three years into Marklin take-over and excellent LGB program 2011!

[Spule 4]

[font="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"]"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten."[/font]
[font="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"] [/font]
The point I have been trying to make, along with a few others, is that other manufacturers products are NOT poor quality. The finish, runnig and longevity (only eight years for mine) of USA Trains and Aristo is up to the mark (IMHO).

Other manufacturers produce very good models (The train line brand looks promising - Buhler motors and all - time will tell).
The recent direction of this thread is that maybe LGB could dumb down its product to beat the other starter sets on the market. Its a bit like asking Merc to compete on price with Kia.

...And TrainLine are using BASF automotive grade plastics too....where many of the others don't.

I have first hand experience with a couple of brands that don't and after a few minutes of sun exposure...X(....warp city.

 

[chris m01]

...And TrainLine are using BASF automotive grade plastics too....where many of the others don't.

I have first hand experience with a couple of brands that don't and after a few minutes of sun exposure...X(....warp city.

This is just putting down all manufacturers who don't happen to be LGB or trainline without putting any facts forward - I really don't think this is acceptable behaviour.

I have never experienced warping of any USA Trains or Aristo stock even though they are not made from German plastic. A couple of my Bachmann flat cars have warped a little but not so much that you would notice when they are running in a train. My Bachmann hoppers have not moved at all.

It has to be said that LGB are the only manufacturer who claim to have UV proof paintwork. My stock only comes out when I play so this isn't a problem for me. I have seen a photo of a wagon (Aristo I think) left out in the sun all year in Florida and the colour had faded terribly. No warping though. It would be interesting to hear what others have found on this.

 

[themole]

I have had some Bachmann locos, over the years, and quite frankly are not up to LGB standards, true the price is cheaper:.. but the locos will not stand up to the usage LGB will take and be still back for more. Alyn

 

[chris m01]

I have had some Bachmann locos, over the years, and quite frankly are not up to LGB standards, true the price is cheaper:.. but the locos will not stand up to the usage LGB will take and be still back for more. Alyn

Bachmann locos maybe not as my experience is limited - USAT and Aristo definately yes.
Here is what two locos (one USAT and one Aristo) can pull - they might have pulled more but I haven't got any more wagons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXQUDVPQJGY
And a little one by itself doesn't pull badly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RDNSDmZU8E
And they seem to cope with abuse relatively unscathed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD54mrudBD0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wo4qln4XK8
These vids show that USAT and Aristo are tough, high performance quality products and yet none have cost me more than £200. The manufacturers deserve our respect.

 

[mike]

so, a little bit off warpping, isnt warping...
:
dam thats funnny

 

[chris m01]

I am trying to be totally honest, open and objective in the interest of the hobby - and I am not knocking LGB merely trying to broaden peoples horizons by pointing out that some other brands are of high quality.

I would expect the moderators at least to behave with some level of courtesy.

 

[Otter 1]

Let´s face it. LGB might have had their merits as a toy maker, but very often they simply sold rubbish and poor quality. I had a few open wagons, which were badly warped. sometimes even right out of the box. It seemed, the material (Luran S ?) had shrunk.
Some folks might even remember the wobbly turnouts which were out of gauge after a few months in the open air.

Paint on some older models started chipping and cracking after a few years

I have no idea, if the quality improved, after Märklin took over. recnetly I have seen a new Köf with a badly warped cab, which was stuttering along the rail. The owner gave it back to the dealer.

Have Fun

Juergen / Otter 1

 

[jacobsgrandad]

I just cannot understand why people get so upset if someone is buying other than LGB. To do this is not necesssarily a critiscism of LGB merely a choice someone makes as to their "value for money". If let us say reliability is the overiding factor in ones choice then buy accordingly. If cost features higher than reliability then again buy accordingly. I would like every item in my house to have the highest reliability and quality markings possible but I can't afford it. I dont beleive anyone is calling you stupid for making your choice. Please dont denigrate people who make a different choice, you dont know their cirumstances

 

[stockers]

I never understood the mentallity of people who only buy one brand as every maker has its duff products and good ones, buy the best from whowever makes it.

A very fair comment. All manufacturers have thier pitfall, and a few struggle to show thier brilliance.

 

[stockers]

Well, at the moment I'm not impressed with LGB.

A brand new Heidi (RhB G3/4) straight out of the box -
1. defective smoke unit
2. plastic handrails that are anything but straight

That is a shame - but I didn't know LGB was producing Heidi at the moment.

 

[chris m01]

If I have to be a head case to buy LGB so be it.

I have bought other brands and they just aren't anywhere near he quality.

Personally I like being stupid...........................it makes my trains more reliable

Reliabilty is very important to me - thats why I continue to buy Aristo and USA Trains. I'm sure LGB is reliable but these two brands have proved to be extremely reliable since I started G scale eight years ago - if they gave me any grief I would have moved on to others. you can have good value and reliability.

 

[Rob s]

If I have to be a head case to buy LGB so be it.

I have bought other brands and they just aren't anywhere near he quality.

Personally I like being stupid...........................it makes my trains more reliable

Reliabilty is very important to me - thats why I continue to buy Aristo and USA Trains. I'm sure LGB is reliable but these two brands have proved to be extremely reliable since I started G scale eight years ago - if they gave me any grief I would have moved on to others. you can have good value and reliability.

Not having many years experience of G Scale products
I have simply bought what looked good to me at the time.
both new and second hand.
As for any brand being better than any other i think a lot depends on which model you are talking about.

Three Aristo Loco's 1s/h 2new, 10hours max running each and now lucky to get 15min before the wheels are so crudded up they won't run at all.

Three Bachmann Loco's, 1sh 2new, 15hours max running each, one with gear loose on drive, one worn out gear, one with wires so brittle in side they break just from touching them.

Three LGB Loco's, 2sh 1 new, 30hours max running each, one won't run at temps below -5deg, one wont run at temps above 25deg, one has had 4 replacement smoke units in 3 months (dealer has given up and made a financial offer)

Two USA Loco's, new one did not work at all straight out of the box, went straight back, 2nd has a motor that cuts out after 45mins running, then starts again for another 45mins.etc

So i don't think it is just the manufacturer, but the model as well.
Don't get me wrong i have 15 other Loco's varius makes/models all run fine each with over 50hours use,
So i will just carry on buying what l fancy at the time.

As for rolling stock does any one make anything that bits don't fall of all the time, (not found one yet) over 100 pieces from all makers, all have had bits collected of the track bed at one time or another.

 

[Rob s]

if its any help my/my sons s/h playmobil locos and stock have all costed relatively little and performed faultlessly delivering hours of simple fun.
38

So have the two i have as track testers and cleaners, but the bits still fall off

 

[garrymartin]

In was going to post a suggestion that people look at 3 similar model, the LGB F-7 A&B, the USAT F-3 A&B and the Aristocraft EMD E-8 & then draw their own conclusions, but these threads where everybody shouts down other peoples favorites get on my nerves. There was also the recent Roundhouse/Accucraft thread, & the Accucraft/LGB Kof (?) thread.
Whilst its good to share experiences & learn from each other,all these attempts to ram our opinions down each others throats can do no good for either this forum or the hobby in general.

 

[Madman]

In was going to post a suggestion that people look at 3 similar model, the LGB F-7 A&B, the USAT F-3 A&B and the Aristocraft EMD E-8 & then draw their own conclusions, but these threads where everybody shouts down other peoples favorites get on my nerves. There was also the recent Roundhouse/Accucraft thread, & the Accucraft/LGB Kof (?) thread.
Whilst its good to share experiences & learn from each other,all these attempts to ram our opinions down each others throats can do no good for either this forum or the hobby in general.

Isn't that the case worldwide, and for all of history?

 

[Miamigo259]

Well, we've got "Rule 8", so how about..........

RULE 9 - " I buy whatever manufacturers products that I want to"!

 

[mmts]

Whilst its good to share experiences & learn from each other,all these attempts to ram our opinions down each others throats can do no good for either this forum or the hobby in general.

Seconded!!

 

[Zerogee]

I'd definitely vote for the "official" adoption of RULE NINE as proposed by Miamigo!

...and of course RULE TEN: "there is NOOOOOO rule ten!!!!"
(which is a bit like question 17 on the Census form!)

Jon.

 

[mike]

Well, we've got "Rule 8", so how about..........

RULE 9 - " I buy whatever manufacturers products that I want to"!

please see rule 8...

 

[chris m01]

Well, we've got "Rule 8", so how about..........

RULE 9 - " I buy whatever manufacturers products that I want to"!

We all do that anyway ( I hope).
Its just silly comments from those with closed minds that I find a litte irksome.