Hello, Geoff. What a shame to have so many issues and outright poor QC. It's fine to have great customer service, but one should not have to rely on it so heavily. Hopefully new bits and TLC will have it running smoothly.
Hi Geoff - shocking is how I would sum up your experience. At £200+ the model should work out the box. Same experience with Revolution Trains - my class 92 stopped working after 10 months. Returned on Saturday and got email today to say motor was burnt out ! If these smaller manufacturers don't up their game then they won't survive.
HI Euan , that's interesting as the class 92 was made by Rapido for revolution . your right this is an expensive hobby now and i personally want the items to work. its no good making them look fancy if they don't work . its like having a rolls Royce that you cant drive
Hi I've just had to return my sound fitted loco today unable to use or programme, getting a short circuit message and the body felt warm. Obviously I'm not the only one with an issue.
hi Paul , wow , its amazing how many are now highlighting these issues , fingers crossed a small fix to the bogie contact issue and a new decoder will get it all working again . cheers
That's really unfortunate Geoff, as you said, doesn't seen to be an isolated incident either. At least their customer service is spot on, and you know they'll deal with it properly. All said, hope you get it back soon, in top condition. I look forward to seeing it running on your layout. All the best. Brian @ The Angels
Hi Geoff This is interesting, I have 4 of these currently but only tested 1 so far, (an RTC livery one), although all mine are DCC ready only not sound fitted models. Having said that I did use a next 18 Zimo decoder in it to use it on a DCC test track and there were no issues, it seemed to run around ok and at a good slow speed. I haven't got more spare decoders yet to test the others but hopefully will get some soon. The instructions with mine were under the foam at the bottom of the box and nothing fell off when I took the body off to put the decoder in, although the white plastic pipework does seem very 'flimsy' to me and could easily be broken off I think. I hope you (or Rapido) manage to resolve the issues with your model, I await developments with interest. Thanks
hi Peter , i think you will be fine with the Zimo decoders that's if you can still get any . I'm down to my last n18 decoder. i swear I'm getting more sound decoders now because i cant get the normal decoders
I have two sound fitted models. one runs very nicely so far. the other one runs ok but the sound doesn't work! anyway hopefully I get sent a replacement decoder soon. hope your replacement one is ok!
hi Tim hope your models are still ok ? perhaps is not effecting all the sound decoders . mine was red hot and ive seen that many have burnt the model cheers
Hi Geoff. I have received two with the same issue , the first returned to the supplier, the second retuned to Rapido. Very impressed but disappointed , in my case lost out at Christmas as I had received a faulty one . Interesting on both cases the error is with the address seems to get stuck with a non numerical character, not able to programme or change address. On both occasions never had the time to use decoder pro , when the loco died either movement no sound or no sound no movemement the chip is red hot , suggesting a short in the construction. See my comment on RMWeb , if returned again I want a refund
hi Stuart , i think many of us were disappointed at Christmas when we all got to run our class 28's. that's interesting as i did manged to programme mine ok and i Even stated to do some Speed table work but then it kept stalling and then the chip got red hot and hence to likely
Hi , I to have one of these and the same as you ,I can not get over a set of points or crossover with out it cutting out or derailing, at the moment it is back with rails of Sheffield to sort out
Hi Geoff, I received my Class 28 today, lovely loco, but like you and so many others it just refuses to run smoothly, everything is intermittent, sound works then cuts out, lights work then go out, motor starts to run then stops, absolute nightmare of a loco, I bought mine over a year since your post so obviously nothing has changed at Rapido, they have had a year to fix the problems but have failed to do so unless mine is old stock. I've just switched over to N gauge and I'm wondering if I've made a mistake, this is the second loco in less than a week that I shall have to send back, I bought a very expensive Graham Farish 2-car DMU with sound at over £300 and that arrived with the front axle on one of the bogies broken off, I've never had any problems with 00 or 009 locos until now, I'm hoping I don't regret swapping to N but I am starting to get a bit concerned about the lack of quality control on the first 2 locos I've bought!
hi , It don't look good for the hobby. they are trying to pack so many features and detail into the loco that they forget the basic's ie it needs to run and work . the problem is not just n gauge but oo as well. Rapido where very quick to fix mine but its still not the best runner regards Geoff
@@flinthillsmodelrailway Hi Geoff, just got my new Graham Farish DMU back, front axle refitted but now loco refuses to run, sound works well but absolutely no movement from loco and directional lights on one car do not work, this loco cost over £360, its crazy, these things are not fit for purpose, where is the quality control. I think I might cut my losses and give up on N gauge, 2 locos in two weeks and nothing works, ridiculous. I built a 009 layout and all my dcc sound locos worked fine straight from the box and they run on basically N gauge track, I think you are right the manufacturers of N and 00 seem to be packing in so many extra functions that they have lost sight of the fact that these locos also need to run. Cheers Dave
All things considered the model is fine on DC for those able to fix the small issues. Today I also learned that it is not widely known that retailers have discounts on manufacturer RRPs...
My class 28, sound version, was delivered just before Christmas. Ran perfectly first time out of the box. Second time out of the box the day before yesterday, sound was working but loco not moving. Has a strange "spitting" noise coming from the loco but put this down to being part of the sound function. Have since found that this noise persists even with the sound turned off. Also found that the double bogey assembly parts very easily from the main body of the loco. Have filled in my warranty form and have had a reply back along with a postage label from Rapido, asking me to send the model back to them for repair or replacement. Until I saw your video I thought that it was just me being unlucky in having received a duffer. It's obviously a widespread issue. Does anyone know what the problems are with the Conflat P wagons? I've also got a set of these and not taken them out of the box yet. Many thanks for the info.
hi Geoff , Thanks for the replay . Glad ive been of use. we always think its my fault or perhaps ive got a duffer as you state . its good that we have this little community were we can share the issues we are having . fingers crossed they will all be fixed soon
Hi Geoff my friend brought a sound version of this loco and he's loco stopped running after a few laps round the layout and the decoder overheated and melted the roof of the loco and I've brought four analogue version's and mine Keep stuttering over the point's
Wow , many of the folks who got DC only version don't seem to be complaining about the pick up issue which I'm surprised about as I would have assumed it was common across both Dc and DCC. so it looks like they are going to be Swamped with all the returns
Greetings Geoff 👋 That really is a very poor return for a lot of cash 🤕 It does seem like their quality control systems are lax and it's not a good advert for their future business 🤬 I had wondered why Hattons had so many of them appear in their pre-owned section 😳 returns must have been significant 🤔 Hopefully you get a pristine model 💃 by return 🤞 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘️
hi Paul , yes I was surprised to see so many being sold on the 2nd hand market with issues , never gave it a thought it all might be the same issue . fingers crossed it all be resolved very soon
This does not sound good... I have pre ordered one from Hattons, sound fitted too, for around 160£. I'm going to pick up mine tomorrow, unfortunately, sending one back via warranty is basically impossible, since I live in Uzbekistan... Unless Rapido/Hattons will cover the shipping, which I'm pretty sure they won't. Also, how fast and how hot is the decoder getting? Might need to keep an eye on that, if I run into the issue. Thank you for informing us all of this issue, I thought Rapido had decent QC, but alas...
@@flinthillsmodelrailway yup, just saw their social media post about the Class 28s. Very unfortunate, hopefully mine isn't affected, as it has already left Britain, but let's hope for the best.
@@flinthillsmodelrailway got it, and yep... Decoder is untouchable after 3 minutes of running, heat issue, as I assume everybody else has. Also literally the same pick-up issue, thankfully solved it by bending the pickups with some fine tweezers. Very unfortunate, I don't really know what I'll do. Already filled out Rapido's form, but I'm not keen on sending the loco back to the UK, so perhaps a partial refund for the decoder? If they can do that, that is... Will wait for a proper Zimo one now, no more of that ESU bullcrap
For the price you pay, you should expect/demand a perfect model. Seems Rapido is not without its problems and product hiccups. In the North American market, Mr.Shron has done his best to explain away price increases and problems with quality control. They've had problems for a number of years and you should consider yourself lucky if you get a "good" one. Rapido is a marketing company; more about taking your money and making you wait 1+ years for a model that might be released. Simply put, nice trains, poor quality, shady business... avoid, avoid, avoid.
Hello, Geoff. What a shame to have so many issues and outright poor QC. It's fine to have great customer service, but one should not have to rely on it so heavily. Hopefully new bits and TLC will have it running smoothly.
Hi Geoff - shocking is how I would sum up your experience. At £200+ the model should work out the box. Same experience with Revolution Trains - my class 92 stopped working after 10 months. Returned on Saturday and got email today to say motor was burnt out ! If these smaller manufacturers don't up their game then they won't survive.
HI Euan , that's interesting as the class 92 was made by Rapido for revolution . your right this is an expensive hobby now and i personally want the items to work. its no good making them look fancy if they don't work . its like having a rolls Royce that you cant drive
Hi I've just had to return my sound fitted loco today unable to use or programme, getting a short circuit message and the body felt warm. Obviously I'm not the only one with an issue.
hi Paul , wow , its amazing how many are now highlighting these issues , fingers crossed a small fix to the bogie contact issue and a new decoder will get it all working again . cheers
That's really unfortunate Geoff, as you said, doesn't seen to be an isolated incident either. At least their customer service is spot on, and you know they'll deal with it properly. All said, hope you get it back soon, in top condition. I look forward to seeing it running on your layout. All the best. Brian @ The Angels
HI Brian . yes fingers crossed a small fix to the bogie contact issue and a new decoder will get it all working again . cheers
Hi Geoff This is interesting, I have 4 of these currently but only tested 1 so far, (an RTC livery one), although all mine are DCC ready only not sound fitted models. Having said that I did use a next 18 Zimo decoder in it to use it on a DCC test track and there were no issues, it seemed to run around ok and at a good slow speed. I haven't got more spare decoders yet to test the others but hopefully will get some soon.
The instructions with mine were under the foam at the bottom of the box and nothing fell off when I took the body off to put the decoder in, although the white plastic pipework does seem very 'flimsy' to me and could easily be broken off I think. I hope you (or Rapido) manage to resolve the issues with your model, I await developments with interest. Thanks
hi Peter , i think you will be fine with the Zimo decoders that's if you can still get any . I'm down to my last n18 decoder. i swear I'm getting more sound decoders now because i cant get the normal decoders
@@flinthillsmodelrailway Hi Geoff Hope it works out ok, they certainly look like nice loco's.
I have two sound fitted models. one runs very nicely so far. the other one runs ok but the sound doesn't work! anyway hopefully I get sent a replacement decoder soon. hope your replacement one is ok!
hi Tim hope your models are still ok ? perhaps is not effecting all the sound decoders . mine was red hot and ive seen that many have burnt the model cheers
Hi Geoff. I have received two with the same issue , the first returned to the supplier, the second retuned to Rapido. Very impressed but disappointed , in my case lost out at Christmas as I had received a faulty one . Interesting on both cases the error is with the address seems to get stuck with a non numerical character, not able to programme or change address. On both occasions never had the time to use decoder pro , when the loco died either movement no sound or no sound no movemement the chip is red hot , suggesting a short in the construction. See my comment on RMWeb , if returned again I want a refund
hi Stuart , i think many of us were disappointed at Christmas when we all got to run our class 28's. that's interesting as i did manged to programme mine ok and i Even stated to do some Speed table work but then it kept stalling and then the chip got red hot and hence to likely
Hi , I to have one of these and the same as you ,I can not get over a set of points or crossover with out it cutting out or derailing, at the moment it is back with rails of Sheffield to sort out
Hi. I’ve just tonight be made aware of announcement from rapido about the issue. I’m assuming it’s on their web site
Hi Geoff, I received my Class 28 today, lovely loco, but like you and so many others it just refuses to run smoothly, everything is intermittent, sound works then cuts out, lights work then go out, motor starts to run then stops, absolute nightmare of a loco, I bought mine over a year since your post so obviously nothing has changed at Rapido, they have had a year to fix the problems but have failed to do so unless mine is old stock. I've just switched over to N gauge and I'm wondering if I've made a mistake, this is the second loco in less than a week that I shall have to send back, I bought a very expensive Graham Farish 2-car DMU with sound at over £300 and that arrived with the front axle on one of the bogies broken off, I've never had any problems with 00 or 009 locos until now, I'm hoping I don't regret swapping to N but I am starting to get a bit concerned about the lack of quality control on the first 2 locos I've bought!
hi , It don't look good for the hobby. they are trying to pack so many features and detail into the loco that they forget the basic's ie it needs to run and work . the problem is not just n gauge but oo as well. Rapido where very quick to fix mine but its still not the best runner regards Geoff
@@flinthillsmodelrailway Hi Geoff, just got my new Graham Farish DMU back, front axle refitted but now loco refuses to run, sound works well but absolutely no movement from loco and directional lights on one car do not work, this loco cost over £360, its crazy, these things are not fit for purpose, where is the quality control. I think I might cut my losses and give up on N gauge, 2 locos in two weeks and nothing works, ridiculous. I built a 009 layout and all my dcc sound locos worked fine straight from the box and they run on basically N gauge track, I think you are right the manufacturers of N and 00 seem to be packing in so many extra functions that they have lost sight of the fact that these locos also need to run. Cheers Dave
All things considered the model is fine on DC for those able to fix the small issues. Today I also learned that it is not widely known that retailers have discounts on manufacturer RRPs...
Nobody paying for a brand new model should be having to fix anything out of the box, it's not a used item from eBay, especially a model north of £200.
yes I'm seeing those discounts, i'm also seeing many being sold on various website with issues which I'm sure is around the decoder issue
My class 28, sound version, was delivered just before Christmas. Ran perfectly first time out of the box. Second time out of the box the day before yesterday, sound was working but loco not moving. Has a strange "spitting" noise coming from the loco but put this down to being part of the sound function. Have since found that this noise persists even with the sound turned off. Also found that the double bogey assembly parts very easily from the main body of the loco. Have filled in my warranty form and have had a reply back along with a postage label from Rapido, asking me to send the model back to them for repair or replacement. Until I saw your video I thought that it was just me being unlucky in having received a duffer. It's obviously a widespread issue. Does anyone know what the problems are with the Conflat P wagons? I've also got a set of these and not taken them out of the box yet. Many thanks for the info.
hi Geoff , Thanks for the replay . Glad ive been of use. we always think its my fault or perhaps ive got a duffer as you state . its good that we have this little community were we can share the issues we are having . fingers crossed they will all be fixed soon
Hi Geoff my friend brought a sound version of this loco and he's loco stopped running after a few laps round the layout and the decoder overheated and melted the roof of the loco and I've brought four analogue version's and mine Keep stuttering over the point's
Wow , many of the folks who got DC only version don't seem to be complaining about the pick up issue which I'm surprised about as I would have assumed it was common across both Dc and DCC. so it looks like they are going to be Swamped with all the returns
Greetings Geoff 👋 That really is a very poor return for a lot of cash 🤕 It does seem like their quality control systems are lax and it's not a good advert for their future business 🤬 I had wondered why Hattons had so many of them appear in their pre-owned section 😳 returns must have been significant 🤔 Hopefully you get a pristine model 💃 by return 🤞 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘️
hi Paul , yes I was surprised to see so many being sold on the 2nd hand market with issues , never gave it a thought it all might be the same issue . fingers crossed it all be resolved very soon
This does not sound good... I have pre ordered one from Hattons, sound fitted too, for around 160£. I'm going to pick up mine tomorrow, unfortunately, sending one back via warranty is basically impossible, since I live in Uzbekistan... Unless Rapido/Hattons will cover the shipping, which I'm pretty sure they won't.
Also, how fast and how hot is the decoder getting? Might need to keep an eye on that, if I run into the issue.
Thank you for informing us all of this issue, I thought Rapido had decent QC, but alas...
I’ve just be advised tonight that rapido are apparently recalling all the models due quality issues.
@@flinthillsmodelrailway yup, just saw their social media post about the Class 28s. Very unfortunate, hopefully mine isn't affected, as it has already left Britain, but let's hope for the best.
@@tykedopwnz fingers crossed for you.
@@flinthillsmodelrailway got it, and yep... Decoder is untouchable after 3 minutes of running, heat issue, as I assume everybody else has.
Also literally the same pick-up issue, thankfully solved it by bending the pickups with some fine tweezers.
Very unfortunate, I don't really know what I'll do. Already filled out Rapido's form, but I'm not keen on sending the loco back to the UK, so perhaps a partial refund for the decoder? If they can do that, that is... Will wait for a proper Zimo one now, no more of that ESU bullcrap
i do prefer the zimo decoders myself , hopefully they will send you a replacement decoder
For the price you pay, you should expect/demand a perfect model. Seems Rapido is not without its problems and product hiccups. In the North American market, Mr.Shron has done his best to explain away price increases and problems with quality control. They've had problems for a number of years and you should consider yourself lucky if you get a "good" one. Rapido is a marketing company; more about taking your money and making you wait 1+ years for a model that might be released. Simply put, nice trains, poor quality, shady business... avoid, avoid, avoid.
Boco the Green Diesel Engine