Asters has done some revision on the pilot model, as per this video update:
That’s nice, Charles. 
Anyone here affected by this? C’mon, don’t be shy…
tac, ig & The Burnside Bridge Boys
Terry
I am not affected by this in the sense of a “delay” I/we got enough ongoing in the shop and trains to play with. My guess is that anyone “affected” might be Hans and Aster.
People need to give Aster time to work the kinks out. Like it was said over at the “Other Place”, that is why they are called pilot models. My bet is that they will be well worth the wait.
By the way, hello Tac and Charles.
Mornin’, Steve - nice to see you this fine and sunny 1st of December! Tell that guy Franks to get his butt into gear and read his emails I sent about his leaky ol’ loco!
BTW, over here in UK you can fill up your car at least twice for the price of that there Challenger.
Well, yesterday you could - today might be different.
Best
tac, ig & The Hawthorne Bridge Boys
Tac, I got the email. I am waiting for a chance to run the BR03. Steve cancelled his steamup this week so I have to wait. As for the Challenger, Steve was the one that broke the story about it’s problems. lol. But he swore us to secrecy as he didn’t want to embarass Aster or sully their reputation. Hah. The true story he will have to tell you. But Hans sweated bullets over this thing trying to find out what was wrong with it and ended up disecting the whole thing. I am told he ended up having new parts made on his own to fix it and sent it back to Japan. I am sure it will be a beautiful, if expensive, engine when finished. Hans would not let a second rate product be sold under the Aster name. Our friend Art has one ordered. I am looking forward to seeing it. He may charge us just to look.
Evenin’, John - thanks for the call - see your email, rather than me cluttering up the forum with our chit-chat. BTW, I still read the other forum, even though I was cut off without a blink by the management after being a faithish 1st class supporter for years. All water under the whatsit now, eh? The new Challenger, indeed any loco that costs as much as a family car, is a never-mind AFAIAC.
Talk to ya later.
tac, ig & The Ross Island Bridge Boys
Howdy, Steve
For those keeping watch, here is the latest test run by Hans:
Beautiful loco. Sounds great with cylinder cocks open Thanks for the link Charles. I’ll never be able to afford one, but hopefully I can see one run in person someday.
Thanks Charles - even as a less-than-interested on-looker, I nevertheless admire and appreciate the enormous amount of effort that has gone into this instant classic model locomotive. I have no doubt that some will be bought just to put in a glass box and admire, but I hope that most will get the chance to do what they were made for, and strut their stuff in front of a HUGE train.
At the price that you are getting it for in the USA, it is without doubt one of the present day Gauge 1 world’s live-steam bargains. I know just a couple of folks over here who could afford one in a blink, but apart from that, I’ll have to wait until I visit your side of the pond to see one for real.
Ross did a great job on the video!
tac, ig & The Bandon Lighthouse Boys