NCL Fans are going to have to wait a little longer

[CBQ Fan]

Intermountain just pushed back a whole bunch of stuff.  F3's are now slated for February.  It was September.  The observation cars are also now showing April instead of September.  Crazy how it goes from being pushed out a month or two all the way out another 8 months!  Maybe they are working on getting the Pine Tree colors right.

Only thing that really concerns me with IM is that when they push it out it seems to be due to low pre-orders.  I would really like an observation for my NCL!!

[Dave V]

Crap...  Penn Central was in that batch too.

[CBQ Fan]

Instead of March 2013 it is April 2014.  I sent them a message asking if this was accurate.

I really don't mind pre-orders but companies need to get better at closing up the production gap.  All these new announcements when they can't even produce past announcements.  Makes it tough when an entire years worth of orders arrive at your house in a manner of two weeks!!   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Crap...  Penn Central was in that batch too.

Dammit. Oh well, just spreading out the hotness coming to my door.

[wes_sutton]

More problems in China?

Very similar issue with several UK 'manufacturers'.

You wan't cheap, you get cheap.

[jmlaboda]

Funny how another line was a bit critical in its inability to get a product out that had been announced.  The difficulties faced in China has been well documented, as has some criticism that some products in other scales made it out of the Orient.  While there is little that can be done to change what is taking place we at least need to be thankful efforts are being made to get the product out, even if it is delayed a couple of times.  Its a part of what is making N-scale such a great scale to work in and even if we have to wait, its better than not getting it at all.

[sirenwerks]

This gives Kato time to tool and announce a prototypically correct NCL.

[VonRyan]

More problems in China?

Very similar issue with several UK 'manufacturers'.

Don't I know it... Been waiting for my GWR 57xx since Rails of Sheffield put them up for pre-order. (I did pre-ordered mine, back in late December)

-Cody F.

[Philip H]

So, given that  the "troubles" in China are not a state secret (!) why is it so hard to build in time for all those delays in the schedule?"  Do these guys really need every pre-order in hand before they send the drawings to the tool makers?

Is is China a convenient excuse for their pre-order marketing model not working the way they hope?

[wes_sutton]

So, given that  the "troubles" in China are not a state secret (!) why is it so hard to build in time for all those delays in the schedule?"  Do these guys really need every pre-order in hand before they send the drawings to the tool makers?

Is is China a convenient excuse for their pre-order marketing model not working the way they hope?

I'm sure they do are doing all this just to piss everyone off 

Given that these problems seem to be occurring across the board at the moment I would suggest that the 'troubles' are many, varied and one gets the feeling very random, so even with the best will in the world production schedules are still going to get shot to pieces.

[JoeD]

Old story here.  Unless you are one of the big guys or have a very large bank account you have no guarantee that any schedules will be honored.   Foot dragging is ledgendary.  It also depends on what engineer is responsible for your project and their work load.  We fought with SDK for two years to get a 6 month project done and after going through 3 sets of project managers ended up with an American Expat Engineer who did in 3 weeks what the rest couldn't get done in 2 years.  Roll the dice. 

Joe

[ljudice]

I've also heard there have been some major debacles of quality control coming through to at least two major manufacturers (the particulars are in HO, but it could be a problem in N)

They include major shipping damage on one recent loco coming in (all of them) - and a run of freight cars that had to be sent back because there was glue and fingerprints over them.

All is not well out there and it seems to be getting worse, and this is not my opinion, just repeating an insider.

[mplsjct]

When all your models have to be glued together, I imagine there is a percentage of product that is pretty much headed straight for the trash can when it comes time for quality control. I purchase as much N product as anyone that is mfg in China, but it really gives you an appreciation for other N product that can easily be dis-assembled and re-assembled.

[ljudice]

When all your models have to be glued together, I imagine there is a percentage of product that is pretty much headed straight for the trash can when it comes time for quality control. I purchase as much N product as anyone that is mfg in China, but it really gives you an appreciation for other N product that can easily be dis-assembled and re-assembled.

I agree 100%...    From the perspective of the retailer, these supply chain issues are destroying the hobby, and again, not my opinion...   Their other big concern - and it seems to be more on the "O" scale stuff than n/ho, is the widespread
dumping of product into channels that sell at train shows for less than wholesale.