Definately. They haven't even released the ES44AC in BNSF/CP yet, and those are very similar to the ES44DC. If one was to buy a Tower 55 unit, I would suggest to buy one of the ES44ACs because they are the second run and should have all the bugs that the first release had worked out.Don't expect to see the SD70ACe's for a few months, possibly more.
...are new paint schemes that much that they can take 8 months to do?
Thanks for that tidbit Nate, I hadn't thought of it that way.If they require multiple paint masks, yes, they can. Masks are extremely expensive and time consuming (not to mention difficult) to construct and get just right. These aren't simple cardboard and/or tape masks...production paint masks are cast/machined metal and have to be shaped in such a way as to work over details like grabs without damaging them, and sink into details like vents, to achieve a consistently crisp paint line over the course of hundreds or even thousands of units. If a mask has to cover multiple surfaces, say to paint the roof a different color, they are usually pneumatically operated to close around all sides of the model, so the operator doesn't have to touch the mask and risk getting paint on his/her hands and later transfer his/her fingerprints to the model.
Thanks for that tidbit Nate, I hadn't thought of it that way.
How long can they be expected to keep my order? Geesh, at this rate it could be more than 2 years before I see the locomotive. And who knows what price they will expect to extract from me.
Nate,
I understand your fellings here. I have no intention of screwing my hobby shop owner. He's been really great to me and I would return the favor. I'll bet that some of the customers for these locos will disappear by the time the orders come in, but I bet these units can be sold fairly easily.
Bill
I ment, in the way of, don't tell us its coming until its set in stone!Then you will have a huge pile of folks clamoring for more info, as to when the danged thing is going to be released!
Manufacturers can't win. We whine when they miss the release date, and we whine when they don't give us a release date.
Kennedy