N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
NW Modeling List
nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sun Jun 25 17:24:16 EDT 2023
>Do you know exactly what the problems were that SMD and other
manufacturers were facing? Were the problems identical for all
manufacturers, large and small alike?
Yes, a few years ago, pre-covid, a Chinese factory that made products
for multiple companies shut down. Spring Mills was one of those
companies and it took them longer than the others to find a new
factory. Even prior to then, Spring Mills was notoriously slow, even
by model railroad standards.
> You know it’s 2 guys.
I'm pretty sure Tangent is just 2 guys, and Moloco I think is just 1
guy, and they don't have problems releasing high quality models on a
regular basis, especially Tangent. Spring Mills' production delays
really are unique to them, which suggests it has something to do with
the way they are doing business or the amount of time they have to
devote to their projects.
>Other manufacturers are producing excellent models now. How do you
know they are excellent?
Between forums, magazine reviews, and personal experience, there
really isn't much debate about what manufacturers are producing
quality models.
A couple of other observations regarding Spring Mills and their
professionalism/business practices. Several years ago I asked about
ordering some of the detail parts from their B&O cabooses. I made this
inquiry in person at a show. The response was to just keep emailing
him every 2 weeks as a reminder and eventually he would get the email
when he had time and was in the right place and would dig out the
parts. I eventually got the parts, but basically sending the message
of "I don't take my business seriously enough to fulfil customer
requests that require memory and effort on my part" has a bad look.
My single biggest problem with Spring Mills occurred when their DODX
flats were released, and Spring Mills was selling them direct to
customers at a train show BEFORE filling their prepaid orders. I find
that completely unprofessional. They had my money and other customers'
money for years, and couldn't bother to take care of us first?
Instead, some random guys who didn't already pay them got their models
first. That's when I decided I'm done with Spring Mills. I'm keeping
my N&W caboose order with them, but once they are delivered, Spring
Mills could announce $15.00 H10 hoppers and I wouldn't buy them.
They're excessive delays are annoying, but some of their business
practices and lack of professionalism are what have turned my off to
the company.
Marty Flick
-----------------------------------------From: "NW Modeling List"
To: "NW Modeling List"
Cc:
Sent: Sunday June 25 2023 4:51:55PM
Subject: RE: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
Roger,
I think you are being overly critical of SMD. You make the following
broad statements:
1) The SMD models are exceptional. Given.
2) You understand the manufacturing issues. Do you know exactly
what the problems were that SMD and other manufacturers were facing?
Were the problems identical for all manufacturers, large and small
alike? Did large companies have advantages (i.e. capital, a dedicated
team to work on issues?) over small companies when it came to solving
issues?
3) Other manufacturers have overcome these problems. See 2) above.
4) Other manufacturers are producing excellent models now. How do
you know they are excellent? Have you examined and tested them all for
accuracy, quality and performance?
5) These 2 guys are doing it ALL themselves. They don’t have
marketing teams, production teams, teams that work with suppliers,
sales teams, customer relations teams, etc. You name it. They have to
do it all themselves besides work a job.
6) Other small companies now and in the past have been able …
What small companies? Are their products comparable to SMD’s
products? See 1) above. You can have something generic slapped
together and distributed more quickly than a quality product that has
been carefully researched, developed to include what is necessary to
meet the specific requirements and details of the product and finally,
produced to the highest standards expected by consumers. Of course
what some customers expect and are happy with is an individual choice.
7) Just why is it Atlas, Rapido, Athearn and others … See 5)
above. Do these companies only have a 2 person staff that handles the
production of a product from beginning to end and deals with problems
that might arise along the way?
8) I don’t know anything about Rapido either but I would bet that
SMD’s products are as good as and probably better than anything
Rapido produces. That goes for all of the other big manufacturers you
also list. Atlas and Athearn have produced some real junk in the past.
How many of those big manufactures would even think about producing
such a variety of quality N&W cabooses? If you want variety, quality,
attention to detail and value for your money, you may have to wait
because only a small company of 2 guys are trying to do what the other
big companies won’t do.
Carl Miller
Kingsville, MD
FROM: NW-Modeling-List [mailto:nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org] ON
BEHALF OF NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List
SENT: Saturday, June 24, 2023 5:04 PM
TO: NW Modeling List
CC: NW Modeling List
SUBJECT: Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
The models by SMD have been exceptional without any doubt. I
understand the manufacturing issues that happened with the Chinese but
it seems all the other manufacturers have overcome these problems and
are producing excellent models now EXCEPT SMD! I know it's just 2 guys
but other small companies now and in the past have been able to get an
announced product out to the market in a REASONABLE time frame. SMD
took forever to get the B&O I-12 cabs out to long waiting customers
and they have taken longer on producing the B&O I-1,2,5, etc cars.
Just why is it Atlas, Rapido, Athearn and others are able to get a
product through research, development, production and into the hands
of the modelers in a short period while SMD is many years behind?
As to poor quality of Rapido I can't say as I own none of their
products except a streamlined coach they did many years ago and it's
an excellent model. I haven't heard many bad reports on their stuff
other than a few guys who received a damaged item during shipping.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
On Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10:13:57 AM CDT, NW Modeling List
wrote:
I don’t think the statement that they don’t produce is fair. They
have been overly ambitious in announcing their production schedule and
were crippled by unforeseen circumstances like every other
manufacturer. It’s fine IMO to call them out on that but the
comparison to Rapido is unwarranted. The models that they have
delivered have all been gorgeous and support/customer service is good.
I have a Chessie cab, a few covered hoppers, and 20 or so DODX flats
in hand or on order and all are among the highest quality models
available.
Full disclosure – I did request my payment back a couple of years
ago and received a prompt refund. I don’t doubt that they’ll get
the CFs done but it was a sizeable chunk and the value of the money
invested elsewhere exceeded the discount at that point.
I’ve voted for Rapido with my wallet quite a bit as well. Probably
a lot more than Spring Mills. Between the RS11s (which are bad on many
levels), the B36-7s (also with prominent errors), the E8s (significant
errors) and other well-documented mistakes, I am very thankful that
Rapido is not doing the CFs. I’m just a Monday morning QB but to me,
there seems to be some type of internal
communication/quality/consistency gap they are fighting within their
project management team coupled with an aggressive operational tempo.
Some projects are great and some not so much and my guess is that
“cranking out product in record time” is at the root of their
quality issues. I want them to succeed and they are getting better but
at least with Spring Mills, I haven’t encountered models that
disappoint me.
Greg Davis
St Pete, FL
FROM: NW-Modeling-List on behalf of NW Modeling List via
NW-Modeling-List
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 1:45 AM
TO: NW Modeling List
CC: NW Modeling List
SUBJECT: Re: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
They're extremely ambitious in their projects but just don't produce.
I sure wish Rapido would assume the CF project so we could have the
cabins in our lifetime. They crank out beautiful items in record time.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
On Friday, June 23, 2023 at 01:48:34 PM CDT, NW Modeling List wrote:
I pulled my $2500 deposit almost 3 years now. Last info that I have
is that the B&O caboose are next and that maybe several years before
they are done.
Then the N&W caboose will be next. New reservation will be higher
price.
Stephen Rineair
FROM: NW Modeling List
SENT: Friday, June 23, 2023 12:10 PM
TO: NW Modeling List
SUBJECT: N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status
To the Group:
N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status???
Does anyone have any update on the status of this project?
I still have my deposit with them.
Eric Raitch
Gainesville, Va
20155
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