Finney7

[Dikitriki]

Richard,
I’m guessing that’s the one Mick built last year, if so would it be ok to use the photo

Hi Warren,

Surely there can't be 2 of the darned things!

Happy for you to use the photos, but note I forgot to remove the invisibility cloak around the safety valve on the first one.

Do you want me to take it again?

Richard

 

[warren haywood]

Hi Warren,

Surely there can't be 2 of the darned things!

Happy for you to use the photos, but note I forgot to remove the invisibility cloak around the safety valve on the first one.

Do you want me to take it again?

Richard

Fine as is thanks mate, thought it was the one I did but you never can be too sure.
that bloody hand painted coat of arms was the give away.
Does look cool tho

 

[Pencarrow]

Nice to see a few posts in the Finney7 thread. Good stuff.

 

[7mmMick]

Managed to finally run Hogwarts Castle ( Olton Hall ) on Heyside. Thanks to @TheSnapper for the DCC gubbins, she sounds We had very mixed reviews this weekend at the SVR show, a Hall in very much the wrong colour for some but loved by the younger section of visitors

 

[Scale7JB]

Prototypical length of train for Olton Hall.

Not sure if it’s true but heard the story that the second half of the train in the film was cgi as Olton Hall couldn’t pull a full train of coaches. Not sure if it was the gradients or if it was in a bad way (think it was the latter).

Either way the owners have made a fortune renting it to the studios for the Harry Potter experience for so long!

JB.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

...We had very mixed reviews this weekend at the SVR show, a Hall in very much the wrong colour for some but loved by the younger section of visitors

Looks pretty smart in red - then I've no interest the GW whatsoever . However, if it attracts a younger generation to the hobby as it's easily recognisable it'll serve it's purpose - after all it should be fun.

 

[isambardme]

Managed to finally run Hogwarts Castle ( Olton Hall ) on Heyside. Thanks to @TheSnapper for the DCC gubbins, she sounds We had very mixed reviews this weekend at the SVR show, a Hall in very much the wrong colour for some but loved by the younger section of visitors

Dare someone post this video on the original WT Heyside layout site, which doesn't seem to have had many postings for a while.

Steve

 

[Silverystreaks]

Hmmmmm.... I would have much preferred the passing of the "Grubby Ivatt"

Incommmmminnng !!!!!

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi Folks,

With Guildex at Stafford coming up, we thought it was time for a news update.

Firstly, we expect to have a small number of kits for the new Princess Coronation 'Semi' available at Stafford. The kit will be based on the existing Princess Coronation kit with a new smokebox in resin, a replacement cab with the narrow front windows and new deflectors to provide the variant without the toe holds, both of which are in etched brass. The introductory price will be £615, which will be held until the end of Guildex.










Second, the 94XX has the last of the patterns at the casters, and once those have been approved and the production run undertaken, the kit will be good to go.


Third, the B1 moves on. The white metal patterns are with the casters, and we are in the process of preparing the lost wax patterns. There is still a final test build and the instructions to do so we are a way away.


Fourth, we are able to announce that our K3 is at an advanced stage. I now have the 'final' test etches to build, the production run of the white metal castings has already been completed and the lost wax patterns will go for casting after the 94XX have been done. Attached are some pictures of the first pre-production model built by Phil Gomm, painted by Paul Moore, and weathered by Neil Podbury (who provided the photos).







I shall shortly start a separate thread to cover the test build. No release date as yet, but if you want to put your name down for one, without any obligation, let me know.

Richard

 

[Dan Randall]

I’m not a huge fan of LNER locos as a rule, but that K3 looks a bit tasty!

Also, I’ve seen several pictures of locos built by Phil Gomm, posed on Kevin Wilson’s excellent “Bucks Hill” layout. Perhaps Phil (and for that matter, Kevin Wilson, who’s also pretty handy with a soldering iron), could be persuaded to join WT sometime?


Regards

Dan

 

[Phil Gomm]

pretty

Dan
I am on Western Thunder but have never posted my builds bit shy
Kevin my buddy isn’t on It though
Phil

 

[Dan Randall]

Dan
I am on Western Thunder but have never posted my builds bit shy

Hi Phil

In that case (and with apologies to the Finney7 team for hijacking their thread), welcome to Western Thunder!

Now the cat is out of the bag, perhaps you could overcome your shyness and post a few piccies of your past and current projects? I for one, would love to see more, especially your models of “Rougemont Castle” and BR era auto-train.

Kevin my buddy isn’t on It though

Another wrong, that could do with being righted. I know Kevin posts stuff on the GoG forum, but like your stuff, it would be nice if his work had a wider audience too.

We’re a very friendly bunch on here and we do like to see what people are working on, supported by lots of photos, but full size ones please - no thumbnails!


Regards

Dan

 

[oldravendale]

You will probably be aware that we have been working on bringing some new kits to market for quite a time now. We’ve given anticipated availability dates in good faith but in every case these have not been met. We’re letting you know the reasons for these delays and what we’re doing to correct them.

We hold our hands up in recognising that we’ve been far too optimistic in proposing availability dates for new releases and the re-release of a few of the original Martin Finney kits. None of us had been involved in kit manufacture before we took on the Finney range (some of us still have demanding full time jobs) and we’ve learned a lot in the last few years. A “baptism of fire” doesn’t really do it justice!

A major concern and one which affected some other kit manufacturers was the decision of the company manufacturing our etches to cease production at very short notice. Putting on one side an argument with the administrators which was resolved after many hours work on our part we had to claim and collect all our masters and even then at least one of these was missing. We then had to locate, introduce ourselves and test out a new facility which after a few hiccups along the way is now able to produce etches to our high quality requirements. This, coupled with a good pre-ordered supply of castings allowed us to continue to supply our established range of kits.

We’ve also had problems in sourcing lost wax brass castings. We have tested out a number of companies and all have, so far, fallen short of the quality we demand. In each case the production of the test pieces to prove quality has taken months before we’ve had to declare a failure. We simply won’t accept second best. However we are delighted to say that the latest test pieces we have received from a new supplier are of the very highest quality and will satisfy the most demanding of kit builders. The down side is that there is a delay in scheduling our work into production but we are hopeful that, once a product stream is established the required castings will flow to meet our continuing demand. After that test builds have to be completed and instructions written.

Bearing in mind our past experiences with trying to pull all the strands of new kit production to a successful conclusion we’ll not be proposing even “hoped for” dates for the new releases until at least we have all the required components in place as with the Semi which Richard has introduced above. We feel at last that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train coming in the opposite direction!

If you have an interest in our forthcoming new releases please keep a look out on the Gauge O Guild, social media, Western Thunder and our web site which will shortly be updated.

Brian

 

[daifly]

Brian

Thanks for the update but my normal first port-of-call for information from a manufacturer or supplier would be their website rather than scouring the pages of WT. Like many other people, Facebook does not feature in my sources.

With only 4 messages in 4 years, the Finney7 website is clearly not seen as a primary means of communication to prospective purchasers!

Dave

 

[Pencarrow]

Well done Brian and co for persevering.

 

[mickoo]

Brian

Thanks for the update but my normal first port-of-call for information from a manufacturer or supplier would be their website rather than scouring the pages of WT. Like many other people, Facebook does not feature in my sources.

With only 4 messages in 4 years, the Finney7 website is clearly not seen as a primary means of communication to prospective purchasers!

Dave

Sadly this is the demographics of an evolving consumer base, no point standing in thinning/empty halls advertising your wares.

It is true there are many who do not use Facebook, it is equally true that many more do.

The website will be updated in due course for those not on Facebook or Western Thunder.

 

[daifly]

Sadly this is the demographics of an evolving consumer base, no point standing in thinning/empty halls advertising your wares.

It is true there are many who do not use Facebook, it is equally true that many more do.

The website will be updated in due course for those not on Facebook or Western Thunder.

Mick

You presumbaly have tools to measure the number of your customers and potential customers who are on Facebook and those who aren't.

Also, a trader who stands silently in the corner of a trading hall won't sell much either.

Updating the website regularly perhaps ought to be higher up the priority list. A new visitor to the F7 website is shown a business that appears stagnant or even moribund.

Dave

 

[SimonT]

David,
there are other personal events that are going on unseen. These dictate the amount of time that can be spent on such things as the web site when there other F7 issues that require sorting. I find your opinions offensive.
Simon

 

[mickoo]

Mick

You presumbaly have tools to measure the number of your customers and potential customers who are on Facebook and those who aren't.

Also, a trader who stands silently in the corner of a trading hall won't sell much either.

Updating the website regularly perhaps ought to be higher up the priority list. A new visitor to the F7 website is shown a business that appears stagnant or even moribund.

Dave

No tools, just people we talk to.

Very hard to judge silence when your not there (alternative media platforms) to witness any dialogue?

With respect, we decide our priorities, not those looking through the window and if it's any consolation, sales have not been affected by the lack of web updates, hence focusing (business and private matters) elsewhere recently; if it had, that's our concern.

Shows (more so) and to some extent forums are interesting, lots of advice on how to run a business from people...who don't.

We understand peoples views and sentiments, but sometimes, we make the decision to do otherwise.

 

[daifly]

Just giving a potential customer's perspective. I wouldn't dream of giving advice on how to run a business. I would hope that a business might be prepared to listen to customers though.
I apologise if my comments have caused offence and I'll happily delete anything which is anything other than honest observation.
Dave