Hattons DCC fitting

Discussion in 'RTR Stock' started by Richard, Apr 18, 2018.

  1. Richard

    Richard Full Member

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    Ok just be aware that the DCC fitting team at Hattons have lost some expertise, in less than 4 weeks I have had a second locomotive damaged by this installation team. The first a Bachmann GWR collet where they almost ruined the engine and totalled the wiring and now the new Heljan 4780 Class 47xx 2-8-0 "Night Owl" 4704 in GWR green with shirt button emblem. I have tried to contact Hattons for two days with no response.

    Cheers Richard
     

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  2. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    A friend of SMR Chris had a similar problem with a locomotive that Hattons had fitted a decoder. Shoddy workmanship resuled in poor fitting and the body was not attached to the chassis correctly.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  3. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

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    Very unlikely it was from Hattons, but I am in the middle of putting right a Hornby Flying Scotsman fitted with DCC. The wires have been butchered and the body could not stay in place because of where they had put the solder joins. It was a hard-wire job into a modern loco drive, but not DCC ready unit. Probably by some home hack who just wanted it done as quick as possible and knew very little about what other damage the heat from a soldering iron could do. I am going to have to strip all the wires out and renew it's that bad.
    Cheers
    Tony
     
  4. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Hattons seem to dump damaged models on Australian buyers possibly as they know our return post makes it not worth sending the item back they have never offer to pay return post for there failure to ensure they ship a model that is in working order or undamaged.

    I had a couple of limited edition locos that should have been returned due to faults, the return post was the value of one loco, no offer to pay for the return post by Hattons and they could not guarantee that they would have a replacement model by the time the return post arrived when asked to have a model inspected and put on one side the message was wouldn’t happen until the original was returned and assessed. No guarantees

    I ended up repairing the models

    There are several models I would have purchase recently from Hattons but have decided not to after recent experiences of others and my own.
     
  5. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    not good. they have such purchasing power though.Maybe starting to rest on their laurels a bit. I know when I used them ( and that used to be often ) I had great service and very few issues with their products. I never use them now. I have to sympathise with the aussies though due to the postal cost making them reluctant to return them. Its a real shame.

    toto
     
  6. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I would hope that any forum member without experience of decoder fitting has the courage to ask "How-to" on the forum rather than pay anyone to fit a decoder, It really is a very easy process as a search amongst posts will show, a good number of members (including myself) having done various "How-to's" on this subject. Whilst I don't put myself in the "Expert" class, I have now fitted over 100 loco's with decoders, 'DCC ready', 'Non DCC ready', the dreaded Bachmann 'Split Chassis' and a few 'Not DCC fittable' amongst them, and to date, all have been successful and I've yet to come across a model (at least in '00' gauge) that can't be DCC fitted. I appreciate that in 'N' gauge or smaller, the biggest problem is finding space to physically fit a decoder into, but the smallest decoder is less than 15x15x5mm, so with a bit of thought, it should still be possible, either tender fitted or maybe even side tanks of pannier loco's. If you can solder wires (and this is really a basic but necessary skill for any modeller), all it takes is the courage to remove a loco body and assess the space available before ordering a suitable decoder, all you are doing is fitting an electronic device between the 2 wires coming from the pickups, before they reach the motor, 2 wires from the device then out to the motor (you can leave any lighting functions until you gain experience), then programme as required. I'd say to any member considering paying for decoder fitment, "Please stop, don't be afraid to ask on the forum, save yourself some cash and learn a new skill, it's not rocket science", someone will be along to answer your query shortly and don't forget, we ALL had to start somewhere, we were ALL novices once, and we ALL learn by experience, that's what this forum is all about, helping members enjoy the hobby.
    Keith.
     
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