Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2011 20:05:06 GMT
Posted with permission from Howard Whitehead of KFS to reproduce this notice first posted on the TMW Forum ...
Announcement.
I have taken the decision to phase out production of all but a select few resin transkits over the next 24 months. The wind down & phase out is to commence with immediate effect. Smaller, popular, cost effective conversions such as the Scania T Cab & DAF XT are not affected. See list below.
This decision has been taken for the following reasons;-
1) The rapidly rising prices of Italeri plastic kits that were being used as donor chassis, means that the once cost effective transkit/donor chassis option is now no longer viable for most customers.
2) A decline in interest in the vintage/classic commercial subject on the part of modellers, as senior modellers die off or give up modelling & younger modellers (who regard a Scania 3 series as ‘old’) come onto the scene.
3) The time, space & funds freed up by retiring the existing transkits, will allow us to release new ‘full kit’ (& smaller conversion) subjects in both the civilian & military fields. These full kits will of course be more expensive as a ‘one off’ purchase than a cab transkit & will require a greater initial outlay, but will come without the need to source a suitable donor chassis.
Numbers.
There is likely to be one last & final run of most existing transkit subjects where no usable moulds currently exist. This means that from a new set of moulds 50-60 kits will be available in each case. The subject will then be withdrawn & retired.
Where good usable moulds already exist for a kit that is currently out of production (on casting rotation), these may yield another 25 or so kits only. The subject will then be withdrawn & retired.
There may be a small number of subjects where, if interest appears to be sufficient, they could be reintroduced in future years with their own dedicated more accurate chassis, running gear & body.
Example 1;- Military Scammell Crusader 6x4 65 ton tractor with winch or wrecker body.
Example 2;- Military Scammell S26 8x6 DROPS.
Volvo F88
Likely to remain in production
DAF CF
Likely to remain in production
Scammell Crusader
No further transkit production
Scammell Trunker/Routeman
One further run only
Bedford TM wide sleeper
One further run only
Ford Transcontinental
One further run only
Leyland Marathon
No further production after current stock
Leyland T45/Scammell S26
One futher run only
Seddon Atkinson 401
One further run only
Atkinson Borderer
One further run only
Iveco EuroTech
No further transkit production
Volvo F12
One further run only
ERF A Series
One further run only
ERF E Series
One further run only
Foden Alpha
No further transkit production
Scania CP28 crew cab
No further production after current stock
R Series Scania P Sleeper
No further production after current stock
R Series Scania P Daycab
No further production after current stock
Ford CL9000
No further production after current stock
White Road Commander II
No further production after current stock
International 9670
One further run only
Mack F700 Sleeper
One further run only
Mack F700 Daycab
No further transkit production
Renault Premium
To be returned to A&N Models control after the current production run is complete & sold out.
Best regards………Howard @ KFS
Announcement.
I have taken the decision to phase out production of all but a select few resin transkits over the next 24 months. The wind down & phase out is to commence with immediate effect. Smaller, popular, cost effective conversions such as the Scania T Cab & DAF XT are not affected. See list below.
This decision has been taken for the following reasons;-
1) The rapidly rising prices of Italeri plastic kits that were being used as donor chassis, means that the once cost effective transkit/donor chassis option is now no longer viable for most customers.
2) A decline in interest in the vintage/classic commercial subject on the part of modellers, as senior modellers die off or give up modelling & younger modellers (who regard a Scania 3 series as ‘old’) come onto the scene.
3) The time, space & funds freed up by retiring the existing transkits, will allow us to release new ‘full kit’ (& smaller conversion) subjects in both the civilian & military fields. These full kits will of course be more expensive as a ‘one off’ purchase than a cab transkit & will require a greater initial outlay, but will come without the need to source a suitable donor chassis.
Numbers.
There is likely to be one last & final run of most existing transkit subjects where no usable moulds currently exist. This means that from a new set of moulds 50-60 kits will be available in each case. The subject will then be withdrawn & retired.
Where good usable moulds already exist for a kit that is currently out of production (on casting rotation), these may yield another 25 or so kits only. The subject will then be withdrawn & retired.
There may be a small number of subjects where, if interest appears to be sufficient, they could be reintroduced in future years with their own dedicated more accurate chassis, running gear & body.
Example 1;- Military Scammell Crusader 6x4 65 ton tractor with winch or wrecker body.
Example 2;- Military Scammell S26 8x6 DROPS.
Volvo F88
Likely to remain in production
DAF CF
Likely to remain in production
Scammell Crusader
No further transkit production
Scammell Trunker/Routeman
One further run only
Bedford TM wide sleeper
One further run only
Ford Transcontinental
One further run only
Leyland Marathon
No further production after current stock
Leyland T45/Scammell S26
One futher run only
Seddon Atkinson 401
One further run only
Atkinson Borderer
One further run only
Iveco EuroTech
No further transkit production
Volvo F12
One further run only
ERF A Series
One further run only
ERF E Series
One further run only
Foden Alpha
No further transkit production
Scania CP28 crew cab
No further production after current stock
R Series Scania P Sleeper
No further production after current stock
R Series Scania P Daycab
No further production after current stock
Ford CL9000
No further production after current stock
White Road Commander II
No further production after current stock
International 9670
One further run only
Mack F700 Sleeper
One further run only
Mack F700 Daycab
No further transkit production
Renault Premium
To be returned to A&N Models control after the current production run is complete & sold out.
Best regards………Howard @ KFS