Kenton

That is a very fair point for the plastic kits. Not the case for the brass kit ranges. It also does highlight the skills transfer issue. Sharman wheels being another good example of that. The lack of transfer of skills which are a vital part of the business is yet another over priced/valued part of the sale. The machines and the "friendships/network" built up over years also have a value far greater to the original owner. In the end the only items of some value are the remaining stock, often that has been neglected or wound down prior to the retirement. Probably the best course is for the new purchaser to forget the dubious investment and to go it alone from scratch. New drawings, new etches and make a solid name for themselves with a developing range of sought after kits launched at least a few years before there is a RTR equivalent. Happily for modelling there are some doing just that.

And that is exactly why we have lost all those ranges. Some inexperienced person with more money than sense didn't do his research and due diligence. Made an offer at the price that outbid his competitors (probably by some margin) or simply paid what the seller wanted. Like on ebay and any auction it may well be the highest bid wins but things still are sold for really stupid prices that far exceed their true value. I would argue that all of these businesses have been over priced and the buyer has bought based on their heart rather than any brain. They then realise the problems with the transfer of the business and near zero worth of goodwill and decrepit stock then are too embarrassed at what they paid to sell it on at a loss. There is still some operating profit to be made in all these kits (the evidence is on ebay) but no one is going to make a fortune and it involves time and hard work (something that seems in short supply or has too high a monetary value).

No it stalls, it seems.

Don't lose it they are hard to find and expensive to replace.

You obviously like a challenge For EM, I am afraid I would have gone with a replacement (probably Comet). I only have two routes when it comes to kit building. They both involve the "least painful/shortest time" approach so it is either build exactly as it comes (in this case as OO) or buy the most suitable alternative (modern replacement). If I have to cut and compromise - it will probably just go back into the box.

Neither a right or a wrong way - really down to personal choice. The usual recommendation is chassis first and that would be my choice - but only to get the engineering bit out of the way. I use a 25W iron for most whitemetal in 4mm but the heat sink of a 7mm is a bit too much for it. I would probably have to suggest a temperature controlled unit - my 50W tends to get a little dangerous and the metal becomes a bit too plastic! Again this all depends on what you re comfortable with.

You may wish to conclude that a complete replacement will be time better spent. DJH (remembering the era they were created in) are not known for their well designed chassis (probably part of the reason there are better examples out there Comet, et al). This becomes more of a truism when you attempt to build in EM. The rest of the drive train has been compromised for OO already and also for tight curves (another reason why there is no pipework). All this "extra" work will make it much more of a challenge than DJH ever dreamed it to be - but no doubt all the more worthwhile.

I believe the main problem with the photo and eventual reality in terms of the cab sitting high is potentially that the photo was taken with an incomplete kit. When building a kit for display or a photo session very little attention needs to be paid to making a working model. It would not surprise me if the model as photographed had no motor/gearbox or even if any great care was made making anything actually work. This is still the case today when a display model is the outcome rather than an fully functioning model. There is also quite a difference between expectations of prototypical exactitude. Many modellers still build or request to have built these DJH (and other manufacturer's kits) very much in the spirit in which they were designed and sold. Like many kits and RTR variations from the pure prototype image the materials, scale and gauge of the model imposes certain compromises. Or to put it another way - I think you are being overly critical of the kit, while I appreciate you wishing to add to and improve upon the basic kit and look forward to observing how you resolve the differences.

You are not alone. sometimes I think there are more who dislike painting than those who dislike building them. The undercoat is about as far as I get. As for lining and weathering, that's what I've heard as well - but considerably shorter than it would take me. The weathering would always be wrong anyway.

I don't think that someone who is suicidal thinks only of themselves, neither do they analyse with any degree of reason the impact on others. If curing the suicidal was simply a matter of telling them to "snap out of it" or "think of the impact of your actions on others" then there would be no more suicides. Depression comes in a wide range of mental states and as a condition it certainly does not mean suicidal. Most people experience depression in some form or other during their lives and some are more prone to it or more able to cope than others. Events that can trigger such episodes can vary from the obvious and understandable (perhaps loss of a job; loss of a loved one, a devastating medical condition) to the mundane and inexplicable (loss of a bet, inability to socialise, bad exam results) it is wide ranging. Thankfully, most of us have the ability to cope and pass through it as a part of life. To others, it can devastate their lives. To a few they see no possible resolution. I don't suffer. Hopefully never will, but who can foresee the future. But mental illness needs respect, as we know not when we might tread that path.

I did select my words carefully. So, I am going to disagree. The immediate family do deserve some support but that should not be at the expense of a honest appraisal of the dead. In many cases, especially in the case of children, it really goes overboard with the expressions of "angel virtues. I am certainly NOT in favour of pointing out the badness in the deceased (though the press seem to think it fair game with some adults) just say it like it is. Unfortunately for some they cannot pass through the grieving process. Like everything in life, there are degrees. The example given above is different from that of a motorist jumping barriers. The ages, assumed level of intelligence, competence and common sense, parental supervision/education/training, all play a part.

This always is the case. It goes along with the mentality that seems to say "never speak ill of the dead". Whoever it is is always presented as a perfect little angel who has never done anything wrong. I will never condone a death being presented in an overtly bad light or libelously, But I don't like the way the dead are made out to be god-like. Why cannot it just be annouced with honestly, the good and the not so good? A death can be tragic, it can be sudden or prolonged, it can be unexpected and unpredictable but is innevitable. It is sad, but I think the public see it as a part of the job. They think the same of the police, ambulance, nursing, pathology, military, undertaking ... professions. Indeed all those that can come into regular contact with death. They have some sort of built-in immunity?

  That implies something - but my lips are sealed

That is very much a matter of opinion! AFAIC the rest are just mere copies, ME2's, shadows ... Although I accept that not having any stock would be quite a problem when taking over a business (and would constitute the greatest part of any value in the acquisition) the trick here is all about marketing and maintaining any value in the good(will) name of the product. That good(will) has a very short life and is damaged quickly by gaps in trading, no matter how they are caused. Building stock levels is not an overnight happening and there will be orders out there for some kits in preference to others. Getting a handle on what is most popular and will fly off the shelf would be valuable customer knowledge on which kits should get priority. Most folk who buy kits would be reasonable people and will understand a delay as long as there is some progress report. Just vanishing into the unknown just makes buyers look elsewhere. (snapping up eBay kits at illy prices in desperation?; or, simply looking at alternatives.)

Two quick questions: 1 - Is the back wall of the retaining wall adjustable? I don't know where the prototype is from but it just looks far too deep for any that I have seen. 2 - I thought it wasn't possible to bend this wood, Yet that retaining wall communication tunnel appears to be quite a sharp radius form?

You could always start a sub-BritmodOO group where people produce modules from one level to another at a defined gradient. So start with a module with the true spec at one end and the subterranean-Britmod-OO groups spec at the other. Keep connecting and you could end up at floor level before rising back up to rejoin.

That simply presents you with a wood-working problem The shape simply does not matter as long as it connects to the adjacent modules.

With only a BIN price there is no chance of a realistic offer - really disappointed as the plywood alone should be worth a couple of ££ - the rest is the same place as where the plywood should end up .... on the fire. Even I have better "layouts" than that! But it is what eBay is all about - some idot will think it is an auction game and keep pressing the buttons.

But then you'd have to drink all that horrible tea just to get at the ballast.

Mmmm, another NBR shunter ... time to release some moths in May

Well still nothing but positives to post. The kit "bundle" arrived this lunch time. That is fast by local standards and better than expected. Now to open it and to find somwhere to lay everything out while having another read of the instructions.

I have used this stuff for card structures in the past (I think it is basically waterproof (when dry) PVA and what I was intending to use. Something similar no doubt.

From the excellent website they have listed all the parts included in the kit and it seems they have already included the corner braces. I do like your suggestion of the 'L' ali-angle, but from reading the "general" manual (pdf) also excellent in detail including photos - it looks as if the square strip in each corner may simply get in the way of the angle. The kit I will be building is the 2 road 'medium' engine shed and as it will be for a BritOOModule it will be in 4mm. The key difference will be to build it dead-ended. The whole principle behind these kits just seems to be "modern" and innovative. The use of a range of separately available component packs also really appeals and has great merits for scratch building/adaptation. Let alone potential for other kits becoming available - something that also seems to be moving at a pace. But I am yet to have the pleasure of building it - so I am quite hyped up by it ATM. Just as a small question regarding your experiences, what glue did you use. The implications are PVA as it should be water soluble and it appears to be white in the photos. Alternatives might be Copydex?

OK, usual warnings, here comes Kenton... and that usually means negativity. I have been watching this topic develop and have to say was starting to disbelieve <<sceptic>> Not having seen these in the flesh but with concept plans for a 2nd Module starting to evolve long before the first module is anywhere near complete (more of which in a later topic) a visit to the LCUT website stunned me with the cost of these kits. Are they really that cheap? How can any business hope to make a profit with those prices? Wow I am still impressed and the website WORKS. So having found something (more than one item) of interest I contacted LCUT with a question. Expectations were still low - I am not one of these folk who expects a small business to respond to emails in a timely manner. Incredibly almost by instant return an answer to my question and following more dumb questions from me a total resolution to my doubts. FIRST CLASS and OUTSTANDING communication. (All that extra time helping a customer make a decision - costs a business) So now, not only did I want the product, I felt comfortable spending my money with them. An order quickly followed. It is so hard to be negative and I am almost relishing the building of my kit - and that is saying something, because it isn't metal! NB. The real point of this post is so I can follow this topic, and to bump it up the list so others might read and take interest.

dunno about backed out - BLACKED OUT more like it That simply has to be the sale of the year!