Relax
and Go by Rail, they say.
Model trains can be relaxing too.
But lately, building model trains has become quite stressful!
In the past 18 months challenges we've not experienced previously
have kept coming. Whilst demand has increased dramatically with
many people staying at home, the continual balancing of supply has
been difficult. People not working have impacted the supply of
Kadee couplers, from what was once a relatively short turn around
of orders to now waiting up to 4 months for fulfillment.
Shortages of skilled workers has meant the production time has
more than doubled, coupled with the recent power sharing in the
Dongguan region has meant it has made predicting deliveries nigh
impossible.
More recently major electronics supplier ESU advised they would
run out of components required to make their DCC decoders, this
has impacted all markets reliant upon their outstanding products.
Latest
News for SDS Models and Phoenix Reproductions
13
May 2022
SRA
81
class

The
ESU sound decoders for the Mark 1 and Mark 2 assembly have
arrived at our suppliers shop, over the next few weeks
they will complete and ship these models to Australia.
Production is well underway for the Mark 3 and Mark 4
versions and these will be shipped after the MHO/VHO
series of Brakevans.
|
SAR
SO /
SOC Ore Wagon

These
models are due into Port Botany later this month and we’ll
commence dispatching them in early June.
|
QR
PCO/PCUY
Container Wagon

The
production is complete and they are due into Sydney in a few
weeks time, they should available by late June.
|
QR
1460/1502
class Locomotive

These
are in assembly, we have ordered the decoders and couplers
and we should have production ready samples in a few
months time.
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SAR
900
Class Locomotive

All
the chassis parts are complete, we have final colour
selections underway and we look forward to receiving some
decorated samples shortly. Decoders, sounds and couplers
are ordered however these are from a supplier nearer to
Shanghai and recent lockdowns are effecting their capacity
considerably.
|
VR
D3
Class Locomotive Re-run

These
are progressing and we expect delivery in Qtr 3 2022
|
VR
K
Class Locomotive

Our
first revised samples arrived recently and we had them
running in Melbourne at the Easter exhibition. There are
only a few details to complete and we are now looking to
adopt a Kadee scale head whisker coupler as an option for
the front buffer beam mounting. This will be a included
component and customers will have the option of a scale
non working coupler or working Kadee coupler.
|
SAR
700
Class Carriages

Progressing
however the principle of this company resides in Hong Kong
and travel between his factory and home state is
difficult. Work has slowed somewhat however he is
presently in isolation prior to resuming D2D operations in
Dongguan.
|
NSWGR
LHO / LHY / KP Class V
ans


Assembly
has commenced however they are at the same factory as the
700 class carriages.
|
NSWGR
S Truck Re-run

The
early period versions with spoked wheels and buffers will
be shipped shortly, presently we are waiting on components
from the US of A for completion. The upside however is the
development of two new S truck underframe based wagons,
perfectly suited to running with a standard goods engine.
|
VR
T
Class Locomotives

Awaiting
a production slot after the second batch of 81 class. T2
series are expected later this year.
|
VR
Y class
Engineering
prototypes are being assembled and we expect the
first samples shortly. |
NSWGR
D50/D53
class Locomotives
|

Drawings
are presently in development for both upgrades to the D50
and new designs for the D53. We will have more information
to share once the K class engines are completed and ready
for production. Expect Order Forms to be available Qtr3
2022.
|
AN AKEX
/ RCEX Steel
Coil Wagon

Painted
samples are due late June with production late Qtr 3 2022.
|
NSWR
MHO / VHO / DMC

Tooling
development is complete and painted samples are expected in
July 2022. Production will commence immediately we sign off
on the painted samples. The only new colours are the pattern
for varnished timber finish for some early vans (similar
tones but different application technique than our end
platform cars) and the Light Purple brown for the Commissioners
van.
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