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Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:44 pm
by kins73
Hi All,

according to Mamod, the Stirling loco is on hold. That's what they told me when I asked them through facebook the other day. I was looking forward to some reviews on the Stirling as I really like the look of it.

kind regards

Neil

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:54 am
by dewintondave
kins73 wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:44 pm Hi All,

according to Mamod, the Stirling loco is on hold. That's what they told me when I asked them through facebook the other day. I was looking forward to some reviews on the Stirling as I really like the look of it.

kind regards

Neil
Please post an image of it, I'm intrigued

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:42 am
by tom_tom_go

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:17 pm
by Chris Cairns
kins73 wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:44 pm I was looking forward to some reviews on the Stirling as I really like the look of it
The problem with the current review policy is there is no longevity or durabilty testing. Mike Wakefield has one of the two review piston valve Thomas Telford's, and just over 2 years later he had to fit replacement wheels, piston valves & valve blocks. As the Stirling is fitted with similar piston valves & valve blocks you'd need to factor that additional cost into a long term purchase?

Mamod's current Achilles Heel is they have to buy in some of the components used on their locomotives, which affects pricing (the Boulton diesel has already seen a price rise after the 1st batch was released). They made a costly mistake of buying a pre-owned CNC machine but could not find anyone who knows how to use it. So I understand the Stirling is on hold until such time as they can produce more of the components in-house, otherwise the price would be too high for the current market.

Chris Cairns

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:36 pm
by CSL
Chris Cairns - that's interesting, and suggests cash flow problems could be a possibility.

Much as I hate to ask the question, is there any hint that we might lose the Mamod company altogether? (Although I'm not sure that would be the first time...)

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:22 pm
by Chris Cairns
CSL wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:36 pm Chris Cairns - that's interesting, and suggests cash flow problems could be a possibility.

Much as I hate to ask the question, is there any hint that we might lose the Mamod company altogether?
It is interesting how the written English language can be interpreted, as that is not how I interpret my last posting (but then I'm Scottish!).

The exact wording I had regarding the CNC machine was "has proved to be a total waste of money as they can't find anyone who knows how to use it."

In my experience long postings are not always read in full (one of my trained skills was that of an auditor) so I had not included the following feedback - "Currently they're in the process of selling it with the intention of purchasing another make that either comes with the training as part of the purchase price or is sufficiently well known that training can be easily bought in"

If you have looked at the Mamod website in detail you will see that they do not just manufacture toy steam models - https://www.mamod.co.uk/mamodfix

So to answer your question - No

Chris Cairns

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:24 pm
by CSL
That's good to know. No need to panic-buy my hoped-for but as-yet-not-saved-for Brunel then!

But I hope I can be forgiven for hearing alarm bells on learning simultaneously of the sudden indefinite postponement of a long-term development project that was already delayed but supposedly near commercialisation, plus the inevitable tied-up cash (or credit) resources represented by a major bit of equipment that has been purchased but can't be used and has not yet been sold.

Yes, I'd noticed the Mamodfix part of the website but haven't researched the significance or success of this to the business.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:19 pm
by Boustrophedon
I half expected a tumble weed to roll by on the Mamod stand at the Peterborough show today.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 5:14 pm
by Gralyn
Boustrophedon wrote: Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:19 pm I half expected a tumble weed to roll by on the Mamod stand at the Peterborough show today.
I was alive and well on Saturday morning before the show opened. Their display even included a preview of a Tram Engine being developed.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 5:45 pm
by Busted Bricks
How anyone can manage to buy a machine they don't know how to operate and can't get training for is beyond me. That would be up high on my checklist. With regards to buying in parts, the right price is out there if you have the patience to shop around. When I sent out a request for a quote on wheels the cheapest was 1/6 the price of the of the most expensive. Cheapest supplier has the latest CNC machines so quality is great. Since I'm likely to start as an apprentice at that business perhaps we should be making parts for Mamod ;) :D

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:51 am
by Graff B.
Chris Cairns wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:17 pm
kins73 wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:44 pm I was looking forward to some reviews on the Stirling as I really like the look of it
The problem with the current review policy is there is no longevity or durabilty testing. Mike Wakefield has one of the two review piston valve Thomas Telford's, and just over 2 years later he had to fit replacement wheels, piston valves & valve blocks. As the Stirling is fitted with similar piston valves & valve blocks you'd need to factor that additional cost into a long term purchase?

Mamod's current Achilles Heel is they have to buy in some of the components used on their locomotives, which affects pricing (the Boulton diesel has already seen a price rise after the 1st batch was released). They made a costly mistake of buying a pre-owned CNC machine but could not find anyone who knows how to use it. So I understand the Stirling is on hold until such time as they can produce more of the components in-house, otherwise the price would be too high for the current market.

Chris Cairns
I believe the original price for the Boulton was an introductory offer.
Alan.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 7:39 pm
by CSL
Well, looks like it's on sale.
https://www.mamod.co.uk/shop-categories/mamod-stirling

Up against the new MSS short-tank loco - well, not really at more than double the price, but it has a vaguely similar look to it.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:41 pm
by Keith S
Well, I like it. Lots of opportunity for adding loads of details, and looks like decent-sized cylinders. It still somehow has the look of a "Mamod" engine about it, too.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:28 am
by Big Jim
It has a certain charm about it.
It looks a little like the early Lady Anne

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:36 pm
by CSL
Big Jim wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:28 am It has a certain charm about it.
I agree. Out of my price range, though. And not actually my first choice (even from the Mamod range) if I do manage to convince myself that that is the best use of several hundred pounds...

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:47 am
by IrishPeter
The question for me is always - 'Can it climb hills?' I seem to be congenitally incapable of building a railway without 1 in 30 gradients, so I never look at Mamods usually but it seems that technologically they may have come of age.

Cheers,
Peter in Va

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:41 am
by BorisSpencer
Had a little look at Peterborough, it is a nice looking loco with a certain presence, but at that price point it is competing with the Roundhouse basic range.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:55 am
by FWLR
tom_tom_go wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:42 am https://m.facebook.com/MamodSteam/posts ... 8695847379

I saw the price as well...
Not being too well up on these things Tom...Is the price too much and what RH loco compares to it....

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:57 pm
by tom_tom_go
I don't understand why anyone would pay that sort of money for a new Mamod today.

Maybe it's nostalgia for people but being of a younger generation I have no interest in what they offer.

Re: Mamod Stirling

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 5:51 pm
by GWR
At those prices you may as well spend the money on a RH. I agree Tom nostalgia has a big part to play as I grew up with Mamod steam engines and I am a collector of their previous stationery steam engines.