Heljan has advised that its forthcoming newly-tooled O gauge models will be created to better match market demand based on customer pre-orders. The new change affects its forthcoming 'refurbished' Class 37/5 and Class 37/7 locomotives, the pre-order deadline for which is now set at the end of this month – January 30. The full range can be pre-ordered, here.

FAQs – changes to Hejan pre-order process

1) What changes are being made to the pre-order process for Heljan 'O' models? 

To ensure that production of all-new Heljan 'O' models is better tailored to match customer demand, it is matching production to the number of pre-orders received. TMC customers are therefore advised to secure pre-orders (with no deposit required) for items of interest today.

New Heljan model announcements will include a widely advertised pre-order deadline, giving a reservation window of several months. Once the deadline passes, production quantities will be fixed and any items that fail to reach the minimum order quantity will not proceed to the production stage. 

 

2) Will I still be able to order through TMC? 

Yes. We're one of the few retailers who offer model pre-orders without a deposit, and subsequent flexible payment plans to help make your model purchase more accessible. Pre-order your model with us as normal, but ensure that the order is placed before the published deadline so that you don’t miss out.

 

3) Do I need to pay a deposit or reservation fee?  

No. We will place our trade orders as we do currently, based on orders received from customers.

 

4) Will discounted prices still be available? 

Yes. We are still able to sell models at a lower price than the Suggested Retail Price (SRP), as per the current guidelines. However, with production being closely tailored to match pre-orders, there is unlikely to be heavy discounting of unsold stock which occurs on some models currently. With production more closely tailored to match pre-orders, there is unlikely to be much discounting as surplus stock is unlikely to remain in our warehouse.

 

5) Why is this change being made? 

It provides Heljan and ourselves with a clear picture of customer demand – which products, liveries and eras are ‘most wanted’. Changing to a pre-order system also reduces the risk of over-supply. Only producing what is required helps models maintain better value in the longer term, benefiting our loyal customers who are more likely to see their investment retain its value in years to come.