[Charles]

Two points that need to be clarified:

1) Wrong- "I think having to wait 10 days to 2 weeks for a part that they messed up is crazy. I am just not happy with Asters service. From now on it will be Accucraft for me." Just wait for an actual part comes from China vs. getting something off "junked" models.

2) Secondly, the Aster Mikado was made 1999-2000 so let us see how available Accucraft parts are in 8-10 years. Therefore, the Aster part is coming from Japan- Hans does not have a warehouse. All Aster owners realize the situation at hand and learn to be patient or in this case- make due.

 

[Charles]

Brian
Lesson to learn: our hobby is a small close community. I have heard (you via MLS and Hans via email) both versions. If one is going to make a situation public do so honestly, in such a way not to damage your integrity. Based on what I have surmised you might have developed a repetition that could limited your experiences in the hobby due to others not wanting to be involved with you. Already this situation will have involved another on this forum that when out of his way to make your "dream engine" possible and very doubtful would do that again for you.
Bottom line, you have the right to demand your money's worth with any product but cannot do so in an unreasonable way. In any impasse it takes two to prevent a resolution. Based on your own words, the other party did resolve your problem only to have you make it into another unreasonable problem and to complicate it by doing so publicly. This should have been dealt with first with the person your purchased from and then Hans if necessary, not on MLS.
Case in point: I worked many months with Accucraft on the GS4 to correct the shortcomings prior to any public notice. My objective was to make both the company and the hobby better by demonstrating the necessary changes could result in an excellent product. I could of just demanded my money back and got onto MLS to "bad mouth" Accucraft but the only one that would have benefited would have just been...."me." Instead we have helped almost two dozen community members make their engines a better experience along with an enjoyable one!

 

[Charles]

Norman
You stated, "I believe Aster owners are very concerned that the constantly improving Accucraft product line is threatening the Aster resale value."

Accucraft has very little in the way of direct competitive product line that would impede on Aster sales or resale value.

The only direct comparison would be with the GS4 in gauge one. Recently, two 1987 Aster GS4 sold for over $10K (if I remember correct 1987 kit was $6K). The Accucraft GS4 struggles to hold the original price on the current market.

Most Aster owners are loyal and support the manufacture products. Based the GS4 and CF I doubt that either will persuade a die-heart Aster to purchase Accucraft over Aster.

As to "constantly improving..." not so in 1:32 as the CF did not improve in some very critical areas of running gear in comparison to Accucrafts past experience of their Accucraft GS4 production base line. In fact a bit more lacking than the GS4 standards.

I am not sure that the side rod bearing situation nor the cross head bolts have been resolved quickly with proper parts other than some available OEM parts, certainly not upgraded ones.

What Accucraft has done well is offer a high detail, functional product marketed in such a way that allows more participation in the hobby of gauge one live steam. This they do very well, especially with NG products given there is no competition for a comparative basis.

So, if one is going to present a case that Accucraft is competing head to head and at the level of Aster (SG only) then the CF would have been about $16-18K with all the bells and whistles with proper components (e.g. combination levers). Finally, competing at an Aster level would also require Accucraft kits beyond the Ruby level.

 

[Charles]

Jay
Fact check
Look at the Aster GS4 before the Accucraft came out. They were selling for about 4-5,000 on the used market. Fast foward to the Accucraft coming out with the problems it had it made the Aster more desirable and now they are selling for over 10,000. This is from a person that owned one 1st hand and sold if just before the Accrucraft unit came out and followed its resale to the current owner. It had changed hands 3 times and value has just increased each time.


I have followed the Aster GS4 through the releasealong with it's market price for years. Never have I seen one for $4-5K, in fact most prior to Accucraft GS4 were 10-12K. If that was true I would have never purchased an Accucraft! The particular one must have been sold at that lower price for other factors than the "going market rate." BTW- does that particular person own any other Aster for sale at a 50% discount (seemingly not knowing that he had the best Aster on the market at the time and very rare to anyone in gauge one live steam)?