Schienenzeppelin Kruckenberg Lemke Kato 2621

[gavino200]

I finally got my hands on one of these on ebay. But I'm pissed off. The propeller is broken. In the picture below it just looks bent. But one blade is barely hanging on. The model looks good in all other respects. I requested a return on ebay and by email directly to the seller using both the listed emails. On the chance that the seller is an a$$hole about returns, what would be the chance of being able to fix this piece reliably enough for long term use? 

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2018 by gavino200

[cteno4]

Bummer! That may be tough to repair cleanly and strongly. It’s a fun model and nice perk the propeller turns! I got mine in a box of misc stuff and I just saw it in the picture, I think it was $56 for everything! Best auction find ever for me!

 

good luck, that’s a tough one to repair well.

 

im wondering if you might find a 1/144 airplane model (loads of them prebuilt for under $10) that may have a close prop you could scavenge.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Kiha66]

Darn, I saw the pic and was hoping you were looking to sell one.  Hope the seller takes the return or gives you a big refund!  If you do keep it maybe someone could make a 3d model of the prop that could be printed.

[MichiK]

I'm pretty sure that I've seenat least one photo where the Schienenzep had a two bladed propeller. So, as an intermediate measure, you might cut off the opposite blade, too?

[Suica]

46 minutes ago, MichiK said:

I'm pretty sure that I've seenat least one photo where the Schienenzep had a two bladed propeller. So, as an intermediate measure, you might cut off the opposite blade, too?

You're right,

Two and four bladed propellers were tested. 

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schienenzeppelin#/media/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-11902,_Berlin,_Schienenzeppelin.jpg

(personally, I think the two bladed one looks better anyway)

[cteno4]

I’ll need to dig mine out but I think the n scale one was the two bladed. The big o scale tin ones are usually have the 4 blade props.

 

jeff

[gavino200]

3 hours ago, MichiK said:

I'm pretty sure that I've seenat least one photo where the Schienenzep had a two bladed propeller. So, as an intermediate measure, you might cut off the opposite blade, too?

 

This one only has two blades 🙂

 

Fortunately the seller has agreed to take it back and pay the return mail costs. 

Edited October 24, 2018 by gavino200

[Kiha66]

Glad to hear it got worked out.  Its a really cool model but if damaged not worth the price.

[gavino200]

3 hours ago, Kiha66 said:

Glad to hear it got worked out.  Its a really cool model but if damaged not worth the price.

 

Thanks. Eventually I'll fine another one. Watch this space. 🙂

[MichiK]

8 hours ago, gavino200 said:

 

This one only has two blades 🙂

 

Oh, curses ! 🤔

[gavino200]

I found another RailZep and bought it. It arrived today. Amazingly this one also has a busted propeller. It's actually worse than the last. One of the blades is missing. I was really shocked. What are the chances of this happening twice in a row??

[Kiha66]

Sounds like its a manufacturing issue with delicate parts.   But sellers that have broken ones shouldn't be trying to dump them on unsuspecting buyers.  Hope they refund your money again, what a bummer.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Kiha66

[gavino200]

16 minutes ago, Kiha66 said:

Sounds like its a manufacturing issue with delicate parts.   But sellers that have broken ones shouldn't be trying to dump them on unsuspecting buyers.  Hope they refund your money again, what a bummer.

 

I agree. It's a super $hitty thing to do. Hopefully he wont contest the return. But I'm not planning on accepting it if he tries. Neither of the trains were cheap but they weren't insane prices either. 180, and 140 euros. I'm guessing a non broken model would probably go for an insane price. 

Edited November 15, 2018 by gavino200

[gavino200]

There's another one on ebay with the same defect. This seller, however, is declaring defect.

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schienenzeppelin-Kruckenberg-Kato-Hobbytrain-2621-Spur-N-in-Verpackung/113359536966?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D719d278d6d9642569efb4b6896d69eb8%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D372497225308%26itm%3D113359536966&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ae4d23e37-e888-11e8-9c6d-74dbd1809a6a|parentrq%3A157946081670ab456de7c23afff9cb72|iid%3A1

 

[Kiha66]

Wow, looks like all of them have the defect.  Guess its wasnt just a fluke.

[chadbag]

It sounds like a delicate part that easily breaks (maybe even in the box with the jostling of shipping transport).

[cteno4]

I’ll dig mine out. From memory it’s not a super delicate prop and the case foam is well done.

 

jeff

[kvp]

It looks like to me that the problem is the packaging. If you pack it away without setting the prop vertically, then it could hit the top of the case during transport. Also some padding is needed at the back (or a cutout around the prop) otherwise the whole weight of the car could be on the propeller if the case is dropped on its tail end,  as the sharp end of the car would dig into the foam. But this is just my 2 cents...

[gavino200]

I very much doubt that the problem is the case. It's actually one of the most secure cases I've ever seen. There's really no motion possible. The train sits very snugly in it's foam support. If anything the prop could be damaged if carelessly stuffed in or pulled out of the case. In this situation, I didn't even remove the train from the case. It was just sitting there minus one prop blade. I found the second blade underneath the train in the case when taking photos requested by the seller. 

 

I could be wrong. I haven't tried closing the case and shaking it to see if it jostles around (forwards and back) in the case. I'm not planning on doing this. That would be the only innocent situation I can think of. 

[kvp]

12 minutes ago, gavino200 said:

I could be wrong. I haven't tried closing the case and shaking it to see if it jostles around (forwards and back) in the case. I'm not planning on doing this. That would be the only innocent situation I can think of. 

If the train could fall out if you turn it upside down with the case lid open, then it's the case. If it can slide back when turned with its nose up, then it's the case. At least these two positions are suspicious for me.

[gavino200]

It doesn't fall out if you just turn it upside down. You have to give it a good tap to free it. Closed, and jostled there is a tiny bit of play, but nothing impressive. 

[cteno4]

Gavin is spot on, the case is pretty solid and easy to use. I got mine in a “junk” box of stuff someone sold on ebay. It was obvious from thenlittle dings onnthe case it had a history of being bumped around and the box of junk came not well packed. Inside the zep box the car was perfect. I’ll dig mine out today. Just not sure which stuff it’s currently stored with it’s an odd one to categorize! 

 

jeff 

[kvp]

27 minutes ago, cteno4 said:

Just not sure which stuff it’s currently stored with it’s an odd one to categorize! 

Imho it's an epoch 2, Deutche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft internal combustion engine railcar. It should be in the DRG box if there is one. Next to the other odd pre ww2 german stuff. (like the original paint Kato Flying Hamburgers)

[cteno4]

Your opinion did not get the joke. 

 

jeff

[cteno4]

Ahh found it, of course in the last box I looked at! In a mix of smaller train boxes taken to a show a year or so back!

 

mine is 4 bladed and the H2620 model with just the train and the small pamphlet (in German unfortunately) in the box. Model H2621 I think is the same train but just bigger box with the DVD. Google image search shows 2621 with 4 blades like my 2620. You do come up wirh a few models on ebay with only two bladed prop. I expect these are folks who have broken a blade off with mishandling or a crash and just snapped off the opposite blade to make it the 2 blade prop version.

 

the props are made of a softer precolored plastic which should help them with abuse a tad. They are also a but beefie and I expect a tad overscale to help with not being too delicate. There is a hobby train spare part of H2620-7 for two props, but I doubt available anymore anywhere. It’s ordering from Lemke at €5 and €12.50 shipping! Wonder of Kato japan stocks any hobby train parts for euro models like this? I’ll ask Nariichi and maybe he can ask next time at Kato meeting.

 

nothing in 1/144 on shapeways for an appropriate prop but maybe someone doing a lot of planes there ay have modeled a close prop and might be convinced to make a prop only the right size. Other option is to look at 1/144 plane models and kits to see if you could use one of those.

 

the foam is very well cut, good fit and squishy foam so easy to just push Ing and gran the tail and push nose forward to pull out the tail and prop first cleanly. Good area cut out around the prop so pretty much impossible to get bashed in the box.

 

my guess is that folks either drop them while picking them up as they are very dense models and slim so maybe just not the right look to grasp with the brain and just a small fall if on the side or tail right could easily snap off a blade. Other issue could be a wreck while running if it went on it’s side. It runs a bit awkwardly due to only 2 axles and very widely separated. The rear axle does pivot a bit, but not sure how well that tracks with a single axle. Also a bit of a noisy runner from the mech and it taking curves hard. 

 

I always run it on the viaduct as ground tracks have tighter radiuses and more points as the single axle trucks don’t like flangeways that much with a lot of bumping and noises.

 

It comes with a nice diagram, parts list and even a dcc conversion page.

 

cheers

 

jeff

Edited November 15, 2018 by cteno4