Earl of Pembroke

So Heljan has announced 7mm scale BR Mark 2 coaches and a GWR Collett 2251 0-6-0 locomotive at the NEC jamboree. When we will see them? Perhaps Heljan can give a simple, consolidated update on the following long list of promised, but undelivered 7mm scale projects:

Class 03  - 2016

Class 50  - 4/17

Class 56  - 8/18

Class 17 - 11/18

Class 31/1, 31/4  - 9/19

Class 40 centre headcode  - 11/19

Class 47 retool  - 1/18

Class 117

Class 120 (rumour this has been cancelled)

Class 121

Class 122

GWR AEC Railcar 8/18

Mark 1 CCT 9/19

Here's hoping I will live long enough to see them.

Charles

The smart money is betting that Dapol will be announcing the actual delivery of some of the long list of models it has promised, but has so far failed to bring to market. That should be its priority, not the promise of yet more stuff that will take years to deliver.

Charles

I suspect the other manufacturers have been approached, but having done due diligence into the business and the principal decided it was not for them. It is noteworthy that the principal's previous business Citrus DM Ltd was dissolved by Companies House in 2016 through compulsory strike-off, having previously been granted an extension of its accounting period from  October 2014 to March 2015.  A compulsory strike-off is usually the result of failure to file company accounts or non-payment of tax. Here is the Companies House link: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07420392/filing-history    The mystery about what has happened to the Class 22 advance cash payments is a major question and while it remains unanswered is a deterrent to any potential investor.  As is often said on a certain TV programme, "I'm out." 

Charles Trelawney  

Businesses like this usually fail for one reason: lack of cash. This one was doomed from the start because it had no capital. Another recent failure was also due to lack of cash arising from the owner's inability to concentrate on finishing a project and getting the sales revenue in before starting on the next project. 

Charles

I saw this announcement on Facebook before it appeared on here. A minimum investment of £90,000 is required to breath life into this concern, but I suspect it will cost more than £65,000 to get the Ruston to market. I'm sure it is more complicated than pithing up at a factory with some tools. I am very concerned that it will take the putative proceeds from the manufacture and sale of the Rustons to finance production of the very complex Class 22. From this I infer that the cash from the Class 22 orders does not exist, so where has it gone?

I don't think this advances the situation and it certainly provides little or no comfort for those who have paid money for the Class 22 locomotive. Is anyone out there prepared to stump up almost £100,000? The trade seems to have answered this question emphatically.

Charles

Could we change the title of this thread from "...the end" to "...will it ever end"?  

1 hour ago, truffy said:

From an outside, and perhaps wantonly simplistic, perspective though, the circumstances don't appear to be the same. LLC's demise seems to be (in part) due to unforeseen health issues, while DJM's seems to be (in part) due to poor business management. The major commonality appears to be that a one-man band has no backup.

The other major common factor looking at the most recent published accounts for both companies on Companies House is a lack of cash.  

11 hours ago, MarshLane said:

 

 

With all due respect to everyone - Steve has said there will be updates published here when he has them.  Random thoughts and speculation from all of us who know bu$$er all about the situation, what's happening and where things are going, really do not help in these circumstances.  All they do is serve to wind people up who then start to believe what started as assumption, guesswork or otherwise.

 

Just cut the guy some slack and let it be. You may not like it but it is the responsible, respectful and adult thing to do.  No disrespect to anyone but social media, forums and the web in general at great at whipping up the negative chatter.  Just because we want Steve to publish an update, does not necessarily mean there is an update to publish.  I have confidence in Steve that he will do his best - all previous history shows that he's not the kind of people to 'chuck in the towel' quickly when things don't go to plan.

 

We'll find out what's happening, when it happens, good, bad or indifferent.

With even greater respect, what people want who have money at stake is their emails and telephone calls answered, even if it is no more than a holding reply with the promise of further information as soon as it is possible to disclose. This does not require a general announcement to the public.  

Mr Leathers was also the sole director of another company called Citrus DM Ltd Company number 07420392, which is listed as an "Advertising Agencies" by Companies House. This company was dissolved by compulsory strike-off on 12 April 2016. The last set of accounts for this company were 31 October 2013. Unless we start to get some news soon, I am thinking about bringing this case to the attention of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox programme, which is always interested in crowd-funding. 

CT

I too saw those Class 15s on the Digitrains stand. Mr Leathers needs to break his radio silence. I had rather a lot of  less than charitable talk and speculation about LLC at Doncaster yesterday. The situation is aggravated by the rather parlous state of LLC's published accounts for the year ending 31st October 2018, which seem to be light on cash. 

10 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

 

You certainly mentioned it to me, just as it was dawning on me how understated yet convincing the small glimpse of the actually railway is. I've been messing about with stock for 30 odd years but I've still never started a layout as all my ideas are a series of little snap shots, invariably as deep as they are long, which I've never worked out how to link up. Just running a series of cameos together would work for me as well! 

 

 

Quite a few of Ricey's designs propose a series of separated, but connected scenes. This one is on three levels, but could easily be adapted for use in the horizontal plane.  Ideal for all those Minerva and Ixion industrial locos and the Agenoria kits, which I am delighted to see are back in production.

Regards,

Charles

Virtua in Industria by Iain Rice.pdf

14 hours ago, steve fay said:

Base is kiln dried sand,  I also add talc

for a compacted ash look,  I spray the whole lot Matt black and weather with powders and paint mixed with talc 

Steve,

That's very helpful. I think I have some kiln-dried sand in the garage of the type for brushing into block-surfaced driveways.

Regards,

Charles

Has anyone had a reply from LLC about the Class 22 money situation? The latest accounts are not reassuring and there was quite a bit of negative chatter at Railex about LLC.  LLC's registered office is at "The Old Casino" in Hove; I hope that is not a portent. 

How do you so effectively simulate the mucky, ash ballast of a loco depot? 

It was great to see your layout at Railex. It is exquisite. The 0 gauge layouts at the show were first class and something to aspire to. 

Kind regards,

Charles

Little Loco Company Ltd micro-accounts for the financial year ending 31st October 2018 have been posted on Companies House. I have downloaded and attached a copy.  It would be interesting to know if the amount for Creditors includes money paid for the Class 22 project.

Charles 

Little Loco Company Accounts 31 October 2018.pdf

I've gone off Copper Clad sleepers,especially in O Gauge where the grain of the wood on the sleeper is so prominant, and takes really nice weathering and scenic treatments.

I scratch the surface of CC sleepers with a very coarse grit glass-paper to create a semblance of wood grain. More of an issue is the absence of chairs when assembling with solder, which is why I would only use such points in hidden areas. However, I think soldered CC track is passable in 7mm scale for light railway track using Code 100 FB rail.

Regards,

Charles

Oh no! I've been travelling and have just read the news about Hospital Gates. This layout is a classic, a definite goto attraction and it will be a great shame if the new owner takes it off the exhibition circuit. 

Charles

9615 is a Minerva 8750 0-6-0PT that I have accoutred and weathered for a customer. "Before" picture included for comparison.

Very nice. Would it be revealing a trade secret for you to describe how you weather your models?

Yours hopefully,

Charles

They do look very nice indeed and it is good to see they have at last arrived. They were announced by Dapol in November  2012 so why has it taken six years to get them to market? 

Charles

Has anyone used the Lincs couplings successfully? 

97173050-9A0E-4A68-A019-D8C51A3A6A69.jpeg5220AE82-F103-41F1-9B7E-74FC666472E2.jpeg48B66E93-A8C7-4FEF-86F7-E82E859F3238.jpeg0FD54BA9-E18B-4578-B0DF-54169BA52D32.jpeg

Coping stones added and fencing, more weathering washes needed and the fence will get some rust.

This takes me back to my school days. Superb work.

CT

Hi Charles,

The depth is 24.64mm and footplate to base of tank is 12.07mm

 

Regards,

Tim

Thank you Tim. That is very helpful.

Charles

I went to the G0G summer show at Doncaster last weekend. It was very hot and humid, but there was a good showing from the trade. A few more layouts would have been welcome. 

Still no progress on my TOAD and there was nothing to tempt me on any of the second-hand (pre-enjoyed?) stands. I must admit that the Connossieur kit looks tempting and everyone seems to have only good things to say about this brand, but I think I should start on something a little simpler for a first attempt at an etched metal kit. 

Regards,

Charles. 

This all brings back happy memories of travelling between Cornwall and points east in the early 1970s. I do miss the sound of those high-revving hydraulics.