12th
December
2007 |
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, although for some extraordinary reason,
this is what some people seem to think! Work is continuing on
the 7mm range and a start has been made on some 4mm items. Nothing
will be released 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:
(7mm scale)
Ruston 48DS
Ruston 88DS July 2007 - some
new patterns required
Ruston 165DE July 2007 - some
new patterns required. As a result of our improvement work, two
new Ruston locomotives are now also in the pipeline.
Simplex LNER December 2006
- some new parts in progress
Simplex GWR December 2006 -
some new parts in progress
Manning Wardle K
Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST
Sentinel 100HP (pattern repairs
and new moulds required)
Sentinel LMS
LNER Y10
Hunslet 16" December 2007
- a new chassis required
(4mm scale)
LNER Y10
Ruston 88DS
Barclay Fireless
08 chassis
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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:
ex-WD Brake Van (test
build stage)
LMS & LNER Ballast Hoppers
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. |
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20th
December
2007 |
'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 - two sizes are now available
exclusively from us, with a third to follow:
Code 82/7
- to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 40-45lb/yard rails
(expected May 2008)
Code
100/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 60lb/yard rail
Code 125/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 80-100lb/yard
rails
These sections can also be used
in 1/32nd scale Gauge 1 modelling to represent 20lb, 30lb and 45lb
rails respectively.
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
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March 2007 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 in recent months. 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 on the way.
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DESIGN
Our
aim is to produce a visually realistic 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. |
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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. |
