The first stone of an avalanche?

[RockGp40]

I don't know why everyone dumps on IMRC all the time (save for the ex-employees) - we'd be worse off without IMRC (at least I'd be).

I have to echo this sentiment. I like all the IMRC rolling stock I have acquired. No one has ever accused me of being a rivet counter. Like everybody else, I would rather have IMRC then Bachmann stuff rolling around.

Even though I work part time for a shortline, I don't pay too much attention to the details.

I wish IMRC a lot of future success. They are like the Baltimore Orioles. They have beenb down and out, but I hope they come back strong!

[3rdrail]

Dave, it's not just steam with PCM, how about the E8, PA1, and the N&W hoppers? All with promised delivery dates over a year ago.

And Lee, I disagree on IMRC, it has only recently fallen months, not years, behind. While it has offered some models with "issues", it has also cranked out many without issues. I am currently building an IMRC-Des Plaines hobby kit for an NC&StL boxcar and will build the NKP car when I finish it. I just wish they still offered decorated kits.

[pfs]

I don't know why everyone dumps on IMRC all the time (save for the ex-employees) - we'd be worse off without IMRC (at least I'd be).

I have to echo this sentiment. ...

I agree, and they still produce undec kits!!!

[Puddington]

IMRC gets a free ride by many modelers here and other places. I am a known and "much flamed" critic of Intermountain - I will yet again reiterate my issue; only to get told to shut my mouth and step back inline  by the "IMRC supporting local gentry".

Simply put: "Don't announce four (4) releases of a model before your first is on a #$$##@!@# boat from the far east and is at least nine(9) months late with NO, NOTTA, LESS THAN NONE, SILENC-IO.... explaination to those who reserved the first release........." ( We can debate the actual late date of the FP7... I actually think it's 17 months but in an effort to be fair, I'll say 9, as that was the first print ad I can find)

My business can't run nine months late - it certainly can't run 9 hours late without communication to the client....and please don't tell me it's my job to e-mail them and ask.... give me a break !

IMRC gets a free pass due to "heaven knows what" from many people.... hey guys - it's a company - it's a "for profit" venture.... it's not a charity; it's not doing you a favour; it may have had personnel issues - gee that's tough; I hope they get over them; I'd help if they asked..... but the bottom line, "sans any other comminication - which they have completely rejected as a tactic is - Hey, Intermountain -  where's my locomotive; and/or simple explaination......?

I know - I'm just sooooooooo unfair.....

Torches on; flamers........... engage !

[wcfn100]

IMRC is indeed a company, and as such doesn't owe any sort of direct expanation to the consumer, unless of course they're a shareholder.  The internet has given people way to much access to manufacturers.  It is the responsibility of your retailer to know release dates for you as a consumer and also to know reasons for delays.

Don't get me wrong, you should use it if it there, but it's a privilege, not a right.


Jason

[DKS]

Torches on; flamers........... engage !

No flaming here. I'm no fan of InterMountain, and not because of empty promises. I find their quality--and quality control--to be highly variable. Some of their products are decent, while some are a mystery as to why they sell so well: their boxcars with those horrendous ladders, for example. Some folks act as though free-standing ladders and grabs are the cat's meow. Well, they would be if they were better proportioned. Me, I'd rather have cast-ons than those massive, clunky things stuck to the sides of the cars. And their kits, yikes, don't get me started, with roofs shaped like soup bowls from warping, and ladders/grabs tooled so close to the sprues you need laser cutters to free them. No wonder those kits seem to be on their way out. Having said all of that, I really like their drop-bottom gons, with the separate laser-cut wood parts. Nicely done. Their tanks (for as long as they lasted) aren't too bad. Then comes their locos. I've never bought any, mostly because of the horror stories that an increasing proportion of them turn out to be lemons these days.

I suppose I should now don my asbestos suit and join you, Puddington.

[wm3798]

You'll note that my critique of Intermountain was focused on their locomotive products.  I have several of their freight car models, and outside of Accumate couplers on the covered hoppers, I find them pretty impressive.  I also am not familiar with their delivery schedules on the freight cars, because I think that type of thing is less time sensitive.

Locomotive purchases tend to be more expensive, especially if multiple units are involve, so buyers on a budget have to prepare financially for their arrival.  When the timing of that arrival is indeterminate, that becomes a problem for the customer.  And Jason, I think it's absurd for you to say that it isn't IMRC's responsibility to communicate with their customer base.  The absence of a reasonable explanation from them just makes them appear that much more sketchy, in my view.

Also, while I have no problems with their freight car quality, or only problems that a little tinkering can fix, locomotives are another ballgame altogether.  An F-7 with an inappropriate road number, an F-7B with a backwards roof, or and SD45-2 with a fuel tank that's the wrong size and paint that appears to have been applied with a roller, is hard to swallow when you consider the financial commitment being made by the purchaser.

Add to that the huge volume of announcements vs. the small trickle of actual product (again speaking purely in terms of locomotives here) which makes IMRC look a lot more like PCM than Atlas.
It's now going on two years since the B unit debacle, and we're still waiting for corrected shells that were promised within a few months.

Lee

[wcfn100]

Jason, I think it's absurd for you to say that it isn't IMRC's responsibility to communicate with their customer base.

That would be absurd!  It's a good thing for me I never said that. 



Jason

[DKS]

I have several of their freight car models, and outside of Accumate couplers on the covered hoppers, I find them pretty impressive.

To their credit, I failed to mention that they do release freight cars in relatively large sets of unique road numbers (unlike, ahem, M-T).

[Mark5]

IMRC is a mixed bag - far from perfect.

But it's insane to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Lee - WM F7s ...  I guess it would have been better to wait for Kato to do them eh? 

As to PCM, they deserve every stone hurled at them!

[3rdrail]

I note on the Wig-Wag website that George Canham received the ACL, Milwaukee, and CP FP7's day before yesterday. He says the paint job is excellent and that there is an additional CPR block lettering number available. That should shut a few folks up for a while... 

[Puddington]

... and for those few of you that don't know, Gregg is almost certainly refering to "moi".......

No; an extra road number dosen't mitigate my aforementioned comments... it's a nice gesture however..... I guess they ARE concerned with my opinion after all..... : ;D

[wm3798]

As are we all!! ;D

Louis Harris