What was your latest purchase?

Primavw Feb 4, 2012

  1. NScaleKen

    NScaleKen Permanently dispatched

    157
    128
    5
    A friend and I discovered his VW rabbit had a mostly plastic radiator on a road trip, talk about planned obsolescence! Also planned to be incredibly inconvenient to replace, at any random time down the road somewhere far away from the german factory that makes them. Like in Yakima Washington which is pretty far from Germany. It took a few days to get out of there.

    I had a moment, was seriously bummed on things, the series of defective products had me questioning and feeling sort of foolish. But I am over that and working on a layout module! I sort of forgive Scaletrains and sort of dont, the level of incompetence on the decoder is inexcusable. I have stayed up for several nights in a row, getting about 2-3 hour sleep with alarm set, to manufacture in plastic on FDM printers I made to fulfill orders for small home luxury goods. I am not a total novice to manufacturing and design. I went to college for industrial design and watch small manufacturing trends in a few countries' regions besides north america. So I know that the reality is in most, and by most I mean like 99% of markets one has to get it right or be eaten alive by competitors. I am not so much mad at scale trains as mad for them and the entire community.

    I heard the head of the NMRA on a podcast talking about dropping numbers in the hobby, which I just got into and makes me feel a bit awkward. It's fun, and it can be difficult in good ways with all the different skills involved. I think there is room for it to expand not contract if the industry makes sure the entertainment dollar brings entertainment and avoids disappointment at all cost. The emotionally connected railroad fan is always going to be a market, but it will be a shrinking market if the industry doesn't have the concept that everything beyond food and water and air is entertainment, even transportation for many in industrial countries is a place consumers spend extra for entertainment. Every well thought out well designed product that impacts its market is making emotional impact, that emotion needs to be positive. There are so many ways a person can spend the few dollars out of budget they commit to entertainment, of course the market is shrinking if they commonly ship defective products. Even a no question return policy is not going to stop most walking away after a few disappointing unboxings, unless they have social pressure or emotional ties to railroading. Good luck with that I think sarcastically, then remember I am sticking with this and feel like doing something to help change this and not feel like I just joined the ever shrinking losers club.

    seriously, how it feels, and yet the act of running trains and modeling landscape is super fun and it's not lame at all, its pretty cool. the loser part is the taking of abuse and being someone else's sucker as they get what they can from those into it while hurting the hobby. The rough cut tubing emotions coming out again. ugh gotta let that go.

    I was offended by the traction tires so much it just put me off on everything. I you want those, go to a hardware or plumbing store, 3mm polyvinyl same thing, cut yourself with more care or even use a jig to make them perfect either with a sharp extending utility blade heated with a heat gun or a hotwire since many have foam cutters. Clean rounded edges from the heat so they won't tear from a nick on a 90 degree edge. I 3d print jigs and fittings to do things like that so to get hand cut I am just blown away by the total lack of design engineering and effort. The image on the shop page showed literally round o rings. The shop is being great about all this, returns will be sent and I will move on. I literally have that material is the worst part, I could have cut the exact same thing myself but wanted to work on other things on the list and for $5 have actual o rings to try out from supposedly 'model railroaders'. There is so much to do, and so little time, in this life.

    That is the thing that had me most down, several days of looking at the layout and wanting to be into it and model landscape, but instead dealing with bad products on the phone and in email and then just feeling uninspired. A working loksound UP leader for my tank train set would have been mighty motivating... but oh well, I am back on it and the AC4400cw Kato engines are pulling everything, 33 car set, rather quietly and peacefully and easily, which is nice for other reasons.
     
    drbnc, JaxTerminal and Hardcoaler like this.
  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,870
    142
    I'm only a casual observer here, but when I see a blob of solder like that, I see also a long application of high heat which tends to wilt semiconductors. I suspect that all of us here can do work far better than that. Like NScale Ken, there would be excessive heat under my collar.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2018
  3. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

    13,396
    12,182
    183
    From my experience as a fire investigator the board shows a definite pattern of excessive heat looking at it with my trained eyes. I would also be willing to bet, and I am not a betting man, there are others in that production run the have the same issue which means that every one in that production run needs to be looked at for the same issue.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  4. tpwillie

    tpwillie TrainBoard Member

    43
    22
    19
    After again looking at Ken's photo of the board the area behind the solder blob appears to be discolored from heat. I originally thought this discoloration of the pcb to be the Kapton tape that is supposed to be in that area. The discolor of the pcb probably came from the decoder underneath having some components frying. Where the area is discolored there is supposed to be Kapton tape to insulate the decoder components from the pcb components and the loco frame. The blob of solder isn't from excessive heat, but it usually a sign of a cold solder joint. Could be many factors coming into play with the failure of this unit, but having the manufacturer involved is the best route to go in this case.
     
  5. WM183

    WM183 TrainBoard Member

    601
    597
    17
    My advice for trouble free running (And what I follow myself)

    1) Locomotives: Atlas, Kato, Spectrum (Steam, only choice often, also actually pretty good nowadays). Intermountain are also reputed to be excellent.
    2) Rolling Stock: Atlas, Micro-Trains (The bulk are these two) also Red Caboose, Deluxe Innovations, Bowser, Intermountain
    3) Track: Peco Code 80 or Kato Unitrack
    4) Couplers: MTs or McHenry. Accumate are good enough that I dont change. When I do, body mount MTs.

    Just following these little rules will eliminate 95% of problems with reliability, service, and so on.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  6. jtomstarr

    jtomstarr TrainBoard Member

    1,245
    1,181
    38
    All,

    I just called mr- modelrailroader to inform them on my subscription via their mailing address-Tampa Florida- which I sent out on OCTOBER 12,2018 I informed the representative of my doings, I asked is there a reason why I haven’t received a mr issue as of yet... The representative, Leslie informed me that it was received and was processed on November 9, and apologized for the inconvenience. She’ll get the November issue out as soon as possible. Kudos to this model railroader Representative, she understood and was very courteous!

    Tom
     
  7. steveparkinson

    steveparkinson TrainBoard Member

    167
    272
    13
    Merry Christmas to me![​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

    4,153
    1,149
    74
    Getting back to the topic... latest purchase for me continues to be Micro-trains. Northern Pacific paired window coach in the two-toned green Loewy scheme. I don't know if NP actually had these types of coaches... but it will look good in a heavyweight Mainstreeter consist.
    Still hoping for a Kato NCL for next Christmas... but it will probably be the 20th Century Limited and more re-runs of other stuff... I'm getting too old to wait for Kato... they live much longer in Japan than we do here in the USA.

    Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
     
  9. WM183

    WM183 TrainBoard Member

    601
    597
    17
    I scored a copy of Steam Locomotives of the new York Central Lines vol 1 for a great price. Very much the definitive reference on NYC steam. Now to find vol 2.... And a starter for an H7 bash!
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  10. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,870
    142
    A pair of Atlas SD-35s in CNJ, #2502 and #2507 in beautiful Deep Sea Green. These have been available for a while, but prior to my retirement I had little time for N Scale. Atlas' CNJ units have been getting somewhat scarce, so I figured I'd best get a pair. I rarely treat myself to anything, so this is a rare event for me. Now all I need is a new railroad to run them on. (y)

    CNJ SD-35s 002.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
  11. WM183

    WM183 TrainBoard Member

    601
    597
    17
    CNJ Green looks so classy! Even if they've got too many axles for a proper diesel =P
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  12. jlundy46

    jlundy46 TrainBoard Supporter

    617
    422
    28
    Just picked up an Atlas Dash8-40BW (Heritage) and a decoder. That brings my roster to 6, so I can run multiple grain trains. I model both modern and 1950s/1060s. I have a time machine so I can back and forth...…..
     
  13. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

    4,595
    2,072
    88
    My latest purchase is expected to ship tomorrow.
    Preordered a Broadway Limited PRR T-1. Maybe by weeks end.
    Will get tracking information, when it ships.
    Now to find cars to match!
     
  14. Milne

    Milne TrainBoard Supporter

    339
    8
    20
    Rapido 5 car Turbo. Amazing product. The two Loc sound decoders are the best I have heard. I would give the detail and accuracy a 10 / 10. The station announcements are getting a lot of usage. There is a good youtube video - search "Rapido Turbo train review". I never thought I would use F4, but after a couple of days I use it all the time - engine revs up, press F4 and off it goes. Almost needed a loan to purchase.
     
    BoxcabE50 likes this.
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Hey, fellow Red Green fan! Long time! Great to see you here again!!! :)
     
  16. Hansel

    Hansel TrainBoard Member

    303
    143
    18
    The manufacturer should at least give a half-hearted attempt and run the engine around a track once before they put in the box. I have received at least 2 engines in HO scale where the first loco had the truck fall out of the chassis after removing it from the box and the second loco ground to a stop after running about 6 inches!
     
  17. Milne

    Milne TrainBoard Supporter

    339
    8
    20
    Nice to be back. Keep your stick on the ice.
     
    BoxcabE50 likes this.
  18. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

    4,595
    2,072
    88
    Arrived today.
    The Broadway Limited PRR T-1 Duplex.

    [​IMG]

    Very nice locomotive! Very smooth. Sound a bit loud, but it is adjustable! Gotta pull up
    the manual again, to see which CV needs changing! Handles an 11" curve nicely. Says
    it'll handle a 9.75" curve. Can see why it will, as the center drivers are blind.
    Has Micro Train couplers installed, front and back. Equipped with traction tires, and has
    some pretty good weight to it!
    Now to try and locate a set of cars for it!
     
    Calzephyr, catfan and mtntrainman like this.
  19. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

    4,153
    1,149
    74
    Looks great.... I've been on the fence about these because I don't want it in DGLE... but I don't know if they were ever painted in the Tuscan Brown to match the Broadway Limited.

    Sent from my SM-J737T using Tapatalk
     
  20. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

    4,595
    2,072
    88
    How about a complete HO collection? A couple of locomotives(Athearn SW-7/1500, Atlas MRL caboose several P2K car kits, structures
    and Atlas track sets.
    Got all of this from a neighbor down the street, who has seen me running the G Scale out front, or racing radio
    control cars up and down the street. Was disposing of everything! Toy donation, church, whatever....Or in this case, me.
    Did NOT want anything for it. No idea why he was getting rid of everything.

    Everything unused. Structures still shrink wrapped, car kits unbuilt or unopened.
    No details added to locomotives etc.....
    Not sure if I'm gonna hold onto it, or if I want to sell any of it, yet!
    Gonna try to get photos of everything later.
    A major surprise for me!!
     
    mtntrainman likes this.

Share This Page