> : Why do we put up with it?
>
> No one has these
> problems when kit or scratch building...
Let's just stick to Jinty's for the purposes of this discussion. BTW they
were never called that in Scotland - we called them 'Derby pugs' - we only
had three of them, thank God..
There is only one good 4mm kit for this loco, which is currently out of
production due to AG's outfit having passed on to new owners. You might find
one second hand, and by the time you have bought it , motored it, built it,
and painted it you will have little change from £100. I think that's a big
problem for 90% of present day modellers who are more used to paying about
£35,opening the box, and tipping the contents on to the track. There is
another little problem - you will need to be a competent wielder of the
soldering iron and airbrush which again excludes about 90% of the potential
owners. There are plenty of problems for scratch and kit builders, you'd
better believe it.
Why do you put up with it? Well, when I was a lad, this loco was only
available RTR in an appalling format from Triang with horrible wheels,
ghastly detailing (where there was any) and a very noisy motor - it was only
just recognisable as an LMS 3F 0-6-0 tank and its performance on the track
is best not mentioned. I think the last few years of RTR have spawned a new
generation of modellers (well, train set owners then) who have become so
used to near perfection in the trade's offerings that any tiny deviation or
hiccup from this state is seen as a major catastrophe, Combine that with the
perpetual whining about models they would like to see, and forum polls to
advise the makers as to their next introduction ( frequently some exotic
prototype seen only on remote branch lines) and the impression I get is of a
community which contains some very noisy and very spoiled people. Do try to
get some perspective into your thinking (and writing). To quote a famous
statesman - "You never had it so good".
The 'Railroad' versions now being pumped out by Hornby should be seen for
what they are. Cheapo re-runs (with a few mods) for the less discerning
modeller. No harm in that, if your bent is playing trains rather than
building a model railway. If you want top quality you are going to have to
pay for it.
Andrew Robert Breen - 18 Dec 2009 17:20 GMT
>> : Why do we put up with it?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>were never called that in Scotland - we called them 'Derby pugs' - we only
>had three of them, thank God..
Reminded of Smith's comments:
"They were like something George Stephenson had left over... drivers would
have never given them an affectionate name (like Jinty) - their scorn was
too great"
>Why do you put up with it? Well, when I was a lad, this loco was only
>available RTR in an appalling format from Triang with horrible wheels,
>ghastly detailing (where there was any) and a very noisy motor - it was only
>just recognisable as an LMS 3F 0-6-0 tank and its performance on the track
>is best not mentioned. I think the last few years of RTR have spawned a new
But, judged by even early 1970s RTR standards (let alone the 1950s, when it
dated from), it didn't look entirely unacceptable - and its crude chassis
formed the underpinnings of whole hordes of whitemetal kits..
{perceptive comments chomped..}
>The 'Railroad' versions now being pumped out by Hornby should be seen for
>what they are. Cheapo re-runs (with a few mods) for the less discerning
>modeller. No harm in that, if your bent is playing trains rather than
>building a model railway. If you want top quality you are going to have to
>pay for it.
And, indeed, probably more than adequate in appearance when viewed at a
distance on a scenic model: I can see no possible reason to complain
about a manufacturer offering high-quality full-detail at full price,
and a less detailed model at a lower price. Seems like win/win for the
modeller..
Shame there's just this ongoing emphasis on the Black Boring Period
of Decline and Decay... (personal opinion, that one..)

Signature
Andy Breen ~ Not speaking on behalf of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Feng Shui: an ancient oriental art for extracting
money from the gullible (Martin Sinclair)
Jerry - 18 Dec 2009 20:35 GMT
<snip>
: Shame there's just this ongoing emphasis on the Black Boring Period
: of Decline and Decay... (personal opinion, that one..)
30, even 20 years ago many people were fed up to the back teeth
of periods that they never knew, never mind being able to
remember and the then RTR manufactures got their ears (IMO) right
royally toasted each year about the absence of decent BR stock.
Saying that whilst assuming you were not commenting on the old
LNWR black and boring period?! :~)
Paul Boyd - 18 Dec 2009 17:51 GMT
> There is only one good 4mm kit for this loco, which is currently out of
> production due to AG's outfit having passed on to new owners.
Are you discounting the LRM kit? I haven't built it yet but it looks
good. Well, apart from the resin boiler/firebox top...

Signature
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.me.uk/
Alistair Wright - 18 Dec 2009 20:17 GMT
>> There is only one good 4mm kit for this loco, which is currently out of
>> production due to AG's outfit having passed on to new owners.
>
> Are you discounting the LRM kit? I haven't built it yet but it looks
> good. Well, apart from the resin boiler/firebox top...
Two points: The LRM kit is nothing like as nice as the Gibson one, if the
photo on the S4 Website is any guide. I don't like mixed material kits where
resin parts are glued to metal parts, especially if the metal bits are
brass. Brass is a 'greasy' metal which does not take glues very easily.
Secondly, can I up my estimate of what a kit built Jinty will cost you to
about £120 based on the LRM kit price? I bought my Gibson one some years ago
and I don't have an up-to-date price for this kit but I doubt it would be
£80 even at 2009 prices. If pictures were allowed on this forum I could let
you see my Gibson 3F Tank. You can of course see it if you pm me at
awhwright@btinternet.com
Alistair W
Jerry - 18 Dec 2009 20:30 GMT
: > : Why do we put up with it?
: >
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
: owners. There are plenty of problems for scratch and kit builders, you'd
: better believe it.
I wasn't implying that one doesn't, but any errors (certainly
with scratch building) are largely the fault of the builder and
were a fault is with the design of a kit, it can often be found
and put right with nothing more than a little bit of research and
some modelling skills, that was my point.
: Why do you put up with it? Well, when I was a lad, this loco was only
: available RTR in an appalling format from Triang with horrible wheels,
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
: get some perspective into your thinking (and writing). To quote a famous
: statesman - "You never had it so good".
Indeed, couldn't agree more, 30 years ago even most (so called)
highly detailed kits are worse than Hornby's "Railroad range".
Unfortunately most people have either forgotten or never knew
that era and all they want to do is open boxes and -
figuratively - tip the contents onto the track, as you suggest.
: The 'Railroad' versions now being pumped out by Hornby should be seen for
: what they are. Cheapo re-runs (with a few mods) for the less discerning
: modeller. No harm in that, if your bent is playing trains rather than
: building a model railway. If you want top quality you are going to have to
: pay for it.
...and possibly (learn to) do so 'modelling'...
Arthur Figgis - 18 Dec 2009 22:56 GMT
>> : Why do we put up with it?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> get some perspective into your thinking (and writing). To quote a famous
> statesman - "You never had it so good".
The "just take what you are given and be jolly well grateful for it"
attitude seems to be very much a model train thing. Maybe it's related
to the number of railway modelling vicars.
Other types of modellers happily rant that an inch-high figure has
1890-pattern shoe laces not the 1897-pattern, that an easily-added logo
is conspicuously absent from an aircraft tail, and they don't seem to
see gaps in coverage as whining.
> The 'Railroad' versions now being pumped out by Hornby should be seen for
> what they are. Cheapo re-runs (with a few mods) for the less discerning
> modeller. No harm in that, if your bent is playing trains rather than
> building a model railway.
Is there a difference?
Well, maybe for the sort of finescale layout where nothing actually
works and the scenery is rubbish, but hey, look, the rails are the right
distance apart while that layout where they trains run on electricity
rather than fingers has them too close together na-na-na.
> If you want top quality you are going to have to
> pay for it.

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Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK