Large Scale Central

Bachmann Quality Control (or lack there of!)

General Discussion
#101
Curmudgeon said:
Tim Brien said:
Even a Yugo could be made reliable if it was assembled correctly in the first instance.
No. One of the prime example of "ugly goes clear to the bone".

There was no assembling it any better.
Do you know what a Lada is?

This looks to be a close cousin.

Not too distant to a Final Italian Attempt at Technology.


Dear Curmee, After this comment I wonder whether you really know what you are talking about… LADA is based on Fiat 124 which was
a very good design and pretty reliable too. Similarly Yugo was based on Fiat 127 a pretty revolutionary car at the time. The known lack
of reliability of both LADA and Yugo is primarily due to poor QC of manufacture and assembly - not of the DESIGNS!! Best wishes, Zubi

#102
Zbigniew Struzik said:
..................

Dear Curmee, After this comment I wonder whether you really know what you are talking about… LADA is based on Fiat 124 which was
a very good design and pretty reliable too. Similarly Yugo was based on Fiat 127 a pretty revolutionary car at the time. The known lack
of reliability of both LADA and Yugo is primarily due to poor QC of manufacture and assembly - not the DESIGNS!! Best wishes, Zubi


Zubi,

Are you sure it wasn’t the test tracks in the Balkans and on the Volga?

#103
Zbigniew Struzik said:
Curmudgeon said:
Zubi, I do believe you are clueless.
Curmee, you mean I am left clueless after reading your own review? That would not rate your review very high;-))), Best, Zubi
Zubi,

Perhaps Dave G is a firm believer that there’s a difference between reading and comprehending, what do you think?? :wink: :slight_smile:

#104
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Are you sure it wasn't the test tracks in the Balkans and on the Volga?
Hans-Joerg. Yes I am. Best, Zubi
#105
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Perhaps Dave G is a firm believer that there's a difference between reading and comprehending, what do you think?? ;) :)
Hans-Joerg. He may well be but this is neither here nor there. Reviews are not tests of intelligence. They should be accessible to every potential reader. best, Zubi
#106

I am new to the hobby and I have to admit if it was not for Bachmann I would not be in this hobby. I cant afford LGB, Aristo etc… Yes I am willing to buy Bachmann. Worst case, if it is broke or does not work I will just send it back until I get one that does work. I agree When I buy something I should not have to fix it myself. I have no skills at fixing things or I would never even know where to start. I have a Bachmann and so far i love it. I have no problems. I have an LGB, I love the engine but it seems I have more problems with that. When you look at all the companies out there who sells the most. From what I read it seems like Bachmann is number one for selling the most, probably because they are more affordable. That is also why it seems like Bachmann has more issues because they are the ones bought more. They are also more detailed. More detailed also means more fragile. It is no different than any other product today. I go on other forums for things like fishing, cross country skiing. Even there everyone has the same issues. Some people say I never had problems with this and then others say they are junk. I am not one for spending top dollar for gear, (if I had to I would never have hobbies) when I can get something similiar for a lot cheaper and it works just fine. Look at huffy bikes they are the cheapest bikes on the market but yet they sell. For someone just getting into biking it is not a bad choice for the price. Every products has what I call the one made on friday (the lemon) I think you see and hear it more from Bachmann because it does sell more than the others out there. Like I said I am new to the hobby but so far for the price of Bachmann you cant beat it. If you have problems with it send it back for a new one or like some do fix it yourself. Thats why its called model railroads. If it was not for Bachmann the hobby would probably be much smaller. I know I would never spend 500 dollars on a train even if it is bomb proof. Dont get me wrong I love this hobby but their is a limit when it comes to price. To me 1000 dollars for a train makes me shake my head. Look at the sound boards 350 dollars, thats more than what i spend on my engine. I dont care how top quality it is there is no reason to charge what some companies charge on trains. That hold true for anything. Think of how many sets Bachmann sells during christmas. If it was not for Bachamann there would be a lot less kids playing with their first train set. We live in a society where everything is disposable. Look at cars today. You are lucky if you can get 10 years out of a car and look at what you pay for cars. Trains are no different. If you want to make it last you fix it and/or improve it yourself. Still a lot cheaper doing it that way. When you buy a product that is the cheapest in the market you have to expect flaws. Thats why you what until it has been out for a few years. The import thing people forget is we in America live in a disposable society. You buy something it breaks you either fix it if you are good at it or throw it away. Thats part of the reason why I would not spend 500-1000 dollars on a train. One year down the road it could break and there goes all that money you spent. Im only saying this because I dont have alot of money to spend. i try to get what is most affordable and allows me to enjoy the hobby. Life is too short. Well thats my 2 cents and Im sure some of yas will tear me apart but this is coming from someone new to the hobby with a very limited supply of money.

#107

<< One year down the road it could break and there goes all that money you spent.>>

Nah, we won’t tear you up, Shawn!
Welcome to LSC!
We enjoy these arguments. Well, some of us.

One year down the road, you just fix it. Don’t throw it away.
Everything breaks down, regardless of the cost.
That’s why I hate machines of any kind…:slight_smile: :slight_smile:
jb

#108
John Bouck said:
<>

Nah, we won’t tear you up, Shawn!
Welcome to LSC!
We enjoy these arguments. Well, some of us.

One year down the road, you just fix it. Don’t throw it away.
Everything breaks down, regardless of the cost.
That’s why I hate machines of any kind…:slight_smile: :slight_smile:
jb


Thanks it is only good to hear everyones side. What did everyone do before the internet. These forums are great especially when someone like me new has a problem with something. I just post and always get great advise. Thanks a gain and glad to be part of this hobby.

#109

Shawn good to see you over here on LSC!

cale

#110

Finally after 5 pages someone else makes sense!!! welcome aboard Hey guys don’t you think 5 pages is enough for this topic??? goin for a record???

#111

In all the pages that I have just waded through I kind of lost track of the intent of the thread! Can we all agree that Bachmann’s QC could stand to be improved…significantly? Can we also all agree that it would be in Bachmann’s best interests if they were to beta test their units BEFORE dropping them on the public where “unfortunate” problems tar the reputation of an otherwise excellent product? Yes?
Whether it was wise to move all manufacturing to China is a moot point. It’s where it is and we now have to deal with it. The part that is frustrating is why does Bachmann keep repeating their mistakes? Or, more correctly, why don’t they realize that they could AVOID many of their new mistakes by adopting some simple and SANE business principles that anyone that has taken a business 101 course would have to know and don’t even get me started on their marketing department!! This whole K-27 fiasco is almost a textbook example of how NOT to do it!!! We’re going to be lucky if the grand high muckymucks at Kader don’t look at this and say to themselves, “Well, this whole Colorado large engine idea was obviously a bad one! Time to go back to small logging items!” Considering the fact that upper management hasn’t made very many smart decisions in the past five years, this conclusion would be one that I can see them making!
As to the review, Zubi brings up a few good points but then this review DID seem pretty vanilla! Dave had a LOT more to say but was “editorialized” down to what we saw! As to the relative merits of Bachmann vs LGB, can’t do it. They are two totally different phillosophies! Bachmann is trying for realistic scale models and LGB is going for TOY TRAINS! By the way Zubi, I still maintain that 1:20.3 is the CORRECT scale for #1 Gauge track if you are modeling 3ft. narrow gauge!

#112

Steve,

I believe Zubi knows which is the correct ratio for 3ft=45mm; looks more like a case of too much LGB influence where everything and all has to be “pleasing” instead of “to scale”. But that’s OK for TOYS!

#113

I know full well what they are based upon.
35 years in the business, and the term “Final Italian Attempt at Technology” is one description.
So is “Fix It Again Tony”.
I cannot imagine a worse choice for reliable transportation than a fiatsco.
Unless it’s a full-on Russkie Lada version of a freaking Fiat.
Or, the Yugo.

BTW, none of the above are sold in the US anymore.
Even a Vega was better.

But, if you want to drive a Fiat, hey, be my guest.
Somebody has to.

Oh, and last time I was in Naples, there was a Fiat garage on every OTHER corner.

You really don’t want to go down this path.

I tend to choose my battles, and this one I am quite certain of the outcome.

#114
Zbigniew Struzik said:
Curmudgeon said:
Zubi, I do believe you are clueless.
Curmee, you mean I am left clueless after reading your own review? That would not rate your review very high;-))), Best, Zubi
I don't know if there is enough space to list all the components of cluelessness. Maybe we need to link to a different website.

Suffice it to say, stating that 1:22.5 on #1 gauge track properly models 3’ narrow gauge is maybe the beginning.

Closer to the end is anyone claiming Fiatscos, Ladas and Yugos are good, reliable vehicles, well, those really set you apart from the herd.

#115

I’ve had a number of Fiats (all 124 convertibles), and, while fun, cute cars, they all were far from reliable.

#116

With a FIAT, as with an MGA, you are buying a hobby, not reliable transportation.

Ask me how I know… :smiley:

#117
Shawn Viggiano said:
What did everyone do before the internet.
Good one Shawn. More than a few on this site can discuss what we did before TV! For one thing we spent a lot more time watching and riding real trains. They were good times. Any crap that came into our lives had to forked and spread on the fields ........... oh wait ... that's what we do now with the internet! I guess nothing has changed.

Welcome aboard!

#118
Bob McCown said:
I've had a number of Fiats (all 124 convertibles), and, while fun, cute cars, they all were far from reliable.
Bob, You had 124 Fiats! Geez it mustuv taken along time to realize how unreliable they were! :) :)

j

#119

Hey, that Fiat 124 was my first car! Bought brand new. Drove it from NY across the country to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Glacier, down to Colorado then over to Ft. Bragg.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/FunStuff/Fiat124.jpg)

If I had been less handy, I probably would have left it in Montana. I remember having to fix the windshield wipers with some bread wire. My wife had to shine a flashlight on the dash at night because the fuse for the dash lights kept blowing out. Then there was the time I opened the hood and there was a pond of oil between the cam covers. Yeah, great quality. Sold it after 2 years because the Italian mechanic I was taking it to said it was costing ME too much money to maintain.

#120
Bruce Chandler said:
.................

Sold it after 2 years because the Italian mechanic I was taking too said it was costing ME too much money to maintain.


You mean it wasn’t Fix It Again Toni? You gotta watch out for those first names! :lol: