New16mm association Mamod site

[The Denying Dutchman]

I don't really understand why an already niche hobby, which 16mm scale is, has to be split in oscillating and non oscillating steam engines.

[dougrail]

It started a couple years back when more than two people suddenly got their hands on Mamods/etc and started upgrading them. NarrowMinded for example has worked at least three [Ogwen, Ogwen 2 and Marion].

The thing was the same reason this subform was made: to discuss the pecularities and problems that 'Mamods' could have, and also how the design could actualy be good in the view of 'Mamod' carrying a derisory tone to it.

[The Denying Dutchman]

... and also how the design could actualy be good in the view of 'Mamod' carrying a derisory  tone to it.

That I still don't understand. One of the first things I noticed when I got interested in 16mm scale was that not much, if any, in a garden railway has the same scale and from what I've read the general opinion is that when it looks ok, it is ok.

So why doesn't that count for a Mamod loco? The loco is freelance and not to scale, but it does look nice. The same goes for some locos made by other manufacturers, some of them even have slip eccentrics!
Having to push a loco with twin double acting cylinders to get it to run forwards or reverse is something I find quite ridiculous.

[dougrail]

You've got it spot on mate - they -are- okay when all is running well. Most of us just like the idea of a good, simple loco that we can customise to our heart's content

[laurence703]

The fact the IT issue doesn't even strike a cord says more than anything.

Laurence, at least you're thinking outside the box and thinking how forum>FB>page future balances will work.

The website works. Before we set it out to the masses we tried it with a few people to beta test it and there were no problems.

The group has been set up because of the large following these locos have. It's not dividing the 16mm association into loco types at all, it's providing a layout at exhibitions for this type of loco which can have a reputation of setting fire to scenery or flicking oil everywhere. The layout we have in mind will have a strict operating procedure to avoid fires and explosions when running gas and meths together. There will be scenery but it will be minimal.
I'm not saying that everyone with this type of loco needs to join, that's up to you. We're giving people the option of running a meths, gas, tablet or coal fired oscillator on a layout that is simple and has a slim chance of catching fire.

I'll leave you to form your own opinion on this matter but I for one think this is a gap in the association that has been nicely filled.

[Lner fan Sam]

Count me in Laurence.

[dougrail]

For you maybe Laurence, but it wasn't for me and looking back in the thread, I wasn't the only one with technical problems.

[jay1976]

I tried the web page at work last night and works fine on IE canada(i work at landrover solihul and there internet router goes via canada)
and works on safari and firefox..

[laurence703]

I've just tried the website on my work PC which runs windows XP and uses internet explorer and it about as much good as a chocolate teapot... Can't understand why you and chris can't view it as everyone else appears to be able to.

[steamyjim]

I think it's brilliant to see these engines making a come back! I've always has a lot of fun with them. I used to regularly post on this forum. However, the attitudes of some of the members who used to run the forum were firmly anti anything not new, expensive, Roundhouse or Accucraft and it rather put me off. I find it quite amusing that the Mamod section here is now the most popular area!

Bravo to the two of you who started the group! I have made a few contributions to the FB page.

[pauly]

I think it's brilliant to see these engines making a come back! I've always has a lot of fun with them. I used to regularly post on this forum. However, the attitudes of some of the members who used to run the forum were firmly anti anything not new, expensive, Roundhouse or Accucraft and it rather put me off. I find it quite amusing that the Mamod section here is now the most popular area!

Bravo to the two of you who started the group! I have made a few contributions to the FB page.

Indeed the Mamod ghetto has overtaken the city which confined it

[laurence703]

I've seen Steamy Jim Thank you for your contributions, they are very much appreciated

The FB group has grown considerably in two days since the Group was publicly announced having 14 new members in such a short period is great!

[pauly]

Iv dug my FB account out the I telnet draw for the first time in nearly a year to join and follow the group
Sent my join request

[Superbiker_uk]

We've left DS off the list as there seems to be growing list of complaints about their products and the quality of them. Some things are ok from them but we don't want to advertise a company who has let down so many.

I appreciate that there have been problems. I have had them with wheels. However, positively excluding a generally good supplier of Mamod / MSS loco parts is a bit daft IMO. I have had problems with some of the other suppliers you have induded. I do not think you should exclude DS being listed just because some of the DS problems have had a bit more 'air play'. When you say 'so many', exactly how many is that?

[pauly]

We've left DS off the list as there seems to be growing list of complaints about their products and the quality of them. Some things are ok from them but we don't want to advertise a company who has let down so many.

I appreciate that there have been problems. I have had them with wheels. However, positively excluding a generally good supplier of Mamod / MSS loco parts is a bit daft IMO. I have had problems with some of the other suppliers you have induded. I do not think you should exclude DS being listed just because some of the DS problems have had a bit more 'air play'. When you say 'so many', exactly how many is that?

Plenty that I can think of, problem with DS isn't so much their quality control its the way they fob their customers off when they have a complaint.
Their full of empty promises and they only ever seem to delay customers, when Ace was renovating my SL2 he had loads of trouble ad it tools three odd weeks for replacements to be sent out.
In that time DS claim they had never had a complaint about their wheels which we all know isn't true so you can add Being Liars to the list of issues I personally have with them

So yeah I support not including them in the list they don't deserve promotion when they treat their customers like gullible fools

[laurence703]

There are a good amount of people on here who have had problems with them. If a beginner tries them and receives faulty parts then it's disheartening from the start. Doug has had troubles with their cylinders. Narrow minded has had problems with their wheels and so has Ace, both of whom has had trouble with their customer service as well.
When we buy spare parts we do not expect to have to correct poor workmanship when on the website they are described as complete.
I think it's a shame that they have gone this way and if you've had no problems with them then continue using them, but until they have resolved a few of their issues in customer service and quality of workmanship they will not go on the useful links page.
I hope in the future I can add them to the page as they do have a good range.

[Arcandier]

We've left DS off the list as there seems to be growing list of complaints about their products and the quality of them. Some things are ok from them but we don't want to advertise a company who has let down so many.

I appreciate that there have been problems. I have had them with wheels. However, positively excluding a generally good supplier of Mamod / MSS loco parts is a bit daft IMO. I have had problems with some of the other suppliers you have induded. I do not think you should exclude DS being listed just because some of the DS problems have had a bit more 'air play'. When you say 'so many', exactly how many is that?

Plenty that I can think of, problem with DS isn't so much their quality control its the way they fob their customers off when they have a complaint.
Their full of empty promises and they only ever seem to delay customers, when Ace was renovating my SL2 he had loads of trouble ad it tools three odd weeks for replacements to be sent out.
In that time DS claim they had never had a complaint about their wheels which we all know isn't true so you can add Being Liars to the list of issues I personally have with them

So yeah I support not including them in the list they don't deserve promotion when they treat their customers like gullible fools

I totally agree with that !

[dougrail]

I'm of two minds on DS [and can't believe I'm wading in on this]

When I started receiving problems, my main grump has been supercylinders.

I bought them in Oct 2010 at the end of the Plymouth era, and stashed them away in a vaccuum pack until Sept 2011 excluding 3 weeks when they were sent away for tweaking.

Now, in Oct/Nov 2011 they were steamed up and after about 4-5 hrs running the piston-end cap fell out. I wrote to DS and provided a copy of my receipt, a link to my diary with the photos proving the cyls had been unused until Oct 2011 and a photo of the issue.

They took them back and repaired them first time no argument.

Yup.

Got them back two weeks later and ran with them then from Nov 2011 - Feb 2013.

However I found that one piston was 2-3mm longer than the other. I discovered this by accident with my magnifyer. I then got a good friend with an eye for such things to double check it - he confirmed my findings. That's what I went full-out Refit.

So on the one hand, first time, I good really awesome service to be fair - I mean within a year, fixed/warrantied. Awesome.

But the quality of 'finished products' was a concern. It shouldn't have happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I personally followed Narrow Minded's quest about his wheels being screwy. I then noted down Ace's correspondence thread.

All i can say is, is with what has been presented thus far, it explains the position Laurence has taken.

But it is of no concern to I anymore.

[The Denying Dutchman]

So on the one hand, first time, I good really awesome service to be fair - I mean within a year, fixed/warrantied. Awesome.

But the quality of 'finished products' was a concern. It shouldn't have happened.

Can it be that the current owner is a trader by trade without much if any experience with machining and that he is dependend on whoever makes the parts? That would explain why Ace for example got a faulty wheelset as a replacement.

I saw that happen years ago with the local RC hobby shop, the new owner knew what he was selling, but he had no experience whatsoever with what he was selling. I once had to help him help a customer because he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about and thus couldn't solve a (fairly simple) problem.

[dougrail]

It could be.

Perhaps someone could investigate. However, there are those who have had more indepth experience than I who may be able to share a more knowledgeable view than I have of the 'indepth' matters.

However I now withdraw, as it no longer is my concern.