Class 50, Class 59, prototype HST, Battle of Britain will be shelved for now

[Newportnobby]

Dapol have been responding to posts of their Facebook page on Friday and yesterday morning

Fine if you enjoy FaceTube but myself and many others don't. They set up the 'Digest' with this quote.....

Welcome to The Dapol Digest!

The definitive source for Dapol product news.
This is Dapols official news and views site. You'll find the latest project updates and have the opportunity to interact directly with our project managers.

Why don't they use their own media stage?

Out of curiosity does anyone know how this announcement is going down on that other forum (RMWeb)?

[RailGooner]

Dapol have been responding to posts of their Facebook page on Friday and yesterday morning

Fine if you enjoy FaceTube but myself and many others don't. They set up the 'Digest' with this quote.....

Welcome to The Dapol Digest!

The definitive source for Dapol product news.
This is Dapols official news and views site. You'll find the latest project updates and have the opportunity to interact directly with our project managers.

Why don't they use their own media stage?

Out of curiosity does anyone know how this announcement is going down on that other forum (RMWeb)?

Well said NPN. Before I'd finished reading @Karhedron 's quote here of Dr Bright's statement, I'd jumped over to the Digest. But that was eerily quiet, as it's increasingly been on matters N for some time. So I jumped over to the Dapol website, where I eventually find though it wasn't as easily as it should have been. I've checked the Digest a few times over the weekend. And I can't find the original statement on the Dapol website now. So it does seem like they've run off and hid.

[PLD]

On Friday morning I read a statement from Dr Joel Bright, MD of Dapol. In that statement he took a large dump on many thousands of customers.

So in Joel's position what would you have done differently?

You take over a company which everyone admits had over-promised and under delivered before your arrival (including senior staff at the time of the over-promising). Do you:

1. cancel proposed models but keep quiet and hope everyone forgets about them.
2. cancel proposed models and be honest about it.
3. churn out models now at whatever state of development they are, and most likely get slated for a multitude of inaccuracies resulting in fewer sales of following models and potentially the bankruptcy of the company.
4. sink further funds into proposed models to fully develop the models (and most likely get slated for the resulting further delays), knowing that in the present market conditions you are unlikely to fully recover that extra cost which will ultimately lead to the bankruptcy of the company.
5. concentrate on a small number of model that are close to being ready for release and put the others on the 'back-burner' until market conditions are more favourable but keep quiet and hope customers are pacified by those you do produce.
6. concentrate on a small number of model that are close to being ready for release and put the others on the 'back-burner' until market conditions are more favourable and be up front and honest with your customers that this is what you are doing.

[RailGooner]

..
The Dapol website has been down quite a bit this weekend and yesterday they seemed to restore it from a backup which would be why Joels statement is no longer on there
...

How inconvenient for that to happen and this weekend too.

[RailGooner]

On Friday morning I read a statement from Dr Joel Bright, MD of Dapol. In that statement he took a large dump on many thousands of customers.

So in Joel's position what would you have done differently?

You take over a company which everyone admits had over-promised and under delivered before your arrival (including senior staff at the time of the over-promising). Do you:

1. cancel proposed models but keep quiet and hope everyone forgets about them.
2. cancel proposed models and be honest about it.
3. churn out models now at whatever state of development they are, and most likely get slated for a multitude of inaccuracies resulting in fewer sales of following models and potentially the bankruptcy of the company.
4. sink further funds into proposed models to fully develop the models (and most likely get slated for the resulting further delays), knowing that in the present market conditions you are unlikely to fully recover that extra cost which will ultimately lead to the bankruptcy of the company.
5. concentrate on a small number of model that are close to being ready for release and put the others on the 'back-burner' until market conditions are more favourable but keep quiet and hope customers are pacified by those you do produce.
6. concentrate on a small number of model that are close to being ready for release and put the others on the 'back-burner' until market conditions are more favourable and be up front and honest with your customers that this is what you are doing.

I'd have done it earlier. Dr Bright became MD in 2010. For the previous 8 years he was a 'Shadow' Director.

Coupled with this statement is also an apology from me. Dapol as a company has undoubtedly over announced products in the past which has led to this situation. The tendency to be overly optimistic about development times and unrealistic about what can be achieved has been prevalent.

All during 15 years of his watch.

[PLD]

On Friday morning I read a statement from Dr Joel Bright, MD of Dapol. In that statement he took a large dump on many thousands of customers.

So in Joel's position what would you have done differently?

I'd have done it earlier.

OK not unreasonable, but would that have left us in any different position today? You would just have "been dumped on" earlier; we still wouldn't have those models on the shelves and the same uproar from modellers who's worlds have apparently ended would have occurred 5/6/7 years earlier (do you think they would have calmed down yet?!?!)

[Portpatrick]

From PLDF's list of options, I would be choosing No 6, which is near enough what Dapol are doing.  And it appears to be a fit with the current commercial reality.

I have not seen the currently missing statement but I would also give unreserved  and full apologies for both the lack of progress with some of the items  over what seems in some cases to be a prolonged period.  Also an explanation of why those delays have occurred.  Especially so if, as Railgooner suggests, I had been MD or shadow director over most if not all of the period in question. 

It is also pertinent for manufacturers to reflect on the extent to which such delays, and (whisper it quietly) price increases and quality issues, are of themselves a factor in diminishing the market for UK N gauge.  Which, we are told, is not that great to start with. 

[RailGooner]

On Friday morning I read a statement from Dr Joel Bright, MD of Dapol. In that statement he took a large dump on many thousands of customers.

So in Joel's position what would you have done differently?

I'd have done it earlier.

OK not unreasonable, but would that have left us in any different position today? You would just have "been dumped on" earlier; we still wouldn't have those models on the shelves and the same uproar from modellers who's worlds have apparently ended would have occurred 5/6/7 years earlier (do you think they would have calmed down yet?!?!)

Yes, of course that would leave us in a different position today, a very different position. And the obvious difference would be that I and others wouldn't have spent up to 7 years anticipating those models. Wouldn't have spent up to 7 years building up coach/wagon stock to suit those models. Wouldn't have spent up to 7 years planning and/or building a layout to suit those models.

[NinOz]

I'm sure the Mods are keeping a close eye on us.

Paul

Amazed that they can see anything with the air in here so thick with conjecture and vented steam.

CFJ

[njee20]

"Projects such as the Class 50, Class 59, prototype HST, Battle of Britain and others are being delayed as result of this."

First post in the thread.


Paul

Thanks for pointing that out. I saw that and the title but judging by all the fuss it seemed like something far more serious was going on than simply a delay. Fact is, Farish has announced the MK2F coaches in their catalogue a long long time ago and still there is no word on them. Dapol have at least come forward to say there is going to be a delay on certain products and we get this. I thought I may have missed something. 

I guess telling us there's going to be a lengthy delay really didn't do them any good. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Personally I'll keep my fingers crossed that they eventually produce these models and more besides.

Dapol have form on this. They did exactly the same with the Pendolino and class 92; they were officially "put on the back burner", and they remain there. By saying cancelled it gives their competitors a clear opportunity. By saying delayed they are attempting to scupper anyone else who may have a go. But I'll bet you £20 we never see a 50 or a WC. I admire your optimism though!

[koyli55002]

"But I'll bet you £20 we never see a 50 or a WC. I admire your optimism though!"

NJee - we might see them, but I reckon your money is safe that it WON'T be from Chirk !
Like many others who seem to have read between the lines, I reckon the chances of seeing any further development in N Gauge from Dapol are so slim they could hide behind a blade of grass.

[njee20]

Ah yes, the "from Dapol" was implicit, I can imagine both appearing at some points through one channel or other.

[longbow]

What would be Dapol's response I wonder if they were offered a commission to build one of the deferred projects financed via crowdfunding?

[woodbury22uk]

What would be Dapol's response I wonder if they were offered a commission to build one of the deferred projects financed via crowdfunding?

They would be wise to say "no" to the the BoB since on their own admission they do not have a working mechanism for it.

[Howlin`baz]

No, I don't want to yet, I haven't finished having a pop at poor innocent and defenceless Dapol. When I first read Dr Bright's statement, I tried to take positives from it. But as I have reread it many times over the weekend, I see it for what it is: a stinking pile of faeces. So if you want to continue apologizing for Dapol @Howlin`baz you should. And if I and others want to continue having a pop at Dapol, you should let us.

I must fully agree, but would add that there is an additional consideration.   Ultimately, those of you venting steam (which will not change the situation) have the option of not buying any products from anybody who they feel has let them down.   You have that option.  If you feel that you could do a better job than the manufacturers, then please put your money where your mouth is and go into production.    I would welcome any new entrant to of hobby.