Hello friends: We've had some issues with the N scale GMD-1 and I want to call attention to them for those of you who have bought them. More info will be coming in Jason's newsletter next week. 1. For DC users, the headlights on the silent models are not coming on. They were supposed to! We've sent an email to Digitrax to ask if that is something that can be easily fixed by reprogramming with a DCC system. We should know by the time the newsletter goes out. 2. For NAR, the factory wired the silent models the way we normally model NAR - backwards. This is causing a problem for DC users as well, as the engines run in the reverse direction from normal. 3. Also for NAR, two of the engines have the wrong style of stacks and all of them are missing the nose logo. After Chinese New Year we will be getting new stacks from the factory as well as nose logo decals. There is no need to get in touch with us now. Let us know when I announce that we have them in stock so we can send them out to you then. Most of the problems we've heard have been from DC users. We had intended for these to work in DC flawlessly, and Jason included his usual jibe at DC model railroaders in our instructions. Unfortunately because they haven't worked flawlessly in DC that jibe has come back to haunt us! People really think we don't like DC users. I assure you that's not the case. I use DC and I was with Jason when he wrote the joke at the end of the instructions. He assures me he will continue to make fun of DC - some people never learn! Because most of the problems affect DC users, the way to cure them is to remove the decoder and hard-wire the model. This is easy to do if you are handy with wiring. If not, we are offering this service for free for anyone who wants - we will remove the DCC decoders from your GMD-1 locomotives. You'll need to contact us at the usual address to arrange to send the locomotives back to us. Alternatively, if you bought the GMD-1 at your local dealer, they may be willing to remove your decoder for you if you let them keep the decoder! Jason will tell more about the hurdles we've had to overcome with this project in the newsletter. In the meantime if you have any questions please don't hesitate to email us. I'm very sorry that these problems have come about. The N scale GMD-1 was my pet project until I was forced to take sick leave in early November. I know first hand that having a new locomotive you've waited for not work correctly is disappointing but hope that these isolated issues won't completely detract from an otherwise unique and seemingly well received model. More information on this situation will be included in our next newsletter, expected mid next week. Sincerely; Mike McGrattan Rapido Trains Inc.
I have a NAR dcc with sound version. So far I am loving it. This is the crispest most clear I have heard for n scale sound. It pulls great. Doesn't like my 9" radius tram curve I have but that's my fault for taking it through town. I have loco #312, I can live with the wrong stacks. The paint and details are sharp and even my bad eyes can read the small printing.
So I guess the non-sound ones use Digitrax decoders? If so, the way the headlights work in DC is when the loco was last run on DCC, if the headlight was on then it will be on when run on DC and if it was off when on DCC then it will be off on DC (if they use the standard Digitrax firmware). I guess if they have never been run on DCC then the headlight will be off. I don't believe there is any way to program them differently, but running them on DCC with the headlight on should fix the problem.
Told you so about the decoder: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...S-cars-and-BN-Exec-Trains&p=996688#post996688 So the solution to the dual-mode decoder (which was claimed to be "simply superior in DC mode") issue is to have the dealer remove it and keep it - after you've already paid a premium for it? Really? And you expect customers to have the confidence to pre-order your products sight unseen? Do you guys even listen to yourselves? Think how it must sound from the customer's viewpoint. Does no one check the products at the factory before they ship or does the manufacturer not send over a first article for approval? Again, it's purely a business commentary - nothing at all personal.
I ordered a DCC with sound under. that I haven't received as yet but will post back as when it arrives. Thanks for the Heads up
The sample sent before production began did not show this problem; the programming issue only seemingly came up when the product arrived with the decoder. We are working with Digitrax to see just what happened. we are not happy about what has happened and are only a day into actually knowing about the issue - we are trying to inform the public about the issue in a timely manner. I hope we have a better work around soon.
This seems to be an issue with manufactures who supposedly test new items before their release and then when they are released they do not function properly. Maybe we should not be building products in China.u
Would it be in bad taste to suggest to go with a swap out option for DC users in the future rather than relying on a dual mode system? On the plus side, at least modellers don't have to take the warp core failure warning seriously.
Mike, Thanks for the "heads up' and explanation. I think it takes a lot for a manufacturer to step up so quickly with the problem notification. IMHO, it removes the thought that the manufacturer is "playing dumb" and maybe nobody will notice. I know, quite a stretch in this case. I would also say thank you to TCS for owning up to a problem with their special rapid release for a KATO FEF locomotive. They have advised what they will do as soon as they have the situation ironed out and that means a lot to purchasers, or as we used to be known as "customers". Customer satisfaction does not mean what it used to with many of our train and just about any manufacturer today. So I applaud you and TCS for stepping up and accepting the blame, if that is the correct word. You will appease and retain more customers that way as opposed to "passing the buck". So, thank you Sir. Having said all that, I do have a question and that is why Digitrax ? In my opinion and yes I know you did not ask but here goes anyway. This GMD-1 was your baby and if I was going to produce the Cadillac of N scale locomotives I sure would not put a Yugo decoder in it. TCS, ESU, Lenz, and Zimo are by far the best control only decoders available and guess what, they work very well with coreless ( future standard ? ) motors. A few extra $'s do not hurt that much in order to " do it right the first time ". Thanks for the info on the situation and for letting me rant, a bit, but I will get off of my soap box for now. Carl Sowell El Paso, Texas
It's not so much an indictment of the manufacturing location, but rather an indication of insufficient quality control steps in place - or that they're not being followed. Having production located half-way around the world makes supervising it that much more difficult. I once worked for a company that tried moving some production to the far east. They ended up having to hire someone to live over there and keep an eye on the manufacturing operation in order to ensure acceptable product quality.
All I can say is kudos to Mike, Jason and the rest of the folk at Rapido Trains for getting this info out and getting on top of it. I've got a sound-equipped version coming, so I'm less worried about the DC problems, but this kind of consumer-oriented response is so sadly lacking in the world today that it's just heartening to see it in this case. There still ARE companies that care about their customers! Imagine that! John C.
"2. For NAR, the factory wired the silent models the way we normally model NAR - backwards. This is causing a problem for DC users as well, as the engines run in the reverse direction from normal." Really? Anybody familiar with working on their own lokies knows what happens when you do this. The DCC guys can compensate by using a function to make the lokie run the proper direction. Two questions come to mind. 1. Was this a decision made at the factory? 2. Why would you not test samples of the completed product prior to shipment?
John: Clearly someone in China either made a bad decision or misunderstood an instruction... we're attempting to find out. (this only cropped up about three days ago) With regard to testing; the production samples that got airfreighted to us all ran fine; indeed if they hadn't we would not be having this issue. The way production works; (or so it should work) is that they frames and motors are all wired and then the shells are applied and packed. The NAR shells were the last ones done (we do the paint schemes easiest to hardest) and as it was the smallest run the production samples were sent before NAR's were done; they were form the CN noodle's... but that shouldn't matter as the frames and motors were already wired.. or so we thought.... someone in China did something and the result is what we see. We will find out what happened; were our instructions unclear, did we "miss something", did someone get creative in China... that is yet to be determined. When we find out we will correct the issue. I wouldn't want you to think we don't test product - we tested numerous GMD-1's and this didn't crop up ( we took them to Springfield where thousands of people saw them and they ran on a couple of the layouts there)... because no one thought anyone would change anything on one paint scheme. Just like the DC lights worked on the models we tested because we installed the decoders here (you don't ship decoders to China before you test here... bad idea) and the decoders were set up correctly.. but the production run that came from Digitrax wasn't.... again, a new procedure will be found to ensure that this doesn't occur again.... I'm sorry that this has caused issues for our customers.... the last thing a mfg wants is to cause problems but in this case, we did so all we can do is correct it, learn from it and move forward. Mike
Well played Puddington and the rest of the folks at Rapido. Most folks do not understand the coordination required with remote manufacturing. Pre-Production samples do not mean changes will not happen on the factory floor when the product goes into production, and that the manufacturers will always follow design plans. This goes to all manufacturers, Digitrax and TCS included. Your commitment to customer service and product quality is to be commended! Not many would be out in front of this issue like Rapido has been. While this locomotive is not one I would consider purchasing, the way Rapido handled the situation confirms to me their dedication to quality. I will not shy away from any of their products that fit my modeling needs because of the way they handled this situation.
I fully agree with what your stating; and too add that if money wasn't the driving factor here they (Rapido) would have at least had there staff check the function of a sample few to see if there was a problem prior to shipping them out to customers. After all if you want to sell more N Scale products to the public at a premium then make sure whatever you do come out with is the best as the dollars your demanding.
Well Mike, The Headlights on mine work just fine. I just hope that the slow speed performance can be "tuned" because I don't want a 200 dollar shelf warmer... It's beautiful otherwise. P.S. I don't want to lose the decoder either...
Here's my problem... Straight from the manual for the Digitrax DN136D Wired Mobile Decoder in the silent GMD-1: "Decoder equipped locos may not operate smoothly on “pulse power.” The decoders should be driven from a quality smooth DC power supply when on a conventional layout. Some DC throttles/power supplies with proprietary control systems, such as “tracking control,” exhibit pulse power characteristics and may give unpredictable operation with DCC equipped locos." I use a Varipulse Walk-Around Throttle... From what I found, the only solution is to remove the decoder. Or buy a new throttle. :droll:
Hmmm.... that's interesting... we're talking with Digitrax Monday; I'll bring that up... thanks for sharing and I'm so sorry that you're having an issue....
The manual also states that a "dummy plug" can be installed. On the Rapido site, it appears that the GMD-1 was to come supplied with the Dummy Plug. However i do not see it within the packaging... In the end, I would prefer not to take out the decoder, as I assumed that the decoder would have responded in the the same manner as my other decoder equipped Locos on my DC Layout. Hopefully Digitrax has a better solution.
I too use a Varipulse throttle and it sure messed up the programming on a Bachmann 44 ton diesel. After running on the Varipulse throttle it would not run on DCC . The only thing that worked was the headlight and I could only turn it on and off in one direction - nothing in the other direction. Reprogrammed with Bachmann EZCommand and it now works fine on DCC. Al
