Is anyone interested in developping a new series of model engines?

[paulmichael1084Participant @paulmichael1084gmail-com]

@chesgreenuk
What a very useful and insightful post, thank you.

I take your point about international sales, and also about the USA and metric. The US market is potentially hugand has plenty of people with space for home workshops. I shall give that serious thought.

Your point about havign to source standard parts seperatley resonates with me a lot. If someone is unfamiliar with, lets use bearings as an example, it can be daunting to say the least when they get told “buy a standard 6002-C-2HRS-C3 roller bearing from FAG”. Especially if you don;t know where to start. Hence my idea is to offer full kits. 1 purchase with everything you need. In the words of Moist Von-Lipwig (Terry Pratchett charictor) “always make it easy for people to give you money”

Your idea of a complete home setup with machinery, tooling, kit and mentor is a brilliant one! I’ve neevr thought of such a thing and it is really a genius idea. You could also add in a buy back promise to alay any fears. Buy back if peopel want to upgrade, or if they decide the hobby is not for them. 2nd hand machinery from that could then be th ebasis of the next kit sold.
A really really good idea, and one that I will mull over.

Thank you

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Myself I don’t see newcomers to te hobby as being the typical “Spotty Youth”. I think they are far mor elikely to come from the 40-50 age group who’s kids if they have not left home will at least be over 18 and not need ferrying about, probably paid off the mortgage too.

I’m sure most of our suppliers would come up with a favourable deal if purchasing a “whole workshop” I know Ketan would have done and he offered discounted starter tooling packages with all his machines. But as to including a model engine kit, well I suppose it would be of use to those wanting to make that sort of model but a larger percentage of machines don’t go to the typical “model Engineer” Home workshop use may be restoring/modifying cars/motorbikes. Upgrading or replacing broken parts for that RC model. Or with more people using 3D printers there is a need to be able to make things like axles, pivots, inserts, bearings etc so that their assemblies can function.

I don’t think Paul will please all. If he only sells an all inclusive kit in metric that may or may not please Ches as although he gets the barstock what if he wants to work in imperial? Best option as I said earlier is castings only or a complete all inclusive set, metric at first then consider an imperial one if there is enough demand, easy enough to modify drawings these days. Even if you do an imperial inclusive set for sale to the US and old duffers chances are the US will want UNC and not BA which was favorite here. It is all capital outlay and stock that needs to be stored somewhere so keeping it to a minimum of options helps with the start up.

Myself I like to just have the castings. I’d rather have a decent length of bar to hold onto than a short bit in a kit and have to throw away what remains as seldom long enough to use for something else. May not apply to beginners but it would allow the more experienced buyer to deviate from the drawings if they wished, again something I certainly do and that often requires different size/type stock.

Competition and builders gallery on a website is a good idea but why not make the competition web based particularly if aiming to sell worldwide otherwise you will just get a couple of locals turn up.

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

Paul,

And right back at you 😉

You could also add in a buy back promise to alay any fears. Buy back if people want to upgrade, or if they decide the hobby is not for them. 2nd hand machinery from that could then be the basis of the next kit sold.

Good stuff!…even if delivery costs to and from base are not negligible.

We must always remember that the sums must add up for the supplier ie a decent profit margin, or a hook that leads to greater sales.

From what I understand most folks running around in new cars have acquired them on a lease agreement ie the upfront cost was scary, but the monthly payments not!

I’m getting away a bit from model kits, but it has always interested me in what the actual barriers are to people trying to enter the model making hobby.

Ches

[Ches Green UKParticipant @chesgreenuk]

Jason,

I agree with most of what you say, although when I started in engineering in my early 20s there were a few of a similar age in a Dept of about 100 folks that already had home workshops. But that is quite a few decades ago and times change.

ArcEuroTrade was a unique company which I sadly miss….I wish I had stocked even more when they had their sales on.

I think your skill level/knowledge is a few grades above mine, but ties in with your point that ‘hobby machineshop’ owners can have different uses for the equipment.

As for a model kit with each workshop sold, the kit would be acquired wholesale (ie at a lower price) …. the workshop seller could describe it as ‘free’, and the model kit maker would increase their market share. But that was just a casual suggestion by me….the sums would need to work out.

‘Web competition’…good idea, and low cost….winner’s prize notwithstanding 😉

Ches

[paulmichael1084]

On paulmichael1084 Said:

@grahammeek88282 Thanks for the extra information, and hat makes sense now. I was wondering why the block was brass, I assumed it was just an asthetic choice!
Really interesting there and what wonderful work you demonstrate. I don’t suppose you have drawings of the parts do you? (Incase that request raises a red flag I would never share or exploit any information given without obtaining you permission first, and would happily sign an NDA to that effect)

An article on these engines was published in Live Steam & Outdoor Railroading magazine some few years ago. While the drawings were supplied, these were not published.

I still have the drawings, in Metric, but it will take me a few days to update them to my latest drawing package. You raise no Red Flag with me. I have in the past sold the manufacturing rights to some of my original designs, but these are merely an adaptation of ETW’s original design so I cannot lay claim to them.

I will send you a PM

Regards

Gray,

[paulmichael1084Participant @paulmichael1084gmail-com]

@jasonb – I feel called out. I ma new to the hobby of model engineering (but as I say not new to engineering). I am 46 years old, and 4 of my5 kids are now adults. The only way I differ is that I dream of one day being able to get a mortagage!

[paulmichael1084Participant @paulmichael1084gmail-com]

@grahammeek88282 Thank you Gray, both fo ryour offer and your vote of confidence! I look forwardto your PM

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