should Dapol be pronounced C**pol!

[silly moo]

After having read posts about problems with Dapol steam locos I've been a bit cautious about buying them but the ones I do have all run well as do the diesels I have bought.

On the rare occasion that I have had problems with manufactured items I have found it is far easier to get any problem resolved if I'm polite, I can always rant and rave later if I'm treated badly by the retailer or manufacturer but most are eager to help.

Veronica.

[H]

I really think it's better to buy in person,

On the rare occasion that I have had problems with manufactured items I have found it is far easier to get any problem resolved if I'm polite,

Two very good bits of advise.

H.

[Flakmunky]

To summarise, because of one very minor fault on your one and only purchase from that manufacturer which is literally seconds to fix (probably less time than it took you to type that rant) you are defaming the entire range??

I almost typed the same yesterday...

These models are precision items, sent half way around the world and then sent from importer to retailer to customer. That there is a small proportion of models that are then not in perfect running order is not surprising. Whether this be from transit or quality control in the factory doesn't really matter.

If you think this is unacceptable then Dapol and Farish would need to remove every item and check they are running perfectly; instead they just ship them out and replace / repair them as necessary. If they did check every item, the price would be much higher and then people would complain about the cost.

You can't have everything.


Dapol's two year warranty, to me says they are confident in their products. Frankly, this is the way to go and Farish should take heed.

Of course, the pessimistic will say that they have a two year warranty because their stuff breaks down a lot... Or that they have done this to mitigate buyers apprehensions after reading the negative threads like this around the Internet.


Come on, guys, this is a British company, providing employment for a number of people and providing us with great models at a great price. We should be rallying round companies like Dapol, especially given the state of our economy, not slating them because a bogie pin falls out in transit.

[Paddy]

so far this in the balance list for me!

positives

these all work very nicely so far...

- hst
- class 58s x2
- class 56
- class 121

negatives

- one of my class 73s is a bit dodgy (but this was ebay purchase)
- massive delay on the intercity swallow mk3 buffet!!!!



tim

Hi Tim,

OK, in the interests of sharing here are my experiences with Dapol locos...

M7 0-4-4T Tank
* Purchased new in April 2007
* Lovely looking model but very light
* 1st model had defects on the bodywork
* Replacement had a perfect body but would not run smoothly despite running in
* 2nd replacement had the same running issues
* 3rd replacement was very good
* Excellent service from Hattons

9F Standard 2-10-0 "Evening Star"
* Purchased new in September 2008
* Ran well but the body had defects, returned to George at Dapol
* Replacement model much better althogh a couple of months later it stopped running
* Sent locomotive to BR Lines for repair - gearbox drive shaft/connector had to be replaced (cost me £14)

9F Standard 2-10-0 Weathered version
* Purchased new in December 2010
* Front bogie would not rotate in reverse - fixed by loosening the screw and oiling axel

Class 35 Hymek
* Purchased locomotive 2nd hand as part of a set with six milk tanks in December 2011
* Missing one buffer (not blaming Dapol for that) so purchased a replacement from BR Lines
* Noticed a problem with the bogie side frames splaying out causing the axel ends to drop out of the brass pockets.
* Sent locomotive to BR Lines who had to do a full service plus replacement of bogie top drive gears and bogie frames

B17/6 4-6-0
* Purchased locmotive new in December 2011
* Locomotive damaged on arrival plus front bogie kept derailing
* Replacement ran well but front bogie stilld derailed.  Traced fault to  front bogie coupler catching on the guard irons behind the steps.  Removing front coupling solved the problem

Q1 0-6-0
* Purchased new in August 2012
* Not added to Shed 13C roster yet
* Lovely looking model

Class 26
* Purchase new in February 2013
* Not added to Shed 13C roster yet
* Lovely looking model

There you go...

Paddy

[Bikeracer]

I bought a Class 26 and on removing the body to fit a DCC chip I was clumsy enough to break off one buffer,this buffer is part of a moulded base plate.
This was entirely my own fault.

However, when I contacted Dapol Dave I was informed that spares were not available and were never likely to be available.

For that reason alone I will never buy another Dapol loco.

Allan

[Paddy]

After having read posts about problems with Dapol steam locos I've been a bit cautious about buying them but the ones I do have all run well as do the diesels I have bought.

On the rare occasion that I have had problems with manufactured items I have found it is far easier to get any problem resolved if I'm polite, I can always rant and rave later if I'm treated badly by the retailer or manufacturer but most are eager to help.

Veronica.

Totally agree Veronica.  When I have had issues the service I have received from the Dealers and Dapol has been first rate.

Paddy

[silly moo]

I bought a Class 26 and on removing the body to fit a DCC chip I was clumsy enough to break off one buffer,this buffer is part of a moulded base plate.
This was entirely my own fault.

However, when I contacted Dapol Dave I was informed that spares were not available and were never likely to be available.

For that reason alone I will never buy another Dapol loco.

Allan

Unfortunately the spares problem is the case with most manufacturers nowadays with short runs and batch production. They don't carry a full range of spares like they used to but sometimes they can cannibalise other damaged returned locos to provide spares. 

A friend of mine had a Hornby loco with a distorted tender top and was told the same thing as you. Hornby do seem to have lots of spares for chassis though.

Regards

Veronica.

[red_death]

I bought a Class 26 and on removing the body to fit a DCC chip I was clumsy enough to break off one buffer,this buffer is part of a moulded base plate.
This was entirely my own fault.

However, when I contacted Dapol Dave I was informed that spares were not available and were never likely to be available.

For that reason alone I will never buy another Dapol loco.

I am baffled by this - why not just replace it with one of the aftermarket supplier's buffers? I am sure you can get a replacement from N Brass, the NGS, TPM etc etc

It seems an incredibly over the top reaction to stop buying Dapol.

[EtchedPixels]

Doesn't seem that unreasonable. Dapol's spares position has been rapidly improving however and a lot of spares are now available even if not the class 27 buffers.

It's one of the costs of accuracy. Old Farish buffers were always available because they stuck the same basic few buffers on everything. The 27 buffers are accurate so they are on relevant to one model.

The lack of mechanical spares is always a bigger problem - eg replacement motors and gears.

(and for balance I've had a dud Kato model!)

Alan

[Geoff]

I have never had a Dapol model and what I have read in this post would not put me off buying one, as if there was anything wrong with it they have a good returns policy then I cannot see the problem, the amount of models on the market there is bound to be the odd bad build and it is down to the owner to sort it out, I am sure other manufacturers  have had the same problem, there are a few things I am waiting for in the Dapol range and I will not have any hesitation buying these products, or sending them back if there is a fault. 

[Greybeema]

I have two Dapol Diesels -
An Original Class 66 - Which has been converted to DCC.  Runs brilliantly (I can run it at a scale 2MPH) and always did.
A Class 73 - Not yet converted to DCC but also runs brilliantly.

Will I buy more - Yes - without hesitation.  I need a couple more 66's and a 73.

[H]

I bought a Class 26 and on removing the body to fit a DCC chip I was clumsy enough to break off one buffer,this buffer is part of a moulded base plate.
This was entirely my own fault.

However, when I contacted Dapol Dave I was informed that spares were not available and were never likely to be available.

For that reason alone I will never buy another Dapol loco.

Could you not simply glue it back on? Job done and no need for a replacement. Plus there are also plenty of Farish parts that are not available as spares - will you stop buying their products when you accidently break one of thier bits?

H.

[Flakmunky]

Sounds like the majority of people in this thread either a) have a Dapol model that runs fine, b) have had one repaired under warranty or c) bought one, there was a problem and got a refund.

So why all the botching about a British company, employing British people, providing highly detailed models to a niche market? All the negative rants on this thread really sadden me as they can so easily put the new-to-the-hobby off buying superb models, thus jeopardising a great company that have helped move the scale and the hobby in to the 21st century.

Kudos to those trying to give a balanced view but I think this thread should be locked as it is doing no good whatsoever, either to the hobby or Dapol.

[Pengi]

I've read through all of the posts and think that there has been a fair exchange of views on this topic so I am going to lock it.