| 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
????? March
2009 - test
etches received
7mm scale
Ruston 48DS
Ruston 88DS March 2009
- new stock of etches to hand
Ruston 165DE 0-4-0 March
2009 - test etches received
Ruston
165DE 0-6-0 PWM 97/6 March
2009- new, modified tooling made, new stock of
etches to hand.
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.
November 2008 - 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" December
2007 - a new chassis required
4mm
scale
LNER Y10 March
2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Ruston 88DS March
2009 - new stock of etches to hand
Barclay Fireless
Ruston 165DE March
2009 - new stock of etches to hand
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. |
|
| 5th March
2009 |
'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
- £10.50 per 25ft
Code
100/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 60-70lb/yard
rails
- £11.50 per 25ft
Code 125/7 - to represent, in 7mm scale, prototype 80-100lb/yard
rails
- £12.50 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
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 during 2008.
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. |
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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. |
