News for MW's 5" Gauge Locomotive Customers

[steamfittings]

Hi All,

We are extremely pleased to announce that we have been able to reach a gentlemans agreement for the sale of the 5" gauge locomotive business. The purchaser would like to remain anonymous until the deal has been finalised but he has made it clear to us that it is his intention to contact all ModelWorks 5" gauge locomotive customers and give them the option of him manufacturing the kits for their incomplete engines. We are unable to give any indication on timescale or pricing and will not commit on his behalf but we do see this as the very best solution for everyone concerned. The purchaser has many years experience in locomotives and manufacturing and would be more than capable of taking such a project on.

To Steve and I this brings an enormous amount of satisfaction as it potentially enables every MW's customers who started a project the opportunity to complete their models. It at very least gives some light at the end of the tunnel for everyone.

As soon as everything is finalised and the paperwork etc completed then as far as we are aware the buyers of both the 5" and 7.25" gauge locomotive business will be in touch.

Regards

Dean & Steve

[duchessmike]

Well done Dean, good news indeed.
When will we get to hear from the Purchaser?
Mike

[steamfittings]

Mike,

We hope to have the deal done plus stock and kits moved by the week after Great Dorset Steam Fair (end of month). So hopefully locomotive customers might start receiving some contact during September.

Dean

[duchessmike]

Thanks Dean, sounds even better!
Good luck.
Mike

[locoworksnorth]

Well done Dean !
Regards
Locoworks

[russellkavanagh]

Hi I have just bought a Modelworks GWR Autocoach kit, however there are several parts missing, including wheels and brake gear.

Please could I have some information/advise on how to obtain the missing parts. Or if any people have any spare parts of the kit, I would be very grateful to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Russell
[e-mail]

[kiltman20]

Hi all:

Had a phone call from the engineers emporium in late January responding to an email I'd sent them.

They said that they were going to get to finishing the 14xx kits and would be dealing with them in March. I was delighted to here that they may be going to do something.

The impression I was left with was that they were finishing up some other locomotives first.

Has anyone seen product from them on MW 5" locomotives and are there any comments to give those of us waiting a reason to hope?

Thanks,
Rob

[kiltman20]

Looks like all hope must be lost if the response to my query is any indication.

Darn shame too - I was really hoping to finish my 1400 its a nice little engine.

Perhaps Polly will want my money.

Rob

[alanstepney]

It appears that if anyone knows anything, they dont frequent this message board.

I dont know that specific model (I know the 1400's, but not the Modelworks version) so cant comment on it. However, they are a fine looking engine and there is no reason why it shouldnt be able to be completed and got running.

I would guess that you and other builders have part of the loco, and are awaiting some of the kits. Which ones and what they contain, I have no idea.

I have also heard no comments on the progress that Engineers Emporium are making with them.

Hopefully, someone will know more than I do (not difficult!).

[baggo]

You would have thought after 9 months that the Engineers Emporium would have made some effort to advertise the fact that they have taken over the 5" locos from Modelworks but there is no mention of this on their website. Rob is probably correct in his assumption that 'all hope must be lost'. That's certainly the opinion of quite a few people I've spoken to

John

[spamcanman]

true, on there stand at Harrogate nothing was mentioned or advertised.

[fentmar]

I have a 14xx with 6 kits ( iam at stage 4) and actually took it to the E/emporium for a look and to see if Adrian was prepared to "build out" the project.

This was April 2009. Adrian took the model and said yes he would be prepared to build it out. There were some issues he raised re speaking to people re the cost of re-casting cab fittings (the more people requiring the fittings the less the costs would be) etc etc; that the completed build could take 2 years and that it would take him/his team a month to assess the work I had done and the cost to get a rolling chassis which was mechanically acceptable.

Well 6 months in and after 3 gentle chasers I have heard nothing.
Abysmal customer service and communication. Its pretty appaling. We are over a barrel but this is no way to create warmth of a client base heavily reliant on this party to help complete their models and recover significant investments.

As an aside I had a mail shot from dear old Dean and Steve asking for sponsorship for some charitable venture. Having been assured in 2007 when I bought the first kits that the company (Modelworks) was solvent they beg me for charity- I now sit here £4k worse off with sheets of worthless metal- what a joke! As I see it people have been seriously put out of pocket by the failure of modelworks yet the shareholders walked off scot free with the best assets- criminal not by law but criminal in my book in any case.

If anyone has any advice as to what juncture I can turn I'd greatly appreciate it-unfortunately my efforts to build my own steam loco have been an unmitigated disaster

[arron]

Hello

I was at the Midlands show on Friday and noticed that the Engineers Empoirium stand had a note up regarding their aquirment of the 5" gauge Modelworks range of locos.

It asked for folk requireing parts / help to get in touch......or words to that effect.

So, is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

Regards Arron

[richardearle]

Hi All
I to have been in touch with the elusive Engineers Emporium
regards to 57xx supply of parts but after umpteen emails and messages have concluded that they are all ---- and wind.
I am hopeing to get the chassis finished and will be speaking to a boiler maker when chassis is running on air at least.
Any one else out there looking to do the same contact me via this link to start with as to get together as a self help non profit group I have m/w`s drawings from kit 6 onwards
Richard (Bristol)

[fostergp6nhp]

It is sure a strange way of going on, buy the rights to a business and nearly 3 1/2 years later the customers are still waiting for the recomencement of parts production.