Didn't know wether to laugh or cry at this 7mm FINESCALE O GAUGE KIT BUILT BR BLACK 2-4-0 HOLDEN E4 '62781' WEATHERED! | eBay To describe it as built to a very high standard from a highly detailed kit is a joke. But then there are cowboys in every trade I suppose. I know of someone who bought a certain Korean built model from this person ( I was going to use another word ) only to discover that the crank axle and gearbox was falling to bits. Col.
Yes, he is one of a group of what I call "charlatans", many of whom reside in that auction site. I tried several times in 'the other place' to warn people about such folk but invariably such warnings fell on stoney ground. Caveat emptor. John.
I have had no dealings with this vendor but there is a 'respectability by association' with his whole-page advertising in the Gazette. I don't want to start a debate over the rights and wrongs of perhaps Guild censorship or the lack of. There is plenty of opinion (sometimes masquerading as information) online and elsewhere for prospective purchasers of any item from any supplier to get a flavour of what they are letting themselves in for. Succinctly summarised by John's post above. Caveat emptor. Dave
That is absolutely true, Dave. But if the Guild were to refuse this advertising where would they stand with continuing to advertise (or not) kits which we all know are far from fit for purpose? I am aware that you are being very careful to state that you are not suggesting that the Guild should necessarily censor such things, but the advertisements certainly do, by association, suggest an air of respectability. As you say - caveat emptor. Brian
Actually, I've recently bought a couple of US outline bits from them through eBay and found the items were good quality and exactly as described... They were also brilliantly packed and arrived very quickly. Steph
All I can say is that he can't be bothered about getting a bad name for himself especially when selling what is basically for decent folding stuff, I'd like to meet the mug who buys it as for the GOG ....doubt much will change. Col.
I know Ellis and he is a decent enough bloke. He advertised a loco he thought was painted by me that wasn't, when I told him he apologised and changed the item description immediately. I think the criticism of him is a bit over the top. Ok some of the stuff is poor but £450 for an o gauge tender loco isn't way too much, it's not upto our standards maybe, if it was would £2000 buy it? As for the Korean stuff, it drops to bits any way.
There was an article about Ellis and his newly-established business in one of the mags fairly recently. Now if you were talking about the infamous Gosturd that'd be a different matter.
Nnnnnggg, I'm not going to add anything further...: O GAUGE SCRATCH BUILT 3-RAIL LNER 4-6-0 CLAUGHTON CLASS '1096' | eBay Steph
It never ceases to surprise me that bidders on ebay pay virtualy the list price, sometimes more ! for model railway items, especially the wagon kits which usually end up more when you add the p&p Col.
And some wonder why the industry is slowing down.. I'm sure Jim would have loved a little extra in his pocket over Christmas. Besides its only £4.50 saved. Come to think of it thats two pints and 20 pence change in my local (depending on which local you go to).. In some it would get you a very swift half. JB.
Well, I did have a bid, but being a bit of a cheapskate and a bit strapped to boot I only bid just over £80 - it was at £72 with 9 seconds to go
But that’s the game, IMO. Choose what you’d be happy to spend, having regard for the postage and any other costs you can anticipate, and put that in as a maximum bid, and let it go. If you win, you won. If you lost, it was too damn expensive. Easy! Let all the other silly buffers do the sniping and spiking. If they spend over the odds, with no comeback on the original vendor, then they’re very silly buffers indeed Best Simon