Quarry Hunslet 7/8ths

Possibly a bit harsh Steve. it does seem they are bending over backwards to help sort this issue.
 
Lets have some perspective,
Comparing a very small organisation like Accucraft to much bigger companies like LGB is almost bound to make a small batch of problems look out of proportion.
Recently there have been TWO issues with just two models, both easy to fix.
Has there been an issue with any of the wagons or coaches?
Accucraft have provided a fix and offered to fix it within a week.
Considering the number of locos they've produced in recent years its a pretty good record. I believe if you do the figures they've produced more new locos than LGB and their Harz Kof certainly has had issues! Since the LGB production moves we've had missing parts on several models, stiff ballraces and locos provided with the large weight floating free inside and that's between three of my friends, not firgetting the beating the E10 is getting!
Bachmann have a history of split gears from their very first big haulers through the Consolidation and geared locos with the Annie and Lyn being the first to solve it over ten years later!
If companies refuse to acknowledge the problem or fix it then its worth moaning but if we get excited over every defect then the only solution is fully testing every single model and paying hard cash for it.
The QH issue only really came to light under load and not on light loco tests so wouldn't show in a QC test. As Graham at Accucraft has pointed out it's no use complaining on forums without contacting the manufacturer first.
I don't have any official contact with Accucraft but I've found them extremely helpful and keen to get feedback to improve options and the product.
I have a Caledonia and Countess which both run extremely sweetly and only Countess required a minor mod to ensure perfect contact on rough track, on my flat layout the missing centre pickups weren't a problem.
 
The UK service is excellent and friendly but the Chinese quality control is not always what it should be and prototypes don't always seem to have been tested as well as they could have been. The plastic wagons and coaches are good value. I was happy to accept a few flaws when the locos were bargain prices compared with other brands now that the prices have risen quite a lot the issues are harder to ignore. I don't think I would ignore that my electric Caledonia had tissue paper stuck to the buffer beams as it was packed with tacky paint if I had pad £700-£800 or the duff chassis on my Viking. The 1 in 4 people who got a 1st batch WD Baldwin with a bent chassis probably were not to pleased to have to wait another long wait to get them replaced. Luckily all of my live steam Accucraft locos have been bought used and running well but I have 2 new ones on order and I hope these don't have the issues that my electric locos have had.
 
Busybodies had figures out ready for the release ;) there are also appropriate wagons available from IP engineering. They have identified that the problem on this loco arose from designing it to take after market draincocks due to customer demand which requires tighter tolerance on the piston setup.
That's just created a little problem with their piston setup it's not the fault of the after market parts and easy to check in production now they're aware of it.
As the majority of the batch were ok including the test samples it wasn't noticed and can't be seen by quick visual checking. The other issue with bent parts on a few with inadequate packing has already seen Accucraft order replacements from the factory.
If they do an electric version the wallet may be in trouble.

Edit: clarified the problem, hopefully ;)
 
Like Stainzmeister I was reluctant to return it so soon after getting it. But I think it's just great that they have been so quick to find the problem and take steps to fix it. I 'phoned Graham yesterday and the loco was picked up this morning. This contrasts with my experience of Bachmann when the Annie gearbox failed. No acknowledgement of a weakness - the spares department could only offer an identical replacement with extortionate postage charges. So, well done Accucraft.
 
Stainzmeister said:
Its a great looking loco.

It would be complete with a realistic looking driver figure standing on the footplate - perhaps one that could be fitted by the loco's owner as an option.

Personaly, if I get the odd loco with a problem, I like to solve the problem myself where possible. Postage is dear now, and once I get a loco in my sticky mitts, the thought of having to send it somewhere after I have just got it does not sit well.
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Just a note here, Accucraft have sent parcel couriers to pick up the loco's, owners I have spoken to don't have to pay anything in postage! I cannot fault that service!

I think its very harsh to criticize Accucraft on this at all, its a problem no-one has ever encountered before with one of these locomotives. It also seems to affect a very small number of loco's in the batch. I for one am impressed with the customer service.

There are excellent figures for drivers available.... plus there is to be a bespoke set for this loco I believe now the dimensions of the footplate etc are known! Contact Model Earth or Busybodies for details.
Stock suitable is available from several sources amongst them, IP Engineering, Model Earth, Acme, David Bailey designs etc

ATB

Steph'
 
Hello Paul.
For information, 7/8" scale rolling stock is available from other sources, including myself at WWW.ACMESTEAM.CO.UK. I make two types of slate wagon and a Penrhyn open workmens' coach, both very keenly priced.

Best
Mike Ousby
Website : WWW.ACMESTEAM.CO.UK
email: sales@acmesteam.co.uk


PaulRhB said:
Busybodies had figures out ready for the release ;) there are also appropriate wagons available from IP engineering. They have identified that the problem on this loco arose from designing it to take after market draincocks due to customer demand which requires tighter tolerance on the piston setup.
That's just created a little problem with their piston setup it's not the fault of the after market parts and easy to check in production now they're aware of it.
As the majority of the batch were ok including the test samples it wasn't noticed and can't be seen by quick visual checking. The other issue with bent parts on a few with inadequate packing has already seen Accucraft order replacements from the factory.
If they do an electric version the wallet may be in trouble.

Edit: clarified the problem, hopefully ;)
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Taking a detached view of this, I think that, although it's important that goods are not faulty when the customer receives them, because things can go wrong it is equally important that when this happens the manufacturer acts appropriately and doesn't, for example, try and fob the customer off with the old "You're the first customer to suggest there's a problem" approach. Accucraft seem to have risen to the occasion in the way they acted towards their customers.
 
Mr ACME said:
For information, 7/8" scale rolling stock is available from other sources, including myself at http://WWW.ACMESTEAM.CO.UK. < Link To WWW.ACMESTEAM.CO.UK. I make two types of slate wagon and a Penrhyn open workmens' coach, both very keenly priced.
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Hi Mike, indeed they are, I emailled you about the coaches you mentioned on the SE Lounge and your email in your sig on there having an extra leter ;) You are now very much on the radar.

I actually got to have a go with one of these yesterday thanks to Ian on the SE Lounge who lives just down the road.
Fortunately Ian has a near perfect example so it was an absolute pleasure to drive and the only thing was slightly raw finger tips after many circuits on a steeply graded line. (The regulator gets a bit hot and as new is a bit stiff too).
It certainly is a fine model of the prototype and his ran very smoothly though we did suspect a tiny bit of blow by as it did stall a couple of times on a sudden gradient change with the LH piston at full travel.
For the price it really is fantastic value and the offer from Accucraft to sort these out including posting is better than I had from Hattons with an issue with a LGB loco!
Anyway here's a photo just after the run with no sign of oil or water escaping from the chimney :)
8ac6759f50874287ae25d9e9f1d8df11.jpg


and his rather lovely Well Tank
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Thing is Dave most of the ones with the issue ran fine on their own so it wouldn't show up. Even Roundhouse run in their locos on blocks so following their example wouldn't have spotted it. It's a mistake in design that they are sorting for free, even cars have to be recalled for faults, and its not a safety issue so hardly intolerable. At the end of the day would you rather people boycott them and they stop producing stuff that no one else is doing? Accucraft are innovating in the large scale market doing stuff others said wasn't profitable, rtr UK stock and rtr 7/8ths steam, allow them some slack we aren't talking major redesign here just adjustments of one part.
 
Hi folks
Well my Hunslet arrived here this morning - bang on the delivery time. Beautifully packed and no evidence at all of the dismantling to fit new pistons, other than the nice lock nut on the piston rod.

After a quick bench test to show that the blow by was completely cured, I took it out for what was a pretty severe test for a new loco - about 6 Kg (13lbs) of portland stone. It really performed very well and I am confident that it will improve as it runs in. Here you can see it in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSr...ing the problem so quickly:) Cheers Chris
 
Certainly goes well. In some ways it's how the problem is addressed as much as the fact that a problem's arisen which is important.
 
casey jones snr said:
Another great video Chris. Accucraft seem to have sorted out the problem. Well done them.
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Thanks Casey - and yes indeed, Ian Pearse and the Accucraft team have been great.

Talking of videos - there might just be a double headed 7/8ths De Winton one in the pipeline.......:)
Cheers
Chris
 
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