We were allocated stand Number 20 in the corner near the exit doors, in the same position that we had when we last exhibited at Kettering. Ros, Bryan and I served on the stand and we were pretty busy most of the Show. This was the first chance for the public to take a close look at our Western diesel-hydraulics and they certainly generated a lot of interest. We had all livery options on display except maroon with small yellow buffer beams.
Bryan demonstrated the sound and lighting feature of several Westerns so that customers and visitors to the stand could see them in action. This included start-up of the first and second engines, illuminating lights in the cabs, the engine room, the headcode boxes and working the red and white indicator lights. Ten Westerns were handed over to customers who had come to collect them in person.
As well as dealing with many enthusiastic enquiries about the Westerns, we also had a number of steam locomotives on display including 57XX/8750 Panniers, 47XX 2-8-0s, 68XX Granges and 70XX Castles. Two customer models in lightly weathered condition were also on show, plus a Grange and 47XX both in BR lined green.
We would like to thank everyone who came to the stand and apologise to those of you who had to wait to be served or perhaps were unable to be served.
Next Show
Our next show will be the Scaleseven Group National Spring Show to be held at Albury Village Hall, Albury Hertfordshire – not far from Bishops Stortford – on Saturday 30 April 2022. 10am to 4pm. The address is The Bourne, Albury, Herts SG11 2JD. Travel by car is the only practical way of getting to and from the venue as it is not served by public transport. We plan to bring all of our various models for display and, on request, models for collection. Please put this date in your diary and we hope to see you there.
John Borkowski
10 March 2022
Western Diesels
We have upgraded the firmware and reprogrammed the decoders on 125 locomotives with 14 engines still to go to complete this part of the programme. The drive train has been enhanced with a new design feature on 40 engines with complete engines now being delivered to customers. We will be delivering more locomotives to customers individually by hand and at the Kettering Show. Following our programme of enhancement the models – both O gauge and Scale 7, – have been through a pre-delivery proving programme on our test track and I am delighted to say they run beautifully at all speeds, fully meeting our expectations. The remaining locomotives are now also going through the enhancement programme.
Review of the Western in the March Edition of Model Rail Magazine
Model Rail magazine kindly requested that we submit samples of the Western for review by their editorial staff. In the March edition a green ‘Western Emperor’ in Scale 7 and a maroon ‘Western Druid’ in 0 gauge are reviewed by George Dent and David Lowery. Here are a few of their comments:
“The Ultimate Western - Stunning”
“Captures the look of the prototype perfectly”
“There’s no doubt that Masterpiece Models has achieved its aim of producing as close a replica of the Class 52 as possible…”
If you would like to read the details pick up a copy of the magazine – it is also full of articles and ideas to enhance your models and layouts.
Kettering Show 5 March
You will be able to see the new ‘Westerns’ in person at the Kettering Show – their first public outing. We are on stand Number 20 in the corner near the exit doors, which I think is the same position that we had when we last exhibited at Kettering in 2019. Ros and I look forward to seeing you all there.
John Borkowski 23 February 2022
Kettering Show 5 March 2022
Just to let you all know that Masterpiece Models is booked to be at the O Gauge Guild Kettering Show on 5 March. After our forced non-appearance at the Wootton Bassett Show on 3 December last year due to a last-minute change in UK Government Covid Regulations, we are looking forward at long last to meeting our customers again at Kettering (details HERE).
This exhibition will be the first public appearance of our new 'Western' diesel-hydaulic which has had a fabulous reception from all individuals who have seen it, so do come along and take a look for yourself – you won't be disappointed! You will also have the chance to re-acquaint yourselves with the rest of our model range, including 'Castles', 'Granges', 47XX 2-8-0s and 57XX/8750 pannier tanks.
Class 52 Western
All the Desert Sand and Golden Ochre locomotives are now reserved, but we still have an excellent choice of Maroon Small Yellow Ends, Green Small Yellow Ends, and Blue Full Yellow Ends engines – all in both O Gauge and Scale 7. There are also a few Maroon Yellow Buffer Beamed locomotives for people interested in the very earliest 'Westerns'.
Deliveries of tuned and reprogrammed decoder locomotives to customers have started. We are working as fast as we can to rework all the reserved locomotives so they can be delivered with the latest decoder firmware and our new refinements to the transmission on these immensely powerful locomotives.
John Borkowski/19 January 2022
On behalf or Masterpiece Models this is to wish all our friends and contacts a very Happy Christmas. Hopefully at this difficult time you will all have time and opportunity to be together with your families and friends. Let’s hope that we can all look forward to constructive solutions to our economic and political issues and lessening of the world-wide COVID-19 Pandemic in the New Year 2022.
28XX and Collett and Modified Halls
We are still finalising some of the corrections on the 28XX and Halls mostly on unsold engines and hope to complete the work in January so we can ship the locomotives early in the new year.
Class 52 Westerns
We have rewired and reloaded the software on the decoders on nearly 30 locomotives. The mechanical work on refining the drive train has taken longer due to shortage of available working time among our engineers, but we expect to convert more engines in January. The value of doing this work has been proven by the fact that all the the engines treated run extremely well with all DCC functions operating correctly. The first customer deliveries will be made after the Christmas period is over.
70XX Castles, 68XX Granges, 47XX 2-8-0s and Panniers
We still have a good choice of these engines available for sale. Please enquire if you are interested. We also have a GWR 45XX flat tank locomotive available in first class condition and hardly any usage.
John Borkowski/ 24 November 2021
