mbinsewi Doughless Okay. The Kato SD40-2 Mid Production is the one with the bad electrical pickup. If thats what OP has, it's very fixable, but I'm not sure he's up to the task. I haven't looked at mine yet. I ran it about 10 minutes, forward and reverse, and put it back in the box.
Doughless Okay. The Kato SD40-2 Mid Production is the one with the bad electrical pickup.
If thats what OP has, it's very fixable, but I'm not sure he's up to the task.
I haven't looked at mine yet. I ran it about 10 minutes, forward and reverse, and put it back in the box.
Rich
Alton Junction
Trainman440 John-NYBW Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. It is not like buying a defective toaster. One main reason you're in this hobby is to create/modify/customize your models.
John-NYBW Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise.
Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise.
It is not like buying a defective toaster. One main reason you're in this hobby is to create/modify/customize your models.
No, that is the reason you are in the hobby. I am in the hobby to create an operating layout as efficiently as possible. I have to weigh that against budgetary constraints. I buy as much RTR equipment and Ready-Built structures as I can afford. I build from kits as my finances dictate. If I could afford it, I would pay a professional to build the layout for me but unless I see the Publisher's Clearing House van pull into my driveway, that's not likely to happen. If others get their satisfaction from building things, wonderful. I find building the layout to be tedious. To me, it's the destination and not the journey that gives me pleasure.
Trainman440 That's the art and beauty behind it. It's a hobby afterall, a way to pass time by tinkering with your models. It's not like bad toaster, which is not a hobby, but rather an tool. The toaster would be the equivalent of my DCC controller breaking. We are not electrical engineers, we are modelers. We work with our models, not repair circuit boards. The models we buy/make would be equivalent to the sandwich we make with the toaster. Yes, you can buy premade sandwiches, but the joy of making your own sandwich is similar to a modeler working with his trains.
That's the art and beauty behind it. It's a hobby afterall, a way to pass time by tinkering with your models. It's not like bad toaster, which is not a hobby, but rather an tool. The toaster would be the equivalent of my DCC controller breaking. We are not electrical engineers, we are modelers. We work with our models, not repair circuit boards. The models we buy/make would be equivalent to the sandwich we make with the toaster. Yes, you can buy premade sandwiches, but the joy of making your own sandwich is similar to a modeler working with his trains.
Yes it is and I don't draw a lot of satisfaction from either. Both are a means to and end.
Trainman440 It's an odd metaphor, but I hope it makes sense to most of you. If you're in this hobby not to pass time or enjoy yourself, but rather to spend thousands of dollars to collect new RTR models, without ever having the intention of adding your own artistic touch, then I can see your point. Charles
It's an odd metaphor, but I hope it makes sense to most of you.
If you're in this hobby not to pass time or enjoy yourself, but rather to spend thousands of dollars to collect new RTR models, without ever having the intention of adding your own artistic touch, then I can see your point.
Charles
I am in this hobby to end up with a well running and good looking layout. The quickest route to that end is the one I choose to take. When I pay my money, I think it is reasonable to expect to get what I pay for. If I choose to buy a RTR piece of equipment, I am essentially paying someone else to build it for me. It's not unreasonable to expect them to build it properly.
If others derive their pleasure from doing things the old fashioned way, I'm happy for them, but that's no reason to expect me to follow the same path.
richhotrain mbinsewi Doughless Okay. The Kato SD40-2 Mid Production is the one with the bad electrical pickup. If thats what OP has, it's very fixable, but I'm not sure he's up to the task. I haven't looked at mine yet. I ran it about 10 minutes, forward and reverse, and put it back in the box. The poor kid is only 14 years old. I feel bad for him. I wonder if a call to KATO USA would be in order. Maybe they would fix it or just provide him with a new loco. Rich
The poor kid is only 14 years old. I feel bad for him. I wonder if a call to KATO USA would be in order. Maybe they would fix it or just provide him with a new loco.
When I was 14, I thought that my AHM 4-6-2 had full metal drivers. Looked like it and felt like it. I cleaned them by setting the loco in a shallow pan of tetrahydrochloride...nasty stuff.... The next day, the drivers were melted.
Mom sent the loco to AHM explaining what happened, my mistake, for repair.
They sent me a new one.
OPs SD40-2 is long out of production (if it has the strip pickup problem). I hope KATO would be as kind as AHM was back in the day.
- Douglas
Doughless When I was 14, I thought that my AHM 4-6-2 had full metal drivers. Looked like it and felt like it. I cleaned them by setting the loco in a shallow pan of tetrahydrochloride...nasty stuff.... The next day, the drivers were melted. Mom sent the loco to AHM explaining what happened, my mistake, for repair. They sent me a new one. OPs SD40-2 is long out of production (if it has the strip pickup problem). I hope KATO would be as kind as AHM was back in the day.
Doughless AHM explaining what happened, my mistake, for repair. They sent me a new one.
Russell
John-NYBW I am in this hobby to end up with a well running and good looking layout. The quickest route to that end is the one I choose to take. When I pay my money, I think it is reasonable to expect to get what I pay for. If I choose to buy a RTR piece of equipment, I am essentially paying someone else to build it for me. It's not unreasonable to expect them to build it properly. If others derive their pleasure from doing things the old fashioned way, I'm happy for them, but that's no reason to expect me to follow the same path.
Im not saying if I buy an engine new and it explodes during startup, that I'll keep it, but I am saying if Ive ran an engine for say a few hours (as I suspect the OP has done) and it breaks, Id disassemble it to see if it's a simple fix or something that's way out of my control. He's 14, so I understand his unwillingness to purse any further, but assuming you're older, Id expect you to atleast attempt to diagnose a problem before sending it back. And from how I read your posts, I dont think you do.
But you know what, enjoy the hobby as you'd like. I just hope you never buy anything from me. (not that you likely buy used things on ebay anyways) You sound like one of those buyers who will return an engine if a coupler fell out or a wheel popped out. I've had customers like that and I greatly dislike dealing with those.
Good luck,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
richhotrain One kind act could result in a customer for life. Rich
One kind act could result in a customer for life.
I wish Bachmann had the same mindset as AHM. When I sent in my first loco (under warrenty), they not only charged me, but told me I couldnt get it back as it was unfixable and gave me a limited replacement selection, none of which fit my era. Later I found out this was common for Bachmann. Being a manufacturer well known for making starter sets, I would expect more from a manufacturer like that. I hope they change their policies.
Trainman440 I wish Bachmann had the same mindset as AHM. When I sent in my first loco (under warrenty), they not only charged me, but told me I couldnt get it back as it was unfixable and gave me a limited replacement selection, none of which fit my era. Later I found out this was common for Bachmann. Being a manufacturer well known for making starter sets, I would expect more from a manufacturer like that. I hope they change their policies.
Trainman440 John-NYBW I am in this hobby to end up with a well running and good looking layout. The quickest route to that end is the one I choose to take. When I pay my money, I think it is reasonable to expect to get what I pay for. If I choose to buy a RTR piece of equipment, I am essentially paying someone else to build it for me. It's not unreasonable to expect them to build it properly. If others derive their pleasure from doing things the old fashioned way, I'm happy for them, but that's no reason to expect me to follow the same path. Im not saying if I buy an engine new and it explodes during startup, that I'll keep it, but I am saying if Ive ran an engine for say a few hours (as I suspect the OP has done) and it breaks, Id disassemble it to see if it's a simple fix or something that's way out of my control. He's 14, so I understand his unwillingness to purse any further, but assuming you're older, Id expect you to atleast attempt to diagnose a problem before sending it back. And from how I read your posts, I dont think you do. But you know what, enjoy the hobby as you'd like. I just hope you never buy anything from me. (not that you likely buy used things on ebay anyways) You sound like one of those buyers who will return an engine if a coupler fell out or a wheel popped out. I've had customers like that and I greatly dislike dealing with those. Good luck, Charles
Do you think it is acceptable for a loco to break down after just few hours of running? Is that how low we are willing to set the bar for quality control. A loco should run a few HUNDRED hours at a minimum before requiring an overhaul. It's not as if there are a lot of moving parts on a diesel loco. The extent of my diagnosis is determining if it is operator error, a fault in the track or the wiring, or if the problem is in the loco itself. If the loco is the problem, I'm not spending one minute trying to fix it. Not after just a few hours of running. A loco that breaks down after just a few hours is a piece of junk and I'm not spending my hard earned money for junk and I am not wasting my time fixing somebody else's junk. It's their obligation to replace it with a working loco or refund my money.
richhotrainThe poor kid is only 14 years old. I feel bad for him. I wonder if a call to KATO USA would be in order. Maybe they would fix it or just provide him with a new loco.
Thats exactly what I was thinking in my post on page 1.
Try Kato USA, and go from there. Then he knows his options.
Here's a thread showing a fix:
https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/21055
Mike.
My You Tube
Trainman440 richhotrain One kind act could result in a customer for life. Rich I wish Bachmann had the same mindset as AHM. When I sent in my first loco (under warrenty), they not only charged me, but told me I couldnt get it back as it was unfixable and gave me a limited replacement selection, none of which fit my era. Later I found out this was common for Bachmann. Being a manufacturer well known for making starter sets, I would expect more from a manufacturer like that. I hope they change their policies. Charles
As someone with more than a couple Bachmann locos, yes, they have replaced a few locos for me, no charge, and few for the modest fee, depending on the situations.
For the record, Bachmann has replaced two out of 30 steam locos, the other 28 have been trouble free, as have the replacements. They have replaced two out of 6 doodlebugs, which have all now been trouble free.
Two out of seven Broadway locos had serious problems that they offered little help for. I fixed the two Broadway locos myself, making parts from incorrect parts that were all they had to sell me.
My track record - Bachmann 11% failure rate, Broadway 28% failure rate......... yet I still bought more Broadway.......
With Bachmann I was lucky most of the time, they had the same loco I sent in, or had the same loco I sent but in a different roadname and they were willing to also return my old shells so I could swap them out.
Yes it stinks when they no longer have the same loco for a replacement. In this new "limited production, we don't know when or if we will make more of those, and have no or few parts for repair" world I don't know what the answer is.
But it is really no different than when Broadway could not even sell me the correct parts for a first run heavy Mikado because they had been made six years, three countries and five sub contractors ago and the design of the axle bearings had been changed that many times - they only had parts for their newest version.
Back in the day, manufacturers made products in their own factories, they made the same products, in batches, but they made them for years without changing them. It was practical to keep full parts inventories on hand, and to have authorized dealer repair stations do repair work, warranty or otherwise.
Today, they make a batch of this or that, next time they make that loco it might not even get made in the same factory, which often means minor changes.
Just like I experianced with the Broadway Mikados.
My current decision to likely not buy more Broadway locos has nothing to do with the parts problems I had with the two Mikados. I only have 7 Broadway locos, the two Mikes were purchases 4 and 5, I bought 6 and 7 without hesitation.
Not exactly sure what people expect any of these companies to do long after these products are out of production, or during long intervals between runs?
I guess I have just been lucky, I have had relatively few problems in my 140 loco fleet.
But you know, once I cut the wiring hardness off the tender, and use it to install a Bachmann tender behind my Broadway loco, I'm not going to expect too much warranty service from Broadway. Five of the seven now have nice quiet Spectrum tenders - the other two came with quiet tenders during the brief time they offered "stealth".
But, here I thought KATO locomotives were always perfect? Maybe this is were I should act like a lot of other people - glad I don't own any KATO.......... oh, that's right, they have never made anything I want......
One last thought. I started in this hobby at age 10, a story I will not repeat again now, by age 15 I worked in the local hobby shop and did all the repairs.
Today I know the strengths and weaknesses of most of the products I own, not all of which were made last week or are under some new purchase warranty.
So I have a parts inventory, Proto 2000 gears and wheelsets, Bachmann pickup wiper assemblies, Athearn/Proto sideframe details, and more.
Since none of my locos are still "stock" and most say "ATLANTIC CENTRAL", I guess they are all mine......
Sheldon
There is nothing wrong with that approach, I use that approach for part of my modeling, mainly so I have more time for the parts I want to devote that other kind of attention to.
And I agree, defective products should be repaired, replaced or refunded - when they are new.
But when I buy a new old stock Proto2000 loco made 25 years ago, I pay my money and take my chances. If the gears are cracked, I simply replace them. Life Like gave me a big supply of replacement wheelsets way back in the day - it is just now running low......
Good morning
That's a bummer that happened to you GN24. Sorry about that.
I didn't know Kato was having quality issues but Atlas sure is lately.
I was in the process of getting my brother two Atlas Twin Cities & Western locomotives. #2300 and #2301 for my Brother's Birthday. The first one was a DC/DCC and sound, hybrid. As we tested it at the hobby store the lights came on with the sound but it didn't move. I decided to get him two standard DC locomotives on the internet as like me, he will not be upgrading to DCC for quite a few years yet. Out of those two locomotives one did not work at all either. I managed to get that resolved with a new one.
Later I decided I want a set of these two locomotives as they have never been released before in N scale and we're selling out quickly. I picked up #2300 and #2301 at the hobby store. I did not test them as I figured there could not possibly be something wrong with another one. Well there was and I had to go exchange that one too. That was three out of five that were Jacked.
Bruce said he has been having trouble with these and I even had a railing fall off one of mine. I was just lucky to find it, crawling around on the carpeting. A gentleman at Midwest Hobbies told me they have been having trouble with these as the PC board is not fastened down tight enough on a lot of them disrupting the connections. He told me if I remove the shell and tighten the board down it should be fine. I did not want to do that, I have broke shells before because they're so hard to remove on N scale.
I have some locomotives that are in Atlas boxes but have Kato on the bottom of them. Seems to me these two companies have been related to one another doing business. Maybe they are both having quality issues lately. Obviously they are and I'm sure they're well aware of it.
Maybe you can swap out the guts with Kato and keep that beautiful shell you worked so hard on GN24?
Brand new out of the box.
Hey Leroy! Have you been forgetting to put glue on the railings and tightened down the PC boards? ..... No! I've been doing it! The Bear has been tearing them off
TF
A few more thoughts:
I don't think we've gotten a confirmation that the problem with OPs SD40-2 is in fact the known electrical pickup problems that KATO had years ago.
The KATO issue was remedied by KATO when they redesigned the pickup system. I think the bad SD40-2s were produced years ago. We don't know what vintage OPs loco is.
IMO, detail doo-dads falling off during shipping is NOT a QC issue. It should be expected that a few details might fall off during shipping. Sort of the trade off you get if you don't want molded on details, or the occasional glue mark if the parts are not designed to be press fitted.
Then there are broken parts, handrails,etc. Or motors that don't run. Obvious QC issues that should be remedied on a case by case basis.
Then there is bad engineering. Electrical pickup design, boards not staying on, motor growl, truck growl (both becoming more common with sound locos that cover up the mechanical noise).
Decoder buzz is a huge design flaw.
All of the design flaws should have recalls, because the consumer should not have to reengineer something that wasn't a problem before the manufacturer decided to change the engineering to accomodate some advancement (in their eyes), or more to the point, to save costs.
Lots of locos from various companies should have been recalled over the years.
Interesting Douglas.
One of the Twin Cities & Westerns that I returned, ran at only half the speed as another and had a really bad growl sound to it.
Track fiddler Interesting Douglas. One of the Twin Cities & Westerns that I returned, ran at only half the speed as another and had a really bad growl sound to it. TF
My use of the word recall is probably too strong.
What I have noticed is that changes in the manufacturing process, or location, whatever, is causing problems to emerge that weren't there before, with all kinds of locos across many companies. At least with the brands I buy.
Atlas used to be smooth an quiet. You knew that about them. Then, without announcement, they changed how things were made, the motor for sure, and I think the trucks are noisier than they used to be. So while they tell you the advancements they make in electronics and details, they don't tell you about where they cut back.
And not just Atlas.
I've purchased a lot on 2020. Many Athearn Genesis have been returned for one reason or another. I usually buy two, different road numbers. One would be fine, the other not. Return the other, and its replacement is fine.
I've purchased probably 30 locos in 2020 (with proceeds from purging stuff) and probably had to return 10 of them. Others have required extensive breaking in to quiet down the drives to an acceptable level.
And the old-engineered Athearn RTR motor is much quieter than the motor Athearn uses in its higher priced and more detailed Genesis line. LOL.
Yep, I've been noticing those things too Douglas. Out of the four brand new Atlas locomotives I have right now, one of them is the smoothest runner at a crawl. Another one is pretty good. The other two are somewhat subpar but with the luck I've been having, it's not quite enough for me to want to do returns anymore.
Their speeds do not match up close enough. Which leads me to wonder as they will be used in consists. If the smoother running, quicker speed locomotives will be making up for the slower subpar locomotives, wearing on their wheels faster???
These things are definitely not cheap. The old saying "You get what you pay for" Isn't always necessarily true anymore is it?
Although the Atlas engines I have (HO) come from the factory running closer to each other than the engines of other manufacturers, it isn't something I really expect. I find it common that two of the same engine from the same manufacturer normally don't start, run, and stop the same. That's the big advantage of DCC, you can find your slowest engine and speedmatch all the other engines to it so any two or more engines can run together.
I have several Kato engines, including an SD-40-2 and never had a problem with them. As has been noted, I believe it was just one bad run that had a problem which was fixed long ago.
p.s. given the OP's other post regarding the engine, where he says he's going to paint and decorate it for the layout he's building, which apparently is going to include a lot of scratchbuilding, it sounds like he isn't really a "newbie" so may be able to open the engine (again, since I assume he took it apart to paint it) and look for a loose connection or something.
I don't think he has ever removed the shell.
Go watch his video on the movie train thread he started: Has Anyone Ever Modeled Movie Trains?
He's painting a loco with the shell on, along with all other details.
Good morning Stix
I have both, some older stock Kato's and older stock Atlas locomotives I bought at train shows. The Atlas ones run better than some of my newer Atlas ones. The old Kato's run like junk compared to my new Kato's that run smooth as silk. Perhaps I got a batch of the Bad Runs from back in the day. No pun intended No wonder they were selling them!
Buying old stock at train shows is a Crapshoot. I learned not to do that anymore unless they have a test track so I can see what I'm buying.
Track fiddler Yep, I've been noticing those things too Douglas. Out of the four brand new Atlas locomotives I have right now, one of them is the smoothest runner at a crawl. Another one is pretty good. The other two are somewhat subpar but with the luck I've been having, it's not quite enough for me to want to do returns anymore. Their speeds do not match up close enough. Which leads me to wonder as they will be used in consists. If the smoother running, quicker speed locomotives will be making up for the slower subpar locomotives, wearing on their wheels faster??? These things are definitely not cheap. The old saying "You get what you pay for" Isn't always necessarily true anymore is it? TF
At the same time they are raising prices, they are cutting out some quality. I'm not going off on inflation adjusted pricing, because its probably still a good deal, but when you lower quality and raise price at the same time, its actually a much bigger embedded price increase than simply comparing MSRPs over time.
No, I don't think that a more expensive loco means better quality.
I simply think it means more features, which may not work as they should some times. Like a new car, more expensive simply means it has more options. "Loaded", as we say. Trains are becoming that way too, with the underlying quality probably worse than what it was 15 years ago. Definitely less consistent from same loco to same loco. JMO.
I used to be able to buy a new Atlas Master series, and no matter the model or vintage, they would work the same. Some were ultra quiet, maybe a tad slower, but not nearly the variation from loco to loco that I see now with the brands I've been buying.
What I find interesting is not hearing back from the OP. Is the issue with the loco? Something he did? Neither or both?
kasskaboose What I find interesting is not hearing back from the OP. Is the issue with the loco? Something he did? Neither or both?
He posted after about 8 or 10 posts that he had decided to take it to the local shop where he had bought it and let them look at it. Maybe the store did not work on it right away.
He originally posted for advice, got the advice, and took it.
I doubt that, at age 14 and a fairly new poster, he had any idea his question would result in two pages of discussion, disagreement, and a small amount of criticism, over working on a new locomotive versus fixing it yourself.
York1 John
There's nothing more aggravating and frustrating than getting a brand new locomotive and not having it function properly.
The other side of the coin is I have some older stock locomotives that ran like junk. After I managed to get the shells off with the bit of grumbling and less desirable words I removed and cleaned up the old waxy grease gunk and conservatively relubed everything on the locomotive that had moving parts.
I was pleasantly surprised how much smoother these older locomotives ran after that.
P.S. I would have to say I'm not too surprised GN24 hasn't been back for a while. He's probably off productively doing something else. Those young 14 year olds have enough energy to sink a battleship don'tcha know
I would have to say everyone has been so responsive to his threads here because it's really nice to see a young lad interested in such a wholesome hobby. It's kind of rare these days and rather admirable. Most are punching keypads and playing video games all the time.
As I read the last 10 or so posts in this thread, I feel like I live in an alternate model train universe.
Speed matching, or lack there of with identical locos? I run DC, and all 12 of my 20 plus year old Proto 2000 GP7's run close enough to the same speed to simply pick 3 or 4, couple them together, and pull a train.
Same is true for most of my fleet.
Agreed, features and quality are two different things. I have been making that point on here for decades to largely deaf ears.
Factory major defects with new locomotives, my experience, less than 5% in 50 years and 140 locomotives.
All this makes me happy to not be buying much motive power these days, to not be using DCC/sound, to not be in N scale, and to not be hung up on this brand or that brand being "better" or "worse".
Admittedly my disclaimer is this, I don't buy a wide variety of models because of my disciplined devotion to my era and theme. There are many good brands who simply have not offered enough in my era to even get noticed by me, namely Atlas and KATO.
In other brands I only have those models that fit my theme, example, my only GENESIS models are EMD F units. I can offer no opinion on other GENESIS locos.
I wish OP all the best in getting his loco working.
Doughless Track fiddler Yep, I've been noticing those things too Douglas. Out of the four brand new Atlas locomotives I have right now, one of them is the smoothest runner at a crawl. Another one is pretty good. The other two are somewhat subpar but with the luck I've been having, it's not quite enough for me to want to do returns anymore. Their speeds do not match up close enough. Which leads me to wonder as they will be used in consists. If the smoother running, quicker speed locomotives will be making up for the slower subpar locomotives, wearing on their wheels faster??? These things are definitely not cheap. The old saying "You get what you pay for" Isn't always necessarily true anymore is it? TF At the same time they are raising prices, they are cutting out some quality. I'm not going off on inflation adjusted pricing, because its probably still a good deal, but when you lower quality and raise price at the same time, its actually a much bigger embedded price increase than simply comparing MSRPs over time. No, I don't think that a more expensive loco means better quality. I simply think it means more features, which may not work as they should some times. Like a new car, more expensive simply means it has more options. "Loaded", as we say. Trains are becoming that way too, with the underlying quality probably worse than what it was 15 years ago. Definitely less consistent from same loco to same loco. JMO. I used to be able to buy a new Atlas Master series, and no matter the model or vintage, they would work the same. Some were ultra quiet, maybe a tad slower, but not nearly the variation from loco to loco that I see now with the brands I've been buying.
Agreed, I think the mechanical parts of most of these products are very similar in quality. It is just detail and features that separate medium priced from high priced.
Are the really cutting quality? Intentionally or by default? In what way? Or are these just the percentage duds that will make it thru? And we hear about them more today because we have the world wide web?
Again, my personal selections of prototypes is small, I have lots of the same locos, 12 Proto GP7's, 15 Proto ALCO FA's, 7 Genesis F7's, 10 Spectrum heavy 4-8-2's, 10 Spectrum 2-8-0's, 5 Spectrum 2-6-6-2, etc. And I have not seen these wide variations in quality from unit to unit?
Happy to be in my model train universe.....
Track fiddler There's nothing more aggravating and frustrating than getting a brand new locomotive and not having it function properly. The other side of the coin is I have some older stock locomotives that ran like junk. After I managed to get the shells off with the bit of grumbling and less desirable words I removed and cleaned up the old waxy grease gunk and conservatively relubed everything on the locomotive that had moving parts. I was pleasantly surprised how much smoother these older locomotives ran after that. P.S. I would have to say I'm not too surprised GN24 hasn't been back for a while. He's probably off productively doing something else. Those young 14 year olds have enough energy to sink a battleship don't you know I would have to say everyone has been so responsive to his threads here because it's really nice to see a young lad interested in such a wholesome hobby. It's kind of rare these days and rather admirable. Most are punching keypads and playing video games all the time. TF
P.S. I would have to say I'm not too surprised GN24 hasn't been back for a while. He's probably off productively doing something else. Those young 14 year olds have enough energy to sink a battleship don't you know
I agree with many, there's some basic knowledge that modelers need to come to the table with to be able to function well in the hobby.
No disrespect to OP, he's 14 and will learn those skills and will build confidence as he gets further along.
It also about expectations. I could buy an Athearn BB locomotive for $30 knowing that I wanted to hard wire the trucks and the motor, know I wanted to install better lighting and cab shield. Knowing that I could locate a non dynamic brake section to swap with a dynamic brake section, and know the parts were available.
I could modify Atlas locos, and know that if I broke something, I could call parts department and they would have replacements.
Not only can't I find Atlas MP15 handrails after two years from the production run, AFAIK, Genesis has never produced GP15 handrails as a separate part. Try to find a Genesis worm gear cover to replace one that was broken out of the box (truck hanging down). Can't be done. I can't even locate an an entire replacement truck. Plenty of the RTR worm covers in stock. No Genesis worm covers.
I guess the way you replace a $10 part is to buy another $130 loco to cannibalize.
I bought three Atlas MP15s. All had defective speakers....wire detached from the speakers with no hope of resoldering. Atlas did not have speakers in stock, said they would find parts donors on hand.
Like having to go to a junkyard to cannibalize parts from a 66 Mercury. And this wasn't a 1966 loco, it was from 2018.
I'm done fiddling with it. They don't even make the parts anymore to fiddle with it. If its not right, right out of the box and after a 5 minute run, back it goes without a second thought.
Yes, the lack of service parts from all brands is frustrating to say the least.
When Bachmann came out with their Spectrum line, it was a definitie upgrade from their standard line. One of my favorite locos is their Consolidation. I now own three of them and they look and run great. I would never buy a standard line loco again. The worst piece of junk I ever put on my layout was their Niagra. The pilot wheels flopped around like a fish out of water. I tried everything I could think of to tighten up the pilot truck and nothing worked. That's when it hit me. Why am I making this effort to fix a brand new loco. I vowed from that day forward if I bought anything that was defective right out of the box, it was going to be returned to where I bought it from.
John-NYBW When Bachmann came out with their Spectrum line, it was a definitie upgrade from their standard line. One of my favorite locos is their Consolidation. I now own three of them and they look and run great. I would never buy a standard line loco again. The worst piece of junk I ever put on my layout was their Niagra. The pilot wheels flopped around like a fish out of water. I tried everything I could think of to tighten up the pilot truck and nothing worked. That's when it hit me. Why am I making this effort to fix a brand new loco. I vowed from that day forward if I bought anything that was defective right out of the box, it was going to be returned to where I bought it from.
Respectfully John, that is where you fail to understand marketing and labeling. The regular line locos today, have drives equal to or better than the early Spectrum line.
Those Consolidations you own, that I also own 10 of, are still made exactly the same, to the same quality, with the same parts, but they are now in the Standard line. Biggest difference is the lack of the fancy box.....
The recent Mikado, Pacific, GG1 and others are easily equal to Spectrum models operationally, just a little less detailed.
Same with the 2-8-4, nearly as detailed as a Spectrum, nice drive, but in the regular line. I have five of them kitbashed into freelanced heavy Mikes, they run great.
The Niagra and GS4 have also been retooled with better drive lines.
Judge each piece on its own merits, not by the name on the box.