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Post by ambluco on Feb 2, 2023 16:14:52 GMT -8
Watching the video ST just released with product updates: They sent back all of the tank cars that just arrived due QC issues. There is an SD40-2 future update too but I haven't got that far. Ferromex GE ES44 sent back due to color issue. Same as EJE. Admitted N scale ET44 CSX was wrong body with wrong numbers. That made it out to the public. Will be able to get a new body or credit. CN-IC Dash-9s Will be able to get a new body or new decals/numberboards. Essentially two locos for one. Upping QC. New set of SD40-2 tooling coming out to add to old tooling. So SD40-2 was out of production while new tooling was done. But coming SOO, ATSF, BN, ICG, RI, EMD leasing. Ditch light variants coming too. SD45 2nd run soft on sales so longer window to rerun. Late 2023. Dash 9 FormCSX ET44 Form |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 2, 2023 16:36:40 GMT -8
Dang. Sure have had some hard knocks lately. First the SD38-2's and now the tank cars. I sure hope the GP30's are alright. Hopefully they will go over them well like they did the GP38's.
Interesting they say SD45 was soft on sales. They sure seemed to be all sold out. SP sold very well, no surprise.
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Post by cr9617 on Feb 2, 2023 16:52:35 GMT -8
ooohh Conrail SD40-2s with ditch lights!
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Post by riogrande on Feb 2, 2023 16:56:43 GMT -8
I've always wanted a couple ST SD40-2's but I don't think they ran any mid-late 70's UP versions and they did run across the D&RGW system on a few occasions. The roads they mentioned were Soo, ICG and lease. So hope they will do a few western roads too.
They did mention the GP30's and that there were new processes put in place after the GP38-2's debacle where 2/3rd were rejected, so fingers crossed. They are on the water presently.
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Post by ambluco on Feb 2, 2023 17:19:23 GMT -8
Apparently the GP30 came out great.
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Post by unittrain on Feb 2, 2023 17:30:22 GMT -8
I got 2 Pennsy GP30s ordered hoping they are OK. Sad to see ST dealing with these big QC issues.
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Post by carrman on Feb 2, 2023 17:56:01 GMT -8
Dang. Sure have had some hard knocks lately. First the SD38-2's and now the tank cars. I sure hope the GP30's are alright. Hopefully they will go over them well like they did the GP38's. Interesting they say SD45 was soft on sales. They sure seemed to be all sold out. SP sold very well, no surprise. If second run had DRGW units, sales wouldn't have been soft. |
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thmy
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Post by thmy on Feb 2, 2023 17:58:07 GMT -8
More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well.
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Post by ambluco on Feb 2, 2023 18:08:25 GMT -8
Did you watch the video? They sent many models back, are hiring new people, are using testing and metrics in China now. Lots going on. I think the comments you use for Rapido threads don’t quite work in this thread. More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well. |
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thmy
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Post by thmy on Feb 2, 2023 18:10:06 GMT -8
Did you watch the video? They sent many models back, are hiring new people, are using testing and metrics in China now. Lots going on. I think the comments you use for Rapido threads don’t quite work in this thread. More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well. I'm saying the company is not run well and that's why they ended up in this series of unfortunate events. I watched the entire video. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 2, 2023 18:54:53 GMT -8
If second run had DRGW units, sales wouldn't have been soft. Not for Rio Grande, because it sells. Can't speak for other roads. |
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 2, 2023 21:33:33 GMT -8
it might also be because there's multiple competitors making SD45s and a lot of guys already have some. Athearn, Walthers Proto, even Broadway Limited have versions. The Walthers has runs dating back to being a Life-Like product. I have one, an EL one, and it looks pretty nice out of the box. No shell swap needed. I wouldn't mind a PC or NW one but other than that I just don't need many.
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Post by arandall70 on Feb 2, 2023 22:03:46 GMT -8
I'm certainly biased as a modern modeler, but I think the biggest opportunity for ScaleTrains is going to be SD45s(at least the carbodies) that existed in the post-1990 era. Granted, there are going to be tons of variations, ditch lights, parts added or removed, etc. that will make it a large undertaking.
I'm thinking Santa Fe with nose lights and ditch lights, SP SD40M-2s, KCS, CP 5496, Montana Rail Link, Wisconsin Central, NYS&W, Buffalo & Pittsburgh, Arizona & California, CEFX/CITX/MPI SD40M-2 Lease Units, Watco/G&W/other Short Lines etc.
As mentioned above, there are already a lot of "pretty good" SD45 models out there. Will those folks feel the urge to upgrade? If sales of run two were soft I would say no. DRGW sounds like the exception.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Feb 2, 2023 23:38:08 GMT -8
More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well. The entire video is pretty transparent, and I don't think they could take any further action to rectify any of the issues that the company is facing than what they've discussed. I think they are doing everything possible to ensure that these issue are addressed and minimized in future production. I take exception with your statement that "the company doesn't seem to be run well" as they've been going strong for 8 years now, making great strides in the hobby, and covering a lot of ground and acquiring a large share of the market from direct competitors. The only other model railroading company, in the modern era, that has done anything close to what ScaleTrains is doing in the record time that they've done is BLMA Models. Runners up include Tangent Scale Models and Exactrail. Anyhow, if you are going to make a claim about how "poorly" the company is being run, you need to substantiate your claim with facts. Otherwise, it's just "lip service"! Donnell |
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 3, 2023 0:33:43 GMT -8
I'm certainly biased as a modern modeler, but I think the biggest opportunity for ScaleTrains is going to be SD45s(at least the carbodies) that existed in the post-1990 era. Granted, there are going to be tons of variations, ditch lights, parts added or removed, etc. that will make it a large undertaking. I'm thinking Santa Fe with nose lights and ditch lights, SP SD40M-2s, KCS, CP 5496, Montana Rail Link, Wisconsin Central, NYS&W, Buffalo & Pittsburgh, Arizona & California, CEFX/CITX/MPI SD40M-2 Lease Units, Watco/G&W/other Short Lines etc. As mentioned above, there are already a lot of "pretty good" SD45 models out there. Will those folks feel the urge to upgrade? If sales of run two were soft I would say no. DRGW sounds like the exception. Yes, if you're doing a model others have done the fastest way to sell it is offer what's not been done before or not in a long time. |
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mpi
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Post by mpi on Feb 3, 2023 2:20:55 GMT -8
I'm certainly biased as a modern modeler, but I think the biggest opportunity for ScaleTrains is going to be SD45s(at least the carbodies) that existed in the post-1990 era. Granted, there are going to be tons of variations, ditch lights, parts added or removed, etc. that will make it a large undertaking. I'm thinking Santa Fe with nose lights and ditch lights, SP SD40M-2s, KCS, CP 5496, Montana Rail Link, Wisconsin Central, NYS&W, Buffalo & Pittsburgh, Arizona & California, CEFX/CITX/MPI SD40M-2 Lease Units, Watco/G&W/other Short Lines etc. As mentioned above, there are already a lot of "pretty good" SD45 models out there. Will those folks feel the urge to upgrade? If sales of run two were soft I would say no. DRGW sounds like the exception. I talked to Mike Hopkins about this. MPI,VMV, HLCX lease units off the 45 carbody. There are various body changes from moving the engine from 20 cylinders to 16, doors got moved etc. A lot of little things, that would have to be retooled.So, I wouldn't count on them anytime soon. |
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Post by littlejoee76 on Feb 3, 2023 4:01:15 GMT -8
I miss BMLA. I think the smaller manufacturers are inherently more innovative and it's a shame when they get gobbled up. The F89J bowl deck flats were something special and remain the most interesting cars in my small TOFC roster.
If ST were to make a model of NP SD45s with the correct extra cab windows and the brake cylinder variations, I'd ditch my Athearn six but I doubt it'll ever happen and they'll have a job equalling the Athearn units paint finish.
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Post by nstophat on Feb 3, 2023 4:12:44 GMT -8
I'm certainly biased as a modern modeler, but I think the biggest opportunity for ScaleTrains is going to be SD45s(at least the carbodies) that existed in the post-1990 era. Granted, there are going to be tons of variations, ditch lights, parts added or removed, etc. that will make it a large undertaking. I'm thinking Santa Fe with nose lights and ditch lights, SP SD40M-2s, KCS, CP 5496, Montana Rail Link, Wisconsin Central, NYS&W, Buffalo & Pittsburgh, Arizona & California, CEFX/CITX/MPI SD40M-2 Lease Units, Watco/G&W/other Short Lines etc. As mentioned above, there are already a lot of "pretty good" SD45 models out there. Will those folks feel the urge to upgrade? If sales of run two were soft I would say no. DRGW sounds like the exception. I talked to Mike Hopkins about this. MPI,VMV, HLCX lease units off the 45 carbody. There are various body changes from moving the engine from 20 cylinders to 16, doors got moved etc. A lot of little things, that would have to be retooled.So, I wouldn't count on them anytime soon. Hopefully more Undecs will be available in upcoming runs. In retrospect I wish I had grabbed a couple of undec'd SP's for this very reason. |
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Feb 3, 2023 4:26:16 GMT -8
Anyone else see the unhinged rant in the comment section of the Scale Trains video by "Phil Newsome" - an account that was created less than an hour before posting the rant? The rant is reminiscent of someone who posts here also ranting about Scale Trains management. The funny part is that they fully admit "that was on purpose so that scale trains didnt cancel my orders out of spite. This is an alibi account."
Sadly they are too much of a coward, and fully admit it, to share who they really are.
Here's the post:
"Phil Newsome
Instead of continuously patting yourselves on the back for doing right by the customer, how about just doing it and letting the customers affected know? Oh that's right, you calculate that you might as well get some good publicity off of your sacrifice. As much as you claim to be Christian, you may want to read the bible about doing good in private so that you're rewarded in heaven. Also, these errors are because your company is ran so inefficiently and unorganized. Staff standing around doing nothing, too many staff, that loser kid Drayten that doesn't know what he's doing that should have been fired years ago or just never hired, the list goes on and on! Drayten could not answer a single question of mine at the show, even saying to my friend that it is not his department to know. Your company IS a comedy of errors and until you organize and run it with some sort of accountability and efficiency it will continue to be. I think Shane suffers from napoleon syndrome and should also check his ego at the door and just produce things he can without taking on too much. From someone that owns a company of over 50 employees, I can tell you so many red flags that are seen from the outside looking in and that even your employees talk badly about how things are run and some of their co workers. You shouldn't rely on your customers to fix your items either. You take and take these favors and help and do nothing for those that do help you. Is there a profit sharing? A bonus? No, its a thank you for working tirelessly to catch our mistakes and then off to the races with fixing them. Your employees should catch and fix them, not your customers."
they also go on to say:
"Phil Newsome
Shane Wilson so out of everything I said you pick out a personal attack? Why not address the issue of how he acted at the show last weekend? You wont because you don't effectively manage your employees. I will delete my comment when you actually run your company instead of treating it like a paid for RV vacation. No one cares about your little road show and as much as you like to spin that its so impactful its just a few hundred people here and there but it allows you to go roam the country on the company's money doesn't it? Once you fix your company then maybe my criticism will stop but until then I am fine to criticize and will not reveal myself so I can be berated at the next train show or have my models stairs broken or have some other vindictive actions taken by your staff members you may not even be aware of will occur so you can make no such guarantee."
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Post by markfj on Feb 3, 2023 4:31:44 GMT -8
Kudos to ST for being upfront and public about their company. Having worked in QC as an inspector and receiving inspector for an electronics manufacturer, I can tell you it’s not easy or fun work and you “will” miss something at some point. It’s just part of the job because like they said in the video, people are human and will make mistakes.
Offering the SD45 might have been misstep too since, as was stated above, there were a number of “pretty good” options already available in the market. Now, the GP30 is a different story. We’ve been asking for a quality model for years.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by wmcbride on Feb 3, 2023 5:42:26 GMT -8
The SD45 was a puzzling choice given all the other that have been produced or are on the market.
The GP30 was a relatively neglected engine with tremendous potential sales. Yet, no one picked it up until ScaleTrains. Given its long life and varied service, a decent GP30 is a license to print money.
Bill McBride
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Post by simulatortrain on Feb 3, 2023 6:08:14 GMT -8
They'd certainly get me with block NW or RDG SD45s. Honestly, I've got some EL stuff I don't really need, but I'd pick up one of those ex NP units or a GN orange and green to go with that.
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Post by cera2254 on Feb 3, 2023 6:28:44 GMT -8
I think personally the SD45 from scaletrains makes sense. It’s in a different category than even the Walthers proto units that are good but not great. I have 1 SSW, 2 CR and 1 PC. I wish they would just do an SD40 so I can ditch my athearn ones…
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Post by tillamook on Feb 3, 2023 6:37:07 GMT -8
I really like the ST SD45 and preordered an operator undec to replace a P2k unit as a project base. They were due around new years eve, never to be heard of again. Which is pity, since all contact with them was top notch and they even sent me extra parts for an undecorated GRIP SD45 free of charge.
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Post by nsc39d8 on Feb 3, 2023 6:47:49 GMT -8
So I have both a Scale trains and new release Proto 2000 SD45. I also own several Scaletrains locomotives and rolling stock, so this is not a bash just my observations.
The Scaletrains SD45 was a Southern. It had the same Cab to long and short hood mismatch that started a Athearn and has followed Scaletrains. Easliy fixed in about 10 minutes.
The dynamic vent on top of the long hood is missing and from photos of Southern units it should be there. The last thing I saw was the handrails at the steps are not painted yellow.
I will add I have not looked at as delivered photos so this may be correct.
The Proto 2000 is a NW block with the one up one down brake cylinder arrangement(main reason for my purchase). Out of the box I have found one missing detail and that is the dummy MU plug.
I will try to take pics for SPF of the two side by side.
I congratulate Scaletrains for posting the video and letting everyone know why there may be delays and that corrective action is being taken before
delivery to the the customer.
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Feb 3, 2023 6:48:56 GMT -8
Anyone else see the unhinged rant in the comment section of the Scale Trains video by "Phil Newsome" - an account that was created less than an hour before posting the rant? The rant is reminiscent of someone who posts here also ranting about Scale Trains management. The funny part is that they fully admit "that was on purpose so that scale trains didnt cancel my orders out of spite. This is an alibi account." Sadly they are too much of a coward, and fully admit it, to share who they really are. Here's the post: "Phil Newsome Instead of continuously patting yourselves on the back for doing right by the customer, how about just doing it and letting the customers affected know? Oh that's right, you calculate that you might as well get some good publicity off of your sacrifice. As much as you claim to be Christian, you may want to read the bible about doing good in private so that you're rewarded in heaven. Also, these errors are because your company is ran so inefficiently and unorganized. Staff standing around doing nothing, too many staff, that loser kid Drayten that doesn't know what he's doing that should have been fired years ago or just never hired, the list goes on and on! Drayten could not answer a single question of mine at the show, even saying to my friend that it is not his department to know. Your company IS a comedy of errors and until you organize and run it with some sort of accountability and efficiency it will continue to be. I think Shane suffers from napoleon syndrome and should also check his ego at the door and just produce things he can without taking on too much. From someone that owns a company of over 50 employees, I can tell you so many red flags that are seen from the outside looking in and that even your employees talk badly about how things are run and some of their co workers. You shouldn't rely on your customers to fix your items either. You take and take these favors and help and do nothing for those that do help you. Is there a profit sharing? A bonus? No, its a thank you for working tirelessly to catch our mistakes and then off to the races with fixing them. Your employees should catch and fix them, not your customers." they also go on to say: "Phil Newsome Shane Wilson so out of everything I said you pick out a personal attack? Why not address the issue of how he acted at the show last weekend? You wont because you don't effectively manage your employees. I will delete my comment when you actually run your company instead of treating it like a paid for RV vacation. No one cares about your little road show and as much as you like to spin that its so impactful its just a few hundred people here and there but it allows you to go roam the country on the company's money doesn't it? Once you fix your company then maybe my criticism will stop but until then I am fine to criticize and will not reveal myself so I can be berated at the next train show or have my models stairs broken or have some other vindictive actions taken by your staff members you may not even be aware of will occur so you can make no such guarantee." I am not the same person but agree with him on many points including the road trip. You may not realize this because you don't come out of your scale trains fan club but I have heard many people make the same criticisms of that company over the years. Especially once the price went up and quality went down while the president of the company was on his road trips. So perhaps stop the group think for a minute and realize there are several people that aren't die hard scale trains fans and quit your pointless attacks from your shack in Kansas. |
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Post by sd80mac on Feb 3, 2023 8:56:18 GMT -8
More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well. You live on another planet. Nay, in another galaxy. I fail to see how ANYONE could watch that video and come to your grumpy conclusion. I've decided you are here to do nothing but troll. I won't be interacting with you any longer. You never have anything nice to say. You only chime in to bash. You're like that other guy on here who's signature basically says "HARUMPFFF well ya know if I DID youtube reviews of model trains I'd make some of those more critical guys look like COMPANY SHILLS bahahaha". Enjoy being a miserable human being. |
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Post by sd80mac on Feb 3, 2023 8:57:01 GMT -8
Anyone else see the unhinged rant in the comment section of the Scale Trains video by "Phil Newsome" - an account that was created less than an hour before posting the rant? The rant is reminiscent of someone who posts here also ranting about Scale Trains management. The funny part is that they fully admit "that was on purpose so that scale trains didnt cancel my orders out of spite. This is an alibi account." Sadly they are too much of a coward, and fully admit it, to share who they really are. Here's the post: "Phil Newsome Instead of continuously patting yourselves on the back for doing right by the customer, how about just doing it and letting the customers affected know? Oh that's right, you calculate that you might as well get some good publicity off of your sacrifice. As much as you claim to be Christian, you may want to read the bible about doing good in private so that you're rewarded in heaven. Also, these errors are because your company is ran so inefficiently and unorganized. Staff standing around doing nothing, too many staff, that loser kid Drayten that doesn't know what he's doing that should have been fired years ago or just never hired, the list goes on and on! Drayten could not answer a single question of mine at the show, even saying to my friend that it is not his department to know. Your company IS a comedy of errors and until you organize and run it with some sort of accountability and efficiency it will continue to be. I think Shane suffers from napoleon syndrome and should also check his ego at the door and just produce things he can without taking on too much. From someone that owns a company of over 50 employees, I can tell you so many red flags that are seen from the outside looking in and that even your employees talk badly about how things are run and some of their co workers. You shouldn't rely on your customers to fix your items either. You take and take these favors and help and do nothing for those that do help you. Is there a profit sharing? A bonus? No, its a thank you for working tirelessly to catch our mistakes and then off to the races with fixing them. Your employees should catch and fix them, not your customers." they also go on to say: "Phil Newsome Shane Wilson so out of everything I said you pick out a personal attack? Why not address the issue of how he acted at the show last weekend? You wont because you don't effectively manage your employees. I will delete my comment when you actually run your company instead of treating it like a paid for RV vacation. No one cares about your little road show and as much as you like to spin that its so impactful its just a few hundred people here and there but it allows you to go roam the country on the company's money doesn't it? Once you fix your company then maybe my criticism will stop but until then I am fine to criticize and will not reveal myself so I can be berated at the next train show or have my models stairs broken or have some other vindictive actions taken by your staff members you may not even be aware of will occur so you can make no such guarantee." I had the same exact thought! |
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Post by middledivision on Feb 3, 2023 9:18:38 GMT -8
More lip service when what they need is action. The company doesn't seem to be run well. How long have you worked for Rapido? |
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Post by middledivision on Feb 3, 2023 9:29:04 GMT -8
"CN-IC Dash-9s Will be able to get a new body or new decals/numberboards. Essentially two locos for one."
They are sending number boards and decals to correctly number the locomotives you have. They are also giving CN buyers a NEW engine for FREE later this year. This is in addition to the $20 discount I got for the warped walkways, which my unit did not have and a $30 credit for the missing ground lights. Seems like a pretty good deal to me. And by the way, every one of my Genesis CN units had some degree of lifting on the metal walkways. Easy fix with some CA.
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