Simple answer ............... buy one of everything!

SDS are certainly learning how to pull my chain

6 packs (18) JCW's
2 packs (4) of GS tanks
1 pack (2) FS pots maybe 2 if I still have any money available
That's a pretty big hit when you think I want 3 X Class and 2 P Class about the same time.
Cheers
Rod

Simple answer ............... buy one of everything!

ONE?

Paul

He who dies with the most trains wins.

He who dies with the most trains wins.

wins what?

Man, combine these releases with the loco's from the big A and 2015 has become fiscally challenging

Wondering out loud - how will these new items sell (out?), doing my damnedest to formulate some sort of 12mth budget...

"Meticulous research, meticulous design and extremely precise livery application. The SDS Models HO scale SRA 81 class locomotive will be available with sound and suitable for operation on both DC and DCC." - https://www.facebook.com/SdsModels/photos/a.369409706509610.1073741826.319134508203797/712168438900400/?type=1&theater

extremely precise livery application

Ain't that a kick in the pants.

Ain't that a kick in the pants.

Where is the Like button.

And here's me saying I'm pleased Auscision are doing the NR because it will give time for me and my credit card to recover. Only sent in an order form for some NQJWs and gas tankers during the week. I hope they are going to do more than just the two candy 81s (please). Interesting that they don't seem - at this stage - to be looking at the G and BL classes.

Tony

And here I was just coming to grips with finding additional funds for SDS's new wagons on account of the big A consistently soaking up my loco budget - which has been long broken

Wouldn't be too difficult to select at least x4 81's with minimal thought. Pricing will be interesting...

I agree - the price of this (and Auscision's NRs) will be interesting. With the current and potential ongoing fall in the Aussie dollar I'm certainly expecting something over $300 without sound. I've long since remotored and detailed my Powerline 81s and just how many of these SDS 81s I will get will to a large extent be dependant on price.

Tony

And here I was just coming to grips with finding additional funds for SDS's new wagons on account of the big A consistently soaking up my loco budget - which has been long broken

Wouldn't be too difficult to select at least x4 81's with minimal thought. Pricing will be interesting...

Pricing will be the interesting point.  With the Australian dollar falling in value and the wage increases in China it will be interesting to see how much this model will cost?  I myself am still waiting for my Austrains Candy 81 class which i should in theory still get for the $250 pre paid price.  If the SDS offering is more expensive than this (which one would expect that it will be) then the SDS version would have to be substantially superior to the Austrains version for me to cancel my Austrains order.  Timeline will be the other factor. SDS haven't mentioned how far advanced they are or when they expect the models to arrive.  It's an interesting choice for a fledgling company (in comparison to some other manufacturers) as a first loco model given that 2 other manufacturers already have offering available.  Maybe SDS would have been concentrating on wagons because there are plenty of wagons like the FX, GS, TW and JCW that are screaming out to be done.

Are you still awaiting delivery of a 1st run, extra door candy 81 or did you pre-order a supposedly corrected 2nd run version?

The former wouldn't surprise me in which case are worth no more than the $175 they were flogging them off for at exhibitions last year - which I believe they've now fully sold

It wouldn't surprise me to see the 2nd run project cancelled on account of the recent news from SDS

Either way - good luck getting your refund if applicable

Pricing will be the interesting point.  With the Australian dollar falling in value and the wage increases in China it will be interesting to see how much this model will cost?  I myself am still waiting for my Austrains Candy 81 class which i should in theory still get for the $250 pre paid price.  If the SDS offering is more expensive than this (which one would expect that it will be) then the SDS version would have to be substantially superior to the Austrains version for me to cancel my Austrains order.  Timeline will be the other factor. SDS haven't mentioned how far advanced they are or when they expect the models to arrive.  It's an interesting choice for a fledgling company (in comparison to some other manufacturers) as a first loco model given that 2 other manufacturers already have offering available.  Maybe SDS would have been concentrating on wagons because there are plenty of wagons like the FX, GS, TW and JCW that are screaming out to be done.

Most of the importers seem to be branching out into areas that seemed foriegn to them at startup, its almost as if there's some sort of rush to ensure their survival or obtain enought sales & profits so that when most of the higher profile & models that will carry them into the future have been produced, the last one standing will be who carries through.

In regard to pricing, I had said elsewhere that I expect that after this year Chinese New Year is over & the affects of the 2nd 20% wage increases take affect & the prices are then available the new EB prices for Diesels is likely to be at least the after delivery prices now, $295.00, then after arrival likely add another $50.00 or so onto that for non sound models.

Sound is going to be the big issue as I doubt that many would go for QSI in the OEM market which has been where Austrains & Eureka have gone, rather they will be looking to Loksound, or perhaps TCS WOW versions, the later would depend on if the local recordings are ok for them.  If Loksound, then the old $100.00 for sound may not be enough, likely to be closer to $150.00.

If they are only doing sound units & no non sound I personally think its not a good move, as many do not want sound, & the price can be a deterrant.

From a personal perspective I have few sound models, as I see sound still evolving & can be added afterwards & when I have all the loco's I need & want, not far off that now, so once I have them all I can save to gradually fit them with sound.

Good call on 'The Race' A6. It will be interesting to see whether the markets participants will have 'the legs' to endure $50+ price rises per loco and the premium of sound only releases

Personally, a combination of the two will slow me down. I have acknowledged the value of $250 loco's from the big A and voted with my dollars accordingly for sometime now. This 'golden era' appears to be coming to an end. Fortunately most of what I'm interested in is already in planning/development stage so I'm not overly concerned

I don't believe we'll see as many rapid sell-outs after the impending price adjustments, which can be seen as one benefit

If the SDS offering is more expensive than this (which one would expect that it will be) then the SDS version would have to be substantially superior to the Austrains version for me to cancel my Austrains order.  

It won't be too difficult for the SDS version to be substantially superior to the Austrains version.

If Loksound, then the old $100.00 for sound may not be enough, likely to be closer to $150.00.

Loksound have apparently opened up their Select range to allow OEM's to load custom sound projects now, decreasing the price over the full featured LokSound 4.0 range. This has lead to a number of US OEM's changing to ESU LokSound from QSI.

Paul

It won't be too difficult for the SDS version to be substantially superior to the Austrains version.

Little doubt about that.  My only concern with all models these days is the penchant to advertise the aspect of 100's of add on detail items. It may sound great in the advertising blurb but, the big problem is it has reduced the durability of many models as bits & pieces fall off, sometimes you cannot find them, sometimes you do & wonder where they came from & what it is, & then in many cases is the problem of re-attaching them.

Loksound have apparently opened up their Select range to allow OEM's to load custom sound projects now, decreasing the price over the full featured LokSound 4.0 range. This has lead to a number of US OEM's changing to ESU LokSound from QSI.

Paul

Problem has been with the select range of custom sounds is ESU expects the OEM to do all the work in recording the sounds, then they have to give the files to Loksound as they then become their property for the future, which may be a detriment to the smaller Oz market.

With the V4, its possible for the individual to load their own files but a very steep learning curve.

Problem has been with the select range of custom sounds is ESU expects the OEM to do all the work in recording the sounds, then they have to give the files to Loksound as they then become their property for the future, which may be a detriment to the smaller Oz market.

With the V4, its possible for the individual to load their own files but a very steep learning curve.

No, you are referring to the 'old' days of the Select decoders.

ESU have recently opened up access to the Select decoders allowing OEMs to develop sound projects and then 'burn' them into the decoder as that the end user cannot read or alter them. Previously you had to take the sound file project from the ESU website and then download to the decoder.

You are not required to submit the custom file to ESU.

If you wanted the ability to download custom projects and alter them required a full 4.0 decoder.

Should cut prices for people like DCC Sound that can now use the cheaper decoders.

Paul

No, you are referring to the 'old' days of the Select decoders.

ESU have recently opened up access to the Select decoders allowing OEMs to develop sound projects and then 'burn' them into the decoder as that the end user cannot read or alter them. Previously you had to take the sound file project from the ESU website and then download to the decoder.

You are not required to submit the custom file to ESU.

If you wanted the ability to download custom projects and alter them required a full 4.0 decoder.

Should cut prices for people like DCC Sound that can now use the cheaper decoders.

Paul

Hi Paul,

I have not heard this news.

I am not really following what you are saying.

Are you saying that you can load a custom sound file into a 'Select' Decoder now? You say there is no need to submit a 'Select' sound file to ESU anymore. Does this mean you use the LokProgrammer, or is there some other device only accessible to OEMs?

Having created a few ESU sound projects this would be great. If you create the custom project there is no need to alter the installed project. I could just create a modified version and reflash the 'Select' decoder. Am I on the right track here?

Just a little confused as I can not see where the full functioning V4 fits if this is the case?

Thanks,

Linton

It won't be too difficult for the SDS version to be substantially superior to the Austrains version.

out of curiosity, what aspects of the Austrains 81 class do you believe that SDS can substantially improve on? At the end of the day, they are just a brick shaped loco with a reasonable degree of detail on the roof but not a lot around the sides or front.  You can't add detail that isn't there on the prototype.  The Austrains BL and G class don't seem to receive the same level of criticism as their 81 class.

Are you still awaiting delivery of a 1st run, extra door candy 81 or did you pre-order a supposedly corrected 2nd run version?

The former wouldn't surprise me in which case are worth no more than the $175 they were flogging them off for at exhibitions last year - which I believe they've now fully sold

It wouldn't surprise me to see the 2nd run project cancelled on account of the recent news from SDS

Either way - good luck getting your refund if applicable

am still awaiting my correct version candy 81 class which is what I ordered and expect to get a correct version from the 2nd run batch at the original pre order price of $250.  having said that no money for the 81 class has been deducted from my account yet.  The money for the BL's and G class that I also ordered was only deducted from my account after the models arrived in Australia, just prior to them being sent to me.

Loksound have apparently opened up their Select range to allow OEM's to load custom sound projects now, decreasing the price over the full featured LokSound 4.0 range. This has lead to a number of US OEM's changing to ESU LokSound from QSI.

Paul

So are the selects available for the 45 now??

out of curiosity, what aspects of the Austrains 81 class do you believe that SDS can substantially improve on? At the end of the day, they are just a brick shaped loco with a reasonable degree of detail on the roof but not a lot around the sides or front.  You can't add detail that isn't there on the prototype.  The Austrains BL and G class don't seem to receive the same level of criticism as their 81 class.

Just for starters, the paint scheme on all versions, the fit of the body of the 81's to the chassis (no large gap under the cab) and the oversized horns which are prone to being broken of even on brand new models that have not been removed from their box. SDS shouldn't have any problem with anything I have mentioned.

I assume you are aware of the extra door on the Austrains Candy version but that was supposedly a problem introduced by the factory after the sample was approved by Austrains and is the reason why the candy version was reduced in price to $175. I personally found the botched paint scheme far more offensive.