I am beginning to wonder if Minitrains locos are actually fit for purpose?
I have received in the last few days a 2-6-2 Baldwin about a week ago And a 0-8-0 Brigadelok Today.
Both will be heading back to their respective suppliers!
The 2-6-2 has been run briefly on a currently developing layout but the motor expired yesterday! It had been powered by a control unit well within the parameters Minitrains state
The 0-8-0 was received well packed from the retailer, by courier delivery less than 24 hrs after ordering, but on inspection one side valve gear was totally disconnected and flapping loose and the front headlight was also hanging loose on its cables, so that one did not get to run at all.
any comments?
I assume they are made in China.
The quality control seems to be an issue for a number of manafacturers.
Reading on Rmweb people are having issues with all sorts of things in different scales.
I guess its the price to pay to keep costs and retail prices down.
I believe they are Made in Germany Karlsruhe by Standard Light GMBH, but I could be completely incorrect, they could be Chinese assembled, there is nothing on the actual locos to state the country of manufacture.
I have experienced a few Minitrains locos since their introduction and never been quite happy with their general quality, they doo seem a little more fragile than other manufacturers models in similar scales, for example I have never had valve gear problems with any H0e locos (Roco, Bemo, liliput etc)
I am a member on RMWeb ( since its launch! as I model in several scales) it is interesting to read the MANY problems which occur these days with certain items but certainly not all! One of the main culprits these days seems to be the local supplier to me in Chirk!!
I am hoping that Heljan have got the L&B 2-6-2T right! They too have had a few problems recently with some of their 00 steam locos ( Garratt, Tango, and GWR 0-6-0T)
Standard Light is Andreas' day job and is nothing to do with Minitrains per se which is effectively a hobby for Andreas.
So why use the address I quoted on both his loco/rolling stock boxes and the info sheets within those boxes,
Just a Hobby may perhaps be the problem!!
Steve,
I think you must be unlucky with your Minitrains locos.
I have returned home from a show in Southport and I have, along with two other modellers been running Minitrains on three different layouts.
This from 10am to 4.30pm and all have ran without any problems.
The locos included three Bagnalls, a Brigadelok, Baldwin 2-6-2T.
There was also three locos with Minitrains chassis under 3D bodies running on a layout.
If you have a faulty loco, it should be returned to the supplier because they are under guarantee.
I would also comment that the above all used Minitrains controllers.
Stan.
I agree with Stan, I think you have been unlucky Steve.
I have been running about 6 Minitrains chassis all day today and a lot of people were praising their running qualities.
I have only had one duff one and that was a Baldwin.
I was using a Gaugemaster Combi controller
Thanks for all your replies as I stated in the OP both locos will be heading back to the supplying retailers One being collected by UPS on Tuesday by arrangement with the retailer, The other heading out by post , both retailers perfectly happy to refund all my costs.
I have purchased probably 100s of locos over many years of modelling from Z to 5" gauges and of course there have been a few failures, but it just seems that these 2 failures in a week plus the failures that some of my frends have had with Minitrains locos does seem a bit unusual!
I'm not so sure about him being "unlucky" Chaps... If you read the (extremely long) threads on NGRM you will find that certain locos have a "reputation", mainly the Brigadelok, but people have also mentioned having issues with the Baldwin, but not in the same league as the Brigadelok...
It seems that the smaller 4 wheeled stuff seems reasonably reliable though...
Steve, log on to NGRM and have a look at the Mintrains threads on there you will see experiences of a much larger selection than on here or RMWeb, your experiences are not uncommon.
It's true that 'Minitrains' is (?are) a sideline for Andreas, but I think it would be wrong to think that he only treats the business as a hobby and that that's the source of the problems. He runs a medical equipment company, manufacturing surgical items, and I'd be surprised if he didn't take quality control seriously.
All his Minitrains products are indeed manufactured in China, which must make QC somewhat trickier, but on the whole, as others have said, Minitrains have a good reputation. It's also true, however, that the valve gear on the Brigadelok is a recognised weakness which others have also experienced.
I think it's also true to say that Andreas has a pretty good returns policy so hopefully you will get good replacements before too long.
David.
I am not actually having them replaced!
There is a Brigadelok currently on eBay , Green, latest bid !