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[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hi Everyone,

Well I have some good news to report and possibly some bad news. Lets start with the good. We had a brief company meeting over the weekend and have decided to dedicate all our future available time to completing the production on some of our new projects. Over the last 6 months there has been a abnormal increase in frequency of sales of the Heron steam plants. This is also good news but unfortunately it has just about wiped out all of our assembled inventory leaving only 3 remaining.

Normally we begin manufacturing and assembling another batch well before we run out completely but this time we were caught of guard. We have already managed to finish machining of all the parts for the next batch, though it takes a significant amount of man hours to paint, weld, plumb and assemble everything.

So here comes the bad news.

As a result of this weekend's meeting to focus all of our available time on completing the new projects we will not be putting together another batch of Heron engines or steam plants for the significant foreseeable future or until we have completed the new projects. Please do not worry, we will not be discontinuing the Heron line of engines but we may have to increase their prices a bit on future production runs. This is still yet to be decided. I'm well aware of the fact that the Herons seem to be very expensive already but given the fact we produce every single last part down to the hex head fasteners in-house, I can only try to begin to explain the ungodly amount of hours that go into each engine and boiler. In real world machining and labor prices, if we were to farm out the work, the steam plants would have to be sold for at least double their current prices in order to make a profit and to continue to be a viable company. 

However on a more positive note, we are very excited about the new steam goodies that are currently in the works. The new goodies are significantly simpler than the Herons are, but the common traits that they share are the same amount of time and passion went into their design and of course the same level of precision is going into their production. I'm looking forward to being able to share the step by step new build right here over the coming months. 

Nick

[gondolier88]

If progress was an easy process everyone would do it.

Good look Nick!

Greg

[kno3]

I'm glad your engines are in such a high demand. Did you consider offering them as a kit too? That way you wouldn't have to spend so much time assembling etc.

[Bunkerbarge]

I actually think it's all good news Nick, success isn't something to apologise for and if your time hadn't been spent in the developement of new goodies you wouldn't be on the verge of intoducing them!

I'm looking forward to seeing what you have been developing!

[benjaml1]

So, in a nutshell, due to increased demand for the Heron engine you're putting your prices up for other projects that have no sales record ? Not my business but there is such a thing as high volume low cost....

Tongue in cheek ...  

[gondolier88]

Also such a thing as "only ine pair of hands...!"

Greg

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Thanks Calin,

I always thought it would be nice to offer a machined kit. I'm afraid the Heron is not well suited to be a self assembly kit for everyone though. Last year I did develop a high quality kit engine which was about the same size as the Heron. One of the things that's nice about it is if I ever get a free moment to get around to make them they will be inexpensive. I keep telling myself one of these days.

Thanks Richard,

I excited and looking forward to posting the build of the new goodies here very soon. I'm hoping to take video of the parts being made too. I was planning to follow up my first post with progress of the build but do you think it would be a better idea to start a new topic? It doesn't matter to me either way.

Hi Benjaml1,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm not raising the prices on the Herons due to the demand. I'm only considering raising the prices because I losing my shorts on them currently due to massive amount of work it takes to make them. I'd much rather be lowering the prices to make them available to more people. That would make more sense if I had room in the pricing to do that. The complexity of the design and parts does not allow us much freedom for cutting costs any further than we already are and I don't feel comfortable compromising the quality for lower prices either. I'd rather leave that engine alone the way it is and just chalk it up as being it is what it is.

[Bunkerbarge]

Hi Nick,  I'd definately start a new thread for the build and keep itall in one place and I would even dream of touching the Heron.  It already has quite a following and I'm sure there are a lot of people out there saving up thier pocket money to buy one who would be very dissapointed if you changed the design.  There are still people who are amazed at the size of the slide valve in that engine!

Just to help your situation, there will be one on display at Harrogate this year again as well!

[benjaml1]

Hi Benjaml1,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm not raising the prices on the Herons due to the demand. I'm only considering raising the prices because I losing my shorts on them currently due to massive amount of work it takes to make them. I'd much rather be lowering the prices to make them available to more people. That would make more sense if I had room in the pricing to do that. The complexity of the design and parts does not allow us much freedom for cutting costs any further than we already are and I don't feel comfortable compromising the quality for lower prices either. I'd rather leave that engine alone the way it is and just chalk it up as being it is what it is.

Excellent ethos....  Looking forward to future developments... 

[steamboatmodel]

"I always thought it would be nice to offer a machined kit. I'm afraid the Heron is not well suited to be a self assembly kit for everyone though. Last year I did develop a high quality kit engine which was about the same size as the Heron. One of the things that's nice about it is if I ever get a free moment to get around to make them they will be inexpensive. I keep telling myself one of these days."
I have not seen a Heron engine in person, but looking at the photos I agree that it is not well suited to be a self assembly kit  There looks to be a lot of places that the average ham fist-ed modeler could muck up. I think that most of us will have to save up to buy one fully assembled. I do hope that you do get a chance to bring out the one you did develop.
Regards,
Gerald.

[kno3]

Regarding the complexity of kits: if you look at some of the large Regner stem locomotives, they are much more complicated and difficult to put together than a Heron, with hundreds if not thousands of parts. Yet they offer them as kits and there are many happy buyers.
Sure, the Heron wouldn't be a beginner's kit, but it would certainly be possible for a more experienced modeller to put it together.

[Underpressure]

Kno3: Unfortunately it is the incompetent that have to be carefully considered when marketing a kit engine. The hours saved in assembly can be lost tenfold on the phone trying to talk someone through an assembly process.

I would love to buy a Heron in kit form; my first ever steam engine (still running like clockwork) was a Cheddar Puffin. I do not know for sure, but I can have a pretty educated guess at why Cheddar dropped the kit after only a year or two.

If Joe Public cannot manage to assemble a Puffin, think what they could do to a Heron.

That said, if you do market a kit engine Nick, be sure to let us all know first 

Neil

[kno3]

Neil, I know there are many incompetents out there, who would screw up any engine, but that doesn't mean that those who are able to build it shouldn't have the opportunity.
Anyway there are a number of companies successfully selling very complex engines in kit form (I have already mentioned Regner locomotives as an example - and many of them have been assembled to run, check youtube), so there's hope that some people are less stupid than some presume 

[HS93 (RIP)]

Nave a look at the last few engine builds on hear some have gone great some have not, do we know the real reason why some have been a problem ? yet it has probably put a few people of who may have bought one, so the reputation of the manufacturer is then diminished.

Peter

[Colin Bishop]

I think it is a bit of an occupational hazard for kit manufacturers (whether engines or boats) that some people will be too ambitious, bite off more than they can chew and then look around for someone to blame when it all goes wrong.

A published balanced view of comments made should offset the effects of this however.

Colin

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

I agree that there are plenty of very competent people in this hobby who would be able to successfully assemble a Heron engine with little to no problems at all.

The problem isn't necessarily always the capabilities of an individual as much as it is the nature of the particular engine's design. The Heron is a tedious little engine to assemble for your first time and I think last time I counted there was well over 240+ parts. Some of which are very tiny and easily damaged if care is not taken when handling or installing them. I designed the engine and have assembled well over 100 and although I have the assembly down to an art form it still takes me a while to put each one together just because great care has to be used when doing so.

Some components on this engine require special fixtures to be used for permanently assembling parts correctly such as the crankshaft. These particular parts could be supplied already assembled I guess. Commercially available special 3.2mm (.125) wrenches are needed to tighten some fasteners because miniature nut drivers can't get to them. Special care also needs to be practiced when applying the gasket sealant to the mating parts. If you apply too much, it will be pressed out and possibly end up in areas which it may cause problems. If you apply too little then a leak may develop between those parts down the road.

By far the simplest best method that I have found for control ability to accurately apply gasket sealer to small areas or small parts has been to use a syringe. I use a 10ml syringe with a twist lock style blunt stainless steel needle attached to it. I've found .050" ID needles work the best. Anything smaller in diameter would be difficult to push the thick sealant through.

As far as the kit engine goes, I designed that engine's components to be just as precise as the components used on the Herons, but that engine is simpler in design and therefore much easier to successfully put together with limited tools unless of course you're the village idiot. I haven't figured out how to design around stupid yet. Working on it though. 

[Circlip]

The thought of trying to make it "Shorn" proof is very taxing Nick.  

   Regards  Ian.

[kiwimodeller]

My father always used to say "Everytime I invent a foolproof way of doing things some beggar invents a better fool!"