overdale Posted January 16, 2015 #121 Posted January 16, 2015 I suspect you are right Tim. They have always been prompt with their replies and replacements in the past so I have no reason to doubt they will do what they can this time.
Jaxboat Posted January 16, 2015 #122 Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) ME used some kind of plywood from SA that was sized to metric dimensions. It was slightly over sized and it caused problems with the bulkhead and bulkhead former fit. For whatever reason, they rushed the kit into production and never built a ship using production parts. Unbelievably, my early kit label stated it was a solid hull kit. Someone had evidently used a label from their old Essex kit . Why it has taken them over a year to correct the issue is a mystery although Sam's unfortunate health issue may be the reason. I continue to hope I can obtain updated parts drawings and instructions so I can build the model but I despair. I will never order an ME model preproduction again. Best Jaxboat Edited January 16, 2015 by Jaxboat
kb466 Posted January 16, 2015 #123 Posted January 16, 2015 No, I haven't heard back from them either. In the past, they have always been very responsive. Maybe, since the upgraded kits won't ship till February, they don't have enough parts to ship replacement parts. Bill M. I've 'reached out to them' on behalf of my pal who has the kit. So far no reply. I've been helping him build it as he's not hugely experienced and Bob's experiences terrified him so I offered to help with the hull. Fortunately Bob's magnificent results calmed him enough to make a start and We got through the bulkhead issue eventually. But we've just discovered that the windows are literally falling to pieces due to incorrect laser cutting. Virtually all of them are unusable due to having all or most of the frames too thin or missing. I have always had a positive response from ME when I've had a problem and this is the first time they've ignored me. I don't know if the fact that he bought the kit from a hobby store and not ME direct has anything to do with it. So, we may be looking at a scratch built or getting windows cut by a third party if ME don't respond. Did you hear back from them yet Bill.? Dan.
overdale Posted January 19, 2015 #124 Posted January 19, 2015 I'm pleased to say ME have been in touch and It looks like they are sending the replacements.. One less thing to worry about..! Dan. mtaylor and GuntherMT 2
Pheasant Posted January 19, 2015 #125 Posted January 19, 2015 yes, mine are in the mail today. Terry GuntherMT 1
kb466 Posted January 19, 2015 #126 Posted January 19, 2015 Great news about ME sending out the new replacement parts! ME has had a good reputation for standing behind their kits and products. It looks like the Essex kit will be no exception. I would still like to hear about Sam and how he is doing? I communicated with him in the past about the Essex and he was always most helpful-- a great guy. I hope he is doing well. Bill M. augie and GuntherMT 2
kb466 Posted January 19, 2015 #127 Posted January 19, 2015 yes, mine are in the mail today. Terry What exactly are they sending? I guess I need to contact them again.Bill M.
kb466 Posted January 19, 2015 #129 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks. In addition to the quarter gallery windows, I hope that ME sees fit to provide the new bulkheads, the new instruction booklet and whatever other parts need replacing. I think there may have been some issue as to some of the castings, if I recall correctly, though the principle issue for me are the bulkheads. Bill M.
Jaxboat Posted January 19, 2015 #130 Posted January 19, 2015 For those who are getting replacement parts, did you have to ask or did they just indicate they were sending them? If you had to ask how did you know what to ask for?
Pheasant Posted January 20, 2015 #131 Posted January 20, 2015 I am building the model with all the original problems. I butchered the windows the first time cutting. That's why I asked for new ones. Terry
overdale Posted January 21, 2015 #132 Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) For those who are getting replacement parts, did you have to ask or did they just indicate they were sending them? If you had to ask how did you know what to ask for? I asked for window replacements because the supplied windows were not cut properly. I corrected the bulkhead problem myself . I have no idea what else is wrong but I'm sure I'll find out! I suspect if you have a problem you'll have to ask, as not everyone bought their kit from ME direct, some bought from hobby shops so they can't just send out replacements to every buyer. There are however more and more brave souls showing up here who have gone through the early Essex problems so there isn't too much to be worried about, and I doubt it will be long before a replacement set of bulkheads will be available for those who were patient enough to wait. Edited January 22, 2015 by overdale trippwj 1
Jaxboat Posted January 22, 2015 #133 Posted January 22, 2015 I did contact ME. They are not quite ready to send out a replacement package (not obvious that they are ready to ship the model either). However, they were quite nice and asked me to contact their parts guy. The saga continues Best Jaxboat
lkimmins Posted January 29, 2015 #134 Posted January 29, 2015 I have received my new kit today all looks good the wait was ok. Lee
kb466 Posted January 29, 2015 #135 Posted January 29, 2015 I assume this is the new, fully revised Essex kit? If they are shipping the corrected kits, I wonder if they will ship the corrected parts to those of us who have the flawed original kits. Bill M.
Blackheath9 Posted January 29, 2015 #136 Posted January 29, 2015 I, too, received my new Essex kit today; it has been on order since last spring. I hope it will be worth the wait. But now I have to finish the project I started in its absence, so it will have to wait a bit longer. In the meantime, I'll watch MSW to see if all goes well with the new kit. Stu
Guest Tim I. Posted January 30, 2015 #137 Posted January 30, 2015 I found out yesterday, that I should receive my Essex kit within the next two weeks. Looking forward to it! Like I mentioned in an earlier posting, I will take some photos of the un-boxing when it arrives and post them here. - Tim
Jaxboat Posted March 21, 2015 #138 Posted March 21, 2015 Based on comments here and the obvious availability of the kits now on ME's website, ME is finally shipping backorders. I wonder when they will make replacement parts available to early purchasers. I note that they have the new instructions on their site but not the parts list. Has anyone obtained corrected bulk heads? This whole situation is very annoying Best Jaxboat kjpeters 1
kb466 Posted March 21, 2015 #139 Posted March 21, 2015 Also being one of the earlier purchasers, I too am waiting to hear when the corrected replacement parts will be coming. I emailed them back in January to ask, but never received a reply. Sam had said that the instructions would be revised. I'm glad they did that at least, but I think they should send out a replacement set with the replacement parts. Yes, it is getting frustrating. Bill M.
Pheasant Posted March 21, 2015 #140 Posted March 21, 2015 got mine a month or so ago, but I had started with the old kit. Terry
kb466 Posted March 21, 2015 #141 Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) Pheasant, What was it that you got a month or so ago and did you contact or call Model Expo to get them to send it? Thanks. Bill M. Edited March 21, 2015 by kb466
Pheasant Posted March 22, 2015 #142 Posted March 22, 2015 new book; new bulkheads, and bulkhead former; stern framing; ships boat; carriages; windows... I just stayed in contact with them about some problems I was having.. Terry
Jaxboat Posted March 22, 2015 #143 Posted March 22, 2015 Hi Terry, Very encouraging. Did you have to enumerate what you needed or did ME offer a standard list? Best Jaxboat
Pheasant Posted March 22, 2015 #144 Posted March 22, 2015 actually, I had only asked for the stern frames and some windows. They sent all the new bulkheads, etc. Jaxboat 1
Jaxboat Posted May 6, 2015 #145 Posted May 6, 2015 Received correction package from ME. I made my request along the lines of what Terry said he received. The new laser cut parts look to be a real step up from the stuff I originally received and weren't made from "mystery" wood. I also received a new instruction book. I did not ask fro new plan sheets. Can anyone comment if I should have? While I appreciate MEs supplying the new parts, I would like to respectfully point out that they could have saved a lot of angst (and expense) if they had built a second prototype out of production parts to catch any problems BEFORE they shipped out the early kits. Best Jaxboat
Guest Tim I. Posted May 6, 2015 #146 Posted May 6, 2015 Jaxboat, I received a "new" kit from Model Expo early in April (2015). I have been meaning to post pictures here, and will try and do so tonight. When I went through my kit, I was very disappointed. The quality of the keel and bulkheads is lacking and the fittings are horrendous. I will try and post pictures this evening of my kit. - Tim
kb466 Posted May 6, 2015 #147 Posted May 6, 2015 Well, based on the success of others in getting correction parts for their Essex kits, I have emailed Model Expo customer service for the corrected parts for my early Essex kit. Assuming I receive them OK, I will have no excuses not to start the kit! Bill M.
rafine Posted May 6, 2015 #148 Posted May 6, 2015 Jaxboat: You should ask for new plans (if they have done them). The original plans had numerous discrepancies between the sheets and problems with scale. Bob Canute and Jaxboat 2 Current builds on MSW: HMS Winchelsea 1:48: Medway Longboat 1:24 Prior builds on MSW: Schooner Halifax: Lumberyard 1/48 semi-scratch; Cutter Cheerful 1:48; Granado: Caldercraft 1:64; Frigate Essex: Kitbashed Model Shipways kit; Triton Cross Section 1:48; Kingfisher from Lauckstreet kit; Syren: Model shipways kit ;Kitbashed Fair American: Model Shipways;Prince de Neufchatel: Model shipways 1:64 Civil War Picket Boat
kb466 Posted May 6, 2015 #149 Posted May 6, 2015 For what it's worth, I asked them for corrected plans; assuming, of course, that they have been corrected. I guess we'll see. Bill M. Jaxboat 1
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