Review: System 8 - Gantry System (Sarissa Precision)

I hope you can all appreciate why this gets an 'ABC' award!!!

First things first, these were given to me free of charge to review, so as always I like to make that clear right at the offset so you can make your own mind up about how trustworthy this review is. Secondly the reason that these are being released a little after the initial System 8 launch is that Sarissa Precision decided to add some further supports to the stanchions under their gantries, after some feedback (I'm partly to blame for that - so sorry to those of you who have been eagerly awaiting this stuff). Good to know they listen and respond to customers though. Thirdly, Oh boy is this going to be a big, and I mean BIG review. Rather than review each piece of terrain individually in this range I'm going to review them as a whole 'modular system'. I have no idea how or whether this is going to work or not, within the confines of my normal review structure. However, I feel it's the right approach to take. After all we're talking about a fully modular range of scenery that realistically can't be reviewed as it's constituent parts. That wouldn't be any use to you guys. So if this gets long winded I apologise in advance, but it's for your own good! Just remember you only have to read it, I had to figure it all out and write the damn thing... Oh yeah, and that is yet another Approved by Cats badge!

That's a lot of stuff!!!

Product description

And here my wonderful idea to review this as an 'entire system' hits it's first snag. I'm not reviewing a single product so can't describe the individual pieces as they are many are varied, and ultimately open ended. Bugger. So I'm going to discuss the product in general terms. All the pieces will be precision laser cut HDF. If you buy one of the actual walkways the construction will be formed of a base piece, which two side stanchions insert into. There will then be a number of stanchion support struts, which were added after initial feedback from yours truly. On top of these stanchions will then fit the walkway pieces. Into this walkway piece(s) will then fit the hand rails. A standard walkway kit will be between roughly 8 to 12 pieces. Corner pieces will be less while the various stair options will be considerably more. It is onto the basic gantry sections that all of the gantry upgrade kits (or bling kits as a friend calls them) are then fitted into place. All in all it fits together exceedingly well, and has been cleverly thought out, with pretty much every possible variant you could want or need in the range.
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