ESM White Tower and XIH-IV launch dates (new pic below)

[bbussey]

I received the second pilot model from Shapeways today and all the details are rendering properly, including the face of the ridiculously small clock on the storage unit.  The launch date will be next Friday, September 23.

XIH Series IV also starts shipping to distributors next week, so they should be arriving at your local hobby dealers the week of October 2.  This is the final XIH release until Christmas 2012.

[sirenwerks]

What time will be on the clock? I need to make sure it fits within my time frame. 

[bbussey]

Four o'clock!  Use magnification glass in the windows so you can read it.

[sirenwerks]

Read it? I still haven't located it. I'll wait until I get a model in my hand and can go all analog on its a$$.

[bbussey]

Here's a pic of the final pilot model, with the first pilot model in the background.  It's becoming evident that Shapeways submits a number of parts together in the same build and adjusts the orientation of the parts to fit within the printable cubic area.  The first pilot was printed with the long wall facing down (or up).  The final pilot was printed upright.  I will have to see if there is a way to guarantee the orientation of the parts when printed.  It clearly is desirable to have the most prominent face of the object to be facing up in order to not have visible layer separations.  This is extremely relevant for any FUD-rendered rolling stock.

Click on the pic for a close-up

[sizemore]

Thats hot! Now when we order these from you are we going through Shapeways or through the ESM website?

The S.

[bbussey]

You'll be able to order from either site.  The ESM product page link will take you directly to the Shapeways product page.

Still have to finalize a guarantee from Shapeways that the build orientation to the X plane will be constant, so the launch date may be delayed a few days.

[Rasputen]

Any chance of having some made that would work on the opposite corner?

[lock4244]

XIH Series IV also starts shipping to distributors next week, so they should be arriving at your local hobby dealers the week of October 2.  This is the final XIH release until Christmas 2012.

Agh, long wait! Will the Christmas 2012 release include yellow CP Rail XIM's? Need to know if I must be nice in 2012 or if I can remain naughty 

[bbussey]

Will the Christmas 2012 release include yellow CP Rail XIM's?

Yup.