Base3 Availability

Wow,

Lots later than the hoped Spring of 2023.

Thanks for spotting that.

Jim

I'm not shocked at all about this

MTH is having difficulty sourcing parts for the new WTIU as well.  I bet we won't see either until mid next year, although I hope I'm wrong.

Yup. Lionel themselves just recently told a friend ...  4Q 2023.

Well, that’s nice to know, I’m just hoping when it arrives, there will be no issues and that the instruction manual is a good reference guide, and possibly OGR will do a instructional DVD. This is a big adventure for many of us Legacy users, it’s nice to know the Cab 1L as well as the Cab 2 remotes work with the new Cab 3 App. Thanks for this update. Happy Railroading Everyone

@rplst8 posted:

I just noticed on Charles Ro's site that availability for the Base3 is now listed as November 2023.

HEY DAVE,

Is This So???

FREDSTRAINS

I wonder if component availability is suddenly biting them in the butt?  It wouldn't surprise me much.

I’ll just have to wait a bit longer to enjoy the full potential of a Lionel Legacy locomotive with the Base 3 vs. using the universal remote. Being new o scale the 990 isn’t available unless you’re willing to pay ridiculous prices on eBay. I have a couple more Legacy’s on preorder, I’ll have to get another universal remote with them.

Gene

Like many of you, I had hoped to begin using the Base 3 in a few months.  But, we can't always get what we want (wasn't that a Rolling Stones song?)

I have no doubt that Lionel is working hard on bringing the product to market since it's in their best interest to do so.

If any or you have tried to buy household appliances recently, you'll know that for many specific items there is 2-6 month wait.

And EVs?  Almost impossible to find other than few base models.

Can't blame Lionel ... or Dave.  It is disappointing.

@rthomps posted:

Like many of you, I had hoped to begin using the Base 3 in a few months.  But, we can't always get what we want (wasn't that a Rolling Stones song?)

I have no doubt that Lionel is working hard on bringing the product to market since it's in their best interest to do so.

If any or you have tried to buy household appliances recently, you'll know that for many specific items there is 2-6 month wait.

And EVs?  Almost impossible to find other than few base models.

Can't blame Lionel ... or Dave.  It is disappointing.

Totally understand. We live in a new 55+ community and the last sold unit took almost 2 months waiting for Anderson windows.

Well, the resale price of your CAB2 Legacy Base just shot up today, along with the stock market.

Hard to tell where the hangups are. Product could be missing components, or might be completed but sitting in a box somewhere: I ordered a Snapper mower in March of 2021, and it didn't arrive until March 2022. The build date on the mower? March 2021!

At a recent industry meeting, an electronics manufacturer posted a slide showing lead times from major semiconductor (chips, transistors) manufacturers.  Most were at 12+ months.

I spoke to Rich Sutton of MTH at York, he said the new DCS base was expected April 2023.  He said it was issues with components and also quality issues,that the supply chain is brutal for almost all of it. Not a surprise , this is happening with almost everything.  No matter where stuff is assembled, getting the parts is really, really difficult.  Was speaking to a friend who works in the auto supply chain, said car production is still hampered, operating at best at 80%.

And no this isn't the fault of Lionel or MTH, what happens is they have a projected schedule that takes into account delivery of components, they are told it is good, then they get notified some component is either delayed or worse, suddenly no longer being made. This is a classic example of what happens when you don't have control of your supply chain, it is why with lean production they emphasized local suppliers . 

All we can do is hope. I am wiring my layout for block control, if the stuff shows up when I am ready to run trains, great, if not I'll run conventional.  One thing that could screw this up, if Covid flares in China&they pull shutdowns, it could throw another monkey wrench in things.

I have a project waiting in the wings, but I can't proceed because of component availability, so I know it's real.  Most of the processors I use have a one year lead time!

This whole O scale command situation is ridiculous.

@PRRick posted:

This whole O scale command situation is ridiculous.

@PRRick,

I hear ya but ...

Exactly how?  I have what I need.  Most everyone I know has what they need.  Newbies have to find what they need, pre-owned and probably at high cost, but it's there.

Where is the crisis?  With people who think that they must have more than they need, just in case?  Or, with folks who absolutely have to have the latest?

It might be these, but it's also clearly with a lack of patience.  We all need to practice relaxing a bit.  I'm at the front of the line needing to do so myself.

Relaxation is the main reason most people take up a hobby.  This is probably a good time to calm down and wait it out.

Mike

If you're new to the hobby and want to run high-end command stuff, you're pretty much screwed these days.  If you've been running command for a while, you shouldn't feel any of this nonsense.  I'm still running TMCC.  It does what I want it to do, reliably every time.  I have spare Base-1's and Cab-1's, bought on the cheap when everyone was 'upgrading' to Legacy ($50 or less each for a Base-1 or Cab-1).  I personally will never buy a Base-3, regardless of when they are available or what they cost.

Don't mind me, just seeing what all the fuss is about...