[nzpaul]

Hi all
I've just been playing around with a Heljan 26 that I purchased in January and it needed a fair bit of remedial work doing before it would behave like an engine should. First things was that all the wheel contacts needed to be adjusted, bogie frames glued on & wheels needed a really good clean before it would move. Is this a normal activity for Heljan owners, now it's all done the thing works really well, but lots of work on a relatively expensive bit of kit. I've mentioned quality control of both Hornby and Bachmann before but both are far superior, generally speaking, than this model. Should I expect more of the same from "kestrel" when it arrives next year?

Cheers
Paul M

 

[Brian Considine]

There certainly does seem to be a quality control issue with some models of various makes.

Modellers should not be expected to PDI & rectify defects that should not have been present when the model left the factory - what about the people who are not able to do this ?

The only way that quality control will improve is if faulty models are returned to the manufacture to be replaced.

All the time people seem to put up with this it almost certainly will not change.

 

[alastairq]

QUOTE The only way that quality control will improve is if faulty models are returned to the manufacture to be replaced.

All the time people seem to put up with this it almost certainly will not change.

I find it a sad state of affairs when a customer, having shelled out the best part of £100 [or more] then has to be put through the inconvenience of having to return a faulty item, either to retailer of to manufacturer.......to be sorted.

I think it is about time larger manufacturers should be compelled to adopt a policy of, not just fixing and returning a faulty item, but , totally replacing it, AND refunding all return costs, plus compensation for said inconvenience and loss of enjoyment....perhaps even being compelled to adopt a policy similar to the likes of Tesco....ie replacement AND full refund of initial purchase price.

or...are the likes of Hornby, Bachmann, Heljan etc really at the cheapskate end of the model railway market, where customers are expected to tolerate inconsistant quality???

scratchbuilding suddenly appeals......at least one only has oneself to blame??????

 

[34C]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 3 Aug 2008, 14:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>.. the cheapskate end of the model railway market, ..
In the UK we are only ten years away from 'cheap and cheerful' being the only thing available in RTR. The best of what we get now would probably average out at 'acceptable baseline model at a reasonable price' in the most demanding markets (Japan, Germany, USA). We can have better if we are prepared to pay for it, but you cannot blame the manufacturers for being cautious in this respect; the UK market has historically been very price sensitive for model railway goods.

Personally, I like the sound of the Heljan trade: happy to save a bit on expenditure for the trouble of doing some clean up and adjustment on a fundamentally sound mechanism. Tapping fingers impatiently, still waiting for Heljan to make a product that is a fit for my modelling interest...