Heads up! Arnold/Hornby BOGO sale

[Chris333]

I'm not sure that is the same guy. Around here we had a Wilson's Electronics and the owner would have commercials where he was "Crazy Eddie Wilson" always had a huge bow tie on. "come on down and get a hot dog for one thin dime, drinks for 5 cents". It was like a Circuit City store before we had those.

He would always be live on the local news so I doubt he was from NJ.

When I look up Crazy Eddie he didn't have stores in Ohio.

[peteski]

I'm not sure that is the same guy. Around here we had a Wilson's Electronics and the owner would have commercials where he was "Crazy Eddie Wilson" always had a huge bow tie on. "come on down and get a hot dog for one thin dime, drinks for 5 cents". It was like a Circuit City store before we had those.

He would always be live on the local news so I doubt he was from NJ.

When I look up Crazy Eddie he didn't have stores in Ohio.

I guess there were multiple Crazy Eddies in this vast country of ours (selling electronic goods in the 80s, before the big box stores wiped them out).  The guy in the commercials from NJ is just a pitchman, not Eddie himself.

[MichaelWinicki]

"Crazy Eddie" (the NY/NJ version) was one of the first to sell via satellite.  They had a "Crazy Eddie" channel for a short-time.

[mstl 246]

Arnold care package arrived Thursday but finally got around to testing the NP U25C units. Both run great and the hand rails made it through shipping!

Nat

[mplsjct]

If you look closely, the fonts are different on the NP 25's and 28's too.
The NPRHA Modeling Committee made sure Hornby recognized the color discrepancies verses the color cards we provided.  In addition, we supplied correct art for the fonts.
Both of these things were done prior to the initial release of the 25, so we just reminded them. 

I noticed the font issue right away on the NP U25's, on the U28's the 2811 looks like the same font, but the 2807 looks like the new, correct style. Thank you for pointing Hornby in the right direction with this.

[powersteamguy1790]

Glad to hear that nobody as of yet had problems with their U-Boats.

I was able to resolve the issues with both NP U-28's by running them on a test track powered by a nine volt battery. Each U-Boat ran flawlessly powered by the battery. So I ordered two decoders and will see what happens.

Many years ago I took a 9 volt battery to test locomotives at shows. That worked all the time at train shows.

Why they failed to run properly when I first tested them is a complete mystery to me.  I didn't take them apart to adjust the wipers. Just put them back in the jewel cases and let them sit for a day or so.

Bob

[cbroughton67]

I really don't need any U25Cs, and I thought the paint on the L&N units was way too light, making it easier to just walk away.

Damn, the paint is much closer than I thought (at least as compared to the factory paint on the 1:1 L&N U25Cs).  That said, I must resist, because, again, they're not really in the correct era for me, seeing that this paint scheme would be at least fifteen years before my era of 1983-86.

But the price is so good . . . noooooo, it's Christmas, must spend on others, not self; must spend on others, not self.

DFF

I saw that picture amid some of my searches for L&N U25C's, but I think it's either overexposed or sun-drenched to the point of making the paint appear lighter than it is. Other U25C photos I've seen in the as-delivered scheme aren't as light as this, and the gray in those other photos is consistent with other L&N units. I walked way for the same reason when they were first released, but the BOGO sale made it worth stripping and repainting them. BTW, Trucolor's "L&N Gray" is way too dark - probably FL's "French Gray" in reality, if not too dark even for that. I did discover that Trucolor's "EL Gray" is a dead-on match to the L&N gray used by Atlas. So, that's the color I'll use when I repaint mine in the block-letter L&N scheme. My L&N era is mid-1970's - before the "beginning of the end" that was Family Lines, and the era of my childhood L&N memories that got me hooked on trains.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, my twofer PC SW1's arrived today, and they look and run really great. Thank you Hornby, what a deal!
Very smooth low speed on my Troller DC test track, relatively realistic high speed. Weigh in at 1.5 oz or 43 grams, respectable for such a small switcher. I'll see if there is room for more weight, and what I'd really like is to get ESU sound inside. And of course, the PC lettering has got to go... 
There is a traction tire on the outermost wheels, one per axle, left front, right rear.  I don't have enough DC trackage to test pulling power, but given the weight and traction tires, should be respectable as well. Pics below, sorry it's hard to get good pics of a black engine.
Otto K.

[nkalanaga]

Bob:  Interesting that they work with the battery, but not with a DC power pack.  If they already had decoders, the only thing I can think of is that the power supply had pulses or ripples at a frequency that confused the decoder.  If they don't have decoders, I have no idea what caused the problem.  Mine (straight DC) didn't short, or do anything else odd, they just wouldn't pick up power.

[powersteamguy1790]

Bob:  Interesting that they work with the battery, but not with a DC power pack.  If they already had decoders, the only thing I can think of is that the power supply had pulses or ripples at a frequency that confused the decoder.  If they don't have decoders, I have no idea what caused the problem.  Mine (straight DC) didn't short, or do anything else odd, they just wouldn't pick up power.

Nk:

Right out of the box they wouldn't run properly. No decoders which puzzled me as well. It was very unusual. Both run properly with 9 volt battery power. Now I'll just wait for the two decoders I ordered. Decided not to pull the decoders from diesels that use that decoder on my locomotive roster.

Thanks Nk for your suggestions.

Bob

[peteski]

Nk:

Right out of the box they wouldn't run properly. No decoders which puzzled me as well. It was very unusual. Both run properly with 9 volt battery power. Now I'll just wait for the two decoders I ordered. Decided not to pull the decoders from diesels that use that decoder on my locomotive roster.

Thanks Nk for your suggestions.

Bob

It makes no sense that they don't run from a known-good DC throttle/power pack but they run on a 9V battery.  After you tried them on a battery did you try to run them from the power pack again?

What is the brand/model of the power packs?

What is the behavior?  When you crank up the voltage does the headlight light up? Does the mechanism make any kind of noise or movement?

Installing a decoder is IMO not a real solution. If I was in your predicament I would want to solve the mystery before installing the decoder.

The 9V battery trick is very handy thought - I also always have a 9V battery handy to do a quick test of my N scale locos (at home, or at train shows). The spacing of the battery terminals is perfect for testing N scale models.

[rdg5308]

Thanks for the heads-up,  Ed.  I ordered two U25’s on the 8th.  UPS shows they transferred them to my local P.O. which is about 2 miles away as the crow flies on the 15th.  I live just east of Reading, PA.  Since then they have gone on a world wind tour to two other USPS facilities so far according to the USPS tracking and arrived 130 miles away at a USPS Facility in Jersey City, NJ today!  They don’t show a delivery E.T.A. yet, but I’m sure as they eventually swing back on a western routing, I may see them before the New Year. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That seems to be a common issue with the tri-state area. A lot of my packages from MBK and international shipments that go though NYC get shuffled back and forth in NJ for some reason.

Mine came yesterday. I ordered two SW1s in B&M. I had no use for them, but a $40 switcher is a $40 switcher.

I have to say. This is the first time I ever felt guilty purchasing a model train. It is obvious a lot of time and care went into designing this, and it was lovingly assembled. And performance? Smooth as can possibly be. These would be a bargain at $100 each. Makes you wonder just what Atlas and others are charging so much for.

[CBQ Fan]

That seems to be a common issue with the tri-state area. A lot of my packages from MBK and international shipments that go though NYC get shuffled back and forth in NJ for some reason.

Mine came yesterday. I ordered two SW1s in B&M. I had no use for them, but a $40 switcher is a $40 switcher.

I have to say. This is the first time I ever felt guilty purchasing a model train. It is obvious a lot of time and care went into designing this, and it was lovingly assembled. And performance? Smooth as can possibly be. These would be a bargain at $100 each. Makes you wonder just what Atlas and others are charging so much for.

I think these prices are more the result of financial hardship for the parent company than anything else.  I am not sure when their fiscal year ends but if it the same as year end it would make sense to unload any inventory sitting around and get cash in hand even if you break even or lose a little. Cash in hand is critical.  I just hope it is not a sign of exiting the market.

[peteski]

These would be a bargain at $100 each. Makes you wonder just what Atlas and others are charging so much for.

It is also possible that Hornby during this sale is selling models at a loss.  Maybe to clear out their inventory?