<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: Atlas has some QC problems but so does Kato. <hr></blockquote> Like what???
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: Would you settle for "less of it and more expensive"? "I don't think so. As for "who cares about 'Quality" these days. . ." you obviously are too young to remember what N scale locomotives looked like and how they operated 20 years ago. Atlas has some QC problems but so does Kato. Maybe you are more forgiving of Kato than Atlas. But I can get shells and repair parts from Atlas but not from Kato. So my basic question remains, what good is a finely tuned suberbly running SD 45 mechanism if I can't get repair parts to keep it that way? It is only good up to the time that the repair part is needed. And that is not good enough.<hr></blockquote>
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: Would you settle for "less of it and more expensive"? "I don't think so. As for "who cares about 'Quality" these days. . ." you obviously are too young to remember what N scale locomotives looked like and how they operated 20 years ago. Atlas has some QC problems but so does Kato. Maybe you are more forgiving of Kato than Atlas. But I can get shells and repair parts from Atlas but not from Kato. So my basic question remains, what good is a finely tuned suberbly running SD 45 mechanism if I can't get repair parts to keep it that way? It is only good up to the time that the repair part is needed. And that is not good enough.<hr></blockquote> point given on repair parts since you really need parts for atlas locos more often than with kato anyway. And I've been in N-Scale since 1970 so I know how much better things are in some respects than others. besides I still have most of my 'OLD' stuff still running Even you have admited that Atlas has QC problems with things that Kato would not have let out their factory door and I don't think we as N-Scalers should have to put up with their attitude of take-it-or-leave-it.
WOW this must be the "I love Kato" board. Well I don't. I don't care how well you make a product at some point you will need repair parts. Wear and tear alone will demand it. Add to that the Klutz factor or the "Sh*t will happen" factor or any other number of other things that Murphy's law covers and that fine running mechanism isn't running because you can't get the part you need. And Kato does have QC problems also. Don't fool yourself. Remeber the HO SD40-2's Remember the paint screw ups? How about a set of F7's that run only marginally better than Bachmann. I got 4 E 9's than run flawlessly but another member of my club has one that sounds like paper shredder. No one is immune from QC problems. Kato has theirs just like Atlas and LifeLike. But when I have a problem I get better service from Atlas and LifeLike and yes, even Bachmann, than I do from Kato.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by squirrelkinns: point given on repair parts since you really need parts for atlas locos more often than with kato anyway. And I've been in N-Scale since 1970 so I know how much better things are in some respects than others. besides I still have most of my 'OLD' stuff still running Even you have admited that Atlas has QC problems with things that Kato would not have let out their factory door and I don't think we as N-Scalers should have to put up with their attitude of take-it-or-leave-it. <hr></blockquote> Sorry I couldn't let this one go by with two obvious false statements. They are: 1. you need repair parts for Atlas more often than Kato. Truth is I have 18 Atlas locomotives and not one has needed any repairs. But I did order three undecorated GP9 shells for a repaint. I also have 28 Kato locomotives including two SD 45's that I can not get undecorated shells for because of Kato's lousy customer service. 2. ". . . Atlas has QC problems with things that Kato wouldn't let out the door." Then tell me why My two CP sd40-2 snoots have a red "shadow" on one side of the molded on grab iron on top of the "snoot" The area is supposed to be black. Kato only spray painted from one side. How did this get out the door? You tell me. Hey if you want to have an "I love Kato" social group go right ahead. But both Kato and Atlas are suppliers in this industry and we are customers. There is more to marketing a product than getting it out the door and forgetting about it. Don't believe me go ask Firestone, you know the tire people. ANd isn't it ironic that at the same time this thread is running on this board another post is running about using Atlas SD 35 trucks on another KATO SD 45. Why didn't he use Kato trucks? Because Kato's customer service is Vaporware.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: Tried to strip painted shells because I couldn't get undecorated shells. Kato and everyone else didn't have any. Also, had a heck of a time getting a truck for a U30C (I accidently dropped it) Searched high and low for one for months. Finally I located one at an obscure train show long after I had given up hope of finding one. I just stood there staring at it in disbelief. It doesn't have to be this way. It's called customer service and Kato fails miserably. Gee Whizz, even Bachmann does a better job.<hr></blockquote> SD45 shell $32, pliars $9, glue $4, getting mad because you messed up your own model and can't find any more shells, priceless.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: The name of the game is customer service. <hr></blockquote> knowing how to work on your models and not messing up is the name of the game with limited runs. Kato can't rescue someone who screws up a model that they made 6 years ago. they can hold all those parts in inventory which ties up money which could be used for new models. I have ordered many parts from Kato and I never had any problem recieveing them.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Inkaneer: Sorry I couldn't let this one go by with two obvious false statements. They are: 1. you need repair parts for Atlas more often than Kato. Truth is I have 18 Atlas locomotives and not one has needed any repairs. But I did order three undecorated GP9 shells for a repaint. I also have 28 Kato locomotives including two SD 45's that I can not get undecorated shells for because of Kato's lousy customer service. 2. ". . . Atlas has QC problems with things that Kato wouldn't let out the door." Then tell me why My two CP sd40-2 snoots have a red "shadow" on one side of the molded on grab iron on top of the "snoot" The area is supposed to be black. Kato only spray painted from one side. How did this get out the door? You tell me. Hey if you want to have an "I love Kato" social group go right ahead. But both Kato and Atlas are suppliers in this industry and we are customers. There is more to marketing a product than getting it out the door and forgetting about it. Don't believe me go ask Firestone, you know the tire people. ANd isn't it ironic that at the same time this thread is running on this board another post is running about using Atlas SD 35 trucks on another KATO SD 45. Why didn't he use Kato trucks? Because Kato's customer service is Vaporware.<hr></blockquote> Kato locos don't drip with oil and thier paint doesn't crack. Their plastic tabs don't break when you snap a cab onto the body of a loco. The metal in their frames in much higher in quality. The reason why the SD35 trucks were used on the SD45 was that the person wanted a quick replacement and details were not that important.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Scott Siebler: Kato locos don't drip with oil and thier paint doesn't crack. Their plastic tabs don't break when you snap a cab onto the body of a loco. The metal in their frames in much higher in quality. The reason why the SD35 trucks were used on the SD45 was that the person wanted a quick replacement and details were not that important.<hr></blockquote> A fair break to Atlas, here... - Kato locos do have at times have excess lubrication, - Their tabs DO break off, - I have never had cracked paint on an Atlas loco, but concede others have claimed to and for the most part been fairly dealt with, - Why is the metal of higher quality in Katos? How?, - The SD35 trucks were not just a quick replacement but the ONLY replacement. Remember, not everyone is blessed with a train show close by that has vendors with hoarded Kato parts (which they no doubt have paid for and hold in inventory at their own cost without the benefit of a reasonably large turnover - read $$$ - from manufacturing to support it) or have the wherewithal, information, or means to phone around the country (or the world) looking for parts. The audacity to consider Kato is not in the business of "rescue someone who screws up a model that they made 6 years ago" is beyond comprehension. What if the body suffered irrecoverable damage from a fall? In this case it was damage caused by a reaction to paint stripper which has claimed people in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Accidents DO happen whatever the reason. Still the problem remains of getting a spare part readily. To this I do take issue to it being a customer support problem - it's a product support problem. In my view, not having a supply of body shells (or truck parts for that matter) on hand because it costs too much is shortsighted. But then again, Atlas is not farsighted enough to stock readily available parts for their 6 year old GP9, let alone earlier Kato supplied parts, are they? Maybe it's because the average Atlas purchaser is one of those famed Mastercard send-up klutzes? Or maybe they believe in product support for the fumble-fingered fools? Regarding the SD35 trucks, any way you look at it the Atlas trucks, wrong or no, made serviceable a Kato locomotive that would have been for all purposes written off because the appropriate spare parts were not available from the manufacturer. Oh, BTW, the pair I have do run as freely as the Kato trucks. This has yet again turned into another Atlas vs. Kato bashing spree. Both brands have the strengths and weaknesses. Both have their proponents and detractors. Both provide great product to their market segments. The original question was asked if another chassis could be used under the Kato GP38/38-2. The answer was, and is, yes. Let's leave it off for now, please. Gary.
I totally agree with you Gary, BTW you have my GP38-2 that has the same problem mentioned earlier in this post?
SD45 shell $32, pliars $9, glue $4, getting mad because you messed up your own model and can't find any more shells, priceless.[/QB][/QUOTE] Boy, kick Kato in the butt and someone else complains their head hurts!
