Sean

Honestly, I think this build will be a great respresentation of the a1/1, and will give Mr Martin many happy an hour with, which is after all why we do this It represents a way of doing things cheaper, but I wouldnt call it the best. Frankly there isn't a best way to make models as they all vary so much and what is available to the modeller changes all the time as well as their own circumstances! Every method has it's niche, and with the amount of varied people, I think it's great that everyone write's up their way of doing things, theres something for everyone! I think it would be foolish for anyone to criticise a way of doing something over the other or to discourage any singular way. My apologies chap I misread your meaning, the pitfalls of the internet! lol. I know what you mean though, sometimes it's nice to know where your money is going especially with all of life's responsibilities, none of which come free! I think the cost thing would be an interesting experiment for somebody to do, recording all the specific and even smallest of costs, laying it up as a sort of bill and publishing it to give people an idea of whats involved etc, unless of course somebody has already done that in which case I apologise. Again, tons of reasons why one would have one done, entirely the modeller's perogative and rightfully so! Definatly worth doing.

Obivously I can't quote pounds and pence, but of the options, I think this represents one of the cheaper ways to build a model. I am aware of the time constraints involved by large projects, but time is not really what was being demonstrated here. This approach demands a good amount of time to get it right. I imagine there are a range of reasons why one would commision a model, all equally valid. One thing a commision is not though is cheap, nor should it be, the results speak for themselves and I dont think anyone was questioning why someone would want to commision a model, more give you an alternative should this not be the direction you wish to take for whatever reason, that is not for anyone to judge really except the modeller themselves. Obviously what you save in money you lose in time like you suggested which I suppose it what makes it an option rather than a singular methodology for the hobby. There is never a way that suits ALL criteria (cheap, quick, creatively satisfying etc) It's all about what suits you and what makes you tick as a modeller. That is indeed a fair point, and is yet another way of going about building or attaining a model. Every method has its advantages, it depends on what suits various people, be that on a time, or financial or indeed skill level.

As I see things, this is a rather terrific demonstration on how one can create a non rtr loco type which looks good without it costing a fortune. It's all about playing the cards that have been dealt to you. You have money to put into a project, you put it in and often better results will come of it. Some don't have that sort of cash. It's not nessesarily an opposite side to the hobby, it merely requires a different approach to the same goal a bit of creativity in the methodology involved. End of the day, any modeling project is going to need work to make it to a decent standard. Both approaches require a certain level of expertise and effort and hard work to pull it off. No-one here that I can see is doubting that of the other. The defining difference is if you have a kit, you have alot of the decisions made for you into where to source the parts, detailing differences aside. Detailing differences are the extra mile a specific modeller goes to make a specific locomotive. That's his or her perogative and comes into it regardless of what method you employed to make the actual model. When you have to kit bash or bit a bit more frugle with where yoiu source components, then those decisions you have to make for yourself. Sometimes it makes for an easier build in places, sometimes it makes for a harder one. End of the day different methods suit different people and the budget thing is indeed worth mentioning in this blog because what Simon has very well done is started to demonstrate how one on a very limited budget can produce really nice results, but does not shy from the fact that if you have the funds available to pour into the project you should consider doing so and the wider options a larger budget opens up for you.