Sad news, White Ensign Models or as most of us know them WEM will be closing their doors on 28th November.
Here if you scroll down you can read the news item.
I'm sure like me many of you will be saddened by this news.
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WEM to close their door
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,080 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 04:21 AM UTC
Fordboy
Joined: July 13, 2004
KitMaker: 2,169 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,597 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 07:48 AM UTC
Thanks Luciano.
All I can so is what a huge loss and I cant believe the news.
I am in a state of shock and very sad indeed.
I personally had not heard any rumours etc.
Cheers
Sean
All I can so is what a huge loss and I cant believe the news.
I am in a state of shock and very sad indeed.
I personally had not heard any rumours etc.
Cheers
Sean
ejhammer
Joined: June 10, 2008
KitMaker: 230 posts
Model Shipwrights: 136 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 07:56 AM UTC
Had trouble a year or so ago getting WEM paints, which I liked for the naval color sets. Found out the UK Postal service would no longer ship them due to new regulations. I did stock up on some that I could get from the US.
I made the remark then that it seemed like a good way for a government to put someone out of business. Looks like it has.
Another sad day.
EJ
I made the remark then that it seemed like a good way for a government to put someone out of business. Looks like it has.
Another sad day.
EJ
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 09:36 AM UTC
This is a dark day indeed, and a sad one for all the folks at WEM!
No doubt about it Eugene, the Royal Mail has done a great job of cutting down a small business by banning colourcoat exports and has left many a customer in the lurch by doing so.
WEM will be sorely missed and our thanks should go to the team at WEM for all their hard work over the years...
Russ
No doubt about it Eugene, the Royal Mail has done a great job of cutting down a small business by banning colourcoat exports and has left many a customer in the lurch by doing so.
WEM will be sorely missed and our thanks should go to the team at WEM for all their hard work over the years...
Russ
Sleepwalker71
Joined: August 30, 2012
KitMaker: 265 posts
Model Shipwrights: 5 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 10:41 AM UTC
Very sad news. Plane shall be banned to take a fuel onboard too, if the well protected paints are a problem. Dummy policymakers.
JPTRR
Managing Editor
#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Model Shipwrights: 476 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 11:22 AM UTC
policymakers! WEM, you will be sorely missed.
MidTennHobbies.com sells White Ensign Colourcoats in USA, and I have been very happy with their service.
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 02:48 PM UTC
Quoted Text
WEM, you will be sorely missed.
MidTennHobbies.com sells White Ensign Colourcoats in USA, and I have been very happy with their service.
YEP, love the colourcoats...
who's up for some crowd funding to get them to turn out acrylics that the Royal Mail will post???
Bigskip
Joined: June 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,487 posts
Model Shipwrights: 29 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 02:58 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
WEM, you will be sorely missed.
MidTennHobbies.com sells White Ensign Colourcoats in USA, and I have been very happy with their service.
YEP, love the colourcoats...
who's up for some crowd funding to get them to turn out acrylics that the Royal Mail will post???
But the enamels are sooo good, an acrylic copy would not be that good.
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 03:06 PM UTC
True that, but what other choice is there?
How else can we get access to their (brilliant) range of colours??? Unless they team up with someone like Humbrol to get access to Humbrol's distribution network???
How else can we get access to their (brilliant) range of colours??? Unless they team up with someone like Humbrol to get access to Humbrol's distribution network???
Weebles
Joined: May 01, 2010
KitMaker: 93 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 06:19 PM UTC
Very sad news indeed.
beefy66
Joined: October 22, 2007
KitMaker: 971 posts
Model Shipwrights: 645 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 06:23 PM UTC
Yes very sad news and annoying the Health and safety lot in this country are going nuts stupid rules for sealed small tins of paints the rule makers do not have a clue at times. I have only just started to use the WEM photo etch stuff good job I got a bit at the Telford show will now have to find another supplier for this kind of add on hope all the staff at WEM will be OK but this is another case of Jobsworth going over the top.
Keith
the rule makers do not have a clue at times. I have only just started to use the WEM photo etch stuff good job I got a bit at the Telford show will now have to find another supplier for this kind of add on hope all the staff at WEM will be OK but this is another case of Jobsworth going over the top.Keith
Aurora-7
#360
Joined: June 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,020 posts
Model Shipwrights: 630 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 07:25 PM UTC
Profoundly sad news. I loved checking their news page to see what new items they were working on and planning.
Alystyr
Joined: June 17, 2014
KitMaker: 146 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 07:38 PM UTC
Allegedly comments from WEM on FaceBook:
"The short answer to why, is too much money going out, not enough coming in.
Thanks everyone for your lovely comments and your support over the years, I really appreciate it. I'm not getting any younger and this business needs new development to take it forward. Nothing guaranteed things still in the early stages but there may be a buyer for the business, we will have to wait and see. Best wishes to you all, regards Dave Carter"
Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234971345-wem-to-close/page-3
"The short answer to why, is too much money going out, not enough coming in.
Thanks everyone for your lovely comments and your support over the years, I really appreciate it. I'm not getting any younger and this business needs new development to take it forward. Nothing guaranteed things still in the early stages but there may be a buyer for the business, we will have to wait and see. Best wishes to you all, regards Dave Carter"
Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234971345-wem-to-close/page-3
LonCray
Joined: August 24, 2005
KitMaker: 348 posts
Model Shipwrights: 33 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 07:38 PM UTC
Horrible news. They've had the best service of any online vendor I've ever dealt with. I've ordered model supplies from them at the same time I ordered from other vendors, and the WEM shipment ALWAYS got to me first - even though they had to cross the Atlantic to get to me and the other vendors didn't. I'm going to miss their ultra fast and friendly service. Best wishes to all their employees.
Robbd01
#323
Joined: February 13, 2013
KitMaker: 791 posts
Model Shipwrights: 59 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 08:36 PM UTC
Quoted Text
WEM, you will be sorely missed.
MidTennHobbies.com sells White Ensign Colourcoats in USA, and I have been very happy with their service.
Then I can assume that when WEM closes its doors Midtennhobbies.com will no longer be able to carry the Colourcoats line.
Biggles2
Joined: January 01, 2004
KitMaker: 7,600 posts
Model Shipwrights: 833 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 09:12 PM UTC
AFAIC, It's their PE (and some resin) that I will miss. They've produced ship-specific PE sets for almost every model ship released. I know there are many other PE producers, but they are not as prolific as WEM was. This will leave a large void to fill.
Biggles2
Joined: January 01, 2004
KitMaker: 7,600 posts
Model Shipwrights: 833 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 09:15 PM UTC
I guess their plans for a 1/700 Dreadnought PE set have been scuttled.
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 01:29 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Allegedly comments from WEM on FaceBook:
"The short answer to why, is too much money going out, not enough coming in.
Thanks everyone for your lovely comments and your support over the years, I really appreciate it. I'm not getting any younger and this business needs new development to take it forward. Nothing guaranteed things still in the early stages but there may be a buyer for the business, we will have to wait and see. Best wishes to you all, regards Dave Carter"
Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234971345-wem-to-close/page-3
Let's hope Dave's comments about a buyer come to fruition. It would be such a shame to lose such a great little enterprise and their products altogether... (Perhaps someone like Humbrol/Hornby with their access to distribution???)
To all at WEM, I wish you all the best for the future, wherever it may lead
TracyWhite
Joined: January 18, 2005
KitMaker: 527 posts
Model Shipwrights: 464 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 03:34 AM UTC
Quoted Text
How else can we get access to their (brilliant) range of colours??? Unless they team up with someone like Humbrol to get access to Humbrol's distribution network???
I suspect the future lies with Vallejo / AK
Testors / ModelMasters has copies of the Snyder & Short Paint Chips and they have a limited selection of US & RN colors, but they're not supporting them at all - my Local Hobby shop can't get them through their standard distributors (Stevens International and Squadron, mainly).
AK seems more interested in playing with the more limited run colors, so I could see them doing some Naval paints.
Not much for us enamel users though.
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 06:53 AM UTC
and that's the thing: enamel users will be left out in the cold unless someone picks up the colour coats range...
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,080 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 08:01 AM UTC
Russell be quick these stock colour coats in Oz and looks like they have some stock.
Checking the WEM website front page right at the bottom is a link to their dealers around the world, I've checked some and found nothing others have some stock of kits, pe, paint, be quick.
Checking the WEM website front page right at the bottom is a link to their dealers around the world, I've checked some and found nothing others have some stock of kits, pe, paint, be quick.
RedDuster
Joined: March 01, 2010
KitMaker: 7,078 posts
Model Shipwrights: 6,649 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2014 - 02:38 AM UTC
Bad news,
Love their kits and their etch, and will be a big blow to us RN builders.
Si
Love their kits and their etch, and will be a big blow to us RN builders.
Si
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,080 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2014 - 05:27 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Bad news,
Love their kits and their etch, and will be a big blow to us RN builders.
Si
Here, here to that Simon however I did manage to get a order in before they closed the checkout for a couple of their RN destroyers.
Now the hard part, looking for an online shop that stocks the 1/350 scale specialist/resin ships that most don't touch and are in Europe so I don't get stung by VAT and paying for the pleasure of me having to collect my own parcel.
RussellE
#306
Joined: June 27, 2010
KitMaker: 3,959 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,777 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 30, 2014 - 02:47 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Russell be quick these stock colour coats in Oz and looks like they have some stock.
Checking the WEM website front page right at the bottom is a link to their dealers around the world, I've checked some and found nothing others have some stock of kits, pe, paint, be quick.
Thanks for the heads up Luciano
BNA are my local stockist for WEM, but unfortunately they're already out of paint... 
phantom_phanatic309
#372
Joined: March 10, 2010
KitMaker: 2,568 posts
Model Shipwrights: 220 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 04:42 AM UTC
Seems to have come out the blue with no warning. I'd only ever got a few bits and pieces from them, but they were always professional. Let's hope a new owner picks it up.
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