Hello Bach Man,
I've sent my new (purchased in late June 2008) Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain to your repair department for warranty repair of defects due to poor (or incomplete) design and inferior materials. The tiny and fragile wires from the tender to the locomotive have broken and the "wipers" (electrical pick-ups) on the drive wheels are bent and broken.
Perhaps you could suggest to the engrineering and mfg. depts. that they resolve the following issues:
1. Use tougher wires and connectors and/or provide strain relief between the locomotive and tender. When the loco and tender separate (during a derail) the tender is dragged by the wires which puts stress on them and causes them to break at the connectors. Some sort of "safety chain" or perhaps a "c" clip on the tender draw bar post to prevent it from coming off the draw bar would resolve the issue.
2. Use thicker and less brittle "wipers" to carry voltage from the drive wheels to the motor, etc.
I'm 61 yrs. old and the only person who has operated this locomotive. It has not been abused ...just operated. When it is serviceable, it is the smoothest and strongest single locomoitve in my line-up. Only a Proto 2000 A&B unit (both powered) can match it for pulling power. It is a beautiful example of the prototype however, the above listed defects need to be addressed before I can recommend it to anyone else.
I'm very dissappointed in the short life span of these parts and it does not bode well for future sales of your Spectrum line. I expected to get far longer service from this locomotive before it needed repair. Please bring these issues to your company management.
Sincerely,
Garry
I've sent my new (purchased in late June 2008) Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain to your repair department for warranty repair of defects due to poor (or incomplete) design and inferior materials. The tiny and fragile wires from the tender to the locomotive have broken and the "wipers" (electrical pick-ups) on the drive wheels are bent and broken.
Perhaps you could suggest to the engrineering and mfg. depts. that they resolve the following issues:
1. Use tougher wires and connectors and/or provide strain relief between the locomotive and tender. When the loco and tender separate (during a derail) the tender is dragged by the wires which puts stress on them and causes them to break at the connectors. Some sort of "safety chain" or perhaps a "c" clip on the tender draw bar post to prevent it from coming off the draw bar would resolve the issue.
2. Use thicker and less brittle "wipers" to carry voltage from the drive wheels to the motor, etc.
I'm 61 yrs. old and the only person who has operated this locomotive. It has not been abused ...just operated. When it is serviceable, it is the smoothest and strongest single locomoitve in my line-up. Only a Proto 2000 A&B unit (both powered) can match it for pulling power. It is a beautiful example of the prototype however, the above listed defects need to be addressed before I can recommend it to anyone else.
I'm very dissappointed in the short life span of these parts and it does not bode well for future sales of your Spectrum line. I expected to get far longer service from this locomotive before it needed repair. Please bring these issues to your company management.
Sincerely,
Garry