simonr

I've seen this in the flesh - and it's a very nice, simple solution - and very well made. When the freespool drum comes along (seen that too) - that's just fantastic! This is about the best solution to uprating the motors beyond what you can buy off the shelf I've seen. Uprate the main-shaft though! Well done, Si

Right, I've ordered it - let's see how entertaining he is! Si

Chris, Thanks for your thoughts and considered opinion. We have considered patenting of this and other products, however, there have been one or two cased in the off road arena where a patent has been granted for a product, it has been copied save for a change of colour and a bolt or two in a different place and the patentholder loosing in court after the changes have been deemed to be an improvement on the original design. I like the idea of applying for a patent and not following through. As you say, most people will loose interest in the first year. However, you could just say "patent applied for" and not actually do anything - whic would probably have the same effect. I am applying for an European Community registered design for one or two forthcoming products where it is the appearance that is more significant than how it works. I fully agree with whaty you say about marketing and advertising - and indeed I run 1/4 page ads in three mags at the moment. What works (advert wise) and what does not continues to surprise me despite having read a couple of books on the subject. Much of what the books suggest is just plain wrong in this marketplace. A good example is putting prices on adverts. One book seemed to think that if you do not include prices, it encourages people to ring up and enquire - and you can change a proportion of enquiries into sales. As this thread has suggested in a couple of places "never trust a company who do not advertise prices". The prices went back in after a month! For the next batch of ads, I'm using a graphic and strategy designed by an agency (who have done some good but simple campaigns in this sector). Time will tell if they know what they are talking about! The new ads look pretty good though! My biggest problem in all this is time! It's proving difficult to find enough for taking and dispatching orders, project managing the manufacture, marketing and the all important research & development whilst not really having the turnover to support employing more people. It may be that one has to bite the bullet, employ some help and that this in turn will lead to higher turnover because you can do the same job more effectively? With the release of the next few items, I will employ some help in producing press releases etc as it is not my strong point (I'm definatly not a salesman!). My company ethos has always been to treat everyone the same and to treat them in the manor in which I would like to be treated as a customer. I hope this will pay divedends (literally!) in time compared to the double-glasing salesman approach, which undoubtably works - but I suspect only short term. I'll order a copy of the books you suggest - just need to find a few days to read them. Wonder if they do an audio book version! Si

You want one of my plastic business cards for that! Si

Are you lot telling me that you've never done a bit of impromptu off-roading (at a time before you knew better) and come a cropper? It's a shame it was such a nice truck before - but I guess he'll think twice before doing it again! I was once goaded into driving down a causeway to the beach at Seaton Sluce in Northumbria. My friend hopped out, jumped up & down on the pebbles and declared it was solid enough to drive on. I got perhaps 12 feet before my Series 2 was bellied out. It took four of us almost 12 hours to dig it out! I learned that day what the yellow & red knobs did! I've come clean (no pun intended), how about some of your confessions! Si

A little! Sales volume about the same as last week on brakes, but up a bit on the fan thermostat things for some reason. And - all of them were red! Until now most mail order have been blue and most at shows have been red. Si

That looks cool. Amazing the difference the wider track makes to the chunkyness of the truck. Si

If you can post piccies - I'd be interested! I have my kit c/o Mr Freezer - and need to get it installed! Whose crank position sensor / wheel did you use? Si

OK - fair call - maybe just being a bit paranoid. Before I had a batch made I did look to see if anyone was doing the same and couldn't find any - as I would not wittingly copy anyone without their agreement. Si

I do agree - and I was not naive enough to believe it would not happen - but Col did give me his word that SR would not copy it - along with some blurb about supporting innovation etc. I didn't expect it to explode in the way it has - although I appreciate all the support. It may be as well just to let it lie now. I had a chat with Col today - he reckons that it is not a copy, in fact he is doing me a favour by improving the design and of course, he was going to let me in on it - even though the improved design would be sold as their own. If this happened to every good idea that came along - the whole market would be dominated by one company selling (almost) copies. Any companies coming up with anything new would just fold and let them have it for their own - wait a minute - is that a floral smell? - that's what we have now! The situation will only change if those involved put up a fight rather than just shrug our respective shoulders and move on to the next target. Rest assured however that where possible, future products will have some protection in the form of EU Community registered designs. This will at best only act as a deterrant as I for one do not have the resources to persue it through the courts. The down side of this is it adds a lot to the development cost. I have already shelved three products for the time being which would be easy to copy, but the pay-back time on the protection makes them worthless. Perhaps I should just skip the middle-man and send the designs directly to Colin? Si

I don't believe it! I produced overlapping side protection bars. I don't know if they are a totally new idea - but I'd never seen any before! I know SR were not selling any! Although none of the decent photos of trucks with bars have the overlapping type - the following photo looks to me like they use the same overlap idea. Coincidence? Si

If any of you would like stickers (Before Sunday?), send me a PM with your address and what size (5x5" or 10x10") and how many and I'll mail them tomorrow afternoon FOC. Si

(sp?)

I would say that the challenge events are slightly different, because of the involvement with AWDC and many other good people. I do not believe it would be right to penalise them because of a sponsor. I would still quite like to take part in one of their challenges - all the above might make it quite a fun day! Si

3 for me please - it would be rude not to! Si

Cheers for all the support - I never imagined you all cared so much! I still have a lead on the PTO & RR versions and the series version is only weeks away now. I don't think it will do me too much damage - it just feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth. It will hopefully just galvanize me in doing more stuff that treads more directly on their toes (while trying not to step on Jim M's toes as we seem to be walking a similar path at the moment). Will, do tell! I didn't know they did anything - it didn't get much publicity one way or another! Is it possible to render live Scorpions unable to sting you? - a silly thought just flashed through my mind I'd be up for the odd lobster sticker! It strikes me that this forum was to some extent born out of SR's hand up LRE's bottom - so there is a certain poetic justice! Si

Must be the old photo of mine then. Apparently, the back plate is different 'Heavier construction' and the rotor is cast rather than cut. It seems unlikely they would copy a trade marked logo! I decided on a mild steel rotor as cast material tends to be more brittle. I would rather it bend than break, as a broken bit wizzing round is likely to take the back of your gearbox off when it hits the caliper rather than a bent bit just being inconvenient. Si

Thanks Mark - Nice Sig by the way!

Good Idea - John. Do any of you have a copy of the new LRO? Apparently there is a write up on page 26? Si

Thanks All! John_T - PM me your address - and I'll stick some in the post! Would you like small (5"x5") or big (10" x 10")? Mog - I would like to use your graphic if that's OK! I looked at patenting - but as has been stated, you barely need to change anything to avoid infringement (Pull Pal being a good example - they hold a patent, tried to defend it in court and lost). European community registered designs are possibly a better way to go - and one is in progress for something else which could be as popular as waffles, but would be everso easy to copy. I registered X-Eng as a trade-mark as well. A little bird told me that Scrapiron are in financial difficulty at the moment. Don't know if it's true - but perhaps they will dissappear on their own! Si

My handbrake - that is! Had a chat with a representative from one of the mags who was going to write a review of it - who says they are reviewing a new one from Scrapiron instead! - and it's due for launch in two weeks. Although it was inevitable, it does show what a liar Colin is. He went on about how despicable it is when someone (he quoted Padocks as being the main culpret) copies a good idea. Don't know what I can do about it - not much I guess. Just hope I bump in to him in a dark alley one day! (for a nice hoppey skippy jumpy friendly chat) Never know, maybe it will prove to be as good as their rear trailing arms ! Si

Hi Bruce - we've missed the boat for Belgium as well! Michele - send me a SAE - they weigh 16g each. Si

SAE's happily accepted! I have about 500 to get rid of - and even with my beer drinking prowess - that's morew than a lifetime worth! Si

For years, I carried around a QT services key-ring which came free with my steering bars - it was a good advert, but not much use. Now I'm in the same position, I decided to produce something as small and useful as possible and came up with this: Quite a lot of design effort went in to it (which could have more usefully been put in to other stuff I dare say), particularly the ergonomics of the bottle opener (that being something I do quite a lot of - and had to buy a few for R&D!). The spanners are 10mm & 13mm - which I figured are probably the most common sizes. I'm quite pleased with the result - so thought I'd share it with you. Laser Cut & Laser Etched by Dave NAS90. Anyway, they're free. If you want one, just ask if you see me! Si

I bought some stainless / teflon ones to try on a future mod. Sadly, the company who sold them (in the US) had dreadful after-sales. They sent the wrong bits - and refused to swap them saying that their terms for web sales say no refunds, swaps etc. if it's wrong - tough! Those terms were only available on request in writing by snail mail. They even admitted it was their fault - but still said tough! The joints are quite nice having said that - but I don't want to use them for anything as I'm b@@@@@@d if I'm going to order any spares from them! Post a link to the ones you've found - I'm interested! Si