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I bought the Cadillac of HO locomotives and it has problems. Manufacturers still think fitting small plastic parts around metal is a good idea after decades of it failing. The all metal driveshaft in my gran’s Rivarossi is still okay after 75 years.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 466



@Train_Gaming-cool

You are the best YouTuber! I am currently watching your Live Fixing a Bachmann Amtrak F40PH HO Locomotive live. I am a beginner in model railroading and only have 3 locomotives: one Marx, one Lionel, and one that is not one Train Classical. Right when I saw the plastic I immediately thought that that was possibly one of the problems. You are the best YouTuber!

3 weeks ago | 0

@IowaRailfan

You’ve got something really good there SMT, just be very careful with them because they are extremely delicate. I have a bunch of Overland Brass Structures in O Scale

1 month ago | 2  

@DarthSantaFe

I have that problem all the time with NWSL universals. Next time I use one, I’m going to try making it a near slip-fit and then knurl the shaft before sticking things together with some epoxy.

1 month ago | 2

@DGH-i8r

Hi Harrison, I'm not going to spoil things with the politics of making these things in China compared to the West, but the materials and glue etc used are no where near as good as most Western made products, as the saying goes, " it's all about the money".

1 month ago | 5

@Dino_Reed

It’s simple things that can be changed about models that would make them last so much longer and work so much better. For how much models like this cost you should be getting the absolute BEST mechanism and parts possible. Will we be seeing a repair video in the near future on this one??👀

1 month ago | 6  

@NWSRailfan

Hope we get it fixed!

1 month ago | 0

@Raul_MP

Reminds me of Electrotren (Spanish brand owned by Hornby) and their famous cracked gear issue, they pressure fit bad quality plastic gears on the axles and they inevitably cracked, I've had to send 3 of my trains to get repaired for free (It's too much of a hassle to repair on your own, specially considering you usually stumble upon helix gears or similar, and spares are hard to find) The trains run great and look amazing, but for the price we enthusiasts pay for them you might think we deserve slightly better quality parts... (Though as of late their quality control has improved, a friend of mine bought a new edition of a model that was famous for the split gear issue, and I'm curious to open it up and see the difference between my older run model)

1 month ago | 0

@SteamPower-kr6ui

Ah ah rivarossi is the Cadillac of HO locomotives

1 month ago | 0  

@CentralPARailfan28

An Overland SD90MAC? I didn't think they made those. Only thing I have from them are a set of Alco PA's from Santa Fe, and they're super loud. Best of luck, Harrison! Can't wait to see what you make out of it!

1 month ago | 1  

@theodoreparfitt8942

This is regarding the (o gauge) stuff. Lionel "Trains" with either MTH RealTrax or Gargraves or atlas 3 rail track and yes atlas does make (o gauge 3 rail Flex track)

1 month ago | 0

@Railroader844

SMT do you think you will have more brass models on the channel?

1 month ago | 0

@LenBrentnall

I was the engineer on the Christmas train between wpg and Brandon cp locomotive 9114

5 days ago | 0  

@SmilingFlipFlops-hc6km

Great purchase I have several brass locomotives in n scale

1 month ago | 0  

@user-MotoTrains1974

Cool SMT from Australia 🇦🇺

1 month ago | 1  

@jeremyjohnson457

Harrison, you need to find a rail power shell for that. I believe a line may still has a few left.

1 month ago | 0  

@BraydenDexterGreenePhotography

It’s much more expensive to make that part metal, but I totally agree. We all know how crunchy it can get after a while.

1 month ago | 0

@JustATeenageRailfan

SD80MAC? I own one and I adore it

1 month ago | 0  

@TheFourthStooge04

It’s actually disappointing how everyone knows about the Bachmann problem yet manufacturers still pressure fit plastic parts destined to fail

1 month ago | 0  

@F40Productions

The Cadillac of model trains will have their Northstar V8 moment. Of course, in this instance, it's the driveline and not the engine that's faulty. Still, what a nearsighted solution

1 month ago | 0  

@theodoreparfitt8942

And (Kato unitrack) is only offered in code 83 not code 100

1 month ago | 0