Mike Toney said:Agreed with all you say, Mike... enjoying the NWSL bit & yr humour too... reading this feels just like me talking to myself! :)
I have seen very few LGB's have drive train issues beyond the normal worn out skates and wheels. Worst was stripped mogul idler gears, but after years of use, thats kind of expected. I think the split axle sleeves in the F unit was the exception and not the norm, atleast for German production. I have had my SP Black Widow units appart to remove the skates and didnt see any issues with any of the axle gears. Guess if OEM's didnt have gearing issues, NWSL would be out of business by now! Even the high doller brass models have had their share of repeated gear/gearbox failures in the smaller scales. They say in China, the factory will gradualy ramp quality down to the point everybody starts to bitch, then bring it up just a tad. Followed by thier favorite saying "Nothing personal, its only business"
TonyWalsham said:Hey Tony,
Now TV's are as cheap as chips. The sad thing is there is still very little worth watching.
But they still have an “OFF” button. And then there’s radio with no visual annoyance.
TonyWalsham said:Oh, come, on Tony.... :D (VBG) They're a laugh to watch when you launch them out of a fifth-floor window.....
The sad thing is there is still very little worth watching.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:TonyWalsham said:Hey Tony,
Now TV's are as cheap as chips. The sad thing is there is still very little worth watching.But they still have an “OFF” button. And then there’s radio with no visual annoyance.
Like the fighter pilot said as he was approaching final on the aircraft carrier, and was having trouble with one of his avionics…
“It works fine in IFF, AFF, and IBF, but it doesn’t work worth a shot in OFF.”
Walt (above) is right.
The example is Muntz TV – the addage is Muntz built a pre-production TV that worked, pulled parts out until it quit, then put back one-at-a-time until it ran and then marketed their product.
Love it.
Wendell
Walt (above) is right.
The example is Muntz TV – the addage is Muntz built a pre-production TV that worked, pulled parts out until it quit, then put back one-at-a-time until it ran and then marketed their product.
Love it.
Wendell
The latest AristoCraft Insider’s Report came today.
It contains some very interesting comments from Louis Polk on several of the topics we’ve been discussing, or speculating about here, also some new product announcements for 2013, and a complete listing of parts they have on hand.
Here’s the link to the PDF version for anyone who doesn’t subscribe:
http://www.aristocraftforum.com/insiders/2012/INSIDER_SEP-OCT_2012.pdf
Yeah, some of the statements are, well, pretty much what I would call untrue.
The very first part basically justifies the direct sales because fewer dealers stock the full line.
No dealer I have ever seen stocked the full line, some stuff always needed to be ordered from Aristo.
Now the big online dealer/distributors almost always had everything, but yes, there are fewer of them.
I just don’t see this as a logical explanation to go into direct competition with dealers and distributors.
Just my 2 cents.
Greg
Hi Guys:
The insider report states that the GG1 locomotive will be produced.
I do not wish to insult any fan of this locomotive. In the United States is the GG1 considered to be an attractive locomotive?
I do not understand why three mfgs wish to produce this locomotive.
I would far prefer Aristo Craft to tool up a NYC Hudson J1e 5343 and 5344 instead.
The report also explained the increased mfg costs. This would explain that the large volume dealers can no longer sell the former volume of inventory at these new higher per item prices.
Finally, the report explained that the direct marketing concept is supported by Lewis Polk due to a dwindling dealer network. So this direct marketing is not only Scott’s idea but also has Lewis’s support.
If the dealer network is dwindling for Aristo Craft, then will USA Trains and Bachmann likewise be forced to move to the direct sales model?
Norman
Lewis made the comment to me once that Internet store fronts were doing two things 1) getting premium discounts due to volume but, were requiring Polk to do all of the work of drop shipping. 2)This was forcing the large retailor out of business as they were attempting to compete with a larger overhead. He was considering cutting out the middleman (Intenet store fronts). He with Scott have done this with direct marketing. He also noted a few years ago that He was forced to layoff many at Polk due to decreased (recession) sales. Currently Scott is attempting to make payroll with bargin basement sales, selling previously paid for inventory, to ‘get over the hump’. Unless he has been able to get outside financing, he will be struggling with a hand to mouth operation for a long time.
thomas prevost said:If I remember correctly we saw more or less the same routine at a different mfg during the 2002-2006 time span, including the outside financing.
................ He also noted a few years ago that He was forced to layoff many at Polk due to decreased (recession) sales. Currently Scott is attempting to make payroll with bargin basement sales, selling previously paid for inventory, to 'get over the hump'. Unless he has been able to get outside financing, he will be struggling with a hand to mouth operation for a long time.
Norman Bourgault said:
Hi Guys:The insider report states that the GG1 locomotive will be produced.
I do not wish to insult any fan of this locomotive. In the United States is the GG1 considered to be an attractive locomotive?
I do not understand why three mfgs wish to produce this locomotive.
…
I’m probably biased, but of all the American juice cans the GG1 is by far the best looking, most elegant machine. Even more so when one considers the vintage of the engine and what was designed prior to the GG1.
Norman Bourgault said:
Hi Guys:I do not understand why three mfgs wish to produce this locomotive.
Norman
For the same reason we needed multiple Big Boys, or Colorado specific engines… and probably the same reason any time there is a hit movie or show there are suddenly dozens of similar ones (me too! me too! me too!)
Note to mfgers: If you just want to make huge things most folks can’t run, a FM Trainmaster could be fun… and it wouldn’t look silly without catenary.
As regards the GG1 issue. This was discussed six or seven years ago on the old Aristo forum. At the time both USA Trains and LGB had their models in the market or close to release. I questioned the need for a third locomotive of the type and called it a ‘white elephant’. Lewis replied to my posting and stated the reason for releasing the loco was at the insistence of the TCA. Apparently, the Train Collectors Association members wanted it.
In dark times revisiting old projects is not necessarily wise counsel. The fickle market wants NEW items. Take the C-19 loco from Bachmann. Maybe not everyone’s choice but then Bachmann do have a strange way of judging market opinion and wants. The C-19 will be a hit as long as not everyone awaits the inevitable street price firesales in a few years. B’mann did learn with large volume production in the early 2000s that many items will get wharehoused and then inventory dumped. Hands up all those who paid full MSRP for many B’mann products only to see firesales some time later. I believe the C-19 will be in short supply and not fall victim to discounted street pricing.
I agree, the GG! seems like a really silly idea. A nice looking loco, but specific to one RR and really, it needs catanery to look right. There are already two in the marketplace.
I’m sure the problem for aristo is they already sunk money into molds for the GG1, and so the bulk of the cost has already been incurred. I assume they are thinking better to spend a bit more, and actually produce it, in the hopes of recouping some of the investment, than simply write off the investment as a loss.
I’ve had my troubles with aristo products but I hope they survive
We sure dont need another huge American locomotive on the market, talk about wasted tooling dollers! I agree a FM Trainmaster or the SD9 so many screamed for would be a much wiser engine to bring to market. The SW1 will do ok in my book, lots of those still around if they decide to offer more than as delievered paint schemes. We need ADM, Cargill, steel mill road names ect. I more modeling todays railroads than depression era when the SW1 appeared on the market. Guess time will tell how and if they stay affloat, or try to float a white elephant like another GG1. Guess they are following the lead of the smaller scale manufactures, everybody needs to do a GG1, Big Boy, Challenger and other huge prototype engines that only a select few can operate, but satisify the collector market like the TCA. Someones head is up thier arse at Aristocraft IMHO.
The GG1 is fine. The DD1 was finer. Wanna’ fight? 
I imagine anyone following this will know very well, but for those who’s memory is failing like mine, the DD1 was a pair of back-to-back electric 4-4-0’s, designed in 1909 to run under NYC & associated tunnels to and from the Pennsy terminal.
The Pennsy ran dozens of 'em right up to the mid-'60’s. This is a project I can imagine the Rooster getting his teeth, er… beak into… 'cept it’s the wrong Railroad, I reckon.
I’m something of a Luddite; I haven’t tried Geugelyng yt yit. :rolleyes:
(But see Model Railroader, March 1971.)
I googled it. Ya gotta check out this website!!!
http://railroadpostcards.blogspot.ca/2010/12/pennsylvania-railroads-landmark-station.html
How about an E-44. Or Little Joe?
I like seeing the large locomotives and my layout has large radius curves but I only run small engines and short trains because that’s what my layout is.
I would rather see some small steam engines. I might even buy one!