Eureka Times 16

The Eureka Times
16th Edition

20 September, 2008

As this issue of The Eureka Times is being prepared we are also getting ready for the Hurstville exhibition so things are a bit busy at Eureka at the moment. It is also busy at the factory in China and the next six months promise to be the busiest in the Eureka organization's short history. With so much happening, an update on current projects is overdue so, as usual, let's get on with it.

Production of the "N606" TrainPaks is underway and the factory expects production to be complete in the last week of September. We are planning to air freight some products so that we have some at the Hurstville Exhibition in Early October.

As previously advised there is a choice between ten packs of LCHs and CCHs and a mixed pack of five LCHs and give CCHs. Five sets of numbers will be available for a total of 50 different numbers and two packs of CCH's for a further twenty numbers. Demand for the trainpaks has been excellent although the production run has been increased, over 50% of the production run has already been sold.

Stocks of the first run of our AD60 are running low and so a second run has been comissioned.

This run will feature the prototype as issued to service with short coal bunker sides and red lining. Other minor changes such as dual air compressor will also be incorporated.
In addition to 6001, 6002 and 6018 in red lining we will be producing a special run of 6020 in 1955 Railway Centenary colours as shown in the accompanying photograph. Only sufficient number of 6020 in centenary colours will be produced to meet orders recieved by 30 November, 2008.

The CPH/CTH project is now complete. A last minute modification to the CPH was necessary to accomodate a second, under-floor switch to give independant control of the front and rear lighting for when the motor unit is part of a consist but this has been completed with no delay to the project. We are waiting for advice from the factory as to when production will commence but we are expecting a November delivery.

For details of available liveries and set numbers see Eureka Times 15 but the following photo's shot the give available liveries.

CPH and trailer in Indian Red on masonite siding (no crown lights). Photo: Ray Pilgrim

CPH and CTH in silver with blue lining on tongue and groove siding with crown lights

The engineering sample of the 40 class has arrived from the factory. The model is a complete running model with working marker lights but is without sound at this stage. The few interested observers who have seen the pilot so far have judged it to be a very fine model and apart from a change to the colour of the headlight we have informed the factory that no modifications are necessary and production can proceed.

Type 1. 4008 and 4009 in Green livery
Original condition with louvres and for-and-aft exhaust stack.

TYpe 2.        4012 and 4019 in Green livery
              4001 and 4002 in Royal Blue livery
              Original condition with louvres but with modified crosswise exhaust stack

Type 3. 4006, 4011, 4017, 4018 in red livery.
Mesh instead of louvres and with crosswise exhuast stack

Artwork is currently being finalized and the next major step in the process will be when painted samples are recieved from the factory.
As previously advised this project is proceeding ahead of time and delivery before Chinese New Year is highly likely.

The test shots incorporating the modifications to the fire-box of the 38 have arrived and have been approved.
Artwork and sound files are with the factory and the next step in the process will be receipt of production model painted samples. Once these are recieved an accurate estimate of the delivery date should be available. We expect this to be before Chinese New Year

The factory is checking detail items which indicate that the project is progressing. The next major step in the process will be the receipt of test shots. Once we recieve these we will be in a better position to estimate a delivery date. To all those who have placed order for the R class and are waiting patiently we again apologise for the slowness of the project. As an expression of our appreciation we will be making a special offer to our patient supporters of the R class project in an issue of the Eureka Times in the not too distant future.

This project is being held up pending more progress on the R class but we have requested a tooling slot before Chinese New Year. More details in the next issue.

We have been investigation the production of three items of VR rolling-stock together with some carriages sets to go behind our VR steam engines when they finally arrive. The slowness of the R class project has held up this investigation process but as with the K class and rail motor projects we want to start these projects sooner rather than later. More details in the next issue.

The final details for this project are now being finalised and approval for the project to proceed will be given soon so that the drawing process can commence. Full details including order forms will be available with the next Eureka Times. A late 2009/ early 2010 delivery date is anticipated.

Stocks of this model are almost exhuasted and a re-run has been commisioned.
The re-run will involve up-dating the model to allow production of the modernised variation. The Intermediate, Candy and City Rail Grey liveries will be produced and the possibility of producing some of the early schemes before the dies are modified is being examined. Delivery will be sometime in 2009.

The factory is considering technical issues involved in this project and have suggested a different approach to that used on the 620/720. These issues are nearing resolution and the project will soon be in a position to proceed.

The drawings for the NSWGR 59 class are still being finalised and we are planning to commence tooling in late 2008. We expect to announce full details of this project before the end of the year.

Much has been said elsewhere (see for example AMRM Oct. 08 issue) about future price movements for equipment being sourced from China.

           China based suppliers are currently telling their customers to expect annual prices rises in the 10-20% range into the foreseeable future. Add to this the wild gyrations experienced by the Aussie dollar of late and it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict with any certainty what prices might prevail on a model the delivery of which might be several year down the track.
           We here at Eureka Models have given this problem a fair bit of though and have decided to continue with our present approach of offering an aayttractive discounted pre-delivery price based on what we think the after-delivery price might be. However in future we will not be commiting to a delivery price and will make it clear that any quoted delivery prices will be indications only and will be subject to variation based on subsequent price movements.
           The pre-delivery price of course will remain unchanged.

LCH/CCH + CHG*                              3rd qtr 2008
CPH/CTH*                                                 4th qtr 2008
38 class*                                                   4th qtr 2008
40 class*                                                          1st qtr 2009
AD60 re-run*                                                    1st qtr 2009
R class*                                                                   2nd qtr 2009
620/720 re-run                                                               4th qtr 2009
Mystery VR rolling-stock items*                                   4th qtr 2009
Oil Trainpak*                                                                  4th qtr 2009
HUB set*                                                                                1st qtr 2010
K class*                                                                                 1st qtr 2010
59 class*                                                                               1st qtr 2010
DEB set*                                                                                 1st qtr 2010
Stock Trainpak*                                                                    1st qtr 2010
43 class diesel                                                                      1st qtr 2010
VR Locomotive*                                                                           3rd qtr 2010
W44 Trainpak                                                                               3rd qtr 2010
57/58                                                                                                   4th qtr 2010
Silvery City Comet                                                                              4th qtr 2010
VR locomotive                                                                                                   2011
Milk Trainpak                                                                                                    2011

There are about a dozen other projects on which work has started but which have not yet reached the stage where there is much point talking about them. THese will round out the Eureka program and we will progressively add them to the above list at the appropriate time.