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This page will keep you informed about the progress and development of various projects in our own ranges, and sets out our design and production policies.
  • Impetus  R&D, progress  Updated 18th March 2009
  • 'RooKits  R&D, progress  Updated 20th August 2012
  • Design  R&D policy
  • Production  Our policy

   5th March
2009

IMPETUS KITS

As many of you will be aware, re-introduction of this range has, unavoidably, been repeatedly delayed. This is not something we are happy about, or doing deliberately, though for some extraordinary reason, this is what some people seem to think! Work is continuing on the 7mm range, a start has been made on some 4mm items and preliminary steps taken towards the first Gauge 1 items. Nothing will be released in full kit form without first proof-building and writing improved and illustrated instructions.
Please do not believe everything you might read on certain internet modelling forums. The truth is NOT out there - it's here....

In progress are:

1:32 scale Gauge 1
????? Test etches received

7mm scale
Ruston 48DS
Ruston 88DS
Ruston 165DE 0-4-0  March 2009 - test etches received
Ruston 165DE 0-6-0 PWM 97/6  Some new casting patterns required. As a result of our improvement work, two new Ruston locomotives are now also in the pipeline
Simplex LNER  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Simplex GWR  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Manning Wardle K
Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Sentinel 100HP  For the resin-bodied version, pattern repairs and new moulds are required. A considerable number of you have indicated a desire for an all-metal version of this kit - test body etches are now to hand
Sentinel LMS  March 2009 - etches in stock, but a new casting pattern required
LNER Y10  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Hunslet 16"  A new chassis required

4mm scale
LNER Y10
Ruston 88DS
Barclay Fireless
Ruston 165DE
08 chassis

NEW IMPETUS LOCOMOTIVE KITS
There is considerable progress with new kits, which include amongst their number another Sentinel, another Simplex and a pair of four-coupled tank engines. One of the latter (7mm scale) has been test etched and proof built, all the patterns for the detail castings completed and moulds made. Two casting mishaps require a bit of a rethink, however.


IMPETUS ROLLING STOCK KITS
These all need some degree of reworking, and will have much-improved castings and better instructions. The wagons will now have etched W-irons instead of the cast ones supplied previously.

In progress are:

7mm scale
ex-WD Brake Van (test build stage)  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand.
LMS & LNER Ballast Hoppers  March 2009 - new stock of etches to hand.
LNER Coaches (new casting patterns now being made)
GWR Coaches (new parts in progress)
ex-SECR Railmotor coaches (new parts in progress) December 2006 update: new historical information means further new parts required for these coaches. More delay, but more accurate models!

Work is in progress on a couple of new items.

20th August
2012

'ROOKITS

It has always been our intention that this range of kits would also include parts to enable the accurate modelling of suitable flatbottom track. We have commissioned the production of special tooling for correctly profiled flatbottom rail - three sizes, to our exclusive specification, all available now:

Code   82/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 40-45lb/yard rails - £17.50 per 25ft
Code 100/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 60-70lb/yard rails - £19.50 per 25ft
Code 125/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 80-100lb/yard rails - £23.50 per 25ft

More details can be found on the What's New page.

For the metrically-minded, prototype rail sizes roughly equate as follows (7mm scale):

Code   82/7 - 20-21kg/m rails
Code 100/7 - 27-31kg/m rails
Code 125/7 - 41-49kg/m rails

March 2012 update: A start has been made on the drawings for the first of the Queensland Government Railways diesel locomotives.

Work on this 7mm scale range of Australian prototypes has unfortunately stalled recently. A major problem, now resolved, was that of track and wheel standards. The WAGR F class diesel is undergoing a few modifications and improvements where some previously untried ideas did not work satisfactorily. Several other items are being test etched.

The first steam locomotive kit will be a type found in both Government and private industrial service in Western Australia, Far North Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and on the Commonwealth Railways narrow gauge lines. Work on this is well in hand.

While researching for 'RooKits, it became apparent that a number of locomotives represented by kits in the Impetus range were used in Australia and New Zealand. It is our intention that suitably modified versions of these kits will be made available under the 'RooKits banner in due course. Amongst these will be variants of the Ruston Hornsby 48DS and 88DS, Simplex, Manning Wardle K class and 16" Hunslet.

For enthusiasts of the current scene, there is a large standard gauge diesel under development.

 

 DESIGN

Our aim is to produce a visually realistic working model, at a reasonable price.
When designing our kits, wherever possible we work from manufacturer's drawings and contemporary photographs, or published scale drawings, aided by our own comprehensive photographic survey and measurement of the prototype. Regrettably, in many cases the original drawings no longer exist, or are not readily available. Worse still, no prototype may have survived.

These constraints apply on occasion in the UK, but are particularly relevant to some Australian prototypes, and in several instances, we have had to make do with scant information. Because of the distances and expense involved, it is not always possible to nip out and check a detail or a dimension, so we estimate, or even guess. We make no apology for this, it is simple economics.

In an ideal world, parts would be included in a kit to cover all known variants or modifications, but again, in many cases this is simply neither practical nor economic. Generally, kits will be representative of post-WW2 period and condition, but in many cases will be either suitable for earlier settings, or readily modified to suit by the builder.

 

PRODUCTION

It is our policy not to release a kit for sale until we are happy to put our name on the box. This means test-building, proving that models assemble satisfactorily, writing and illustrating clear and simple instructions and ensuring the reliable supply from other specialist manufacturers of any parts (e.g. wheels, motors, etc.) which are required to complete the model.

If you haven't already done so, please read our Policy/Legal page.

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