What makes a good kit?

[marsa69]

Hello again,

I thought I'd chuck in my two penneth's worth 

The only railway kits I've built so far have been Parkside and GJH Plant. Excellent kits as far as I'm concerned but the instructions could be better, especially on the GJH stuff. What I'd really like to see is a beginners/starter kit released with everything that you'd possibly need included in the price. That means kit, wheels (motors as well on loco kits), transfers, adhesives (or solder in an etched kit), paints......well I think you get the picture. Oh and decent instructions (did I already mention that?). In fact a bit like those Airfix complete kits you can get that allows an individual to buy the kit and then sit down and have a bash without worrying if they've missed anything out. A bit simplistic maybe but I think it would entice more people to have a go, plus I don't think many would mind if the price was slightly higher than if they bought everything seperate, as a lot of people would like the convenience of it all.

Time to duck behind the parapet 

regards,

Mark

 

[Jordan]

Keep up at the back that man

I think Ian has found my epitaph..... :scratch: ;D

I didn't actually go KERLUNK, as we were talking JLTRT, so I had braced myself already...

Re Cynric's problem with a fractured resin bogie frame... sounds quite prototypical, that does.!! Didn't the Deltics have trouble with cracking bogie frames when new??... I didn't realise "Just Like The Real Thing" meant including the real faults as well...

 

[28ten]

Thanks for the tip Cynric  :scratch: , It's begining to look like "Two steps forward, three steps back"  , my Western built from a thirty year old kit is capable & already has covered god knows how many miles without problems on my outdoor line, It looks doubtful weather my JLTRT Western will do the same without some re-engineering which should have already been done at the price    .............  :scratch: I think the only reason they dropped proper brass bogies is so they can claim their kits are solder-free  ???

Phill  :vista:

As you know, an outdoor railway will find any weakness, I doubt it would have happened indoors, but on principle I like my locos to be bullet proof !!

 

[28ten]

Very interesting thread this one.  I find that the trouble with most kits is that they are not designed for electrically powered, working model locomotives.
They might be scaled down from works drawings but the most important thing is the pick ups. They are useless without properly arranged , easily adjusted working pick ups. I've had fabulous kit built engines here with bits of hair like p/bronze wire bent all over the place to get round sand pipes etc . Completely useless which is why they end up here for me to sort out.  Forked ends to valve gear. The real thing had forked ends , why not the model?.  I solder bits on the back of valve gear which I then drill through to make a formed section.  On some kits the clearances between metal brake gear and live wheels  whilst they might be prototypical are a recipe for disaster.  As a pro builder I could write volumes on the wretched things which is why for my own models I use tin cans ( actually its difficult to get decent tin plate these days so I use nickel silver.
regards to one and all and keep the interesting opinions coming. Maybe some manufacturer will read these and take notice...
rgds
Graham Powell :wave:

I couldn't agree more about valve gear  if the joints are not forked it also flaps about like a demented chicken 

 

[Phill Dyson]

Hello again,

I thought I'd chuck in my two penneth's worth 

The only railway kits I've built so far have been Parkside and GJH Plant. Excellent kits as far as I'm concerned but the instructions could be better, especially on the GJH stuff. What I'd really like to see is a beginners/starter kit released with everything that you'd possibly need included in the price. That means kit, wheels (motors as well on loco kits), transfers, adhesives (or solder in an etched kit), paints......well I think you get the picture. Oh and decent instructions (did I already mention that?). In fact a bit like those Airfix complete kits you can get that allows an individual to buy the kit and then sit down and have a bash without worrying if they've missed anything out. A bit simplistic maybe but I think it would entice more people to have a go, plus I don't think many would mind if the price was slightly higher than if they bought everything seperate, as a lot of people would like the convenience of it all.

Time to duck behind the parapet 

regards,

Mark

I think the Tower/DJH kits are like that Mark, they include everything apart paint,transfers & solder etc, the diesels they do are 02,20 & 42, there was once talk of Slaters doing a class 37 but that came to nothing.
The only problem with kits in general including wheels, gears & motors is it would no doubt include some kit manufacturers mark up too .

Phill  :wave:

 

[marsa69]

it would no doubt include some kit manufacturers mark up too

No doubt it would but like I said maybe quite a few wouldn't mind as it would be more convenient for them. I'm especially thinking of the DJH 03 which has nearly everything except the paint/transfers,

regards,

Mark

 

[Phill Dyson]

As you know, an outdoor railway will find any weakness, I doubt it would have happened indoors, but on principle I like my locos to be bullet proof !!

I have never had bogie problems like that with other kits though...........perhaps adequate bogies supplied with the kit  have something to do with that though  :scratch: :vista:

Phill  :wave: 

 

[djparkins]

there was once talk of Slaters doing a class 37 but that came to nothing. Phill  :wave:

We sold our MMP Class 37 patterns to Slaters for this project - which came to nought.  I don't know what happened to them or who has them now.  I wish we had not sold them now - but at the time I thought it would be a good thing if there was a plastic kit available as an entry-level to diesel kit building.  Oh well you live and learn!  Its a pity, as they were a really good set of patterns - fully on a par with our 47 bogies.

David Parkins,
MMP

 

[Jordan]

... at the time I thought it would be a good thing if there was a plastic kit available as an entry-level to diesel kit building.  Oh well you live and learn! 

Now that would be right up my street... the failure was Slaters not seeing through the project, I take it,? not failure of the kit to sell (since it never hit the market?) So maybe the idea could be tried "again"... :scratch:

 

[Pugsley]

What I'd really like to see is a beginners/starter kit released with everything that you'd possibly need included in the price. That means kit, wheels (motors as well on loco kits), transfers, adhesives (or solder in an etched kit), paints......well I think you get the picture. Oh and decent instructions (did I already mention that?).

I reckon the Easybuild DMU kits are about the closest you can get to that, everything is included to build your 105/108, with the exception of paint and transfers.  The instructions seem pretty good as well, although it'll be a while before I get my 108 under way.

It's made of the same material as an Airfix kit too!  ;D

 

[djparkins]

Now that would be right up my street... the failure was Slaters not seeing through the project, I take it,? not failure of the kit to sell (since it never hit the market?) So maybe the idea could be tried "again"... :scratch:

But not with my sodding patterens!!!  Cheap deal to help them and ages to be paid - Bah! [again]

 

[Ressaldar]

Just picking up on this after the trip South.

I agree with most points already raised and would like to add - some 'proof' that the kit builds up to what it is supposed to be - a couple of photos - even one on the lid, would be helpful and encouraging. Also,a scale drawing for reference purposes - presumably, the kit manufacturer produced one at some stage of the kit development. This should apply to all rolling stock as well as locos.

regards

Mike

 

[iploffy]

As has been said before if you check on some of the sites like easy build there are instructions and a few pictures to show you if you are assembling the kit correctly. This whole sharing of information should take place therefore helping novice builders to produce a good model, that why I am a firm believer in the WB
Ian

 

[Phill Dyson]

I think Mike has made an excellent point all Kits really should include a scale drawing & some reasonable pics of a completed model ..........oh & please pack the kit in a box that the completed model fits in :scratch:

Phill  :wave: