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peteski
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 Posted - 04/10/2009 : 20:00:37
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I ordered my Plasser Tamper couple of days ago from eurolokshop.com and it just arrived today.
I'm glad that Hobbytrain produced this unique model in plastic, for a fraction of cost of equivalent brass model. These types of modeled subjects are usually manufactured in brass.
For US modelers the buffers and coupling hooks are easily removable as they are separate parts. However the buffer ends seem to retain the floor pieces so it might be prudent to replace them with stubs of plastic rod.
This model has some really nice details. But the yellow paint job is very transparent and when I first took it out of the box I thought the model was made of unpainted, slightly transparent yellow plastic. It almost looks like it the model is made from yellow candle wax. I wish the yellow paint was more opaque.
The other thing that bugs me here is also true of another Hobbytrain model (the propeller-driven "zappelin" car): they are supposedly made by Kato but they aren't up to Kato's top-quality mechanical design.
Kato's standard for trucks has been (for a long time) to use the low-friction axle-end needle point bearings/pickups. Neither model uses those. Plasser uses conventional inside bearings, and the tolerances are not very close as there is lots of slop in all the truck's gears. All the gears and axles are held and are aligned by the truck's bottom cover which is only fastened to the truck using friction pins (no latches). Some of the model's wheels aren't perpendicular to their axles so they wobble a bit. But at least the gear ratio seems pretty high so the model has a good slow speed and low full speed (as it should).
The zeppelin car is a 2-axle car which does utilize end-of-axle bearings. But they aren't needle/cup bearings. Stub axle ends ride in holes in the models's side frames. It is quite innovative (but not low-friction). The front axle is fixed, perpendicular to the track. However the rear axle is designed to swivel and so it does. But not only on curves - it swivels on straight track so the rear axle "crabs" along on straight track. That IMO is a poor design. I think that any 2-axle rail model should have both axles fixed so they stay perpendicular to the track. No need for swiveling axles.
But I digress...
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| Peteski |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1648 |
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geocan
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Posted - 04/10/2009 : 21:32:45
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They are NOT made by Kato.
At no time did Lemke advertise that these were made by Kato.
Neither did we.
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Wig-Wag, LLC
www.wig-wag-trains.com
505-298-7177
e-mail: wigwag@swcp.com
PLEASE no PM's |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1261 |
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peteski
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Posted - 04/11/2009 : 00:24:42
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Thanks for the clarification. You're right, Kato is not mentioned on the Plasser's box. However Kato's name is plastered all over the Hobbytrain's zeppelin car. I assumed that all Hobbytrain N scale models were manufactured by Kato. Now it appears that while many of their models are made by Kato, it is not all of them.
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| Peteski |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1648 |
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Spookshow
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peteski
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Posted - 06/16/2009 : 06:02:08
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Very amusing writeup Mark - thanks!
Speaking of grossly overpriced European models, the Kibri GOTTWALD GS 100.06-Ton Railroad Crane takes the cake. For over $100 you get almost empty big box housing a kit containing few molded styrene parts. Probably less parts than in one of the Atlas' single family house kits! And instead of decals they include crude stickers! Granted, the moldings are of pretty high quality and fidelity but IMO that still doesn't justify the price.
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| Peteski |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1648 |
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Spookshow
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Posted - 06/16/2009 : 08:10:22
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I wrote eurolokshop (who sold me this lemon) and griped about some of the misleading information on their website - it's listed as being manufactured by Kato (it wasn't), and it's listed as having working lights (it doesn't). Their picture doesn't look much like what I got either.
Fortunately, he said I could return it for a refund.
Cheers,
-Mark
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| http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html |
Edited by - Spookshow on 06/16/2009 08:11:15 |
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| Posts: 5062 |
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DJCONWAY
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Posted - 06/16/2009 : 09:22:08
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Mark,
Is there smoke coming out of your keyboard? I think that's one of the most harsh write-ups you have ever done. I don't think I'll go looking for one. (you won't get that kind of writeup in Model Railroader.
Tell it like it is.
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 Do your part buy stuff! |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 2092 |
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Spookshow
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Posted - 06/16/2009 : 09:57:13
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I was actually looking forward to running the thing, so I was pretty ticked off when it turned out to be chintzy plastic crap (especially given the pricetag). I've tested a lot of locos that barely ran, but at least they managed to stay in one piece 
Incidentally, anybody care to put a date to the prototype so I can complete the entry?
Thanks,
-Mark
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| http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html |
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| Posts: 5062 |
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ljudice
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Posted - 06/16/2009 : 10:33:59
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I agree with everything here. I was lucky to get mine from George and paid only about $120 or so. But still, this is less than a static brass model - like a caboose or a spreader, and it was quite well detailed.
Mine is apart - being converted to a static model with a pair of strobes on either end - and repainted into a less transparent yellow. The question is - will I be able to get it back together!
With nothing else like it available, I am still glad I bought mine!
Lou
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Edited by - ljudice on 06/16/2009 10:42:07 |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 2685 |
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