Topic: Mountfleet Model Sir Lancelot (Read 8999 times)

paul K · « **on:** April 20, 2006, 02:40:57 pm »

Thinking of building Mountfleet's Armed Trawler Sir Lancelot anybody got any hints or tips for the build

Daryl · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2006, 03:36:57 pm »

This is probibley of little use but I think this one was covered on the 'old' forum. I think there are several fit problems associated with the bow area. I remember reading one thread which had the owner of the kit tearing his hair out trying to get everything at the front to line up.

Regards
Daryl
Now to get a tin hat and take cover from all the flak that is about to fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

White Ensign · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:40:39 am »

Paul, a frind of mine had this one and wasn`t very much happy with it, as it seems to be Top-Heavy. Though doing it with a good sailing-performance is a bit difficult, but not impossible.

J?rg

paul K · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:36:54 pm »

Tghanks for the info lads -this confirms some the the reviews I've seen looks a nice model but bit of a ****** to buld

Barry · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:29:17 pm »

Dad built a St. Nectan and wasn't impressed. The hull wasn't symmetrical when viewed from above. Also it must have been taken out of the mould to soon and placed upside down as the keel had sagged inwards. A large proportion of the white metal fittings ended up in the bin, although some fittings were very good. Had problems with the fit of the foredeck too. Looked good when it was finished but he tore out a lot of hair in the process.

Barry · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:31:48 pm »

A bit sensitive arn't we. The 'word not allowed' f*o*r*e*d*e*c*k.

paul K · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2006, 04:36:39 pm »

Thanks to you all for the responses so far - its the first time I've used a forum and its turning out to be a great way of finding out info.

Its a pity Sir Lancelot is getting a negitive reaction its looked a nice large model - I like em big !!!!! - I would have thought that paying out over 500 quid for a kit it would be of top quality - obviously by all your responses it is not. So this time it looks like its not a case of you gets what to pay for - quality control a bit lacking.

Looks like I'm going to have review my next build - as I said I do like em big. Perhaps Speedlines Severn Lifeboat or one of Lauries from Model Slipway.

Keep the responses coming much appricated.

PS Great Web site Martin !!!!

Daryl · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:57:57 pm »

I remember reading a review of the kit in the boat mags, one did not find any fault with the kit the other did find a few. But on the 'old' forum there was a very long thread none of which was complimentary about the Mountfleet kit.

I wonder how some reviewers find faults that others don't? With the problems I've heard about I don't fancy tackeling it.

Daryl

HAWK · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:35:55 pm »

I must admit I`ve often looked at this kit and thought how I would like to make it,but having heard bad reports and read the above I think I`ll scrub it off my wish list for good.
It`s been on the market for quite a while now and any problems should have been ironed out by now,and for that sort of money I would not expect to have to sort out imperfections.
Regards
HAWK

paul K · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:43:56 pm »

I think I read somewhere a while ago that Mountfleet was up for sale - so perhaps that's the reason why they have not taken on board the comments regarding the quailty of the the fittings or problems of the build do not want to invest in the products or company anymore !!!!

(now to put my tin hat on for the flak thats going to generate !!!)

anmo · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:57:20 pm »

Quote from: paul K on April 26, 2006, 07:43:56 pm

I think I read somewhere a while ago that Mountfleet was up for sale - so perhaps that's the reason why they have not taken on board the comments regarding the quailty of the the fittings or problems of the build do not want to invest in the products or company anymore !!!!

(now to put my tin hat on for the flak thats going to generate !!!)

Sadly Paul, I think everything you say is absolutely true, they've been trying to sell the company for several years with almost no interest. My local model shop dropped Mountfleet some time ago after too many complaints from customers, so the quality does seem to have gone downhill. If you've seen their display models at shows, they're absolutely superb. so there's no doubt that it's possible to make a museum piece from the kits, but they are far from cheap, and I get the impression that you need to be a pretty proficient modeller to get a good result.

Daryl · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2006, 08:54:47 pm »

I wonder how they can do it while everyone else has so many problems. I have yet to hear of someone who says they have a kit that goes together without major problems. Perhaps its the price of the kits and general bad quality control is one of the reasons they can't sell the company. Having said all that anyone ever wondered why the model boat mags praise their kits when they review them???????

That should start some fur flying...... now to take cover

colin-stevens · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:16:04 pm »

I recently put a thread in the old forum asking about the quality of Metcalf's waveney. Got about 8 answers, only one of them positive. One of them realy quite caustic, as a pm. Read reveiws of his previous kits and decided, against advice, to go for it. Glad i did, thoroughly enjoyed the build so far. First full kit. Might even finish this model. Thing is, it's different strokes for different folks, and depends on what you are looking for and how much work you are prepared to put in, and wether think a kit should take the extra work.
Was'nt Mountfleet previosly Hinchcliff, makers of miliary figures, if so there qualitywas high. Shame if its dropped of.
The only kits that dont seem to get a slaging are from the big boys, Graupner ect. maybe Deans do quite well, dont know. there was a thread in the former forum and it got pulled because to many manufacturers got slated. So lets get youre veiws, keep it real and not too personall, and lets find out what we realy think of the quality and service.
my turn to put on the hard hat.
lets hear some honest opinions
colin

anmo · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:28:28 pm »

No need to take cover daryl, but we've been through all this several times on the MB forum. There was criticism of magazine kit reviews, and one or two forum members who just happen to do kit reviews themselves got quite upset, thought their honesty was being impugned. Remember the complaints about one semi-kit on the MB forum just before it folded? The same semi-kit got a good review in Model Boats, but an MB forum member told us that the mouldings were 'Schei?e' (that might be a way round the forum 'word not allowed' censor), the white metal fittings not much better, and the instructions rubbish. The MB kit review was done by a long time friend and clubmate of the manufacturer. I'm not criticising John Cundell in any way, the hobby owes a huge debt to him, but we can all draw our own conclusions. The magazines have to sell, they need to attract advertising, and they can't afford to upset advertisers. Again, draw your own conclusions.

Closer to home, does anyone remember reading about Martin's somewhat fraught build of a Robbe S-130 kit on the Mayhem site? I know the guy who reviewed the same kit for MMI, and he didn't think much of the way the parts fitted either, but you wouldn't have got that impression from the reviews of the same kit as they eventually appeared in both MB and MMI.

What me, a cynic?

Daryl · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2006, 09:43:19 am »

Anmo I 100% agree with you.

Daryl

dougal99 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2006, 10:40:16 am »

Hi All

Just remember that one man's doddle is another man's impossibility. Some people want a kit that assembles itself when you throw it in the air and others want a real challenge. You can't please all of the people all of the time...

Just my little input.

Cheers

Doug

Daryl · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2006, 11:19:57 am »

Very true words Doug, there's a chap at work who's idea of building a kit is to put the decals on.

Now to throw some teddies out of the pram!

The designers of kits have a difficult job one of which is to make them idiot proof or as best they can. I know a chap who makes kits of OO guage railway locos, he has lots of stories about dim witted customers who make a mess of even the most simple things. likewise reviewers may find one task easy and the rest of us mortals difficult.

One of my other interests is model railways, most magazines tend to look at the latest realeses by Hornby, Bachman etc through rose coloured glasses and find very little fault. However one editor does like to mention the smallest of departure from the protoype and that magazine is Model Rail. True you don't want to alienate your advertising revenue and constructive criticism can be interpreted the wrong way. But as been allready mentioned somethings do make you wonder whats going on.

I remember the thread on the MB forum and it got quite heated and if Teddy throwing became an Olympic sport then GB will sweep the board.

Just one thought on the side of Revell and Airfix kits there is a skill level, pity that sort of grading isn't standard across the modeling world. True everyone has different skills, I'm ambedextrious, ( kackhanded with both hands) but at least it will be an indication of what lies ahead. But I do think some manufacturers could do better to improve the stuff they sell.

White Ensign · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2006, 02:59:39 pm »

Gentlemen, I am with you insofar, as the reviews on kits are upon the knowledge in modeling, who has done this kit. A beginner will find some things more difficult than an experienced modeler. One example: If you read about White-metal fittings you have to calculate some treatment on these fittings. More than you use to on (i.e) brass-fiitings. It is depending on the material and his specification. Everyone of us knows, that whitemetal stanchions are too soft, brass is much better.
All those, who had designed the kit have to care for accuracy and low-cost production. This does not come together very well anyway. If I buy a kit with casted fittings I have to calculate some treatment for the fittings. A better quality in accuracy will match into the price, that`s for sure. The only way is, to have a look into the kit before buying it. Then it`s up to you to charge what you get for your money. It is not always possible anyway, but kit reviews I have found in our german magazines here, are not even a help. So you have to be carefull, don`t count just on one source- try to get informations and comments from a view sides. To get a well done model out of a kit like i.e. the Sir Lancelot is definately no kit for a starter!

J?rg

rob · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2008, 11:08:08 am »

good morning gentlemen. this is an old thread ............. the boat is gorgeous, and i was going to order one tomorrow ,
any feedback on the kit since 2006 when this thread started please ?

rob · « **Reply #19 on:** April 16, 2008, 09:54:07 pm »

its ordered, and will be with me tomorrow.

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Author Topic: Mountfleet Model Sir Lancelot (Read 8999 times)

paul K

Daryl

paul K

paul K

Daryl

HAWK

paul K

Daryl

Daryl

Daryl