I've had a similar problem with marklin's starter sets. A while back I ordered a 29825 starter set, the quality of the trains was horrible, the steam engine wasn't running and the sound functions were also not working. At such high prices I expected better. I guess the starter sets are cheaply made to cut back on costs. Most of my marklin purchases have been older engines ranging from 1990's to 2007. The older models seem to be made with more care and were made in Germany or Hungary not China. Good luck, I hope your experience with marklin will improve.

Daniel

Hi Alex,

I'm not sure what your expectations were, but you are obviously disappointed because of the damage to your locomotive. Don't let this colour your view of the set. While I don't have this particular one, I have bought a couple of recent starter sets and found them very good value.

The instructions contained within the set give a good introduction to the connection and use of the MS2. There will be a learning curve as, for most of us brought up with the traditional train set, the newer digital controllers are rather alien, but give it to your children and they'll have it figured out in about ten minutes!

As to the setting up of the track, the booklet included should contain the track layout for this set and also suggestions for expansion and other layout ideas.

I'm sorry you consider your experience of this set "poor". Perhaps the fact that the locomotive is damaged has started you on the wrong foot. Most of us find our first experience of the new digital technology thrilling and addictive. Maybe you will too once you start running it.

Not as bad as yours, but I got the Swiss weathered Croc set, 26591, a week ago Friday and the wood carrier only had wheels on one of the two cars connected by the beam. It boggles the mind how a factory with quality control can pack and ship such a thing? The package was not damaged in the least in shipping, and everything was where it was supposed to be except that the two sets of wheels were missing. This is clearly an issue at the factory/point of assembly and not a shipping problem or dealer issue: WTF? I fear this is an indication of a lack of attention to detail that we expected from Maerklin that may not be there anymore.

Mine was OK when I received it, so I guess this is a factory stuff up! You'll need to contact your dealer.

The 29483 is a SBB Re 421. It has two round buffers, the UIC step, diagonal handrail and UIC plug (between the front windows). The UIC plug and the diagonal handrail are the two items most commonly subjected to damage in transit.

I am not exactly clear on what you mean by "part of the front plastic bumper snapped off". If it is one of the four buffers, these can easily be replaced. If you are talking about the UIC step, this too, can be replaced, but removing the remnants may take some skilled manipulation. The diagonal handrails can be carefully straightened using plastic tools. I usually use the plastic tweezer from my Swiss Army knife.

As far as the pantographs, both are made by Sommerfeldt for Maerklin. They are lifted by springs coiled around the base of the mast. The pantographs may raise to different heights, depending on the existing tension. Normally, the height is limited by the catenary, but when used without catenary, there is nothing to restrict the pantograph from fully extending. I would be more concerned if one or both of them was not sufficiently extending to contact the catenary. If the slider is raised about an inch higher than the lok, it is working normally.

The Set should have been delivered with a little pamphlet, showing how to connect the tracks and giving basic instructions on how to set up the track. There should also be a manual with information on how to set up the Mobile Station. I would check with the dealer to ensure that your set included this information.

Here is a photo of the lok: http://cdn01.trixum.de/u...d9e75220d448e7f3a0c6.jpg
Here is a track diagram (as shown on the box): http://cdn01.trixum.de/u...6bc6e6b65efd494e5875.jpg

If you just received the set, you can ask the dealer to replace the damaged lok rather than simply ordering the parts.

The lok should be detected by the MS as "Re 421 374-0". If that fails, you should be able to manually enter address '44'

Regards

Mike C

Quick update. Went back and forth with the dealer troubleshooting the problem. Long and short of it is that I ordered more track to expand my layout and I will be getting a new Lok and MS2 with that order, which will be tested before shipping. I will then send back the defective combo. All around a great solution!

I crocodile also found its way into my order!!! Pesky creatures....

Hi!
How can you enter the loco from database? I should not be in the database because no mfx locos should be in the database.

You should be able to control the loco using MM protocol - but only if you disable the mfx protocol in the MS2.
The loco will not respond to MM commands as long as mfx is enabled in the MS2.

Before taking a loco off the track you should stop it and then wait a few seconds before turning the power off or taking her off the track.
After the test run at the factory, they do not always obey this. So loco remembered "full speed" and next time it gets power it runs off at full speed.
The automatic mfx registration may or may not work for a loco running at full speed (running locos have worse contact than standing locos and running motors disturb the signals).

If you're willing to give it a try, reset the MS2, activate the MM protocol only, then register two locos (addresses 24 and 44 (the manual doesn't indicate the MM address of this loco)) manually, then put your loco on the track. If loco works now, activate mfx again (by default, mfx, MM, and DCC are active) and within 10 seconds you should see a flashing "mfx" symbol on the display.

Ha! Thanks. I ended up getting the Swiss "weathered" Croc, so I'm excited. My wife is not so excited about the bill.... I will post pictures of my updated plan once I get the parts (it is essentially a 2nd loop off of the starter set, with a long 3rd 1/2 loop of R3 for passing...).

Sadly it will be a week until I get the parts.

Marklin has been pulling their manufacturing out of China for some time, there are places in Europe closer to home where they can make stuff just as cheap, or even cheaper, than China.

It seems they've already realised that it wasn't worth risking the company for the sake of a few dollars.

Hehehe,

That's it; it's all a Communist plot I say ^^ !

Yum