-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In all likelyhood the staff of IMRC has been gathered to try to figure out where the problems are in their assembly process and try to assess how prevalent it is and how to best correct the problems. They most likely have to address the issues in person (in China) with the jobber (broker) that assigned their project to the assembly shop. They may also be waiting for more input from dealers to assess just how bad the situation is at their level. Remember, we "may" be a small but vocal MINORITY, in the overall scheme of things OR we may be the MAJORITY. The dealers will know more by way of sales or cancellations etc... and IMRC will likely contact them... if they haven't contacted IMRC already. Once IMRC has all the details... we will likely have some "unified" statement that will appease both the dealers and the consumers (at least I hope so). I think that the Forum and other Boards are a good source of feedback for all of the companies that participate (or lurk) to get an idea of what the consumers are happy or unhappy with. We probably should refrain from outright "bashing", but, the fact is that if a product has shortcomings and they are not made known to the manufacturers, then they will accept it as good enough for the market. If you have the Tunnel Motor in hand and can make both positive and negative statements about the product, without denegrating IRMC, that should be input that IMRC and other companies can use to improve the quality of their products.
Joe, Thats a fair comment i'm sure the IM people are not just sitting back and riding the wave. I agree they are most likely trying to rectify the situation in particular with the next release of TM's. I also feel IM will not make a statement until they have a solution in place. As stated earlier there is apossibility they are on hoildays but I can assure people that china is basically closed down at the moment for their Chinese New Year celebrations so the hodldup may not be with IM but with their Chinese producers.
I agree with the above statements. It would be in no-one's interest if IM made any comments before the problem had been fully investigated and a solution worked out. Maybe with patience we will get a satisfactory outcome. Does seem strange though that in these days of high technological expertise a model with these problems still made it to the end user
I posted this on the big board last night, might be of interest: Hey all... I spent quite a while on the phone with Marty this evening and had a good chat. After listening to Marty, I know, as with the FT's, that they are going to make things right on the tunnel motors. They are working on figuring out the extent of the problem, since many have found out their shells are just fine and have no problems. When they have a little more "homework" done, I know we will hear from them, whether here or on the IM homepage or whatever. The important thing is, that folks voices are being heard and that IM is working on it. While I feel personally that they should be a little more public and vocal about this, it's not my company! I am sure we will all be hearing from them shortly, and presented with their solution.
I'm glad that tunnel motors are available now and FWIW, any SP loco I would intend on keeping would be covered in soot, grime, rust, dust, etc. which would hide a lot of the flaws. I am shocked to see vent fans under the top rear screens. I just wish I could afford these locos myself . . . I would buy about 10 of them.
I received two SSW tunnel motoers yesterday. I think they will run better than any locomotive I have except the Atlas slow motored SSW RS3s and B40-8s. They are about like Katos as they are very, very smooth but have a slightly high starting voltage. They match very well with Kato SD45s and SD40s (non-dcc). But, when I received them, one was as smooth as butter and one was about like a Life-Like GP20. They did not match at all. I emailed Marty and had an answer in about 30 minutes. He told me the problem (frame pinching mechanism on some engines) and how to fix it. They both are very smooth now. I will report more after a few days of breaking in. I think that IM gave excellent buyer support and the engines are a real winner.
I'm pretty much sold on the fact two Rio Grande will be coming my way. All I need to do is save some money
More on TM: Wheels very narrow and under guage. I even noticed it on my Peco code 55. Atlas code 55 users will definitely want to see the wheels are in guage. Also, I did not see any lubrication instructions. I presume it is the normal light lube. Or does IM, like Kato, recommend no initial lubrication?
