Sound familiar?.

Could impact our MR supplies??

It will; Dapol have announced production delays on their website this afternoon. Now, I'm not saying Dapol necessarily single-handedly caused the Chinese energy crisis, but it seems they will do anything to stop the Gaugemaster 73's from actually hitting the shelves

Crossbeam gone askew on 't treadle, no doubt. I bet they weren't expecting the Spanish Inquisition this late in the game.

Quote from: Capri_sam on September 30, 2021, 03:48:45 PM
It will; Dapol have announced production delays on their website this afternoon. Now, I'm not saying Dapol necessarily single-handedly caused the Chinese energy crisis, but it seems they will do anything to stop the Gaugemaster 73's from actually hitting the shelves

If Dapol's last comment from Joel on their 'Digest' site is to be believed the 73s should be on their way now but they've never needed a reason for delays anyway

I think we are probably in the early stages of a transition away from hyper-detailed Chinese assembled models, in a similar way that we moved away from the Western manufactured pancake motor plus bits bag approach in the 1990s.

It is possible to make models in high-cost economies, as Kato proves (okay - I know some of it is made in China but they still do a lot of manufacturing in Japan). That will mean more design-smart detailing as seen on the Kato IET and which Hornby tried in their OO gauge a few years back. The whingers who disliked that sensible approach will have to like it or lump it and go without because I also doubt people will be able to afford 2010s style models in future.

There was also a warning today from leaders of International transport leaders; due to Covid, plus other factors, means that shipping, lorry, and air workers are overstretched and understaffed. This could cause delays until 2023; and maritime shipping container haulage costs are still at, or near, record highs, with ships delayed globally.

Martyn