John Isherwood

As you don't sign your postings I can't address you by name - so, TheWeatheringMan, Please read my e-mail again; at no point have I suggested that the scenario set out in my hypothesis is based on my own views. However, I do feel that it is likely to be a fair stab at the thought processes that preceded the GBL series coming onto the market, and which arise from the negative feedback which they are now receiving from a minority of their customers. As to my own standard of products and customer service, I would simply direct you to http://www.cctrans.org.uk/ . There you will find a tiny sample of the extremely positive feedback that constantly receive. As an example, a customer contacted me last evening pointing out that, in changing the wagon numbers on a second sheet of transfers that he had ordered, (to save him extra work), I had forgotten to duplicate the numbers over to the RH side of the sheet. No, quibble, just apologies for my oversight and a replacement sheet in today's post. So, please don't insult me by suggesting that, because I put forward reasons why the GBL locos are not pristine, and their after-sales service is poor, this somehow reflects my own attitude to my customers. I try to put forward logical arguments in my posts; clearly they are wasted on some readers. Hysterical haranguing, and suggestions that the 'authorities' could step in, will achieve nothing. Regards, John Isherwood.

One final attempt to make my points understood. Price of Hornby Princess : £120 Price of GBL magazine with freebie Princess : £9 Thus you can get a magazine plus a non-running Princess from GBL for 7.5% of the price of the Hornby powered version. How can this be achieved? In three principal ways :- 1] instead of investing in extensive research, scan someone elses model to get the basic dimensions; 2] dumb the model down to the most basic standard, whilst still producing something that is recognisable as its prototype; 3] keep production and distribution costs down to an absolute minimum. Looking at these factors more closely, 1] is self explanatory and does actually produce a model that is a good replica of the original model; (though not necessarily of the prototype loco). 2] involves reducing the model to the minimum number of components, and providing no moving parts; plus simplifying assembly and decoration work as far as is possible. 3] primarily involves achieving massive reductions in overall human input, as staff wages are probably the most expensive single outlay in producing these models. In other words, they have to knock these things out at a phenomenal rate ! Thus you don't worry about mis-assembly, missing components, wonky livery, etc.; in fact, you don't bother with quality control. As to distribution, you ship them out to major retailers en masse. Your target market doesn't know much about trains, and is very unlikely to notice the odd missing component or dodgy livery application. Once the series goes on sale, you discover that there are a significant number of railway modellers who can find a use for your freebies. In fact, they start badgering you for multiple re-orders that need individual despatch, and they complain about what are, to you, trivial detail defects. You don't get any other complaints except from this tiresome group of individuals. So, you second one of the office minions to dealing with this unwanted distraction; this person would much sooner be doing his regular duties and so 'can't really be @rsed' ! All in all, you come to regret choosing model railways as a subject for a series, as dealing with these nuisance customers is eating into your mass market profits. A very cynical view, perhaps, but probably not far from the truth. But - what can you expect for 7.5% of the cost of a Hornby model? All of the things that have been complained about could, of course, be eliminated by devoting more person-hours to production and distribution. But - would your mass market stump up £15 to £20 for a magazine and a better quality freebie? Not on your Nellie !!! Regards, John Isherwood.

I have, in fact read every posting in this thread - and I stick to my view. If the majority of modellers agreed with you, the GBL series would have been dropped after the first issue as hardly anyone would have bought them ! What do you expect for less than £10.00? They are selling magazines with freebies, at kids' comic prices, to Joe Public and his kids / grand-kids. That market doesn't expect perfect products and service on a par with the main-stream model railway manufacturers. Face it; most of these replicas are going to end up in kids' toy boxes or on aged enthusiasts' mantle-shelves. If some modellers choose to try and turn them into half decent models, they're not hurting anyone. The guy who buys a couple of crude T9s and bashes them into runners, with components he has in stock or picks up on Ebay, was never going to buy a couple of genuine Hornby T9s at full price. GBL has done the hobby a great service in that their basic, cheap mouldings have prompted a significant number of potential modellers, (as opposed to model buyers), to actually get out the tools and model ! So, if you don't approve - fine !! But don't expect the rest of us to get sniffy and self-righteous about this "rotten" company. .... and, just to put this whole thing in context, I haven't bought a single issue of GBL. I've more than enough projects lined up already to keep me going for the rest of my natural ! (Though I did buy at least ten of the YMRV Mk.1 coaches). Regards, John Isherwood.

Oh - come on !!! I can't see that the GBL operation is in any way damaging the companies whose products they clone in such a crude way. OK, they're making money out of someone else's research, but they're hardly competing with them. What this series has done is to show that there is a good market for loco bodies as spares; if modellers could obtain them in that way there'd have been a lot less demand for GBL. I am currently bringing up to current standards a number of 1970s / 80s locos. Why? Because there is much more modelling satisfaction in starting with a basic component and turning it into a presentable model, than there is in opening a box, fitting the accessory pack, then putting it away again. It is ludicrous that, when model manufacturers do offer spares, certain key components such as bodies are deliberately not made available. Surely, so long as the sum total price of a full set of components is more than the cost of the RTR model, there can be no argument for NOT offering all parts as spares? Just my two penn'orth ! Regards, John Isherwood.

Draught, surely - US ownership of breweries was no so widespread in those days ! :-) Regards, John Isherwood.

I'm afraid that the deathly silence from Hattons continues; I have had nothing other than the following acknowledgement. Dear John, Thank you for your email. I will pass this on to one of my colleagues who will certainly look into this matter. If we have any information then we will pass this on. I hope this helps but if you need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Kind regards, Michael CarneyRetail Assistant If other owners with concerns wish to contact Hattons, we can only hope that it wakes them up !! Regards, John Isherwood.

I think that, as a last resort, that's a good idea. However, let's wait until a week after I sent them my query - I feel that it would be reasonable to expect more than just an acknowledgement within a week. I'll get back to you all at the end of the week, unless I hear anything in the meantime. Regards, John Isherwood.

Just an update - apart from the standard acknowledgement, no reply has been forthcoming to date. Regards, John Isherwood.

Being concerned about the reported failures, I have just sent the following e-mail to Hattons; I will report any response. "I purchased one of your Beyer-Garratt exclusive models when they were released, and have so far only been able to carry out limited running on my short test track. It is likely to be some years before I can carry out extended running. I am reading on RMweb that there have been a considerable number of motor failures with these models, usually after extended running. Given the apparent frequency of these failures, I would imagine that you have, by now, established the cause(s). It would be most helpful if you could, via RMweb, advise your findings regarding these failures. If there are measures that owners can take to avoid future problems, that information could also be mutually helpful". Regards, John Isherwood.

If RTR stock is still tampo-printed, then an ink / paint design is conventionally printed and transferred to the model, and only one design per printed batch would be possible. If the marking is now directly sprayed onto the model via digital means, then your suggestion may, in theory, be possible. Regards, John Isherwood.

Jamie, Really useful stuff - the plastic card and scalpel will be coming into play tomorrow! Regards, John Isherwood.

As has been pointed out previosly in this thread, the cab roof vents of the Garratt are poorly defined and, perhaps, oversize. My usually reliable database of references has, on this occasion, failed to come up with a drawing which shows the cab roof vents. If anyone has access to a drawing which would enable us to determine the correct location and sizes of these vents, I for one would be very grateful for a sight of it. Thank you in advance for any help that you can offer. Regards, John Isherwood.

There there, Violet Elizabeth; when he gets home, I'll ask Botty to buy you a nice cuddly puppy instead. Regards, John Isherwood. (.......... with apologies to Richmal Crompton)!

I think that we can read between the lines - intellectual property - and the only ones likely to benefit would appear to be those of the legal profession! Ah well - those who want prehistoric models can get them on Ebay for much the same, or less, than the GBL price, and those who had hoped for a source of reasonably accurate loco bodies will be disappointed. Regards, John Isherwood.

Quite so - the carrier film remains, but conforms to the contours of the model. My technique of containing the carrier film within a coat of Klear displaces any air from behind the film, and softens the cut edges to the point that they effectively disappear. The Testors Dullcote restores the uniformity of the finish. Regards, John Isherwood.

Tony, The printed paper numbers look superb - I've nothing but praise for them. The multi-application waterslide technique would work - it'd just take longer as I'd apply each section in turn, starting from the centre character. I'd allow drying time in between sections; (which isn't long with Klear). That said, I don't offer BR steam loco number transfers specifically because everyone would want different numbers. I can't see anyone wanting to pay the inevitable cost of, say, the full set of numbers for a ex-LMS 4F, just to number a couple of locos. I was persuaded, though, to offer the original style of BR diesel loco numbers, and I was careful to select the printed numbers to enable most numbers to be produced from just a couple of sections. Of course, I am able to print my own numbering requirements as one piece transfers; complete with power classifications and sometimes even lining panelling or black background overlay patches. Such are the benefits of being a transfer producer. Regards, John.

Tony, Comments (intended constructively) on your waterslide transfer application technique. Why not trim more of the carrier film? It'll be much less intrusive if you do. Apply waterslide transfers, especially these tiny ones, directly into wet Klear lacquer pre-painted locally onto the intended location. Follow transfer application immediately, whilst the undercoat is still wet, with a local overcoat of Klear. The transfer is then effectively encased in a single application of Klear. When dry, apply your chosen finish; I start with a light spray of Testors Dullcote. Works for me - and I naturally use waterslide transfers almost exclusively! Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Re-wheeling - ideally, get some old-production Romford Jackson wheels with non-pin-pointed axles; the axle retainers can be released on one side by bend up the securing tags. If you can't source old wheels, see if Markits can supply the necessary wheels on plain axles - it's always worth asking. Rigging cord - green string as used in Meccano sets. Thick waxed thread as used by shoe repairers should be fine - though whether it is available in green is another matter; I used brown thread. Regards, John Isherwood.

Why would you need white transfers? The BR carmine and maroon liveries carried straw yellow lettering; the Rail Blue livery carried white lettering, but the letteringwas in a completely different letterform with both upper and lowercase characters. Regards, John Isherwood, Cambridge Custom Transfers.

Count me in for an etch. Regards, John Isherwood.

I couldn't agree more - that was my first reaction when I saw the comparison photo ... .... in which case my detailed Lima CCTs have gained a stay of execution. If you cut off the axleguards and substitute ABS Models cast ones, you can fit 14mm. dia. wheels. Some further simple detailing and you have a model that would pass muster in the same train as a Bachmann CCT. Regards, John Isherwood.

I was simply pointing out that at least one major outlet seems to have stopped keeping the thread title, using the shelf space instead for a publication that will have much less appeal to the proverbial 'man (aka person) in the street'. Regards, John Isherwood.

It seems that Asda Bodmin have discontinued this title - in favour of a new one entitled "Build Mallard" - or some-such. Part 1 includes cab components in etched brass for a 7mm. scale A4. Regards, John Isherwood.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-X-1-Litre-IPA-ISOPROPYL-ALCOHOL-ISOPROPANOL-LIQUID-99-9-CHILDPROOF-CAP-/251257846970?_trksid=p2054897.l5661 £6.99 including free P&P. Regards, John Isherwood.

It certainly isn't pristine - but looks cleaner than in the 1961 image posted earlier. It was, or just had been raining in the Ivo Peters sequence, so that adds a certain gloss! Regards, John Isherwood.