April 2025 Newsletter

We thought we haven’t sent a newsletter yet this year of 2025 so here it is!

In January we received new production runs of some of our most popular ship models, the Zumwalt, Type 31 frigate and the four Type 26s. We also received our final Stealth Ships Set 4 which is impressive and the ships so large that they take up 2 boxes.

Then we closed for 5 weeks to have a rest and a sort out and catch up. You might say why is this necessary but having lived in this house for 51 years there is a lot of stuff to sort and then to try and recycle as much as we can.

We have also emptied our ship show boxes, reacquainting their contents with other ships of the same type. This has given us some interesting statistics in terms of what we have nearly sold out of, and those that we haven’t sold as many as previously thought. So, for the next show the stock we bring will be chosen afresh from the stores!

There is a page on the website with ship shows that we know of and to which we intend to go. This includes Lincoln, Theale, Liverpool and Alton.. Two more shows at Wellow will be happening and we’ll let you know when they are. We weren’t able to go to the first Wellow show recently because of the funeral of a very dear friend.

Our large project this year is to make a range of the Stena e-Flexers Ferries in metal. The master was completed early this year and test castings made and adjusted. Decals have been designed and received for all the shipping companies who are using these very flexible designs.

There are three lengths of these ferries and our very clever designer, Dave has covered all the options. As you may have heard he has been very unwell and is waiting to get better before he begins to assemble some models. The plan is to finish one of each length so we can show you the new models.

In the meantime, we have been sorting through loads of second hand and slightly deformed Triang Minic ships. Also a few boxed 1st series ships such as the Amazon trio and the Aquitania. Just when you think we have exhausted all the bendy tankers we find some, and even a box of ships that we ran out of ages ago.

2025 may well be a quieter year but we’ll keep offering up all sorts to you collectors. ‘24 and ‘23 were going to be quiet too but nevertheless in 2024 we made 15 brand new ships and did a load of re-runs!

Since buying the Mountford range we have now remade most of the key ships, each one updated and given brand new tooling. Many have been made in metal rather than resin. This may sound like a sales technique but is a better way of making models to replenish exhausted stocks.

As we see things now the likelihood of another production run this year is low, and the current worldwide economic chaos also poses so many unanswerable questions. We are glad that the materials for the e-Flexers are all paid for and will keep you posted on them.