Regards to Dance of Death casting delays

[ellie]

To all concerned it has come to my attention that that some people may have taken out of context the delays in the casting of the dance of death.

I attended the Sword and Lance show today and had conversations with people and the subject of our Dance of death came up. Just to clarify a few things as it seems that people have taken upon them selves to talk about the reasons for the delay in release. I'm now going to clear this up.

it was not down to MR Tommi Wharton's Bereavement in his family it was down to meany other problems most of them personel.. it seems for what ever reason people have contacted Tommi and said that this was the main reason for the delay. THIS WAS NOT WHAT WAS SAID. we held off on the casting to give Tommi Time. that was our decision out of respect and not one made by Tommi.

To say that we are very angry about this is an understatement we are in the process of contacting the first batch of customers. we will be shipping first sets in the coming week then phase two and three will follow.

we are now taking a long hard look at what we do from now on. all we can say is that any upset meant caused to Tommi was not done with intent. what was discussed was taken out of context and the much bigger picture was not taken into account.

Kind regards

Ian

Ellies miniatures

 

[stu]

Thats not exactly true is it.

You told me directly that due to tommy's dad dying this had caused you delays. This is what you also told a few other people it seams as all the stories i heard were exactly the same and boy there seamed to be a lot of the same story !!!

You were blaming tommy.

To be honest i am totally amazed with your post here. Shocked even. Tommy is a great guy and having seen a kit, done a great job of the castings.

Stuart

 

[Tommi]

Before I get started, for those of you that don’t know me I am Jo (Tommi`s wife).
I am presently waiting to be approved by admin and added to Planet Figure so I can post. However in the meantime I am having to use Tommi`s account to post this.


Following on from Ian’s post in both the lounge and general figure talk, I would just like to further clarify the situation with the correct facts.

We have both been contacted before yesterday’s s&l show and after the show. People are chasing their Dance of Death figure and want to know how much longer they can expect to wait for the casting.
This is something neither of us should be involved in at all, but because of so many inconsistencies in the information they have been told we have now been directly contacted.

The Dance of Death figure was not sent to us by Ellies Miniatures until the middle of March.
We were then asked us to hold back on doing any casting orders so it sat here for a couple of weeks until he gave word for work to commence. No idea why. During this period we have since discovered Tommi was being blamed for the delay.

At NO time did either of us request any breathing space after Tommi`s fathers death.
Infact 2 days after Tommis fathers death (12th February), Ellies Miniatures were contacted advising we were still good to go with the casting and ready to start immediate work.
Shortly after Ellies received that message, they then put an order in for different figures to be cast - nothing to do with the Dance of Death!!
So to use the death of Tommi`s father as an excuse and how he was trying to give Tommi time doesn’t stand.
Ellie’s Miniatures were happy for other bits to be cast immediately after, but just didn’t want the Dance of Death cast then.

All work has been done for Ellies Miniatures as and when requested. There has never been a delay at all and the turnaround time from casting to despatch has always been within a few days. We therefore have nothing to do with any delay at all or any outstanding orders on the Dance of Death piece.
When the order eventually did come through for casting work (middle of March as explained) we were only asked to cast TEN Dance of Death figures. These were then done promptly and sent to Ellies miniatures within a few days of this request.
We fail to understand why these have not been sent to the first ten pledgers yet when Ellies Miniatures have had these in their possession for many weeks.

As for the remaining orders that are still outstanding we have NOT even been asked to cast these yet. We have each chased Ellies Miniatures querying when these are to be cast and all our messages are ignored. Any attempt of contact has been ignored up until this point. We are both very uncomfortable knowing customers are still waiting for them and are now hassling us for them.
No clue when these will be requested or why it has been reflected phase 2 and phase 3 will follow when the casting for these “phases” hasn’t even been requested or paid for.

So with my closing point, just to confirm once more - any delay with these Dance of Death figures is NOTHING to do with the casting aspect at all. We have only cast what has been ordered at the time it was ordered!

Cheers

Jo

 

[Martin64]

It is worrying that two almost identical threads about the delays in the production of a promising piece were started and two replies to both threads that seem to be based on grossly differing information remain unanswered so far. Even more worrying is the notion that these replies were sent by people that are obviously "in-the-know" and that don`t spread rumors.
Death-silence is not a solution - please tell what is going on, Ian!
Cheers, Martin

 

[mick3272]

Not having Pre ordered or being involved in the concept of this project I am not sure if I should comment.
But as a producer ( albeit small ) I am compelled to say that your customers must and should always come first, as without them we have nothing.
I am able to confirm that the order of D of D was cast as stated by Jo as my wife and I were guests of Tommi & Jo’s the weekend it was packed ready for shipping.

I recall reading a post by Ellies stating that the release of Dance of Death would be at the end of February if not sooner, this also included invites for further pre orders of the kit.( This may have been March)
When this project was first launched I do not recall that the release would be shipped in three (3) phases. Was it always your intention to do this??? If so why was it not made clear when people were pledging their money. If it was not the intention to release in batches, Why has it taken this thread and time span to inform the latter pledging customers they will have to wait several more months to receive their kits which were paid for 12 mths ago.
It does beg the question has the project run out of money and kits will be released as & when casting funds become available

Mick

 

[Joanna]

Just to say I am now added as a member so can comment under my own name now not Tommi's.
Jo

 

[Nap]

Hi everyone

I have posted on the other thread ....

Ellie's in my opinion need to look to their customers preorders now and fulfil the orders asp ...

Nap

 

[carl reid]

Hi Everyone,

As the sculptor of this piece I feel it necessary to clarify that I am in no way responsible for any of the delays.

I in fact I informed Ellie Miniatures mid April 2017 at Sword & Lance that I wouldn't be able to start the "Dance of Death" project until later in the year. Due to other project commitments.
I in fact started it, the end of October 2017 and it was completed the end of January, the beginning of February 2018.
The piece was approved and delivered to Ellie's on February 16th by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Carl

 

[Joanna]

I have posted on the other thread as well. Seems everyone needs to keep posting on both! As everyone else will now see the delay with getting the figure out has not been down to either Carl or ourselves.
We do not appreciate being hassled by people wanting their figure as they are aware we are responsible for the casting. I personally don't understand why all the incorrect information has been and continues to be given to people. Simply no need for any of it. The best option and easiest option at that would be to be honest with people. Not blame others.

Cheers
Jo

 

[mick3272]

Hi Everyone,

As the sculptor of this piece I feel it necessary to clarify that I am in no way responsible for any of the delays.

I in fact I informed Ellie Miniatures mid April 2017 at Sword & Lance that I wouldn't be able to start the "Dance of Death" project until later in the year. Due to other project commitments.
I in fact started it, the end of October 2017 and it was completed the end of January, the beginning of February 2018.
The piece was approved and delivered to Ellie's on February 16th by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Carl

Hi Carl
I find your post most interesting.
I note you informed Ellies in April that you would not be able to start D of D until the later in the year.
Are you able to say if it was ever possible either implied or fairly assumed that D of D would be available for release at Euro M E in the September.
Thanks
Mick

 

[carl reid]

Hi Mick,
Based on my workload it was always unlikely I would have been able to complete the project for Euro.
Given the above mentioned conversation with Ian took place at S&L in mid April 2017. Even if I started the project that week, it would not have been completed until the end of July/August! Making it extremly unlikely it would be available for Euro... and to be honest, Euro is neither here nor there. Because we're talking about pledges. Not additional sales at Euro.

I also advised not to cash the pledges. Or at least keep them seperate until I'm ready to start the project.
I also asked Ian to make it clear I was no means connected to Ellie Miniatures, or the raising of pledges.
My involvement was only ever the sculpt of the project. Thats where my involvement ended.

I would just like to add, my contribution on this thread is merely to remove myself from any suspicion, not to bury Ellie Miniatures! By explaining when I began work on the project, and when it was completed and delivered.

This will be my final contribution to this thread thank you.

Carl

 

[Chrisr]

Now we know where everyone stands let's close this thread and the other as well, and get on with life. I found it unedifying to say the least.

As one of the initial 35 who paid in full up front I am quite happy to wait, and by the sounds of things the wait is worth it, due to the contribution of Carl, Tommi and Ian.

Chris

 

[mick3272]

Hi Mick,
Based on my workload it was always unlikely I would have been able to complete the project for Euro.
Given the above mentioned conversation with Ian took place at S&L in mid April 2017. Even if I started the project that week, it would not have been completed until the end of July/August! Making it extremly unlikely it would be available for Euro... and to be honest, Euro is neither here nor there. Because we're talking about pledges. Not additional sales at Euro.

I also advised not to cash the pledges. Or at least keep them seperate until I'm ready to start the project.
I also asked Ian to make it clear I was no means connected to Ellie Miniatures, or the raising of pledges.
My involvement was only ever the sculpt of the project. Thats where my involvement ended.

I would just like to add, my contribution on this thread is merely to remove myself from any suspicion, not to bury Ellie Miniatures! By explaining when I began work on the project, and when it was completed and delivered.

This will be my final contribution to this thread thank you.

Carl

Thanks Carl
I appreciate your reply ant I totally accept your involvement in this as just doing the sculpt as requested . I just asked the question to clear up in my own mind a conversation I had with Ian last year.
Thanks
Mick

 

[carl reid]

This really is my final post on the subject!!!

Contrary to what people may have been told.
I wasn't paid in full up front for this project.
I was paid in 3 installments.
The 1st on November 6th 2017, the 2nd on December 19th 2017 and the final payment was made on the 6th January 2018!!!

Carl

 

[Nap]

Hi Folks

Everyone has commented accordingly so let's leave this subject now and as Chris says " get on with life"

I am sure it will be sorted to all's satisfaction

I am locking both threads ...

HOWEVER IF ELLIES WISH TO RESPOND I WILL UNLOCK AS HE CREATED THE THREAD

Nap