Large Scale Central

Why No New Product Reviews?

General Discussion
#21

That’s why he has so many handles…and complains that I have…one.

I have been thrown off one forum for exactly 8-1/2 days, until the owner realized I hadn’t broken any rules.

He would not be posting stuff like that (throwing rocks through folk’s windows) unless he wanted to pick a fight and get his worrisome hindquarters pitched off yet another forum.

Gotta be careful when the homeowner has a shotgun…

Is your’s a .404, Bob?

Of course, he can no longer claim to be the first to be thrown off this forum…or the second, if you go by “handles”.

#22

Hey Verne,
You going to the train show in Fort Worth ?

#23
Bryan Johnson said:
Hey Verne, You going to the train show in Fort Worth ?
Yes, I am. It should be a good one.
#24
The Lone Railroader said:
And the goal was not to "piss off your host", but it appears it was achieved.
In Kindergarten......this should be followed by an apology........Please......
#25

Going back to the original question and ignoring the trouble making smart ass comments from some of you who should know better ,
as I have mentioned before , reviews which are done in good faith and ignored do not inspire people to write any .
I could review about fifty items I have not seen here , but who is interested in European stuff ?
Nobody , judging by the traffic caused by only the American LGB stuff being mentioned when the subject of availability comes up .

Mike

#26
Mike Morgan said:
I could review about fifty items I have not seen here , but who is interested in European stuff ? Nobody , judging by the traffic caused by only the American LGB stuff being mentioned when the subject of availability comes up . Mike
Yo Mike - I am slighly interested in European stuff, but bored to the point of stupefaction with anything to do with the RhB.

My newest loco, to be collected on saturday [see live-steam forum] is German, and I have a deep interest in British NG, having worked on it for the last 25 years or so when I have been in-country.

I like to think that those us who live on this side of the Great Water have a slightly different viewpoint from those who may never have left North America and its admittedly wonderful selection of steamies and shortlines, and its few remaining Class 1 operations. I know that my life’s train highpoints have been spent on the little lines in Oregon, rather than the on the rather sad remnants of the once mighty ‘Empire Builder’.

Go ahead, tell us about something that interests YOU.

I WANT to hear it.

Best wishes from the eastern land of great flatness, where a sheet of paper lying on the ground casts a shadow at mid-day.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#27

Mike, as you stated, the real problem is that those of us on this side of the pond can’t get our hands on the stuff. :frowning: I’d like to think that that decision is a bad marketing decision by the manufacturers. The Class 66 as an example is a locomotive that I think would sell in the US but Lewis Polk and Bachmann say NO!. But would I be interested in a review of the Class 66? You bet! I know there is a lot of neat stuff in Europe that we never get to see. I’d like reviews on it.

#28

Garbage, drivel, PITA, and a waste of John Q. Public’s time!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and value is quantitive to the desire to have the item; therefore, I take most reviews with a proverbial grain of salt! When published in a magazine I often skip that page.

#29

Really?

All that work, pain and suffering, to get reviews written with the data folks need, and you skip the page?

Put in current and voltage readings, wheel gauge specs, spend an hour arguing with the editor about the need for such.
Boy, good things I have a thick hide.

I’ll remember that next time I write a review…or a “procedure”.

TOC

#30

I spent several years reading posts, magazines, and everything else I could get my hands on before really starting in this hobby.

I find that if you get 4 different “opinions/reviews/etc.” on something, you can usually separate the wheat from the chaff, i.e. what is good data and what is not, or just opinion". Sure, some information is good, some not so good, some not accurate at all.

Unfortunately for me, I not quite smart enough to consider everyone else’s work as garbage, so I’ll have to be content to learn from others.

Maybe some day I will be smarter than everyone else, but it ain’t today.

Regards, Greg

#31
Greg Elmassian said:
I spent several years reading posts, magazines, and everything else I could get my hands on before really starting in this hobby.

I find that if you get 4 different “opinions/reviews/etc.” on something, you can usually separate the wheat from the chaff, i.e. what is good data and what is not, or just opinion". Sure, some information is good, some not so good, some not accurate at all.

Unfortunately for me, I not quite smart enough to consider everyone else’s work as garbage, so I’ll have to be content to learn from others.

Maybe some day I will be smarter than everyone else, but it ain’t today.

Regards, Greg


Greg :smiley: :smiley:

Yeah, those who are born with all the wisdom are to be envied; I guess the rest of us just keep on learning as we go along.
For me a good day is when I learn something new; happens every day - in all kinds of different ways. :wink: :slight_smile:

#32
Robert D. Johnson said:
Garbage, drivel, PITA, and a waste of John Q. Public's time!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and value is quantitive to the desire to have the item; therefore, I take most reviews with a proverbial grain of salt! When published in a magazine I often skip that page.


Agreed, I skip them also. I’ve found, too often, that personal preferences get in the way of objectivity. And for that reason, I dropped my subscriptions to all railroad hobby magazines.

#33
Robert D. Johnson said:
Garbage, drivel, PITA, and a waste of John Q. Public's time!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and value is quantitive to the desire to have the item; therefore, I take most reviews with a proverbial grain of salt! When published in a magazine I often skip that page.


As Curmudgeon notes…all that time and effort is wasted on you. Great shame that, eh? Good job I only review things I actually own and have spent my own hard-earned money on getting.

Here is your version of my Accucraft Garret Review…

‘Just bought a maroon Accucraft Garrett. It has lots of detail and runs well.’

Best wishes from tac - about to write a review on a 25-year-old Aster Br01.

#34

I appreciate people taking the time to write their findings on a particular product. I really appreciate info in regards to comparison of actual prototypes to the model being reviewed. One great thing about writng and posting an opinion is that you really shouldn’t have to apologize if it is truely your opinion and honest feelings. The truth should never have to be apologized for.

#35

I too sit on both sides of the fence. I do write the occasional review…which is a product that I purchased and use on my own layout. I also read the reviews of products that interest me. I appreciate a mixture of fact and opinion. I value the opinions of those that share in this hobby with me. On the other hand I do find that some of the reviews in the popular magazines seem to be nothing more than free advertising. They seem to be lacking in measurements, statistics and other important facts, and the only “con” that can be found is oversize flanges…:confused: The reviews on these forums though are great.

#36

Read 'em, don’t read 'em, I don’t care. In fact, I’d far rather you not read my review if you’re already dead-set in your opinion of a product which I’m reviewing. You are, however, selling yourself short to skip the reviews altogether–if for no other reason than it being an expanded “new products” section. I’ve had some pretty obscure things cross my desk for review. Regardless of what one thinks of the reviewer’s opinion, knowing that something is available is enlightening enough.

Later,

K

#37

I enjoy reading reviews and find them very informative. Product reviews are not just “opinion”, though occasionally some opinion may be included. It’s easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. And as Kevin pointed out, the reviews are a good place to find out about new products that are available.

#38

Reviews?
How about a review of the USA 0-6-0 switcher noted as “NEW for 2005”?
Problem: Products are announced and readers anticipate reading a review from one of us’uns who bought them. Problem? yes, product is advertised yet may not exist – yet. ANY product called a locomotive or dismal that is new, that has been actually sold, and purchased by a reader of this site, this group will shortly read a review.

Reviews worthwhile?
Yes. However, the details or basis for the judgment, NOT the judgment, is what counts. When Raymond does a review of his Accucraft and MTH locos, he includes photos and specific references. NO, he is not alone holding this criteria. Check the invaluable evaluations from our own TOC reviewing Bachmann products.

Conclusion:
I do not understand the original premise of a presumed shortage of product reviews under some presumption there are PLENTY of new products those of us in the USA bought that are not being reviewed. Plenty there are not.

Wendell

P.S.
Consider waiting before pre-payment to a well-intetioned dealer for a new LGB or LGB of America 0-6-0. Granted, it is a much desired new American loco, however, production may be confounded by legal considerations.

#39
Wendell Hanks said:
Consider waiting before pre-payment to a well-intetioned dealer for a new LGB or LGB of America 0-6-0. Granted, it is a much desired new American loco, however, production may be confounded by legal considerations.
There should be newspaper translations showing up in the next week or so with the latest news.

And the news will stir the conversation caldron for a while upon release.

#40

Yes, Marvin…and the speculations will go one for months, until the next version is published.
Life goes on, and there are other manufacturers that put out fine products too.
Long ago I realized that buying from a number of different lines, gives one a clearer vision of what can be produced, rather than what one manufacturer says, and does produce. Each manufacturer, produces great and poor toys…we sometimes let brand loyalty stand in the way of enjoying toys from other sources, that can give equal or better fun.