It is no secret that we have had major problems with a factory in China with whom we became lulled into expectations because of the excellence of the Engineer in charge of the first project namely the Stanier E/8.

The owner of that factory was 'difficult' and when major problems arose with the E/9 Steve and Ron at SWF were left with the very onerous job of rectifying the problems in the UK.They are still completing that task but nearing the end. None of this reflects on the appearance of the Bulleid which is world class by any measure.

When I went to China I had a meeting with the person concerned last December and I was given an unequivocal promise that all E/10 deliveries would be completed by April 15th 2012 well over 2 years late. We had paid substantial funds up front including on account of production and 100% of the tooling.

It now transpires that after the Chinese New Year in February many of their staff did not return. The real reason was that they prioritised an ongoing contract to build plastic HO for Japan and could no longer give us firm end dates. This was reported by our man in HK who made regular visits on our behalf.

I made the decision without further delay to ask our friends in China to negotiate the total withdrawal of all our E/10 tooling and over 500 assembled painted and lined bodies and tenders to be removed to our new dedicated factory run by the former chief engineer of the E/8.

I thought it necessary to reveal this situation now and be assured that the standard of the first 20 'Etons' will be maintained and they will be finished to the same standard. We are keeping all this as amicable as possible for obvious reasons but equally obvious final deliveries might encounter some further delay as the transfer of semi complete E/10s will be ready for final assembly in March with deliveries commencing in batches by April.

The new factory have already produced the Water Tower and the C/24 coaches ( some delivered) are in progress. They are well ahead with the final design of the Streamlined Duchess and tooling will commence shortly.

The final Bulldog and Met deliveries are not affected as they are made in Europe.Len Mills will be in Prague next week to finalise production details on the Met Vickers and later Westinghouse locos all of which will be originated on the same tin printed sheets.

There is a small final batch of Castles (E7-2) many of which are reserved .They will also be removed to our new factory.

'Floreat ACE' as they might have said in Eton.

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Update
At last we have reached an amicable agreement with our post Bangkok factory in China.

A figure for the release of all the partly finished Schools and the balance of Castles has been accepted.

So apart from 20 Etons and 30 in a strange BR colour there are at present no completed E/10s. All the partly finished E/10s and E 7-2s will be completed by our new dedicated unit under the supervision of the excellent engineer who gave us the E/8 and prior to that was responsible for designing Hornby's 00 gas fired steam locos. Things are looking up.He is also in charge of our Coronation and A4 live steam spirit fired programmes.

A Schedule will be produced in the next month with details of initial deliveries . Be assured the standard will be no less than was achieved with the E/8s.

Very interesting report. I think dealing with the Chinese problems you mention would drive me to Bedlam, or drink. Sadly, the kind of problems you report are echoed by many guys I know here in the US.

Glad to see that the Metropolitans are being made by ETS. Their stuff is as solid as a rock and has the kind of quality I consistently see in your products.

Thanks for taking the time post all this info which is much appreciated.

I was just wondering if there was any update on progress, and whether those of us who were not among "the lucky nineteen" that got a Schools from that first batch could expect an imminent arrival? And indeed, whether the final batch of water towers will be arriving soon?
Gordon

To long suffering Gras and others.

We are in the final negotiations to remove our work in progress from the factory that we used post Thailand.( E/8/9/E7-2. G1/2. part E/10)

All the semi finished and painted components (E/10/E/7-2) will be transferred to our new factory source within the next 10 days. Assembly of the first new batch will take about 6 weeks. Not what you wanted to hear and not what we wanted when we placed this order over 30 months ago and paid a substantial advance. Splitting our production with Europe was in the event prescient. The new factory have produced and are producing AC/2 ,G/2 sets 10 -13, C/24 sets and are preparing the E/12 series. They also answer our e mails. Our Prague associates have produced the E/11,E/16 and have the E/17 in production.They also have the Pannier Tank as work in progress. Dealing with Gustav Taus(ETS) and his team is an extremely pleasant experience.

The last 100 ( the balance there are no more) Water Towers are in transit now by sea ( air freight is now prohibitive) and all allocated including yours.That item was made by our new factory and has been a joy to make compared to our old factory's post E/8 performance. They are now concentrating on plastic HO for the Japanese market much easier than our production.

Your statement that "They also answer our e mails" probably says it all. I know what fun it can be when people won't even respond to attempts to find out what's happening.

Thanks for the update. Hopefully the water tower will be here before too long, and the Schools by summer. Having seen posted on one website a picture of a Schools taking on water from an Ace water tower, I confess I was (Maunsell) green with envy...

Gordon

Further to my 'Good School Report' now amalgamated with this topic I can report that all tools printing screens etc and components many painted and lined of the E/10 and the remaining E/7-2s have now been removed from our previous factory on terms that were mutually acceptable.We remain on good terms with that factory and understand that the complexities and standards of ACE could not be given priority over a large ongoing order for Japanese HO in plastic a much more predictable manufacturing process in the 21st Century.

Pending sorting out the inventory in our new facility production of the Schools will re commence. The order of delivery will initially be governed by the degree of final assembly required based on how advanced the various components were. Despite incurring considerable additional costs related to the delay and other costs we will maintain the retail price at £495 inc the 20% VAT rate on existing orders for standard names. Any new orders for the few remaining unallocated standard names will be £545. Special names will bear the advertised oncost as before.

As is our policy no deposits have been taken so it would be helpful if customers would reconfirm their orders with whoever they placed them with.

This is particularly important for any GWR versions of the Castles as these will be the only ones available the BR version production having been completed previously and only the remaining BR versions being available at £545.See your dealer for earlier orders at the special price. Any new order that was charged at £595 will be entitled to a £50 refund if they have purchased the Castle from ACE or an authorised dealer.

If this is all a bit confusing call me at 0207 727 1592 or e mail <acetrainslondon.co.uk>

Thought you might like to see a 12 inches to the foot version that has just been fired up again and ready for action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsOaqftXluA&feature=colike