PRMRP Class 26

Discussion in 'Kits, Kit bashes & Scratch builds' started by Toto, Apr 9, 2018.

  1. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I checked my online banking this morning to transfer some cash to buy euros ( which I ended up not buying due to a drop in the rate, another story ) and noticed that PMRMP have taken the dosh for the class 26.

    Now .... to fill you in. I was a bit disappointed with the service not being carried out as stated on the telephone at the point of ordering. It was a week past the date that it was meant to have been dispatched and still no sign of it. So, I decided to email them and tell them that if they could not fulfil the order, just to cancel it. Well the cash is out my account as of the 18th but the transaction has only shown this morning. I have been checking daily. So it will be interesting to see when it arrives. It should have been Monday past at the latest.

    This could determine whether or not they receive any more sales from me. I was in no rush really but if they commit to a rough timescale ...... they should stick to it. I don't accept the " we are not a business " crap. They charge for the postage ....... post it. I never used to get too hot under the collar about these things , especially when I have no timescale on building it myself but I have noticed the abysmal service that some of these smaller company's have been getting away with ( especially in Pauls case ) and its getting right up my nose.

    they may be smaller one or two man bands but there still has to be some standard or at the very least keep people informed ( which I would have been happy with ) so they are kept in the loop. It was around £300 not a tenner and I like to be able to monitor the transaction in or out of my account.

    I am looking for the courier to be knocking at my door today. I'll keep you informed.

    toto
     
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  2. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    When I ordered my Hymek detailing kit (£200) and spoke to Mr Bessant I was informed they may not have all the castings to hand and it was cost effective for them to cast in batches which means casting availability is dictated by the flow of orders, however when I spoke to one of his sons I was told PRMRP had everything to hand available so it seems confusion reigns in that camp. Now add this little lot up and without knowing who else has placed orders and you start to see a bigger picture emerge because potentially here is a trader receiving orders that add up over time in the near thousand of pounds... certainly not your cottage industry where someone is selling home made scented candles as Christmas presents. I found much of the smaller white metal castings were either inaccurate representations or badly cast... luckily I was guided by some very experienced Diesel Hydraulic modellers like Phil Dyson and Rob Riley and also Steve on here as to where to go to get good quality castings. To me (and I'm not dissing the seller) but PRMRP are what they are... kits that were good in their day but are now not really a modellers first choice, I'd say they are just slow off the mark and could benefit greatly from partaking as students on a PR communications course at their local FE college.
     
  3. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    it wont do their sales any good. its the laid back " you'll get it when I can be bothered " attitude. As I said, if they said It may be two weeks as I struggle getting out of my kip and couldn't really give a toss " then I would make my purchase based on that. I might even still buy it.

    we'll see when it comes.

    cheers

    toto
     
  4. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Agreed Toto... the thing is if something is going to be delayed for whatever reason due to production or delivery issues then they should be up front and realistic about when you can expect to receive your purchase, this whole jargon offered about giving priority to family time makes you think they are only after the money and to heck with customer relations. I've got something on order from Gladiator which won't be coming yet, I got my jig ordered and both suppliers won't accept prepayment, it is enough for them to say when the items are ready so payment can be made. They don't even want part payment now... that is how it should be done I think and I'm happy to buy again from these traders. I know the Standard 4 purchase was a little hairy at times but came good in the end, the problem there was advertising something before it was even ready for marketing. The bottom line is we (as customers) need to know where we stand and communication from the seller is all important to us.
     
  5. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Well maybe my Class 26 will arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

    Toto
     
  6. David

    David Full Member

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    I've got to agree with you Toto, They may not be doing it as their main job, but all sales environments should be customer focused, whether they be cottage industry or high street national companies.
    I've found that quite a few smaller cottage industries can have the attitude of 'I'll get around to it at sometime', and they forget that it is us, the modellers that fork out their hard earned to keep their 'cottage industry' going.
    Pete Bessant Jnr works in the banking world, so really he should have more of a customer based focus, and to say it's only a hobby is just boll@cks!!! They make money from it to support their own hobby!
    Jim McGowan and Malcom Binns from Sidelines have the right attitude, purchase one day over the phone and said item is with you within 2 days!

    Rant over!!!
    Hope you get your kit soon Toto!

    David ;)
     
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  7. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    It's like I said to David they are accepting money in exchange for goods so they are in business and presumably declaring earnings for taxation, if they sent you the goods first and you decided to pay three months later then they (traders) would soon be on the phone asking where the money was. I fully understand Toto's angle... he wants his goods and when he builds it doesn't come into the equation. I quite agree that Big Jim is indeed a gentleman and trustworthy to the hilt.
     
  8. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    The wait is over.

    It arrived today. I have opened it for a quick look but haven't checked all the parts off yet. It looks ok. Motors, gears, wheels all there. I need to look for the drive belt thingies.

    The main brass etch looks ok although I've not had a proper look at it. Instructions could be better from my first impressions but again, I'll look and read in more detail later. Maybe they will be sufficient as they are.

    Seemed to be packed well enough. Good strong box and packed full of shredded paper.

    I'll maybe get some photos up later.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
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  9. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Getting further into it now. Instructions are poor at best. Probably not for the inexperienced. I could see a bit of guess work here. It may become clearer once read in conjunction with going through the parts list. Again, still to check further but I get the feeling ( due to an absence of brass etches ) that this won't be as robust as a Steve Beattie kit. I'll confirm or revised that comment later.

    Toto
     
  10. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    And the photo's. Having had a closer look at the parts, I have mixed feelings about the kit. In some ways better than my initial impression ( although my opinion on the destructions has not changed ...... absolute guff ).

    So we kick of with the Wheels, 2 x motors and gear sets ......


    all seems fine there then. Then we press on to the Delrin chain and sprockets etc .....


    Then to the buffers, some wiring and some brass mesh which assume is for the roof fans although I could be totally wrong.


    Now ....... one area that I am impressed with is the white metal castings ..... they do seem very good and crisp......


    Above ..... the cab steps, cylinders and allsorts of gash.

    Next up the roof castings, bogie sides and other bits and bobs ......


    and now its time for the brass frets ....... I am assuming that the etches to the bottom right are the cab fronts ..... which will need shaped I think.


    The next set has the strengthening pieces for the frame / main etch that I was looking for to give the whole structure a bit rigidity .....


    and then some window frames, fan blades and grills .... amonsgt other pieces .....


    Then its the main event ...... the loco body etch ...... Mmmmmm


    not quite so sure about this. seems a bit underformed ( if there is such a word.


    etches are a bit grotty generally but it was his last one and that will clean up ....


    inside shot .....

    and the last shot for now .......


    and there we have it. Maybe not quite as bad as I thought. Still does not seem quite as robust as the Steve Beattie kits but I must admit the area around the cab windows etc is a bit more substantial. Maybe that is down to the ergonomics of the prototype as I am really comparing this to one of Steve's class 21's or 25's. Not exactly apples for apples.

    To be honest .... I think thr destructions really set the tone before I looked closer at the kit. First Impressions and all that and they just happened to be the first thing that I looked at. Now I am not an experienced modeller at all but I think these instructions would see that I remain like that as they are very off putting and certainly will make me think about buying another. They ain't good. Not clear technically and from a visibility / readability , they are simply bad. Maybe I'm just extra thick.

    Could be a nice model ....... in the right hands.

    toto
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2018
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  11. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Looks like it will push you a bit, so maybe not que jumping just yet :avatar:

    You may have to read these instructions, then again between the lines :whatever:

    Paul
     
  12. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    yes ...... If I done it at the moment, painted it BR green ........ I'd have a good representation of a bloated cucumber ..... and I'm not keen on cucumber. :avatar:
     
  13. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Interesting to say the least Toto :scratchchin: good luck

    Ian vt
     
  14. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    I reckon you should put this one to the bottom of the pile mate. Get some experience building some of the others first.

    Pete.
     
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  15. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I'd agree with Pete, definitely get a few of the "Easier" ones built first to get some experience. I'm currently working on 3 different models, flitting from one to another as the fancy, inclination and extra parts availability take me. My "W Class" has reached the 'valvegear' stage, about which I know very little and instructions are 'Sketchy' to say the least, the SEF "N" class has no instructions, but the body went together easily enough having done a couple of similar kits, chassis is a Bachmann RTR for the same loco so no problems there, and I'm just getting towards the valvegear stage with my SEF "Schools" class, of which I have several RTR versions to use as a 'crib sheet' and hopefully copy from!
    Keith.
     
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  16. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Keep them going Keith. All eyes are on you. :avatar: Which is good cos that means they ain't on me. :avatar:

    Toto
     
  17. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm glad the kit arrived at last for you Toto, if those body angle strengtheners are the same etches as the ones supplies in Hymek detailing kit you may want to look at replacing them with thin brass angle pieces instead which is what I'm doing one the Hymek sub frame... when I get back on it again.:scratchchin:
     
  18. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Post up a piccie when you start up again. :thumbs: Any tips greatly appreciated good Sir.

    I saw a Hymek kit just lately on Ellis Clark trains. Came with motors, wheels etc and it seemed a good price. Can't remember exactly how much but I can remember being sorely tempted. It was. DJH kit from memory.

    I have a Heljan RTR version awaiting a decoder. ( which I have ...... A Zen Buddah )

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  19. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    No I didn't see that one, I've got some brass sheet on order which will make up the cab floors and part of the sub frame so I'll open the Hymek thread up again... I keep looking at the loco on the shelf and think oh how this needs finishing.:scratchchin: Toto just check your wheelsets on this kit because on my Hymek the destructions say on the wheelset one side of the axle screws into the wheel but on the Hymek this was glued solid by PRMRP. I had to pull the insulated wheel off instead in order to make the build, now this is ok until you have to take the wheelset apart several times particularly when fitting the Delrin cog for clearance then again when fitting the chain then again for painting... eventually the insulation starts to wear and the wheel becomes loose on the axle. Just beware and also file the axle bearing down by 1mm on the inside (only the axle that carries the worm gear) otherwise the Delrin cog has no clearance and won't line up properly. :facepalm:
     
  20. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I better buy a few more kits as I don' have a queue long enough to put this one to the
    Back of. :avatar:
     
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