ESM — And Then There Were Four!

[Chris333]

As did I 

[reinhardtjh]

Crap!  Looks like I missed that one too (at BLW).

The NYC and AC showed up as sold out.  I wonder if he even had enough to cover his pre-orders.  Although usually they will show "Sold Out" if he sells out any overage he ordered.

[muktown128]

I wanted an NYC also, but BLW was sold out so I ordered the LV instead.

[Missaberoad]

I had to panic and order my Allis Chalmers off ebay...
I'll keep an eye out and keep you updated if I see another...   

[victor miranda]

I am going with golDANGIT!

I thought I was watching MBKlein's web page closely for this

out of stock for the one I want.
and I don't like what is left....

grrrrr.

victor

[bbussey]

They were available at MBK most of the day when first posted yesterday morning, but were gone by the evening.  They also were available at BLW when first listed there Friday afternoon but sold out over the weekend.

I don't have any left, otherwise I would help out.  A-C 401 will be in the third release in 2016, and an NYC car will be in the second release later this year.

Note that all schemes at ESM are sold out except for D&H, which is in low supply.  PC sold out at the same time as A-C, so those were in high demand also.

[Missaberoad]

Wow... Congrats on selling out (doesn't sound right lol  )
Glad I was able to get one!

[bbussey]

Would have made more if I had a crystal ball, but you never know.  Had to base the run on advance  interest.  Tried to get the surplus deco'd bodies and underframes from the contractor to assemble additional cars here but they were unwilling to comply.  Subsequent runs should be better.

I just checked the sales for 210801.  The bulk of them went to distributors, so they could have gone anywhere.  The dealer orders were for very small quantities, so most likely they were to satisfy customer reservations.  The following got more than one or two, maybe they ordered surplus:

*  Feather River Trains
*  Pacific Western Rail Systems
* Wig-Wag

Next best option is to start calling brick-and-mortar shops.

[peteski]

Would have made more if I had a crystal ball, but you never know.  Had to base the run on advance  interest.  Tried to get the surplus deco'd bodies and underframes from the contractor to assemble additional cars here but they were unwilling to comply.  Subsequent runs should be better.

So, this implies that another batch will be produced in the future. Cool!

I guess this is a good example where using advanced interest as a gauge for a size of a run is not a perfect method.  I also am very surprised that you contract someone to make the parts for you but they refuse to do what you ask (make extras).  WTF?!  What kind of world are we living in here?  It is your design and you are paying for the production run.

[bbussey]

... I also am very surprised that you contract someone to make the parts for you but they refuse to do what you ask ...

One of the primary reasons the product is nine months later than it should have been, and why future production is being moved to another contractor. 

It's not that I asked them to make extras, but for the overruns from the production process.  Extra parts are deco'd so that there are enough to build the finished models after rejects.  There should have been at least a 10% overage on the bodies and underframes.  They sent the spare detail parts, which could have been used to assemble additional models.  But they refused to send the overage body and underframes subsequently.

[Robbman]

I'm trying to dream up a plausible scenario where one of these GSC wells was travelling in either direction on the N&W's east-west main in the 70s ...

(cool car)

D&H... Dereco... DONE!

[reinhardtjh]

So, this implies that another batch will be produced in the future. Cool!

So does this:

I don't have any left, otherwise I would help out.  A-C 401 will be in the third release in 2016, and an NYC car will be in the second release later this year.

I read a second run before 2015 is over and a third in 2016.  But no more AC car until the third run.

I also am very surprised that you contract someone to make the parts for you but they refuse to do what you ask (make extras).  WTF?!  What kind of world are we living in here?  It is your design and you are paying for the production run.

See Atlas Paul's frequent comments about the inability to get spare parts with new runs of locos and cars in response to people's requests for separate trucks, etc.  Not that I disagree with you.  The customer (Atlas and ESM) shouldn't be having a problem getting the contractors to supply extra parts if needed (IMHO).

[bbussey]

I read a second run before 2015 is over and a third in 2016.  But no more AC car until the third run.

And a fourth run in 2017 and that may be it.  Depends on what shape the tooling is when I get it from the first contractor.  I'm having them run the plastic now for the next three runs that will be sent to the new contractor before I yank the tooling, as I now suspect that they didn't tool mold bases as they were supposed to.

[bbussey]

I don't know if this was a TRW member, but someone got lucky at Wig-Wag and snagged a spare A-C car.  Someone else was less fortunate, which prompted WW to call to see if there were any additional cars in stock.

As a head's-up for those wanting an NYC car — MBK will be getting an additional seven cars on Friday that I reacquired (along with an additional six D&H), so watch their page as they will go quickly.

[peteski]

. . . watch their page as they will go quickly.

I don't know how large your initial run was but it looks to me like you had a winner on your hands.  At least with some road names.  I guess I'll wait until the next run A-C car.