Spare Parts and Quality Control
Hi everyone- Awhile back, I took a trip to see the only hobby dealer in my part of the world who deals (almost) exclusively in European models. As you may note from an earlier posting, I had a used Fleischmann Class 86 with a missing dome cover. Since Fleischmann makes the dome cover as a separate part, I asked the clerk why the cover, which is a press fit and not glued onto the shell, was not available without having to buy the entire bodyshell. His answer: Manufacturers are getting fed up with people not buying models from authorized dealers. They only use authorized dealers to buy parts to fix damaged models sold by unauthorized dealers. (Now, to be fair to Fleischmann, I saw an old parts sheet for the Class 86 at the store, and only the bodyshell is listed with a part number. No part number, no part.) In 2009, he said the big manufacturers will require the modellers to prove that they (or the original owner) purchased the models from authorized dealers before they will sell them spare parts. I've bought from this dealer for a dozen years, so I shouldn't have a problem, he said. I then mentioned some quality issues with a Roco Class 50 I had purchased from their store. The Indusi shoe was missing from the engineer's side (the entire batch was that way). I showed the clerk using a Class 50 they had on the shelf. It, too had the missing shoe, and the tender truck sideframes were upside down as well. (Roco has since supplied the necessary part free of charge, although the loco has some obvious detail errors which require remedial work.) He replied that only Roco -*test*-('")s entire locomotive mechanisms. Fleischmann and (presumably) the other big manufacturers only -*test*-('") motors. Has anyone heard this from their dealer? Cheers, Charles