John has now replied on Facebook to my request for a realistic delivery date for MDAC2, sounds like it is still a long way off:
"OK, so I'm very reluctant to commit to a date as I keep getting hit badly when I miss it - what I KEEP having to repeat and its so hard to make people understand is that design - true design is not a linear process, you cannot say how long it takes. If I where copying a datasheet circuit then its easier... Sometimes the design flows then other times you get stuck for the most stupid issue... its just so hard to say.
I can say to complete the Analogue PCB requires two major section the Clock circuit (and its PSU) and the DAC Array PSU, with the DAC array PSU as the most complex "outstanding" section to be designed.
Currently I'm about 40% to 50% complete on the clock section... Once this is completed (and its PSU) then I'll post the progress update."
And on the Detox:
"I have the Pricing from the vendor, but there are a couple of issues I'm working on:-
1. I need to workout shipping, Handling, Importation costs / Duty and Tax's before I have the final price - this is VERY complex to arrange as I also have to arrange warehousing etc. I have to order 250 units, this is the MOQ (Minimum order Qty) - with packaging this is physically larger - so I need to also include warehousing costs etc.
2. I need to earn the funds to cover the extra 120 pcs of the MOQ (there are about 130 detox orders if ALL development sponsorship are converted to production units) - so I have to personally finance the extra 120 chassis - which are in effect "spares" and surplice to requirement at this time (My time is required to complete MDAC2 / VFETs etc. so I have no plans to market / manufacture / support the Detox once the development sponsorship units are built) - To cover these costs (which are not insubstantial, and in fact more then the development funding received), I need to take on extra design work.. this impacts timescales...
I also have to progress the MDAC2 design, so I'm not going to put effort into the Detox until I've completed the MDAC2's next design milestone which is completion of the Clock circuit.