframe is a pain that only works on the limits of the technology we use and I have 2 failures for every successful moulding produced. Again I may get better as time goes on. Barry has been a great help with advice and in the last month I have increased rates of production but are still playing catch up from the time in October when little was produced during the time of the business transfer. We are also experiencing higher demand than the average over the last few years which is why some kits are still out of stock.
We hope to produce a new kit with Barry's help to be available in the summer. Details will be announced in our next newsletter later this month. You can sign up on the website at www.cambrianmodelrail.co.uk
It is true that we have had a request from one retailer to supply kits with wheels on the same basis as that traditionally done by Parkside (which PECO seems to be continuing). We will be conducting a trial with them over the next couple of months. We would welcome comments either here and/or via the contact form on the website.
Graham Taylor
Cambrian Model Rail
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Thanks to everyone who has expressed support as I take over Cambrian Models. All the machinery and moulds are now in Kent along with some kit components. We are now seeing how many complete kits we can make up and will start commissioning the moulding machines. Having taken stock of what was collected we have decided to postpone opening the new cambrianmodelrail.co.uk online shop until 1st November. See the website and sign up for the newsletter which will go out next week for further details. I am noting the comments about product development.
Graham Taylor.
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If all goes to plan (and there is no reason why it should not) Cambrian Models will transfer to me on 20th October. Its new home will be with Cambrian Model Rail in Kent. I have been a modeller since my teens and trained as a Chemical Engineer at Nottingham University where I learnt the theory of plastic injection moulding. Now I get the chance to put it into practice. This is a new venture but I have been well trained by the existing owners. Further details can be found at cambrianmodelrail.co.uk. There will be a new onlne shop from Monday 23rd October with direct ordering and prompt delivery. Unfortunately there may be some initial supply issues as the existing owners Barry and Jean have had to deal with a rush of panic buying and some large trade orders so they will not be handing over much stock. With over 100 kits and components it will take me a few weeks to build up stocks to sustainable levels. That said a lot of the stockists will have good availability.
It is my intention to continue to develop the range. As my initial focus will be on manufacture I am in discussion with Barry about commissioning new moulds from him for models he has talked about producing but has not had the time to develop. What do people want?
I will continue to do exhibitions although exactly which ones is still to be decided. Chatham is fairly certain.
I have managed to secure insurance for product liability in North America. This is not as simple as some correspondents to other threads on RMWeb seem to think. They have confused the liability of retailers with that of manufacturers. Ultimately it is the manufacturer who carries the can if a customer sues for damage or injury caused by a faulty product. Customers might claim against the retailer but their insurance company will just pass it down the line to the manufacturers insurance company (like in a car accident if the other party is to blame) and if the manufacturer does not have sufficient insurance cover then they are directly liable. So if other retailers have supplied Cambrian products to N America against Cambrian Models wishes then it makes a field day for the lawyers if someone makes a claim. I have worked with 3 reputable and experienced Insurance Brokers to try and get the insurance I want. All had difficulty in persuading Underwriters to provide cover for sales to N America at a cost that did not exceed the likely value of the sales themselves. Even then one quote had a compulsory excess which was 8 times that for UK sales. Even with the firm I have got insurance from I have to sign a declaration that my sales to N America do not exceed a certain level. Breach of this clause will invalidate all my insurance. UK Insurance Companies have been badly burned by the astronomical compensation claims awarded by some American Courts and any business (Retailer or Manufacturer) that does not take sensible insurance precautions is taking a big risk.
I look forward to doing business with you all.
Graham Taylor
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Closure of Eileens Emporium
in Smaller Suppliers
Posted
Cambrian Model Rail have bought the entire stock of straight wire from the Liquidators of Eileen's Emporium and it is now listed on our website at www.cambrianmodrlrail.co.uk. we also have the metal sheet and section but this is not listed yet. If you used to buy this from Eileen's then email us at cmr@cambrianmodelrail.co.uk. We also sell Gibson Wheels!