The delivery of marching railway wagons in H0, the building kits and the Czech wagons is running at full speed. Looking at the calendar, the goods arrived very close to Christmas. We are open and honest and do not want to promise anyone that they will have their model delivered by Christmas. We do what we can, and we cannot change the parcel delivery times. But: You will receive your model.
Best regards,
Christian Arndt
ASM
The Czech dining cars are here!
-> Delivery will start on 19 December.
The EuroCity 100 “Jože Plečnik”, consisting of the Czech EuroCity cars in the original orange/grey livery has also arrived.
The matching dining car is of course also part of it
-> The number of pre-orders for this train was high, secure your model in time. There will be no further edition of this EC 100 train.
Also the nice lasercut house kits in Scandinavian wooden house style “Lyngstad gård” are available.
-> They can be ordered now from your dealer or from us.
The finished house can be equipped with interior lighting. Each room can be lit individually; interior walls make this possible. Additions for the enclosure are planned for next year, so that the building ensemble can be completed.
Many greetings,
the team from ASM
Dear model railway friends,
The Marschbahn cars have arrived. Yes….but where?
After we had started the delivery, we received feedback that the reading and programming of the decoders for the interior lighting did not work in digital mode properly. A test on our part showed that this is true for many digital command stations with the exception of ESU Ecos and Märklin CS1. Analogue operation is not affected.
What happened?
The digital decoder expects a certain pulse length of the signal when reading out and programming. With some digital control units, the required length is not reached, so that the decoder stops working, so to speak.
Why does one do this?
The aim was to get a decoder for the interior lighting that responds equally well to digital and analogue operation. While everything was still in order during the acceptance test with Ecos, Lokprogrammer, Fleischmann Profi-Boss/Intellibox and Märklin CS2, a mistake was made during the final programming, which was not noticed during the test of each individual wagon at the factory. A digital commanding unit was used there whose signal is long enough (Ecos).
And now?
We have stopped the delivery. All cars will receive a software update and will be tested again. This has already been done for some of the models, which are being delivered as of today. Your dealer and ASM will take care of the goods that have already been delivered; the respective dealers have been informed.
This is all very annoying, especially in the run-up to Christmas. However, we are working flat out to rectify the situation.
Thank you all for your understanding.
Best regards,
Christian Arndt
Yes, if you look at the current situation regarding the transport of overseas freight from China to Europe, you wish there was a functioning hyperloop. Or the functioning teleporter of Mr. Scott from the starship Enterprise. But first things first. I would like to give you an overview of the current status of production and delivery.
Production at the Guangdong plant in China was limited to two or three days a week during the summer. The reason was a lack of water at the power plants, so there was not enough electricity for industry and also for private households. The summer was hot and very dry. Actually, we all – including the plant staff – had hoped that this situation would end by the end of August. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Perhaps you have read it in the newspaper or heard it in a report on television. In some regions of China, it is said that they are struggling to meet the government’s targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions for 2021. And so they are now trying to avoid further emissions. By restricting electricity purchases and industrial production. Our factory is also affected by this. An economic disaster for the factory, its owner and all the workers and employees there.
For our models, this means that realisation will continue to be postponed. The DE2700 in H0 is affected, as are the EuroCity cars of the EC100and the dining cars. The latter will hopefully be delivered before Christmas. It is not foreseeable. We expect the DE2700 in spring 2022.
Transport is worth another chapter.
Until now, we were used to receiving the goods by ship within three to five weeks. In the meantime, this time is needed just to wait for transport capacity on a ship. You can confidently calculate ten to twelve weeks for transport by ship.
The situation is not much better for rail transport. Here you can calculate about eight to nine weeks of transport time. It used to be 28 days.
That leaves air freight. Do you guess? They have recognised the demand and increased the prices. Five times more than before, to put it concretely.
The factory was kind to us and sent us part of the Married-Pair wagons by air freight, the other part by rail. The models sent by rail are on their way, but as of today they will not arrive until the beginning of December. This delivery includes all the supplementary sets as well as some of the basic sets. We will deliver everything we have already received, as soon as the remaining pallets with the models arrive, they will be delivered; without extra costs, of course.
You are not enthusiastic, we are not, in the factory they are not….who is actually the winner of this situation? Strictly speaking, no one. Except the hauliers.
And when will all this change for the better? There are rumours that things could get better in the middle of next year. But we will not sit back and hope.
Unfortunately, I cannot give you any better news at the moment.
Christian Arndt
Last Friday, the first two of six pallets with the Marschbahn models arrived. We have unpacked them and are now shipping them successively according to the incoming orders.
With the two pallets, the basic packs 59001 and 59101 have arrived first. Further basic packs and the supplementary sets are still on their way to us.
The devil crept in when printing the product information on the pack pages. Instead of “59001” and “59101”, for example, you will find “597001” and “597101”. The content is correct, the seven is too many. We ask you to overlook this small flaw.
So: we have pulled out all the stops, look forward with us to the North German models and to your own personal Marschbahn set.
After long delays, the time has come. The H0-Marschbahn wagons are actually making the journey from China to us today. We expect delivery from the ASM warehouse from mid-October. All orders will be fulfilled. We have even increased the quantity in production in the meantime.
Why are the Marschbahn cars now eleven months late?
First of all, the circuit boards for the interior lighting were finished too late and thus arrived at the factory too late. As a result, the entire production process slipped backwards.
Constructional difficulties were discovered during installation, which is why there had to be a few changes to the pilot car.
Last but not least, there was a drought in southern China during the summer, which indirectly affected production: there was not enough water for the power plants and thus not enough electricity for the industry. The factory was only able to work two to three days a week, which extended the production period by about six weeks.
Future announcements will therefore only be made close to the time of shipment from the factory in China in order to keep disappointments smaller.
Enclosed are some quick shots taken of the production samples that arrived on Friday. Please note that some of these are macro shots where you can even see dust particles or lint in great detail that would not be visible when looking to it only with your eyes. We had to hurry because the models had to go on the test layout immediately after the “cat walk”.
A test of patience for all of us, but: the wait is over. Look forward to the beautiful models!
Mit besten Grüßen, with kind regards,
Christian Arndt
Dear partner, colleague and model railroader,
Some news from our side. There is finally another new delivery. This time it is the set 188686 of the NSB, i.e. El 18 2246 and the matching dining car in Nydesign. The train destination is Bergen. Next week the set will be shipped out. Enclosed you will find some pictures of the locomotive and some printing details. Please keep in mind: these are extreme close-ups of a 1:160 scale model! The precision and sharpness of the printing are more than impressive.
The set 188689 with loco El 18 2241 and dining car, train destination Oslo, is expected to be delivered in November. Unfortunately, more cases for samples were needed during production than planned. We will have to wait for a subsequent delivery in October. But you can already get an impression of how good the model will be.
Unfortunately, the delivery dates of the other models will also be postponed. The reason: our factory in Southern China, in Guangdong, can currently only produce at half power. There are power rationings, the power plants are not producing according to demand due to a lack of cooling water. I don’t even want to comment on that, at the moment we all have to deal with it.
The Marschbahn models will be delivered around the beginning of September.
The dining cars WRmz 815 of the Czech Railways as well as the Czech cars of the EC100 will follow approx. mid-October
Shortly before Christmas, so the current hope, the DE2700 diesel loco of the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn will be delivered.
I regret not being able to bring you more positive news. On the other hand, this gives you a little more time for anticipation. All other new models we are working on we will announce not before they left the factory.
Many thanks for your loyalty and anticipation.
With kind regards,
Christian Arndt
…this is the title of an old song by the Bay City Rollers many years ago. And it is the question some of our customers who pre-ordered the “Marschbahnwagen” and the Czech dining cars.
After we now clearified the last status of production we would like to answer this question.
Marschbahnwagen:: The cars are completely produced, packed and will go on the journey to us this week. We expect them to arrive around the first days of July, so a few weeks later than we wanted to have them. But: we think it is worth it to wait. They will be here soon.
Diesel loco DE2700:: This machine is delayed and shifted to the beginning of October. Production capacities in the workshop are fully booked. Already in February the workshop got a new machine and new crew members but it takes time to steer it in. So please be patient for some additional time for this loco.
Czech dining car N scale: These will be delivered in August, together with all cars of EC100.
Future models we will announce shortly before they are ready to leave the factory in China. All of us have a benefit of this and no one will have to pend for too long time on his models.
Maybe this is of interest: our models will now reach us by railway! The freight costs for railway transport decreased significantly and is now almost on the level of sea transport. Minimal additional costs, shortage of the sending time on around half of the time for sea transport and in addition a benefit for the environment. A benefit for all of us.
Sincerly, your team of ASM
It took a long, long while..but: it was worth the time of waiting as promised! We can now present the first models of the electric loco El 18 of the NSB!
Our model of El 18 2243 from set 188692 corresponds very well with the original. The silver-grey metallic shiny basic painting and the grey contrast area on the sides, on the front and the roof. We attached importance to match the brilliance of the silver colour of the original also with the model. What might be interesting to know: the silver colour of loco and wagons of the original differs in shade and texture because of different workshops they have been painted in
The models are mounted with open snow ploughs and coupler. Two closed snow ploughs are attached to the box. To mount them the body shell has to be removed following the instruction in the instruction manual. The snow plough then can be removed by spreading carefully the holding catch and taking away the plough. The new plough then can be pushed to the loco vice versa.
For NMJ in Oslo a special model was created for their 40th anniversary of the company:
This loco differs with its red contrast areas on front and sides from the regular model. The roof of this model is – as at the regular model – grey. And following the original the NSB logo misses at this loco number El 18 2253. This painting scheme was a test for a new design for the locos. It has been replaced after a short time by the silver and grey one of our regular model.
Just see yourselve: red? Or is grey better? Hmmmm….. the painting is anyway excellent. And also the printing of our Norwegian draught horses (or better: draught elks) is a feast for the eyes!
We like them both! And now for the first time available in 1:160. But: unfortunately with a drop of bitterness: all models are sold out at our warehouse…..
….but: we will carry on. Approximately at the beginning of 2022 we will present the next models of El 18. There are some variations left we would like to offer as a model. With landscape on the sides, as Cargo, Vy, Go-Ahead, a rerun as….what can we do? We go on working to bring more models to Norwegian, to Scancinavian model railway layouts in 1:160.
Your team of ASM.
I the passed comments we showed the ongoing with the work on the Norwegian electric loco El 18. Today we would like to show you another step forward in our work. The body caps of the silver-grey locos (set nr. 188692) are ready painted and printed.
And they really look presentable. Fine accurate painting and printing. The silver color has been matched very well compared with the original and is the result of a step-by-step approach. Silvergrey metallic colour is not an easy colour: at first to dark, afterwards the texture did not fit…but now Fischer-Modell matched colour and texture very well.
And also printing is presentable! Lettering of the weights and the manufacturer shield: everything is printed pin sharp.
Also the front sides look very well. On the picture one can also see a special version for NMJ Oslo with traffic red nose and stripes on the side.
How do we now go on with the work? Currently loco frames and snow ploughs are under painting and printing. In parallel the loco body caps in Nydesign will also be painted and printed.
The locos in silver colour will be assembled at first and then be shipped. Currently we do not have exact date for this. But looking to the pictures one can guess that it will not take too much time any more and we are shortly before finishing. Of course you will be informed of the next steps via this website.
With kind regards
your ASM team
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