Fixair

AJM Railways currently have a County Court judgement against them for refusing to refund £125 for faulty goods and keeping the returned item.

On 11th May Northampton County Court made judgement against AJM railways in the sum of £125 + costs. They had supplied a faulty Hornby Patriot loco via ebay. All communications with them failed to address the issue. The item was returned under Ebay returns policy. AJM Railways did not return the money and stated that they were entitled to keep the returned item as well. Ebay and Pay Pal were as much use as a cat flap in a submarine. I would advise all modellers to avoid any dealings with AJM railways. There have been many other complainants and I fail to see how they have 100% feedback but in any event they are clearly not fair traders and a real risk financially.

Are you referring to Amanda and the dealer when you say.......... I'm going to close this topic off as I haven't got the time to be dealing with her when she moans she's getting negative publicity again. The name crops up too many times.

Ebay said nothing other than that the case was closed. Pay Pal said it had closed the case because I had not supplied sufficient information. The guy who I spoke to had all the information needed when he said that they would take it over and I was never asked for anything further. I appealed the decision but I have heard nothing since. I suppose the excuse is 'the virus' as it appears to be for all other customer services failures. Both of them have been as much use as a cat flap in a trident submarine.

I opened a case with ebay. Ebay provided me with the postage label for return. The item was tracked and received by AJM Railways and there was no communication from them thereafter only gobbledygook replies to my emails asking for and explanation. I had messaged them on ebay saying that I liked the loco and I would be happy with a working replacement. They never responded. I then looked at my pay pal account but could see no transaction. I phoned paypal who said that the transaction had been handled by them but as a 'guest' whatever that means. They suggested that they take over the case and my money would be returned. Both ebay and paypal simultaneously closed the case(s) on 10th March both saying I would not get a refund. I have written to both complaining of the manner in which I have been dealt with. Neither have acknowledged nor explained. I had no alternative but to go to law. You are suspicious? How do you think I feel?

I have not used this site for a while due to family commitments. I restarted modelling and looked around the site. I found a thread relating to AJM Railways which almost exactly mirrored my own experience. I purchased a Hornby Rebuilt Patriot Rhyll listed on Ebay as new and unused. When tested it locked up in both directions an then fell off the track. I discovered that a con rod was detached and no screw and the screw was nowhere to be found. I would not have tried to repair it anyway as the motion was tangled. I contacted the and Amanda told me to open a dispute. The loco was duly returned and from then on it was nothing but obfuscation and reams of type about ebay and paypal protocols. They stated that they were entitled to keep the returned loco and the £125 I had paid. When I said I would use the county court to recover my money they resorted to claiming that I had dropped the model and they would make a counter claim. I am a retired police officer and I do not cheat people and expect to treated in the same manner. In a telephone call to them he referred to me as an idiot. I am currently waiting for a response to the Northampton County court claim served on them on 7th April.

Justin As a general sealer I have used Johnsons Klear (Floor sealer/polish) for many years. I think it is marketed under a new name but the same formula. It is an acrylic and I have painted over it with any number of different coatings. I have also used B&Q Diall grey primer where ballast is to be applied. However in general terms I would avoid MDF if possible.

I recently purchased a used example. As a model it is pristine but I have found that reverse running is very smooth and quiet but forward rather hesitant and noisy. Before I even think about having a look inside I would appreciate tips on how to safely take the body off and then what I should be looking for to solve if possible the problem. Ron

All of the heritage railways I have visited to research my first layout since boyhood have an overhanging lip of varying widths projecting from the basic platform.. Was this a universal feature of platforms on all regions? A magazine article suggested for 00 gauge using 18 mm MDF as the basic platform but no mention of a lip. I am really very new to all this so help would be most appreciated. Regards Ron

I once saw at an exhibition a sign on a layout that went something like this. "This is my layout built for my own pleasure. If you see anything that is technically or historically incorrect keep it to yourself" I liked that I really did.

O.K. Phil I will give it a test shot ff the actual layout. Sounds good to me. Ron

You beat me to my reply to Pete's post. I think for a Fiver a tub I will try experimenting with it. If no good it will still be useful for something. Your blog looks as if it is a layout like mine in a converted garage minus up and over door with window and door.

Pete, Thanks for that. I have just looked at Cascamite resin powdered wood glue. Looks promising and inexpensive. Any opinions?

I know that DeLuxe manufacture an excellent product of this type but in such small quantities at a relatively high price excellent for tender coal and wagon loads but not for a big layout. Does anyone know of a source of bulk powdered glue that is perhaps used in industry that would behave in the same way as the Deluxe product. I have looked for powdered PVA which I believe is the DeLuxe product without success. Ron

I am using the Peco switches that fit under he point motors and following the wiring instructions for that arrangement.