I just updated my web site reflecting the recent announcement that I'm exiting the HO kit business except for the SAL B7. Once those orders are shipped, I'll be out of HO manufacturing completely (but not HO modeling; sorry). The "HO Announcement" page explains what, when and why.
The main page has a revised page link bar on the left side. The S scale page now shows an additional prototype B7 photo and both decal sets (the as-built set (larger of the 2)) is included with the kit; the smaller set is available separately only. The HO B7 patterns await my attention to completing the body and getting it into production. The S scale patterns await other steps. Both of these have been long-anticipated kits but, as most of you know, a large portion of my business is contract work which ALWAYS seem to be super-time-sensitive. Without my industrial customer base, there would be no Smoky Mountain Model Works. Despite the best laid plans of mice and men (and me), my plans often get sidetracked due to the unpredictable nature of my industrial customers, such as the phone call I received yesterday at 3:00 from a panicked injection molder wanting me to produce and ship 340 unscheduled parts for Saturday delivery or he'll face the wrath of John Deere when they shut down a tractor assembly line because his supplier (not me) dropped the ball. All of my "plans" for Thursday and Friday just went out the window. Industrial work takes priority with few exceptions. With that said, here is the status of current and future S scale projects: SAL B7: need I need to design the door and roofwalk, then order patterns. Decals, molded steps and PRS ladders are in-hand. If you want a refund because this kit has been delayed way beyond my expectations, I will gladly do so. Contact me directly to work out the details. Please note, however, that I am producing enough kits to fill mail orders and dealer orders ONLY. If you later decide to purchase a kit, you'll have to contact a dealer or wait until a kit pops up at a train show or on line because there won't be any here to sell to you. Roller bearing trucks: modified injection mold and wheelset assembly fixture returned from shop yesterday. I "plan" to make a short test-run next week to verify the changes will work. If OK, production will resume shortly thereafter. Many sets of sideframe and bolsters urethane castings have been sitting in bins for a few months awaiting (1) more machined tires (they arrived about a month ago) and (2) modified injection mold. GP38 and GP38-2: NWSL drive parts arrived yesterday to build a prototype mechanism. $200 deposit per engine is now being accepted to "lock in" your order. I will produce low and high nose versions of both engines. Design of the GP38 will start after the B7 kits are shipped and during shipment of the roller bearing trucks. The C&O/CRR oval ended gon project has been shelved due to lack of interest. Since I'm leaving HO, there will be no HO CAD files to "upscale" to S and without at least full-retail reservations totaling 80+, there is no cost justification to make an S-only car. More to come but these are enough tidbits to keep y'all "interested" for now. Jim King Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. Ph. (828) 777-5619 <www.smokymountainmodelworks.com>
