NEWS LETTER ASAM MODELS MARCH 2008

INTRODUCTION

Another year on and thanks to our many customers we are still busy and have survived. The news from the toy fairs does not get any better and dealers seem to be suffering from too much stock and not enough customers.  Dumping is still going on and collectors are now waiting for the die cast prices to drop before they buy. We are pleased to still have the support of collectors who can appreciate a good model and we feel so long as we are careful in what we decide to make we can survive.   I am glad I resisted that urge to have die cast models commissioned as other have done.

We have now set a plan in motion which we hope will see ASAM Models set for the next 20 years. We have re-employed three of our original model makers from HartSmith Models, who to-gether with the four older members are now able to offer a better model making service with an enhanced range of models.  Over the next 24 months I plan to build up the range of models such that the future will offer a wider more interesting range of models and thereby ensure employment for the team of keen enthusiastic model makers for the future years.   We can now claim over 45 years of modelling experience which we hope will survive the flood of diecast material.

With the reduction in the NEC Toy Fairs we have decided to try the alternative shows of Shepton Mallet and the Ricoh in Coventry.   So far only the NEC seems to be living up to expectations but we will keep on with the alternatives for the next few shows. We will continue to attend NEC Birmingham England and NAMAC in Houten Holland. For dates please see the page on Shows. Collectors are welcome to visit or telephone the workshop Monday to Thursday. We would welcome some warning that you are planning to visit just to ensure Alan or Tony are there to welcome you and show you what we have to offer. We can be reached by email at any time and I am only too pleased to talk and supply information on models we have available.

We will try to keep the stock list of KITS and BUILT MODELS up to-date ready for IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.  I am also trying to update the all of the website and if you cannot see what you want please email and ask for pictures..  You can still select the model you require from the price list and you will have to wait whilst we produce the item required.  For kits we would hope to keep this to under 4 weeks but for built models this could take up to 4 months.

We have increased the prices for the first time in three years.  This is due to very high cost of metal and plastic raw material which has doubled in price due to demands the Chinese are making.  This  on top of the high fuel, gas and electricity costs means we have to charge more for our models.

LETOURNEAU L2350 WHITE

The Letourneau L2350 is now complete and there will be no more Letourneau models produced.  We hope the limited numbers sold will  make them a collectable model with the price increasing.  This is a sad moment having produced models of the L1800, L1800X, L2350 in both white and yellow colours.  Over 600 models produced across the range.

LAND ROVER MODELS

Due to other demands we have had to drop our plans to reintroduce Land Rover Models. We have retained the web sites http://www.landrovermodels.co.uk and http://www.landrovermodels.com and I hope to eventually have pictures of all of the Land Rover models we ever made for Hart Models, HartSmith Models, Transport of Delight and Enstone Emergency Models. I hope to complete this sometime before I retire. We have a few items left for sale and we are always happy to build any kits you may acquire.  If any customers have kits or can still buy kits we would be happy to build and paint them for you.   This goes for any of the military models from the old ANGEGO & EVERGREEN ranges.  We are also able to mix and match bodies to different cab and chassis.

EUROPEAN TRUCK MODELS.

We have produced the DENNISON,  PEGASO TRONER  &  SCANIA 110/141 and these are all available as kit or built models. We hope to include the LEYLAND MARATHON,   FODEN S80,   FODEN S83  &  RENAULT PREMIUM DURING 2008.  Watch this space for news on these models.

AMERICAN TRUCK MODELS.

We can now offer AMERICAN trucks with plated parts again for built or kit models. We will offer a selection of kits of our choice as time permits. This will include the range of Kenworths, Peterbilts and some Macks. We can also supply the range of LOWLOADERS as FLIP, 2x2x2, 3x3x3, SCRAPER and TAG TRAILERS. These will be available as kit or built, we accept we cannot compete with the price of the die cast models, but we hope we can offer quality, feel and hand built uniqueness.

HEAVY HAULAGE MODELS.

We have now completed the D100 10x10 & T75 8x8 NICOLAS TRACTOMAS used in South Africa by ROTRAN. These are now available as built models or kits. We have also completed the Chinese operated version of this truck. We still hope to follow with the NICOLAS 28 axle girder trailer operated by ROTRAN. This would allow us to make the complete rig of four Tractomas 10x10 and 28 axle girder trailer. We would like to thank DENNIS CHILDS for his assistance in supplying information on these vehicles.

The FAUN GOLLIATH is now well established and is available in the GEC logo with 8x8 axle GIRDER TRAILER. Then the ALTHOM version follows with 10x10 axle GIRDER TRAILER. The third variant is the ALSTOM version with 14x14 axle GIRDER TRAILER. Last of all is the ALE version with 15x15 axle GIRDER TRAILER. The smaller FAUN KOLLOSS is available with the 12x12 axle GIRDER TRAILER in both the NEW & OLDER ALE livery. There are some intermediate combinations with FAUN GOLLIATH in ALSTOM colours but with the NEW ALE livery. A nice variation on the FAUN's is the ex-military UNIPOWER M SERIES truck bought and converted by ALSTOM before they were sold to ALE.

Plans for future heavy haulage trucks are based on the PACIFC as operated by SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS and recently by ALE. Then we will look at the WILLEME's as operated by STAG, SCALEX and SCALES. We would also hope to include appropriate trailers to go with these heavy haulage trucks.

Another is the SCAMMELL version of the WYNN's PACIFIC and the 300 Ton GIRDER TRAILER which went with the WYNN's PACIFICS or the PICKFORDS DIAMOND T & CONSTRUCTORS. The NARROW and WIDE versions of the WYNN's PACIFIC is now available again in all six fleet numbers.

SCAMMELL PIONEER 100 ton heavy haulage along with some other older heavy haulage trucks are in our mind for 2008/2009.

We have a nice selection of DIAMOND T models in the form of the Nash converted heavy tow and recovery as used by WYNN'S.  In addition we now include the Rolls Royce engined soft top harvey frost recovery truck operated by SAUNDERS.  New BRS recovery trucks in red and yellow using the TFL recovery gear.   Lastly the CADZOW harvey frost recovery truck is also available.

WWII MILITARY MODELS.

We have introduced new models based on the THORNEYCROFT AMAZON, FORDSON WOT1, FORD SUSSEX, BEDFORD OX, AUSTIN K6, AUSTIN K2 & BEDFORD AMBULANCES. These include COLES CRANES, FIRE FOAM & CO2 TENDERS, BARRAGE BALLOON TENDERS, CREWBUS, BOMB & TORPEDO TRANSPORTERS.

For pictures of the new BEDFORD 7 AUSTIN AMBULANCES please refer to the new model pages which are all up and running.

We have made a start on an expanding the range of CMP military trucks. The first will be the WATER TANKER followed by AMBULANCE, RADIO, PERSONEL CARRIERS, BBC & CANADIAN BROADCASTING VEHICLES.

MODERN MILITARY MODELS.

We have reintroduced the BEDFORD RS SERIES in GS & RADIO configurations. Then we added the COMMER Q4 in GS & RADIO versions. 

Items which have slipped but are not forgotten are the TRACKED RAPIER, CHIEFTAIN & ABRAMS BATTLE TANKS along with the M107/110 SELF PROPELLED GUN.

CONCLUSION

Well that just about sums up where we are now and what still has to happen. What the future has to offer is now more certain, we now know we will not be shutting up the shop and allowing everything to come to a halt.  That would have been a shame with all the potential still left in the many patterns and models we own and with all of these models ideas still floating around in my mind.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to another exciting year. Please make contact if you have any questions. I will try to answer these questions if I can.

Alan Smith & Anthony Molay.