I recall a PC publication years ago doing a torture test of various PC's which was very useful consumer information. They'd do terrible things like leave them on for days doing mathimatical processing loops, knock em off step ladders, pour water over them, step on laptops, and other nasty things that really could happen to a PC . I've only been a subscriber to GR for a few years, haven't seen, but wondered if you ever did anything similar with various large scale engines. Surely the top manufacturers would be willing to give you a few of their engines to destroy. Spray them with a garden hose to simulate rain. Don't need to knock them off a step ladder, but a step stool would be good enough. Just be sure to put each engine through the same torture process. The final test should be to run them under a simulated load until they die. Inquiring minds want to know, I would think. Just make sure report all the gory details! Any manufacturer that refuses to give you a test engine should be noted, as if they don't have confidence in their product, why should we? It doesn't have to be their top of the line product i.e. Big Boy, but something utilizing their most popular motors and drive trains.
What do you think?
Stack
Since they are either fragile plastic or equally fragile brass, we don't throw them off balconies.
However, once I do a review, I place the unit in service and find out what breaks.
Then, on the various forums, I publish "procedures" to correct the failure.
Sometimes it takes a while, sometimes it's obvious right away, and if right away, corrective procedures are listed in the review or linked to a page on these forums.
TOC
(and I do run them in sun, rain, snow, wind, ice, earthquakes, etc).
I think its a good idea for an ideal world buuuuuutttt, having GR do a "Consumer Reports" type of review just won't work. GR is the one and only fish in a very small pond. I think they do a decent , fairly unbiased job on reviews. GR has gone a long way (I have picked up back issues from 15 yrs. ago onward) in addressing issues as scale, technical specifications and a drawbar test, as wells as pros & cons. After all, I doubt you could get someone like Dave Goodson to say anything good about a product, even if threatened with a cattle prod, unless it was deserved. I remember a review by Kevin really pissing off the manufacturer of the item though I was thought it was undeserved (the harsh words from the manufacturer). The only locos I have ever seen that are "weather proof" have been LGB locos like their Genesis and Acela trains which do so by adding unsightly clear plastic bubbles over the fan grills, adding to their "toylike quality". All that said, if you want an honest opinion on a product, ask the folks in the forums and you'll most likely get enough opinions to make your head spin.
-Brian
Brian writes: "if you want an honest opinion on a product, ask the folks in the forums and you'll most likely get enough opinions to make your head spin."
Aint that the truth
Actually Byron, you're point from my abuse/burnout thread is exactly the point. I would have thought the motor to be the weakest link, but you've experienced more problems with gear box failure. While I wouldn't throw an engine off a balcony, I've had an engine's kaydee cut loose from a 23 car consist. I noticed this just in time to watch it go into a horseshoe curve then airborne from track to driveway. It is now weathered (and actually looks cooler now than shiney new), and it still runs! It was (and still is) a USA Trains GP-30. Another good point (regarding Kevin). I read that piece and also thought the manufacturer's rebutal was defensive to the point of offensive. We don't have an inexpensive hobby, and rookies like me could use all the advocates to help make sound purchasing decisions and care for our investments we can get. I appreciate GR's product reviews, but it would be a cool analysis even if a third party, unbiased survey team could be used. Enough. I'm done with the pipedream. I do look forward to my GR mags! Wouldn't want anything to jeopardize that.
Thanks for your point of views, I do respect them.
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