howardpidd

Perhaps then Bachmann should supply a free micrometer with every model. At £200+ it really shouldn't be necessary.

Frankly when you pay over £200 for a model you expect it to at least run without derailing. This doesn't. If its not a a design fault then it's very poor quality control. Either way it's unacceptable.

I've fitted none of the things you mentioned. The loco derails as it emerged from the box.

I don't know.

I'm afraid I've only just come late to this topic so apologies if I'm asking a question that already been answered, but I've just taken delivery of a new Bachmann V2, a lovely looking model that I've been promising myself for a some time, not least because my late father was fireman on one during the 1940s. However, I was very disappointed to discover that her tender derails repeatedly on my 2nd radius curves making her unusable. I have rechecked my trackwork and it isn't at fault, and I have many other locos which negotiate the curves without a problem. I can only assume it's a design issue with this model so I'd be very grateful to hear of other people's experiences and solutions they have come up with.

Explosive news! According to Rails the motorised version of Dapol's water tower is on it's way back next month. I wonder what surprises this one will have in store.

Thankfully I just avoided buying one when news of their explosive qualities came to light. However, this and other examples of poor design/quality control have made me very wary of buying Dapol products. I have Dapol signals that have never worked properly and Dapol wagons where the hooks on the tension lock couplings simply fall off. I like the look of their forthcoming 43xx Mogul and 78xx Manor, but there is no way I'd risk pre-ordering either.

Cutting off their nose to spite their face...

So does anyone know what did become of the motorised version? I notice that Hattons still have the static version available but is the famous exploding one now gone for good?

Having endured a veritable tsunami of wrath for daring to raise the obviously very touchy subject of price and value for money I'll just make a final point, yes obviously ultimately it is up to consumers to decide for themselves what to buy or not to buy, that's how markets work. But for the majority of railway modellers in the real world price most definitely is a major factor in making a purchase decision despite what some in this bubble may like to pretend. And if you are contemplating what amounts to a major investment in say a new loco you have a right to be made aware of exactly what it is you're getting for your hard earned bucks. So if some innocent is looking to buy a Hymek for example and they come across this exciting new model railway range haven't they every right to expect it to be what the branding promises: Exclusive and a First Edition, not some other manufacturer's 17 year old product repackaged at a higher price. I rest my case and await summary execution!

You're right it didn't take me long to learn that any mention of price here is invariably met with a barrage of outraged sound and fury, accusations of whinging and advice to find another hobby. The fact is that in the real world value for money is important and can't simply be ignored. I don't object to paying a fair price for a decent product, but I do object to being manipulated by a huge multinational corporation.

And the RRP for this vintage model is I believe a mere £159.95. Nuf said!

And of course no alternative views have any legitimacy!

No it's healthy scepticism. It's not a conspiracy theory just a reality check highlighting a marketing technique widely employed by manufacturers not just those selling model railways. But please don't attack people for having the temerity to question the tactics of a multi national corporation whose ultimate, and quite legitimate, aim is to make as big a profit as possible. But not all of us have bottomless pockets and I worry that the way prices continue to escalate - as has happened with products in this 'new' range - threatens to price many out of the hobby. I know raising the issue of value for money isn't exactly welcomed in some quarters but I fear is something we ignore at our peril.

I hope I'm wrong, but I can't help thinking that and all this sounds suspiciously like no more than just a marketing exercise to justify 'enhanced' prices for existing products (hopefully now improved in some cases) simply being sold under new branding.