Hachette Partworks O-gauge Flying Scotsman

QUOTE (dwb @ 28 Nov 2007, 21:39) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Will it be powered?
How many issues in the series and how much each?
Did they copy the locomotive / tender spacing from a current model rather than the prototype?

These series usually run into rather a lot of wonga.

David
Will it be pre-painted?
If it's DJH it's going to be good but expensive.

Hornby do a nice one in OO or Accucraft do one RTR in Gauge 1 for £1,185.00
http://www.dragon-gscale.co.uk/accucraft-f...ge-1-1137-p.asp

Here are a few points from the publishers:

- The kit will contain etched brass, metal and ABS plastic parts.

- The model can be either static or motorised, we will give the option later in the series of installing the motor. We have created an offer whereby we can provide motor, motor mount, controller, track, pick ups for a special price (details will be included in issue 5)

- There will be 125 issues to assemble the locomotive and tender, this will be a weekly frequency (although there is always 2 weeks between the on-sale dates of issues 1 & 2)

- Issue 1 will be 50p and includes a 'Getting Started DVD', issue 2 will be £2.99 and all following issues will be £4.99.

- Each issue of the magazine will contain step-by-step instructions on how to assemble the model. Other areas included in the magazine will be the development of steam trains, the history of British Railways and the great locomotives.

We rang the magazine company producing this and questioned them on it - Apparently the parts have not been made by DJH they only allowed them to use the drawings and moulds etc. After speaking to some other people we decided not to go for the collection because of a few things,

Apparently a lot of the kit has been produced in plastic instead of the usual metal / resin parts. This includes the entire wheel interior. Also the magazine company where very cagy on exactly when you would be getting the motor and how much it would be.

We were also told that the wheels are being made in china for them - does this mean they will not be as good as the ones supplied on the DJH kit.
Personally as the DJH kit isnt that much more i think id rather go for that knowing i would have a much stronger and better built locomotive. Although i can understand the switch to mostly plastic - it will be easier for people who have never worked with metal before - but doesnt this just defeat the object slightly............. Also now that they are using ABS plastic for the boiler this means that you will have difficulty fitting in anything like smoke units etc cause the heat that they create.

I have spoken to DJH engineering today and what a positive conversation it was!!

DJH are still supplying some of the parts for the kit.
Some of the other bigger items Hachette are having made either injection moulded or die-cast in plastic for mass production along with etched brass as well.

DJH are on week 16 of the build, yes they are building it themselves with the parts from Hachette so they(DJH) can write the build instructions.

The motor that is being offered from Hachette is the Sulzer one which has been heavily subsidised, it was recommended by DJH as the kit loco will be lighter than the original DJH kit and as such wont need the powerful motor. Add to this that the majority of these kits will probably never pull a full train of coaches then the Sulzer motor made the best compromise, although if you want you can fit the bigger Napier motor if you want to.

The guy I spoke to was very positive about the kit and very impressed with the quality and accuracy of the parts they had received from Hachette.
He really believes that it will produce a very good kit and will be a great start into 7mm kit building.
It has been designed with the novice modeller in mind, but as the build progresses they will give choices in the build manual as to wether you want to use glue or solder the choice will be down to the builder and what they feel confident in doing.

Hope this clarifies some points.

Ian