Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 13, 2013 10:55:06 GMT -8
HO CAB FORWARD LOCOMOTIVE (AC-12)
An upgrade program has been put in place for the purchasers of the 1st and 2nd releases of the HO AC-12. The most important feature of the upgrade is installation of a new NorthWest Short Line motor, which has proven to provide optimal operations for the HO AC-12. The upgrade option is available to all purchasers of the HO AC-12 and the necessary work will be done during the next few months.
HO SCALE CAB FORWARD UPGRADE PROGRAM
The 3rd release of InterMountain’s HO Cab Forward steam locomotive (AC-12) is eminent. We expect to be shipping these locomotives in August or September. In the meantime, our upgrade program for the 1st and 2nd release HO AC-12 Cab Forward locomotives is now in place. For those of you who are interested in upgrading your 1st or 2nd release purchase we have enclosed an information sheet to be included with your locomotive when it is returned to us.
During the evolution of this project we have determined that the NorthWest Short Line motor provides optimum performance for the operation of this locomotive. The upgrade program provides for the installation of the NWSL motor in each locomotive that is returned to us. In addition, the gearing ratio was increased from the 1st to the 2nd release, providing for increased operating speed. If you have a 1st release HO AC-12 you have the option of upgrading both the gearing and the motor. Details are included in the enclosed information sheet.
The upgrade process will be very labor intensive, therefore there may be some delays in returning your locomotive to you. We will try to keep you advised of the status of your locomotive on request. While we would like for you to submit your locomotive at your convenience, we will be able to do only limited upgrades for the next 60 to 90 days as we are waiting for some of the replacement parts that will be necessary.
Thank you for your support of InterMountain Railway Company. We obviously have no purpose other than serving you and your fellow modelers. Without you we would not exist. With you we will be able to continue to produce prototypically accurate, highly detailed models in HO, N, and Z scales for the discerning modeler.
Best regards,
Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on May 13, 2013 13:12:02 GMT -8
HO CAB FORWARD LOCOMOTIVE (AC-12)
An upgrade program has been put in place for the purchasers of the 1st and 2nd releases of the HO AC-12. The most important feature of the upgrade is installation of a new NorthWest Short Line motor, which has proven to provide optimal operations for the HO AC-12. The upgrade option is available to all purchasers of the HO AC-12 and the necessary work will be done during the next few months.
HO SCALE CAB FORWARD UPGRADE PROGRAM
The 3rd release of InterMountain’s HO Cab Forward steam locomotive (AC-12) is eminent. We expect to be shipping these locomotives in August or September. In the meantime, our upgrade program for the 1st and 2nd release HO AC-12 Cab Forward locomotives is now in place. For those of you who are interested in upgrading your 1st or 2nd release purchase we have enclosed an information sheet to be included with your locomotive when it is returned to us.
During the evolution of this project we have determined that the NorthWest Short Line motor provides optimum performance for the operation of this locomotive. The upgrade program provides for the installation of the NWSL motor in each locomotive that is returned to us. In addition, the gearing ratio was increased from the 1st to the 2nd release, providing for increased operating speed. If you have a 1st release HO AC-12 you have the option of upgrading both the gearing and the motor. Details are included in the enclosed information sheet.
The upgrade process will be very labor intensive, therefore there may be some delays in returning your locomotive to you. We will try to keep you advised of the status of your locomotive on request. While we would like for you to submit your locomotive at your convenience, we will be able to do only limited upgrades for the next 60 to 90 days as we are waiting for some of the replacement parts that will be necessary.
Thank you for your support of InterMountain Railway Company. We obviously have no purpose other than serving you and your fellow modelers. Without you we would not exist. With you we will be able to continue to produce prototypically accurate, highly detailed models in HO, N, and Z scales for the discerning modeler.
Best regards,
Frank Jim I received this email today and I noticed no price was given for the upgrade when you send the model in for that repair. If I remember correctly from an email last year, it will cost at least $75 and maybe as much as $150 for the work. Do you have any information on the cost? Larry |
|
|
|
Post by onequiknova on May 13, 2013 13:43:41 GMT -8
Are they even charging for the upgraded motor? After reading the email, I figured it was free. If it is indeed free, you have to commend them for standing behind their product. I can think of a few cases where, buyers of poorly engineered locos weren't so lucky.
|
|
wpmow
New Member
Posts: 13
|
Post by wpmow on May 13, 2013 16:13:17 GMT -8
There will be $ involved on certain items done ie: best to go to thier site and down load ,ho ac-12 cab forward upgrade pogram. Mine will be in the post first thing in the morning. John
|
|
|
|
Post by el3637 on May 13, 2013 22:25:19 GMT -8
Interesting. I have one of each, a first run that I never broke because I only ran it a few times, and a second run that I got from IM at a very friendly price, which was my option vs. exchanging the first run. Obviously because I've taken my 2nd run apart and changed the motor to a Kato, it's not going to be eligible. The first run would be because it's intact - but at the same time I would want to replace the orange LEDs and a bunch of stuff. So I think my plan will be to leave my 1st run as a display only, and continue to work on my 2nd run when I feel like it, which may end up getting the NWSL motor but I want to try a few more things with it first.
Andy
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 8:42:36 GMT -8
Here is the price breakdown to have your Cab Forward go from static display to a working model.
HO AC-12 Cab Forward Upgrade Program
Upgrade your locomotive to match the upcoming 3rd release of the HO Cab Forward by enhancing your model with one of the several options below.
●PAC12-01: Geared Axle Upgrade (1st Release Locomotive) – Replace the drive axles in your locomotive so
that it has the slotted axles for improved performance – Cost = FREE
●PAC12-02: Motor & Geared Axle Upgrade (1st Release Locomotive) – This upgrades the motor with a NorthWest Short Line (NWSL) motor, and includes a Geared Axle Upgrade – Cost = $75
●PAC12-03: Motor, Gear Box (Transmission), & Full Axle Upgrade (1st
Release Locomotive) – This upgrades the motor with a NorthWest Short Line (NWSL) motor, along with all 8 drive axles, Worm Gears,
and the Gear Box. This upgrades your locomotive making it identical to the upcoming 3rd release. - Cost = $100
●PAC12-04: Motor Upgrade (2nd Release Locomotive) – This upgrades the motor with a NWSL motor making it identical to the 3
rd release. – Cost = $75
●PAC12-05: Install and/or Replace the existing sound decoder with a ESU LokSound decoder. (1st & 2nd Release Locomotive) This will match the sound included in the 3rd release of Cab Forwards. - Cost = $85
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on May 14, 2013 9:47:05 GMT -8
I wonder who physically, and where, will actually do all of this work?
|
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on May 14, 2013 10:36:54 GMT -8
I wonder who physically, and where, will actually do all of this work? Just a guess, but I believe it will be done at IMC by their technicians. It will take some time to complete this replacement as it is a tedious procedure to take the AC12 apart. If that seem hard, try the reassembly. I will not do any more work on my AC12's and use the Key model instead. Another option for IMC is to send them back to China and have the work done by the original builder. This would probably be more costly since shipping and other customs charges might be applied. Larry |
|
|
|
Post by upwpfan on May 15, 2013 8:23:38 GMT -8
Folks;
Based on the information described above it sounds like IM has figured out how to fix the previous problems with there cab forwards and the new ones will be great performers. Is this a valid assumption....or should I wait as far as obtaining one.
Regards
Jere Ingram
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2013 10:38:20 GMT -8
Folks; Based on the information described above it sounds like IM has figured out how to fix the previous problems with there cab forwards and the new ones will be great performers. Is this a valid assumption....or should I wait as far as obtaining one. Regards Jere Ingram They said on the 2nd run that it was improved.......I'd wait and see, $400 is a lot to pay for a paperweight. |
|
|
|
Post by carrman on May 15, 2013 11:40:02 GMT -8
I'm taking a wait and see approach. I sold both 2nd run versions I had already, so I'll wait to see what the factory can do the third time around. Just not with my money.
|
|
|
|
Post by onequiknova on May 15, 2013 14:08:50 GMT -8
I take back my comment. Charging your customer to make a 400 dollar, poorly engineered loco operable seems like a slap in the face. They should at least provide the parts free of charge to those who wish to do the work themselves.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on May 16, 2013 6:39:08 GMT -8
Gotta love this.
Charge people money to make the flawed product work right.
This is why I do not buy anything in advance and wait for the real thing to see.
IM botched the Metal sided Auto racks also.
I wish quality in model railroad products was higher.
But what happens is China is so far away they do things and by the time it is all caught, the products are made, or paid for, or on the boat, or similar.
|
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on May 16, 2013 15:54:07 GMT -8
Folks; Based on the information described above it sounds like IM has figured out how to fix the previous problems with there cab forwards and the new ones will be great performers. Is this a valid assumption....or should I wait as far as obtaining one. Regards Jere Ingram They said on the 2nd run that it was improved.......I'd wait and see, $400 is a lot to pay for a paperweight. Jim The sad truth is the second run was improved over the first run! I know there are a few first run customers that did not have the same problems as about 90 % of the buyers experienced, but most of the first run models had major problems with the drivers going out of quarter or out of gauge. The La Mesa club did a great article on the problems and how to solve some of those. I did purchase one first run AC12 that runs fairly well on a test track. A close friend of mine got two and both were absolutely a mess. One actually was so out of quarter that it moved up and down instead of forward. He sent it back and got a replacement that was slightly better, but not satisfactory. The second run I have would run on rollers for about two minutes and shut down since the decoder got hot. It would run at a slow speed after that until it cooled off. I read that running them on a layout would get you about 10 feet before they overheated. Interesting how the second run was improved with different gearing but the motor would not pull it correctly. Also, the CV's for the chuffs could not be set to sound correctly on the second run since the decoder was programmed to work on the 48-1 or whatever gear ratio the first run used. I ended up replacing the motor myself and it does run but that process is not worth the trouble, at least to me. I am not in line to purchase any more as I ended up with three and none can be used with any confidence. They do look nice and I have one of those on my desk! Larry |
|
