Scalefour Forum

kelly wrote:There is an article in the latest Railway Modeller about Parkside and wheel swaps as well as spare sprues, with comment from Peco about it.

Is it possible for you to let us have a brief summary, please, Kelly?

Noel wrote:

kelly wrote:There is an article in the latest Railway Modeller about Parkside and wheel swaps as well as spare sprues, with comment from Peco about it.

Is it possible for you to let us have a brief summary, please, Kelly?

when I have access again to the magazine (a friend has pinched it to read atm) I'll post a brief summary.

Brief summary:

Interview (Talking Points section) with Steve Haynes (Peco Sales Manager) about a number of items related to Peco.

It mentions kit PC13 has been withdrawn due to mould wear/damage. But if enough demand could be reintroduced at a later date. States intentions to grow and improve the range.

It mentions intention to appoint specialist companies to handle wheel swaps as demand was a surprise to them.Spare parts/sprues will potentially be offered it mentions.

Just ordered my first Parkside kit through the Eileens Emporium website along with some urgently needed metal sections. Chose the P4 wheels option and, in effect, have the kit post-free. A very good arrangement.

Thanks, Kelly. The intention to grow the range is interesting, but may only refer to O gauge, as that is where Parkside were mostly concentrating before the sale, presumably because of the range/standard of current r-t-r in OO.

Noel wrote:Thanks, Kelly. The intention to grow the range is interesting, but may only refer to O gauge, as that is where Parkside were mostly concentrating before the sale, presumably because of the range/standard of current r-t-r in OO.

It doesn't mention specifics. But oo expansion could occur. A watch this space type of scenario atm.

The fact they've allowed 3 traders to stock the range who don't have a physical shop is an interesting point made in the article (the lack of a shop was why c&l dropped peco products when sold).

The good thing is that the range is seemingly in good hands and will be with us for a while yet.

PeteT wrote:Back to Parkside...

Derek do you know if it would be possible to buy separate sprues? I appreciate you not necessarily wanting to add all the options to the already vast product list, but as you supply Bill Bedford chassis kits (others are available) it would be useful to be able to buy superstructures only.

If these were effectively pre ordered would it be possible? Or do you know whether Peco have a direct gateway for this?

Thanks,

That is something I will explore with Peco. Probably more of a problem for them than for me. I already have in stock all the "Accessories" they list in their brochure which includes a whole raft of chassis, but not bodies. As a "New" customer of theirs, and one who does not comply with their historical requirements, I am choosing to take it one step at a time. I suspect the demand may not be worth the effort, remember that will have a whole raft of beaurocracy to enable any part to be sold, and the quantities will be very small. To be fair to them they are still getting their heads around the whole thing.

Life is very different as an owner/supplier in that you can sell bits as you want. Very different as a larger company. One example is that Parkside used to take kits to shows and drop the appropriate wheels in at the point of sale. Peco simply cannot do this and their packing line will complete a run of one product and maybe another kit run will be held for lack of wheels because that cannot unpack form other kits. So their material stock holding needs to be larger to cope.

As to my "Vast"range, I was surprised that adding Parkside to the website has increased the number of products on the webite by 30%. With 3 scales of kits, multi pack and wheel swap variants it comes to about 1300 items. That is without Transfers and Wheels and I have not even looked at the S7 options yet.

As an update on supply, I have placed my second order for kits, increasing the depth of stock and meeting all orders I had received as of yesterday. With the weather last week causing disruption I am still awaiting a delivery of EM and P4 wheels so will be able to get orders for those out as soon as they arrive. Modelmasters transfers have arrived, but I am awaiting information to enable me to load them to the website.

There will be stock at Ally Pally, York and Scalefour North. We have some new display racking in and are refining a redesign of our stand so products are more clearly displayed. The limiting factors will be the level of stock I can hold and physically carry to shows (my Tardis Van is already complaining). Adding to that Peco seem to struggle to turn orders round as fast as I need when I have to restock between consecutive weekends. Hence my requests for pre-orders.

I will take this opportunity of thanking those who have supported me with orders. As you can imagine it has been a huge commitment for Eileens in both time and cash. I confirm that my intention is to make Parkside easily accessible to finescale (and other) modellers, both by mail order and at shows.

As an update regarding Slaters kits, I have recently been advised by Dave White at slaters that they are currently

just sorting out the instructions and the wheels at the moment

and following this the 4mm range should be available again in the near future directly from Slaters.

But to keep the prices in line with E-bay Slaters will have to charge £20 each.

Update to my earlier comments, Wheels are now in stock and on the website.

Tim,

Brilliant news about Slaters 4mm.......

Many thanks,

Steve

As Slaters focus mainly on 7mm shows their kits may be next on my list to stock.

Not wanting to overload you Derek.... , and to get more eggs in one basket, what about the South Eastern Finecast range of brick sheets, my current supplier(s) cannot deliver the goods.........
Rob

Already planned, probably shortly after S4North

Did the red panda range go to Peco as well?

jim s-w wrote:Did the red panda range go to Peco as well?

I don't think so. They are now available from H & A Models who seem to have taken over the distribution from Parkside Dundas.

Justin

Le Corbusier wrote:As an update regarding Slaters kits, I have recently been advised by Dave White at slaters that they are currently

just sorting out the instructions and the wheels at the moment

and following this the 4mm range should be available again in the near future directly from Slaters.

I hope this also includes the GWR coach kits and parts.

Steve

RobM wrote:Not wanting to overload you Derek.... , and to get more eggs in one basket, what about the South Eastern Finecast range of brick sheets, my current supplier(s) cannot deliver the goods.........
Rob

Now in stock