2mm Scale Association just posted the following notice on behalf of Nick Tilston at N Brass Locos. After a search, I couldn't find anything about it here, so I'm copying it for all to see:

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The business N BRASS LOCOS is for sale.

Now at the age of 71 Nick Tilston has decided to retire and the business N BRASS LOCOS is for sale. Nick started the business in 1992, since then it has grown and developed to manufacture kits and parts for N, Nn3, 3mm, OO, OO9, O and O16.5. A total of 610 items only available from N BRASS LOCOS complemented by 60 bought in items. The 250 loco parts enables the N Gauge modeller to add locos to their roster that are not yet available. The OLE supports for WCML or GWR OLE line the tracks for modellers who like pans above their traction. The N BRASS LOCOS exhibition stand was a regular at popular exhibitions around the country until health concerns made it impracticable for Nick to attend exhibitions. The unique kits and parts will continue to be available from Nick at N BRASS LOCOS until a new owner takes over.

Further information at https://www.nbrasslocos.co.uk/salhom1.html

Best Wishes Nick Tilston N BRASS LOCOS 01384 250478

Many thanks to Nick for all his work.

It will be a shame if the business is not sold on as it is so useful for detailing parts.

Martyn

A great shame but I feel Nick has more than 'done his bit'.
I hope a buyer is found to take over the mantle.

Quote from: Newportnobby on September 04, 2023, 07:45:57 PMA great shame but I feel Nick has more than 'done his bit'.

I agree; Nick has definitely done more than his bit.

What is concerning to the N gauge modeler is if a suitable buyer cannot be found.  We will lose a great resource.

I have always had a fear that cottage industries may not be here for ever.   Etched Pixels/Ultima and Union Mills have both recently closed.

Now N Brass Locos is up for sale.

I worry about the long-term future of other small, but vital, suppliers to our hobby including Farish 'N' Spares (Bob Russell), Cambridge Custom Transfers (John Isherwood), and others.

I don't want to be confined to running only RTR items from Hattons or Rails on my layout.  I want to be able to modify, customize, and repair models using bits and pieces from small suppliers.  This is the part of our hobby that I enjoy the most. 

Ian

Agreed Ian,
This is where I think Pete Waterman's got the right idea - trying to expose the hobby to people who are NOT already interested.

As long as the hobby itself stays the same size, or maybe even grows, then people will step up to supply the products that we want. If the hobby is made up of people of a certain age that all retire at the same time, and if there's nobody younger coming into the hobby to make up the numbers, that's how we could get into a lot of trouble.

Watching the kids playing with the trains at Chester is great - they're amazed when they realise that they can make 3D objects in the real world actually move, not just watching something on their phone screens!   I sense there's possibly a whole generation out there who are just beginning to realise that they are tired of their screens, and they want to do something more.

I'd like to see a group of people put together a Making Tracks sized effort, but in N - specifically to get young people to take an interest in this hobby. I can only imagine what we could do with a layout the site of Pete's?

Ross.

Not sure how we got onto Making Tracks... but I personally think OO gauge is more suitable for that purpose. An N gauge one would just be harder to see, and that's about it. There's loads of stuff to look for - pigeons, delivery robots, a fox, which keeps younger (and older) children entertained. Stuff like that doesn't work as well in N. Stuff like signals, OHLE just work better in the larger scale too, and the trains are scale length with no perceptible compression, so beyond that what does N bring? The way they let children drive is great though. My son (6) had 3 goes, and they let him choose which train he drove each time. Not sure what would've happened if he'd asked about the 35 wagon intermodals which were already prone to derailment even with expert driving, but they were great. Pete was wandering around chatting to anyone who was interested and was getting stuck in fixing derailments and what not.

Back OT - Shame to lose N Brass. Their OHLE is the most viable system out there IMO, the modular approach works well, even if you only use parts of it. The breadth of his catalogue is impressive too. I often wonder how much brands like that turn over and for what level of input. I'm sure very much an evening/weekend job, but must take a fair bit of effort too.  Hopefully someone with the passion of Nick takes up the reins.

I've only had one order - a fairly big one - from N Brass, but I've been thoroughly impressed by everything I received. I really don't want to lose them.

I'd even consider taking over the business if I were located in the UK, but I think the £20 minimum shipping costs to the vast majority of my customers, would make it unacceptable.

I really hope a great new UK home can be found!

Ross.

I've purchased from n brass Nick. Really helpful, friendly and a deserved retirement..let's hope a buyer is found and the resource is not lost

N Brass loco items are a great resource for N gauge modellers. If nobody buys this business it will be a serious loss to the N gauge sector of the hobby.

And drifting away - N gauge doesn't really work for long layouts because the trains are so small when they are a fair way away. If there was to be something in N it would be better showing ideas for main line, probably contemporary layouts that fit into a normal house sized room. That's where N really scores over 00.

I am another N Brass Locos fan. Hopefully a new owner can be found. I have been in the 9.30 bus pass queue for too long to even consider it.

On the big layout front, there have been hundreds of N gauge modular layouts at exhibitions over the past 40 or so years and in general I find them underwhelming because of the scenic discontinuity. As many on here have shown a long N train in a compact layout can have real impact. But if only you could join Law Junction to Dallam to Kings Park you have an N gauge Making Tracks of the WCML ready to go.

Another here who finds N Brass invaluable for a whole host of different bits and pieces like boiler fittings, handrail knobs and the like, I have bought from Nick many times. I hope that someone can be found to take the business over, it would be a huge loss if it closes.

That said, Nick has done us proud for many years and deserves his retirement.

On a more general level, it is the case that we have lost a number of "cottage industry" suppliers in recent times, and for those who like to model as opposed to just run RTR it is a worrying trend.

We also have the likes of Ray at BH Enterprises who I understand hasn't enjoyed the best of health recently who we shouldn't take for granted I guess.

I don't know what the answer is, I doubt the NGS would want to take on anything like N Brass, maybe if nobody comes forward the 2MM Scale Association could absorb part of his product range into their own but it still requires manpower and commitment.

Sure, growth of 3D printing has probably changed the dynamic a little, but I would think there will always be a demand for fittings of various types to complement them as they are more robust than printed detail, so hopefully a buyer can be found.

Roy

Let me join the voices hoping that a buyer can be found for N-Brass - a real cornerstone of the scale.

After joining Dapol, I found myself struggling to keep up with Electra Rail and offered the business for sale. The company is now in the most capable hands of Luke and Kylie Milner, who are preparing to go back into production. There is hope.

I have built quite a few white metal kits as well as 3D prints and for both of these N Brass has been the first stop for me at many exhibitions and online orders. I am sad that Nick is retiring but wish him all the best when he does. if we are lucky and someone takes over they will have very big boots to fill as Nicks service to customers is platinum standard.

Regards,

Alex

Oh, no! I didn't know of his retirement, and I still have a list of N Brass items to order! Do you know when he will stop accepting orders?

Quote from: Hailstone on September 05, 2023, 11:55:18 PMI have built quite a few white metal kits as well as 3D prints and for both of these N Brass has been the first stop for me at many exhibitions and online orders. I am sad that Nick is retiring but wish him all the best when he does. if we are lucky and someone takes over they will have very big boots to fill as Nicks service to customers is platinum standard.

Regards,

Alex

What he said.
Will be a great shame to lose these products that are essential for 3D printed models.

Bob