The factory has had us in a production schedule which has been seriously affected by delays to projects which were ahead of us in the schedule. Some of these share components like axles, motors and metal castings, and we have been stalled waiting for those issues to resolve. Eventually, we got fed up with waiting, and have negotiated a reshuffle of the schedule to move the C32 up the list. Our factory are GREAT guys to work with.
The factory is now in the process of building the final running samples in each of the designated liveries and tender combinations. However, random things can still spike the guns; for example, e have just discovered that the sample of the maroon paint which Phil Badger sent to Hong Kong after the Liverpool exhibition has still not arrived! So it is being re-sent this week, by a different carrier (obviously). This, of course, has held up the production of the sample of 3265. <Sigh> There are so many ways for loco projects to be affected by things outside our control.
Nevertheless, the factory has promised we'll have the decoration samples before Christmas - now only 38 days away. As soon as we have them, we'll post the photos here and on the Facebook page. Assuming the locos are right, and we approve them quickly, we are then at the mercy of Chinese New Year, when factories close and there is a high staff turnover. Having already failed to meet two hoped-for delivery times (Liverpool, and Christmas) I am loath to make another prediction. However, with the factory on our side, I can say "early in the New Year" with confidence. Thank you all for your patience, especially those of you who have pre-paid, and hoped to have their locos as Christmas gifts. You have our sincere apologies. Please know we are doing everything we can to have your loco/s here as soon as is humanly possible.
Lindsay O'Reilly, Chris Klein and Phil Badger,
Ixion Model Railways Australia Pty Ltd.
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