Accucraft Lyd, yes Lyd not Lew.

[style="color: #333333;"]"The model represents 'Lyd' equipped with her Lynton & Barnstaple cab profile and with her chimney set to the L & B loading gauge."

Somebody has learnt a few lessons from the "Tornado" busness model I see. However, and I know I am being a wee bit pedantic here, but given the above statement it is missing some rather important bits of its visual identity. I know, I know, they are the bits that would cost a bit to re-tool and impact on the flow of [strike]profits to the makers[/strike] retail profits to those good folk who produced this magnificent recreation of a lost loco.

Sorry, I've got my order in for a Lew over a year ago and I am not going to mess the reatailer around and cancel my order to buy direct as I ain't got the money for another. Could not thought have been given to this earlier and a premium applied to all sales of this product to support the (not for profit ?) operator's efforts ?

Accucraft's loyal retailers are going to love this as the first run of Lew is sold out and any possible immediate additional sales to them, in these economically strightened times, are now lost by the introduction of this alternate "facimile".

When can we expect a special edition of the Baldwin 2-4-2 to support that loco's build and some special build rolling stock to support the group recreating the L&B itself.

Max.
 
Not sure that will be totally true Max, have you seen the price of Lyd compared to Lew? Personnaly I love the loco, but I'm not prepared to pay that much extra for it. I'd rather buy a Lew (still a tad expensive) and do my own re-model.
 
bobg said:
Not sure that will be totally true Max, have you seen the price of Lyd compared to Lew? Personnaly I love the loco, but I'm not prepared to pay that much extra for it. I'd rather buy a Lew (still a tad expensive) and do my own re-model.
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There appears to be only a £50 price premium between the Lyd and Lew according to Accucraft's current price list.

A dealer I visited today was not aware of the exclusive status of this new model, especially that the only quoted alternative to the Festiniog shop was Accucraft UK themselves. He aknowledged that any dealer has the right to commission an exclusive model - viz Trackshack's W&L private user coal wagon - but was somewhat concered that Accucraft UK was the given alternative retail purchace point. is there a fault with the wording of the release statement ?

The concern for any dealer, given that the initial batch of Lews are sold through, is that customers may cancel their orders with them in favour of a Lyd and inspite of the shortfall in production to meet current demand for Lew some dealers may see a net loss in sales as a result of this announcement before the current orderbook for Lews is fulfilled.

Max.
 
maxi-model said:
bobg said:
Not sure that will be totally true Max, have you seen the price of Lyd compared to Lew? Personnaly I love the loco, but I'm not prepared to pay that much extra for it. I'd rather buy a Lew (still a tad expensive) and do my own re-model.
Click to expand...
There appears to be only a £50 price premium between the Lyd and Lew according to Accucraft's current price list.

A dealer I visited today was not aware of the exclusive status of this new model, especially that the only quoted alternative to the Festiniog shop was Accucraft UK themselves. He aknowledged that any dealer has the right to commission an exclusive model - viz Trackshack's W&L private user coal wagon - but was somewhat concered that Accucraft UK was the given alternative retail purchace point. is there a fault with the wording of the release statement ?

The concern for any dealer, given that the initial batch of Lews are sold through, is that customers may cancel their orders with them in favour of a Lyd and inspite of the shortfall in production to meet current demand for Lew some dealers may see a net loss in sales as a result of this announcement before the current orderbook for Lews is fulfilled.

Max.
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Maybe my mistake, but I'm sure when I looked last night it was £500 diff not £50 (£1350 / £1850). Certainly £50 is much more acceptable
 
For the record, the way I see it:

Lyd specials R/c £1850 manual £1580 (no chance of any discount)
Lew 'street prices' R/C £1550 manual £1320

So the difference for a customer is up to £300 , these are not available through dealers but are available from the FR themselves or Accucraft on behalf of the FR. The theory is to give something back to the FR for all their help with Lew and also of course the new Quarry Hunslet. Additionally it gives any 'die hard' FR enthusiasts the chance to own Lyd if they want to pay the extra.

As first and foremost NG railway preservation is closest to my heart (apart from SHMBO of course!), with garden railways a close second I don't have a problem with any of this. There are no plans for Accucraft UK to sell anything else 'direct' to the public, they are simply providing an outlet for the FR to make some much needed cash.

Happy steamings,

John
 
Sea Lion said:
For the record, the way I see it:

Lyd specials R/c £1850 manual £1580 (no chance of any discount)
Lew 'street prices' R/C £1550 manual £1320

So the difference for a customer is up to £300 , these are not available through dealers but are available from the FR themselves or Accucraft on behalf of the FR. The theory is to give something back to the FR for all their help with Lew and also of course the new Quarry Hunslet. Additionally it gives any 'die hard' FR enthusiasts the chance to own Lyd if they want to pay the extra.



Happy steamings,

John
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and there is only going to be 100 so not a big dent in the market(a collectors loco?) . i was going to get a black lew(i did not order one yet) and if you add the amout it would cost of having the lining numbering , and custom set of name and works plates., plus detail difreances. i think it is good price to pay , so i have ordered one.
 
One other thing to consider about Lyd (and any other new builds) is technically they have the intellectual property rights for their unique identity. Accucraft have had a lot of help from the FR from day one on the model of Lew, by giving them the selling rights on Lyd allows them to recoup a very small part of the costs in creating the unique identity they own in the first place.

If anyone is of any doubt please be aware it costs a heck of lot of money to do a new build like Lyd, I'm sure we all applaud the success of the project and will rest at night happy in the though she exists for all to enjoy. Whilst I really appreciate consumers concern for the well-being of their dealer how many other models of Lew they do or do not sell as a result of the Lyd 'specials' really does not matter in the overall scheme of things.

Happy steamings,

John
 
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