New Year News
It has been quite a year, considering that a year ago today I resigned from my full time job to start Modelu!
It’s been a steep learning curve starting my own business, so thank you to all my customers who bought figures, to those that took the leap of faith and had themselves 3D scanned at exhibitions and for the patience people have shown waiting for their orders.
In particular I must thank Geoff Taylor, Tim Horn, Tim Shackleton, David Brandreth, Tony Geary, Paul Marshall-Potter, Tom Foster, the members of the SHAG P4 area group and Jonathan Matthews. And not forgetting the stars of the show, Jamie Green, Iain Ross and Tom Peacock, who posed for the range of figures!
Modelu started from a love of modelling and my own project Oswestry Works. It was meeting two former Oswestry men, John Dyke (Boilersmith’s Apprentice) and John Morris (Fitter’s Apprentice) that sparked the idea for 3D scanned figures, my plan being to include scale models of both of them in the model. I’m hoping to finally make this a reality in 2016.
Thank you all! All the best for 2016
New Year Product Developments
In the new year I’m looking to expand the range of figures considerably, with new connections within the heritage railway movement and some ‘living museum’s’. On the cards will be Edwardian/Victorian era loco crew, Modern Image crew & staff and more.
I will also have a solution for larger scale figures in January, from G scale upwards, these will be printed by a 3rd party most likely in a white SLS nylon material.
2016 will see a few developments on the detailing components front, most notably scale loco lamps in 4 & 7mm, GWR signal finials and BR pattern point rodding stools. After some success printing platform lamps for Geoff Taylor’s Barmouth Junction, these will also be added to the range in the coming months.
Design & Print Commission Lead times
It’s no doubt that I’ve struggled to keep commission lead times to acceptable levels these last few months. The success of the scale figures has meant the large part of my time has been spent printing figures and dealing with orders.
It’s all part of the learning curve operating on my own and I’m working on a new schedule for 2016 to divide my time better between fulfilling online orders, exhibition scans and completing design & print commissions. For the time being however, both design & print commission lead times will be at least 8-10 weeks depending on complexity
Exhibition News
2016’s first show is at the end of January where I’ll be exhibiting at Bristol O Gauge Show.
- Bristol O Gauge Show – 31st January 2016
- Lincoln MRC Show – 27th & 28th February
- Nottingham East Midlands MRE – 12th March 2016
- Railex 2016 – 28th & 29th May 2016
Comments (3)
Alan
Any news of me in 1/19th for my 16mm locos? The ones you did at Missenden Summer School.
I’m coming up to the Bristol Show at the nd of January, can bring a cheque.
Bob
Hi Bob, just waiting on some sample prints back from 3DPrintUK in white nylon. I’ll bring them along to Bristol to see what you think.
Hi Alan
It’s a shame to see you won’t be going to the festival of railway modeling at Ally Pally in March as been unable to meet you in person yet. All the best to you and Models in 2016 you deserve it.
Best regards
Michael Crook