I figured supply issues entered into the decision. You might want to post some of these DCC tips on your web site, though, in case folks don't come to Trainboard or The Railwire looking for info. Happy for you to use whatever I post in whatever way is helpful. John C.
I just hope that the solution for improving slow speed operation for DC users does not include re-wiring the locomotive...
Got my series 1000 undec. silent couple of days ago . Tested on my DC layout and it ran fine . Forward ,backwards ,head lights on both ways. My three year old niece provided the sound,Lol . I have a DCC set but have not set it up yet since most of my loco's are still DC and I have been a little lazy. I go in to a none model train mode some times so that doesn't help . I like mine but only bad thing is I got only one and seems like this model every where is sold out . Need to go to Wig WAg when they are open Tuesday.
Have you tried powering it with 9V battery. Most power packs produce a pulsed voltage. I'd run a DC engine using the battery and then the GMD-1. If the GMD-1 runs smoothly it would demonstrate that the controller is providing a pulsed power that decoders will not run properly with. Hopefully Rapido will come up with a solution for DC modellers. Personally I'd suggest you consider a starter NCE or Digitrax system. I have a small 2.5 x 4.0 layout and use a Digitrax system. The ability to have multiple locomotives on the same track and be able to control them separately is only one of the benefits of DCC. The cost of decoders has dropped in the last few years and even if you are like myself and have far too many locomotives you can gradually convert your fleet,but i'd bet that you find that a lot of the fleet will be set aside and the DCC locomotives including the GMD-1 will be what you run Hugh Kelowna
Hello there ! I recently purchased one GMD-1 and had a huge problem! guess what that is? I ran my GMD 1 in forward mode and suddenly the engine froze. the only way I could get it to move again with out an issue is running it in reverse not forward. Is there a way I can get parts for this locomotive? also i noticed it's jerking move slow then real slow then back to normal this is not normal at all. Can I please in this thread someone answer my email from rapido to send me parts and I ll replace it myself I would like the following: entire front gearbox and new drive shaft from dc motor to geearbox and new motor this motor is causing the jerking issue. Please let me know many thanks! I have the silent dcc mode with digitrax decoder installed in this gmd-1 in the 1000 series road number 1031. Bob
I have three of the NAR GMD-1's DCC with sound and they all ran a little jecky until I ran them about an hour. In the instructions it states they need to be broken in...Like most engines. After a week of running they run great together! My two cents....Jim in Minnesota
For those frustrated or of no interest in DCC, there is an article in the latest N Scale Railroading, showing how to convert this engine to straight DC operation.
Why would someone ever want to do that when a representative from Rapido clearly asserted that: "the reason we are producing the dual mode DC/DCC unit as opposed to a DC only model is control. I have done some exhaustive testing with our unit and the addition of the DCC decoder in the unit while running in DC mode allows for vastly superior slow speed performance. The DCC decoder equipped model is simply superior in DC mode and that's why we have gone this route." http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...S-cars-and-BN-Exec-Trains&p=996688#post996688 Maybe there's more of a market for DC-only models than that which is indicated by whatever 'crystal ball' is used by Rapido's marketing department.
Well, your best source for that answer is the author of that story. I didn't write the article. But I do know him, he's a smart person and has an electronics background- Joe is an excellent long time N scale modeler, and this is not his first published article.
Hello all: Crystal ball eh....... no; , no such luck. I will repeat what I have said many times; the issue with the DC/DCC version (other than the backwards wiring - that's just a serious "oops" by the factory) relates to a unexplained significant difference in the performance observed and documented with the test Digitrax decoders we used in the pre production models and the production models performance with the supplied Digitrax DC/DCC decoder. I can't account for it; Digitrax can't account for it.... I am sure that there are some out there who will come to their own conclusion based on whatever bias they hold and will offer their explaination as being a self evident truth... ok; can't argue as we and our team of employees and suppliers can't completely figure out the differences... moving on... The new chassis and wheelsets are in production and will be here within a few weeks. (along with NAR nose decals and stacks for those NAR guys who want to change theirs to the later model) We will make all kinds of noise when the new chassis and wheelsets arrive. I agree that running in the locomotive is key; regardless of DC or DCC.... can't tell you the number of people that have suggested their unit was broken only to find after 30 - 50 minutes of runn ing the thing purred like a kitten.... Matter of fact we're quite pleased with the response our DCC version is getting from clients. We're NOT pleased about the DC problems but that's well documented..... Development of the FL9 is continuing and we will be looking at some changes to our plans for it shortly.... regardless; we will carry on; we'll do whatever we can to help make DC GMD-1 owners as happy as possible; remain a large and willing target for the very few out there that get their modelling satisfaction through watching a manufacturer have problems and commenting on it relentlessly and we'll try and identify new and exciting N scale projects to bring to life..... it's all we can do. Rapido Mike
Much to my surprise, I saw a live 1:1 GMD-1 here in Portland Oregon yesterday. Turns out that Oregon Pacific has one, #1413, ex CN 1045, although it now has B-B trucks. George
I have three NAR's that I run the wheels off of.....and they run great together or alone. I think the key is to break them in . I'm just glad we have a company that is willing to do the "odd" engines out there...Keep up the good work! Jim in Minnesota...Go WILD
It's hard to fathom that a model railroad locomotive with a DCC decoder represents such a complex, multi-variable system that it can't be successfully debugged. Maybe the "team" is simply out of its depth? If you don't have a firm grasp on certain aspects of technology, then perhaps it's unwise to deploy them. How much test running time does each unit accrue before being shipped from the factory? Many years ago Model Railroader ran an article featuring a tour of the Märklin train factory. One photo showed an extensive test layout that each locomotive had to negotiate before being packaged for shipment. Does your manufacturing process include a similar final outgoing quality test procedure? It's a shame if that's the prevailing attitude toward customer feedback. Different organizations do operate under different business models. Some companies actively solicit and embrace input from customers, while others seem to believe they already have all the answers - operating open-loop, as it were - while ignoring any suggestions from the outside.
Point 353: We encourage, listen to, review and react to as much customer feedback and "expert" advice as we can. That said we also recognize that some people have an ax to grind and we treat that input with a grain or two of salt.... You clearly have issues with us or me; ok; either way that's your right. I've come to the conclusion that we (I) can't satisfy you and for that I am sorry.... can't win em all. We'll just keep doing the best we can; the overwelming feedback we get is positive; even from those who's units had issues so I guess we mist be doing something right. Sorry we have seemingly let you down. Rapido Mike
I have a GMD1 with sound. It is very good. I run it with a NCE dcc system. No problems. Sounds great.
Hi, you must be kidding, right ? Do you know how much a Märklin model did cost back in the days when they did these tests with every model ? Do you know what happen to the big company Märklin and their big factory in Germany ? Yes, you can still buy Märklin models but most are produced in Hungary (some even in China) in the same way every other model train model is produced, fast and cheap. Peter
There’s no axe being ground and the issue isn’t anything personal – you just happen to be the voice of the company on this forum. What’s disappointing or discouraging is that your remarks make it sound as though delivering to the end customer a properly functioning product is something of a game of change that requires a great deal of luck. Every company can have a serious “oops” – as you put it – but the difference is whether or not those “oops” ever reach the hands of the customer. Sufficient testing can detect those “oops” and prevent them from ever leaving the factory uncorrected. You didn’t address my previous question regarding how much testing your product undergoes during the manufacturing process. Are the decoders tested before being installed in locos or is it assumed that your supplier has delivered acceptable components? Again, how much, if any, run time is put on the assembled locos prior to shipment? As Deming demonstrated, it can become exponentially more expensive to correct a defect as an item progresses through the supply chain. Certain products are so cheap that the manufacturer foregoes testing and simply replaces any defective items. Your locos are in another price category and it doesn’t appear that there is sufficient overage in the production quantities to allow for many spares to serve as potential replacements. Someone deciding whether or not to order an upcoming FL9 might benefit from knowing what steps are being taken to improve your manufacturing process to ensure that such “oops” don’t recur.
